Feeling Blue

I am not just making quilt blocks I am making friends.

Hmm... try again

That's it!

One fine day I received an email from Gail in which she explained that she was the original designer of the block (Abigail Angel) that eventually became the International Sister Quilt Block. She appreciated the fact that I did not claim the block as my own but had shared the tutorial freely. Gail further wrote that she was pleasantly surprised with the long life and the evolution of the block.
I was thrilled to hear from Gail - the original designer!!!
I asked if we could meet.
She said yes.
We chose Baltimore not only because it is in the middle but also because it is a beautiful city.

Gail & Steve modeling the Abigail Angel blocks

We met at Isabella's which is a tiny shop in Little Italy serving the best sandwiches, salads and pizza.
We chatted about quilts, quilt shows, our individual paths to quilting and agreed to stay in touch.
My suggestion for gelato was met with smiles and approval so we went to Vaccaro's.

Gail with her signature block

For those who may not know, a trip to Baltimore is incomplete without a visit to Little Italy and a visit to Little Italy requires paying a visit to Vaccaro's. It is not just a gelato shop. It is an Italian dessert shop with Italian cookies, cannolis, gelato and more.

It is not sunshine, it is a halo :-)

A pensive expression

Little Italy in Baltimore also holds very special memories for me. The year was 2007.
I was across the street from Vaccaro's when Paul asked me to marry him. I said yes and then we promptly crossed the street to get gelato, because a sweet celebration was in order :-)

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Filler Blocks

The panel

For days following the El Paso shootings, I had no desire to sew.
Scraps got sorted and fabric room got organized.
Last Friday, I saw Sarah's post about Socorro Foundation and immediately I had something to do.

Panel Blocks + 9-Patch Block = Layout

Paul: You made a lot of extra blocks.
Me: They will make the second quilt.
Paul: Same as this one?
Me: Hmmm.
Paul: Don't you need more of the animal baby blocks?
Me: I have another panel - just need to cut it up.

A different 9-patch

Disappeared

This "cat on the yarn ball" fabric came from Lara.  I am thinking of you, Lara!!!

Piecing a Disappearing 9-patch

Paul: Oh this looks nice and bright
Me: I wanted happiness
Paul:What are those blocks for?
Another quilt
Paul:So three?
Me: For now. I am sure they need three hundred.
Paul: Who are they?
Me: The Socorro Foundation, a nonprofit organization is opening a Family Shelter and Education Center that receives families released from federal agencies. 
They provide families with a safe place to rest, shower, eat and prepare for the next leg of their journey to their sponsor family. 

Paul: I am sure they need lot more.
Me: They are listed on Amazon and I have added them to my charity of choice.
Paul: Love you babe
Me: Love you too

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Completed the blocks for the August RSC 2019.  The International Sisters wore blue. Check other blocks at Angela's linky party here.

Rocket Blue

Fishy Blue

Transitioning to Purple Blue

Sombre Blue

Floral Blue

Orange Flower Blue

A Hint of Blue

Pink and Blue

All of Us

and me...feeling blue

Blue is also how I have felt lately but this cheerful bundle arrived yesterday. With "$20 off of $40" coupon it is a steal.

The Boundless fabrics remind me of Tula Pink and Kaffe Fassett.  What is your opinion?

Boundless Looking Glass - FQ Bundle

May be I will go and make something colorful. As usual, I'd love to hear from you - your comments always lift me up.

KISSED!!!

Do you remember your first kiss?  I can close my eyes and not just picture it, I can relive it.
The moment when every fiber of my being was fully focused on the kiss. That was a lifetime ago.

Completed KISS

The KISS (Keep it Simply Strippy) Quilt that started two years ago is finally complete. I know I should have waited till Valentine's Day to share it...but I could not keep my lips compressed any longer :-D

Vibrant Kaffe Fassett

The pattern uses 6" strips

Alphabet Soup BAcking

This simple pattern became popular, in part, due to the Craftsy Blog Hop. Kat Scribner of Scrapbox Quilts also played a part in directing readers to the tutorial, every single time she made a quilt/flimsy with this pattern.

Labelled

I chose a black border and black binding.  Sewing the black binding using back thread really did a number only eyes. I need to get them tested. Maybe I am getting old.

Black Binding+Black Thread

The finished quilt measures 43" by 52". Now that it is finished. I am relieved.

Finished

Kid Appropriate

KISS!!!

It was time to celebrate my first finish of the year.

And celebrate I did with a piece of good news.
The quilt I made for Paul - Paulitiks - was featured in Top 100 Projects on Fave Quilts website.

Paul with his quilt - Paulitiks

And I am on Cloud Nine that Sew Preeti Quilts also made it to the Top 25 Blogs.

I feel giddy, maybe like the newbie actress who is nominated to the Golden Globes along with the likes of Judi Dench and Meryl Streep.



While I could lovingly linger over the KISS, there is another project that I must pursue passionately. It is a quilt for the victims of the Thomas Fire in California. Here is a sneak peek.

Perkiomen Valley Block

The block was designed by Scott Griffin of Ventura Modern Quilt Guild to make as relief quilts for the Thomas Fire Victims.  I have made 27 so far. 15 to go.

Design Wall

42 blocks will be arranged 6 by 7 to make a quilt measuring 72" by 84".
Here is the backing I have chosen. What do you think?

Backing - Amish Village

The goal is to complete it by the end of the month.  I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties, see sidebar. I'd love to hear from you.

Animal House and a Giveaway

The quilt was completed on Sunday but taking good pictures was a challenge due to limited daylight hours.  And then snowy or cloudy weather AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHH.
I am dying to show this one.  Here is the flimsy.

A beautiful day

Here is the back story of the quilt.
You know that Angela Walters is the queen of FMQ. Since I do not FMQ, (not even to save my life), I had not dived into the pool of Angela worshippers but admired her beautiful work from the sidelines.

But when Angela Walters joined forces with Craftsy (I am an affiliate) for the Midnight Quilt Show, I could not resist her awesomeness any longer.

In May, Angela did this show - Scrappy On Point Triangle Quilt. It is a free pattern.
I did like the pattern, but it seemed incomplete.

Scrappy On Point Triangle Quilt Pattern

The blocks looked like a cute roof, but it seemed that the house was missing. Just my opinion.
Angela had built castles in the air. It was up to me to put foundations underneath. The question was who should live in that house.

Chapter challenge

About the same time, my quilt guild announced the Chapter Challenge for the next Quilt Show - A quilt with Animals.
And I had this AHA moment. I knew what I had to do. I had to take Angela's roof blocks and place them over animal houses.

OK, I did modify the pattern, so that I could use jelly roll strips for the background. 
I started with 1.5" fabric strips. Sew two together along the length. The resulting combined strip set will be 2.5" wide. Placed RST with the 2.5" white jelly roll strips and stitched on both sides to make a tube. The rest of the pattern is the same to get the roof shapes.

Strip set

Making a tube

I did that with several strip sets. Made several roof blocks.

Assembly Line

Now comes the fun part - the houses and their adorable inhabitants.

Black & White need not be boring

Foxy!!!

Scary!!!

Time to put them together!!!

So cute

Holy cow!!!

Heard the buzz?

Oh design wall!!!

Rows of houses and the quilt top comes together.

Coming together

Yes, crabs have a house too!

So cute and so cheerful. I am calling this one Animal House.

Finished Flimsy - Happy Dance

I chose a crabby fabric for the backing. Why not? Let's take the animal theme all the way.
Quilted it using my walking foot, obviously. Just lines. I believe that is breeze - Houses in the Breeze.

Finished

The bright orange binding makes everything pop and matches the backing too :-)

Orange Binding Pops

How many different animal fabrics are in there?

Did you see the hedgehogs?

Not all. But a lot of them. There are several that did not make the cut.

Owls are a hoot!

So many owls. What a hoot :-D

The cows and the monsters are my favorite. But the cats have so much attitude. Shall we say Catitude?

Under the Tree

The finished quilt measures about 44" by 61". I am that after a wash it will shrink to under 60" along the length. It needs to be under 60" to qualify for the show.

Bundle of Joy

They may not be measuring each quilt, but I'd hate it if a small technicality kept this bundle of cuteness from making it to the show.

Paul, the model

Here is a close-up of the quilting.

Walking foot quilting

Labelled

I love it!!!

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And if you love a good sale, Connecting Threads is having a sale - all solids are 40% off.
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But if you are done spending money, here is a giveaway for you.  I started this blog four years ago. I know time flies, especially since I have been having sew much fun.

To celebrate this anniversary, I will share with you my 5" squares of cute animals.  There are three prizes - 20 squares each of animal cuteness.

Sample of squares in the giveaway

If you'd like to get your hands on these adorable, darling fabrics, please leave me a comment, telling me which animal fabric is your favorite.  If you follow me, leave me a second comment telling me how you follow me.

If you are a no-reply blogger, please include your email. Or better still stop being a no-reply blogger. Here is how http://www.sewathomemummy.com/2013/01/are-you-no-reply-blogger.html

This giveaway is now closed. Winners announced here.
I will announce the three winners on Christmas Day.  
Wishing you a joyful holiday season.
I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. See the full list on the sidebar.


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