Spring to Finish...3 More Days

We've got three more days in the May Spring to Finish Challenge. The challenge ends midnight on the 31st. Be sure to come by and comment on Monday's post to tell your number of finishes. I have part of the prize ready, but I need to make the rest this weekend. Can you get one more finish this weekend? You can do it!

I finished this baby quilt last night. The block is from this tutorial. The quilting was inspired by Sarah of MightyMom fame. She commented that the one heart looked lonely all by itself, so I tried to use the quilting to make the connection between that new little life and the exisiting family. How's that for some deep symbolism? Or it's just a bunch of cute little hearts.
The back and binding are a pink, flowered reproduction fabric. I inserted a couple of blocks on the back made from scraps from the hearts. I do love a little surprise on the back of a quilt.
I'm back to working on the Project Improv quilts. I should have 6 more tops ready to send to the quilters either today or tomorrow. This stack is ready to have bindings matched to them and sewn on. My friend Vicki, of Sew Inspired, has been helping hand sew bindings. She has 3 done and is ready for more. Thanks Vicki...you are the best!
I admit I haven't been to the Project Improv flickr group in awhile. I'm going to cruise by this weekend and see what you all have been creating. Maybe we should have a little quilt show of our improv projects? I'll have a Project Improv update sometime next week.

Thanks so much for your kind words about Jon's graduation quilt. For those of you who asked, yes, he liked it. I think he appreciated the extra work that went into saving it too.

Have a wonderful weekend!

For Jon With Love

Even though I had to do it twice, it was worth every stitch, every bit of effort I put into it. Jon's graduation quilt is repaired and done and this is it on his bed in the cave (his basement room). He hasn't seen it yet. I can't wait until he gets home.
We had an amazing weekend with Jon graduating and Ben turning 20 on Sunday and everyone here to celebrate with them. Couldn't have been any better. Jon's speech was FABULOUS...he blew all the adults speaking out of the water. My dad was sitting next to me and after Jon spoke, he turned to some random lady behind him and said, "that's my grandson...he got his speaking ability from me!" We were all so proud. He has an amazing future ahead of him.
I changed the design of the quilt since I last posted about it. This quilt has had many renditions. I'm thrilled with the final design. The top section of blocks I combined into pairs and then framed them. In the bottom section the blocks are framed individually.
I love the interest that the vertical pairs add to the quilt. I love the blue and cream linen. The back is chocolate brown flannel. Jon loves things that are soft and cuddly. I think the quilting gives that modern, minimal feel that Jon requested.
This is the replacement block. When I washed the quilt last week for the first time, one of the blocks disintegrated in the washer. It didn't have anything to do with the construction of the block...in fact, it didn't even rip at a seam. I think the quilt must have caught on something in the washer and just ripped and ripped as it washed. I was lucky only one block had to be replaced. It was a chore. I took out about a fourth of the quilting and took the top apart to integrate the new block. I didn't have an extra because I used the one extra block I had to make a pillow sham. I didn't want to rip that up, so I took a block I made for a blue/green project improv quilt out of the scraps from this quilt.
Liz, it was your block that was destroyed. It's so sad that it happened. It was one of Jon's favorites when it arrived. Just know that it was in there in the beginning and the accident and the story adds to the value of this quilt.

Random Acts of Kindness

This arrived in my mailbox from Dorrie. Heather Ross's Happy Camper Vans. I'm giddy and glowing inside!

She didn't want anything in return. She said random acts of kindness are good for the soul. She's right, but she forgot to mention the joy they bring the recipient. JoAnn and Cheryl sent packs of selvages too. Your kindness and generosity made my day. Thanks all, the happy feeling has helped me deal with the little quilty bump in the road that happened today.

I finished Jon's graduation quilt last night and disaster struck in the washer. My mother in law is downstairs ripping out the quilting so I can make repairs later today. I'm trying to stay calm and solve the problem. (Inside I'm freaking out and crying hysterically.) I still have hope that I'll be able to give it to him tomorrow.

More relatives arrive today...I've got cooking to do. Have a great weekend...I know we will...finished quilt or not.

Checked Off The List

...Amandajean's swap quilt...check!

Thanks AJ. It's perfect in my new living room. I can't wait to finish the move so I can see it every day. (Amandajean made the top and swapped with me for fabric.) Best swap I've ever done.
...niece's graduation gift...check! Added a vegetarian cookbook, wrapped it all in a lime green polka dot ribbon and sent it on its way.
...a potholder for you Spring to Finishers...maybe some fabrics to coordinate for the winner? It's very springy, don't you think? I've heard from a few folks who are doing themselves proud with all their finishes. We're a little over halfway through the month. How are you doing?


The work on the selvage quilt continues...couldn't have done it without a little help from my friends. Jodie, Amber, Ashley, Megan and Christine are just the latest to have sent selvages to make the quilt bigger. Your kindness floors me.

Jodie, I'm wearing my selvage keychain proudly on my keys and thinking of you each time I head out in the car. Thanks for the cards too..they're so darling and are traveling all around the states spreading good cheer.

