Opal Silk Placemats

This was one of a few secret sewing projects for Christmas. My eldest daughter, Brianne, who does not like quilts (I know right?!) requested (again...just sayin') that I make her some placemats to match her dining/kitchen décor.
"Not all quilty."
Translation: minimalist, modern aesthetic. I think I've got this:

And Brianne loved them, said they were perfect.
YESS!!

I wanted to do a very minimalist block. Considered just strips of fabric, but thought that was rather boring. Thought of the basic 4-patch and alternate one-patches. Yep. MacGyver had painted her kitchen in the summer: light grey walls, with one of them in her favourite paint colour, Opal Silk. Her table is custom-made (just beautiful) and stained in darker grey, and her floors are light grey. So, I used Kona Silver, a dark grey (Coal maybe, can't find the label, must've fallen off the hunk of fabric) and Pool. Pool is a bit bright compared to Opal Silk, but it works.

I just made two, pending her approval, which I got in spades. Now I'll make two more. Each are grey backings, with embossed polka-dots or butterflies fabric I got from JoAnn's. I used Hobbs Thermore batting left over from my Island Batik box. I just LOVE this batting. So thin, yet look at the definition it gives, and those placemats weren't even washed yet in that photo.

Here's a closeup, in-progress shot from Instagram that shows the sparkle of the backing fabric:

I have enough of each to make the backing for two more placemats. I faced them, turning the backing to the front. They are reversible. You can see that I kept the quilting minimalist too: three lines roughly 1/2" apart, one 1/4" etc.

They weren't washed yet here, just freshly unwrapped on Christmas Day, so still a little bumpy from being rolled inside the wrapping. If you're observant, you'll notice a hilarious quote from a family favourite, must-watch each Christmas, 'Christmas Vacation'. It's one my dad and my husband would always watch together at our house, and as the girls got older, it became our entire family's favourite. Brady, Brianne and I watched it together while I was there of course!

Another family favourite, this one stemming from my mum, is treating ourselves to Sunday brunch at a fabulous revolving restaurant in downtown Edmonton, La Ronde. I love this photo that Brianne took of Brady and me.

Quilt Stats:
Pattern: original design
Size: 12 x 18"
Fabric: Kona from stash
Backing: embossed greys from stash from JoAnn's
Batting: Hobbs Thermore

Quilted: on my Bernina
Threads: pieced on Billie, my 1947 Featherweight with Aurifil; quilted on my Bernina with Aurifil 2600

As I'm sure you know there are a ton of great deals to be had online and in stores at this time of year. Craftsy (affiliate link) has up to 70% off
bluprint (affiliate link) is the lowest price yet. They have done something for all members that has smoothed my ruffled feathers since the "US residents only" treats I missed out on: I am getting 12 free classes to keep forever. They've sent me my first three coupons (haven't chosen yet, been a tad busy) and then each quarter I will get three more coupons. That means the classes I can choose can be just-released ones, so that is a great deal. It's nice to have that extra thank you.
Connecting Threads is another great place for great deals all year, but now especially.

Tomorrow I'll be back with the linky for my DrEAMi! Drop Everything And Make it! party. Hope to see you there!

Linking up:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict