A, B, Sea and YAY!!!

A is for Abacus.

Abacus is a bonus quilt made from leftover triangles while making the RSC blocks this year.  I made a total of 30 Sister's Choice blocks, resulting in 60 bonus blocks. In the pictures below you can see how the herd grew.

In the beginning

Red ones

Purple Ones

It grows!

Almost there

Finished Flimsy

Baste, shall we?

Finished!!!

Since the leftovers triangles had bias edges the blocks are wonky which is just perfect for a baby quilt :-) Abacus finished at 39" by 41" and I am very happy with it.  Here are a few close ups.

Joyful

Colorful

Black Binding

Houses on Hills Backing

Happy Finish

And the back!

Backing Fabric - So much fun!!!

On Location

Kayaks made a great backdrop

Labelled

Since the quilt is only 39" wide a strip of backing was leftover.  It was dutifully pieced and turned into a zippered pouch .  You'd be surprised if I didn't :-)

No Scrap Left Behind

Zippered Pouch

I hope to make the primary RSC quilt (using the Sister's Choice blocks) over the Christmas break.

__________________________________________________________________

B is for Baby's Breath.  

Baby's Breath

Dinosaur Backing

I met the mom-to-be (Maya) in summer when we went to Berlin, MD for our mini vacation. When Maya mentioned that she was expecting a baby, my mind went into quilt mode. Her favorite color is green. She also mentioned that her husband was fond of dinosaurs. I knew what I had to do. 

The journey of this quilt follows in pictures.  

Choosing Fabrics

Low Volume Background Fabrics

Blocks

Design Wall

Finished Flimsy

Backing and Binding

Brightens my Office

Purple Binding :-)

No caption required

Hiya Bob!

Ready to go!

Dinosaurs Backing

Baby's Breath finished at 42 inches square and was sent to the parents-to-be, where it awaits the new baby, due at Christmas.

_______________________________________________________________

And Sea is yet to be. Island Batik Blog Hop and Challenge begins on November 1, 2021. The theme is Storm at Sea. There may be a giveaway (or two) involved. Only one way to find out :-)

_______________________________________________________________

And YAY for all my dear quilty buddies who are making and sharing the Masala Box quilt.  

Check out the visual feast!!!  Which one is your favorite...cause I cannot pick one.

Golden Hues by Cathy

All Brights by Karen of KaHolly

Caribbean Blues By Mari

Glorious Purple by Wendy!

Muted Blues by Joy

Fun in Aqua by Bernie

Cheery by Sue

Check out their blogs!!! 

Mari 

Cathy  

Wendy

Bernie

Joy 

Sue

The Masala Box pattern is listed in my Etsy Shop.

I will be sharing with Angela's RSC linky and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Varun

I have named him Varun, after the Hindu deity of sea and sky and rain. By now Varun has traveled the width of the country and reached Bernie on the west coast.

Varun  - 60" by 80"

Varun - Green Backing

Each plus block finished at 10" square. 48 blocks were arranged 6 by 8 for a finished quilt measuring 60" by 80". Varun is my contribution to the Positivity QAL and is a Mercyful Quilt. 

Thank you from Mercy Hospital

Mercyful Quilts Update

Wrapped with Kindness (may need tissues)

A Note from Mercy Hospital

Here are the pictures showing the progression from fabrics to flimsy to quilt.

Blues for the Border

Reds for the Main Squares

For the Plus Blocks

I think Varun is one good-looking quilt. Although the reason to make Mercyful Quilts is a somber one, I believe the quilt still needs to be uplifting and life-affirming.

Blue Blocks (see the Christmas lights?)

Red Plus Blocks, Snowballed Corners (Some sparkle is a must)

Finished Flimsy

When I am piecing, I see the fabrics from the wrong side. When I press the blocks/fabrics, the iron covers most of it. It is only when I am quilting that I get to really enjoy the beauty of the fabrics, as the sandwich moves slowly under the needle. 

Walking Foot Quilting

Adding Texture

Red Plaid for Binding

Machine Binding - Swift and Sturdy

All done!!!

As much as I want to get it done, move to binding and then get to the next project, I have willed myself to slow down while quilting. These are handsome fabrics and they look so good together. I should take the time to enjoy them, I tell myself.

On a steep hill

Hello handsome!!!

Best Wishes

Thank you Mauna, my goofy quilt model

One last look...

Go on Varun, Godspeed. Wrap someone in love and provide comfort...I said as I packed him away.

I still have a few triangles left over from snowballing the corners with bright blues. I could just discard these itty bitty pieces. 

Paul: Can you?
Me: Nah!!!

So here is a zippered pouch made from the leftover tiny triangles.  Yeah, I am keeping this :-)

No scrap left behind :-)

Mine!!!

Happiness inside!

On September 5, I will pick out the winners (see the prizes) from all those who entered the Finished Quilt Linky Party. I will then ask Bernie to make sure that those quilts have reached her. If not, then I will pick another till we have five winners.

Speaking of Bernie, did you know she is closing her Needle and Foot Etsy store and offering deep discounts on the clearance sale?

Did I buy anything?
You bet I did.

Here is my haul. I may have bought out some of the items. Sorry, not sorry. 
But hurry and you may still find some beauties at prices that are as good as a steal.

Super cuteness!!!

My floral beauties

Gorgeous Ombre Fabric and some remnants!

___________________________________________________________

I have completed my RSC blocks for August. Here are my greenish blues.

Greenish Blue - Light

Greenish Blue - Dark

And here are the bluish greens. 

Bluish Green - Light

Bluish Green - Dark

All my Blue Greens

Sharing with Angela's Linky Party and all my other favorites. See full list on the sidebar.

I look forward to your thoughts - be they positive (about the Positivity QAL) or negative (use of negative space) :-)