You're Only As Busy As You Want To Be

I tend to say "yes" both in my head and to others. I've taken on lots, so I'm busy as a bee around here.
Started making these in my 'free time'...I have a fun idea for them.
I've been making lots of these...it's coming along nicely.
This is part of a gift for my "crunchy granola" niece who is graduating from UT Austin. More kitcheny things to come for her.
No, I wasn't abducted by aliens and forced to drink the thimbleberry koolaid...this is a commission piece. I finished the first 10 of 40 blocks for this. Due date...early June.
I have so many people to thank...for mail, for selvages, for help...I'm getting to it, I really am. Jon's graduation quilt...9 days to finish that. 951 posts on my reader. Maybe after graduation.
Is summer almost here?

Card People

We're card people...an occasion requires the perfect card...usually multiple cards. Some are bought in stores...some are scribbled on whatever paper can be found. It's something I love about my husband and a tradition we have passed to our boys. All 3 of my boys treated me with cards that touched my heart.
These are from my hubby....

That's me, of course, in the middle of my favorite Mother's Day activity.

These flowers will last forever...aren't they beautiful?

I've managed one small finish so far in May. It took me longer than expected because I experimented with some curvy quilting...I like the look, but I need to tweak the idea a bit to make it work for other pieces.

End of the school year is such a busy time. I have made a list though...that's as far as I've gotten.

I spent the weekend cooking French toast for a bunch of teens in pajamas and I was the "entertainment" at the local Mother/Daughter banquet on Saturday night. I did a trunk show and talked about improvisational quilting. My mom was there. It was a great way to honor my mom and share with others what she has passed on to me. My niece was there too. It was my first time sharing my work with the public in that way. I could have talked for days....every quilt has a story, you know. I talked about all of you too.

Have a great week!

I Shouldn't Have

I shouldn't have...but I did. I set off to run errands today and I had to run out to the farm (a two hour drive there and back) to pick up things I needed for Jon's awards banquet Friday night. On the way home I took a detour to Lawrence (about 30 minutes from KC).
Lawrence = Sarah's Fabrics.

Retail therapy really doesn't satisfy, but maybe it could make a long week seem a bit shorter, maybe I could miss my hubby and Fudge a little less, so...

I drove, I lingered, I shopped, I spent.

Hello Betty...it's a great name for a fabric and it's cute too.
I have a plan for these letters and who could resist a cool selvage like that?
I paid too much for these.
This one has been on my have to buy list.
I was so lucky to find two of my favorite flea market fancy prints. I bought every inch they had. Maybe 3 hours in a fabric store is a good thing.
I didn't get these at Sarah's, but they're new and I love these Paula Prass cobblestones.
Found a few fat quarters of Amy's dots in a bin...this blue wanted to come home with me.

I don't know what came over me.

Consequences:
...didn't get to the post office before it closed
...no groceries
...no texas toast to make french toast for 150 high school students this weekend
...forgot to make a hair appointment
...lost my list

I need to get it together.

Spring to Finish Again?

I spent most of the weekend moving and working in the yard (the lilacs and spirea are in full bloom...ooooooh lovely! Not much sewing, but I did manage to make these. My sons have been invited to a baby shower and they asked me to put together a gift for their friend. The couple is having a boy so I cruised my stash and found this Alexander Henry juicy jungle fabric. I made a couple of burp cloths and a small quilt to match. I need to finish up the quilt today. The quilt is simply a giant log cabin block. It's about 40 x 40. I think it will make a nice "throw on the floor" quilt. It's good to have a stash to pull from.


This is the prize for the 'Spring to Finish' challenge, an Orla Kiely pillow cover, coasters to match and 1/2 yard of one of my favorite fabrics. We had 247 finishes! That's fantastic. The random number generator chose Pat, of Bell Creek Quilts as the winner. Pat had 2 finishes. Congrats Pat! Drop me an email with your address and I'll drop your package in the mail.

Anina of Twiddletails reminded me that it's still spring and she suggested Spring to Finish 2. I'm committed to continuing through May, so let's keep going. Same rules apply...just keep the button on your blog or add it if you're just joining, you count your finishes and decide what is a finish for you. The challenge will end midnight, May 31. We have more days this time so it should be no problem exceeding our April total. The prize will be fabric, of course, and something made by me. Want to join me?

I'm off to finish this quilt.

Spring to Finish...How'd We Do?

May is here and the spring to finish challenge is over, though I'm going to continue right through May because there are still quilt tops from last year hanging in my closet. I can't wait to see how many finishes we made all together. Thanks for participating with me....so, how many finishes did you have? I'll announce the winner on Monday.
Have a great weekend.

International Folks....if you want to participate in the raffle for the quilt in the previous post...paypal works to send the money for your donation. Also, you may want to put your email as the contact on the ticket. That would save the ladies money! Just drop me an email and we'll work it out together. Thanks so much for everyone who is taking a chance on the 'wonderland garden' quilt!