Merry August-Mas!

Christmas flimsy

While searching for inspiration for Melva's Christmas In July blog hop, I found 50 sixteen-patch blocks hidden in my closet! I had completely forgotten about them. I used 49 for a 7X7 layout, added sashing and cornerstones, and now have a finished flimsy ready for backing and quilting - thanks Melva! I plan to finish this in plenty of time for Carol's 2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange on December 1-4. Now I want to start another Christmas-y project!

Successfully finishing and delivering the wedding quilt opened up a whole new world for me - a world quickly filled with the desire to do everything. I started by focusing on a quilt for my newly graduated granddaughter. One thing led to another, and now I have a few projects started and even more in my head. I decided to stop scolding myself for being distracted by "squirrels" and just enjoy myself!

Checkered Garden by @piecesandpiement on Instagram

I saw this block in the Instagram "story" of  Kris at Pieces and Pigment @piecesandpigment . The block is Checkered Garden, with a tutorial for it on the blog of Film in the Fridge. I made a few blocks in Sammy's favored pinks, light purples, and yellows. and I think it will work just fine for her quilt. 

I first saw this block on Carolyn's blog. She is making blocks for quilts for victims of the Kerrville TX floods. Hugs For Texas is sponsored by a quilt shop - Carolyn has more details about it here - let her know if you are interested in participating. The blocks are 12 inches and easy to make. I have the pieces cut to finish a quilt to send to her.

Quilter's Cache Pinwheel #8

I saw this block on Viridian's blog and couldn't resist trying with some fat quarters I've been holding onto since 2022. The pattern is Pinwheel #8 from Quilter's Cache. After sketchily making one with paper templates, I realized I could just measure and cut the fabric, so that was easier. I am still struggling with points coming out right, but I will keep trying. I think I might come up with a better name than Pinwheel #8 - lol!

Look at this pretty pattern, it is called Plaidberry. It was originally part of a 2022 sampler QAL and is now being sold as a standalone block by Kindred Quilt Co. I have a fall-ish fabric pull for this one, but it would be pretty in Christmas colors or especially in Tilda fabrics (of which I have none!)

Joining the following linkups:

Brenda's Monday Musings

Melva's Sew and Tell

Kate's Stitching Stuff

Alycia's Finished Or Not Friday

Wedding Quilt For Grandson!

The Wedding Quilt for Brandon and Raegan - too long for the Quilt Holder to display all of it

In March 2024 our grandson surprised his sweetheart with an engagement ring at Red Rock Canyon in Colorado, detailed here The wedding was this past April, and this is their wedding quilt.

Inspiration photos

Inspiration quilt photo - if you recognize it, shout it out!

In order to surprise them, I decided not to ask about colors so checked out their registry and found the colors represented were teal, navy, sage green, and cream. With that in mind, I bought a few yards of new fabric and pulled from stash. I saw a quilt made with these colors on one of your blogs, and I apologize, but I cannot recall who it was. The pattern was Brightly by Cluck Cluck Sew, and I loved it.

Due to last minute health issues, we were unable to attend the wedding, which was in Tulsa. The wedding was at Christ the King Catholic Church, and reception was at the historic Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa. We were a bit lonesome and depressed that night, but our daughter texted lots of photos and videos to make us feel like a part of it!

Quilting was delayed because of bobbin eyelashing on the back. After watching many videos and trying everything, I finally stopped ignoring the first instruction: "make sure your machine is threaded correctly". Yes, I had it threaded wrong - good grief! What a relief to get it going again, and I did a simple meander and enjoyed every minute of it.

I made a variation of the Brightly pattern for the twin size quilt and added a border to both sides to make it more a more standard size. Pre-laundering size = 74" x 94"; after laundering = 71" x 92". The border is a dark teal with gray dots, and the binding is Grunge. The backing is a pretty, warm sage-y green I purchased on sale at Joann's before it closed.

Rosie makes a perfect meowdel for these colors

It was nicely crinkled and soft after laundering

Raegan was so excited for the quilt and Brandon can't wait for it to turn cold to snuggle under it

Sammy with Papaw and Grandma (I was photographing our son photographing us)

We drove down south to Huntsville TX and delivered the quilt after a late lunch with our family celebrating the college graduation of our granddaughter Samantha (Sammy). She is our son and DIL's "baby", so it was an emotional day! Sammy is a very smart girl who has had a difficult past year, but she has a wonderful supportive family, a sweet and kind girlfriend, and she is on the right track, as we knew she would be. She has a job working with special needs children and wants to keep going in that direction. We are so very proud of her. 

Sammy with Raegan and Brandon and her girlfriend Cate. She was so happy!

The last quilt I made for Sammy was in 2017. I found out that she loves pink, so I have an initial fabric pull and pattern planned for her next quilt!

If you've made it this far, thanks for indulging me for this long post with gigantic photos! I am very pleased with how this long-awaited quilt turned out and grateful that my new granddaughter-in-law and grandson are so excited for it.

I am linking with a few linkups:

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch

Melva's Sew and Tell

Brenda's Monday Musings

Alycia's Finished Or Not Friday

We Have A Winner - And A Finish!

Toby is exhausted from pawing through the entries to choose a winner!

Toby and I are excited to announce that the winner of my giveaway for the Christmas In July Blog Hop is Judy at Busy Hands Are Happy Hands - congratulations Judy! Thank all of you for your participation, and thank you to Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for hosting this fun event. Getting involved was just what I needed, and I actually have a little finish to show you.

My blog hop embroidery (pattern is from Joy at Days Filled With Joy) has become a pillow, all ready for Christmas!

First I bordered it with scrappy squares, then shamelessly followed Diann's lead (see her beautiful pillows here) by using Crazy Mom Quilts' tutorial for an envelope backing.

For the backing I used a piece of my hoarded stash of Postcards From Santa that I purchased in 2015!

While I was looking for something to finish for the blog hop, I came across 50 "Sixteen Across" blocks I had made in 2023 - I couldn't believe my find!

Then I pulled a dark green sprigged fabric from Joann's, which I auditioned as a sashing. My husband preferred it to a lighter fabric, and so do I. It would be nice to have this one finished before Christmas and on the guest bed along with the Christmas pillow!

Have a great week!

Winging It Finish - A Quilt For Sissy

Finger tips and shoes belong to my favorite quilt holder

Here is my finish on a QAL I started in May 2023. This one is a surprise for my sister-in-law, Sandy. She is 3 years older than my husband, and he often calls her "Sissy", which was his name for her when he was a little tyke.

Side view

Full backing

Closeup of backing

Sandy's favorite bedroom color for years was turquoise - she even painted the walls of her bedroom turquoise  -  and this quilt was originally intended to lay across her bedspread. It was sandwiched and ready to quilt when Sandy innocently and excitedly told me that her new favorite bedroom color was pink and sent me a photo of her new hot-pink bedspread! I "un-sandwiched" the turquoise backing, which was the same turquoise background as the front. At my favorite Etsy shop (That's So Janice), I located 4-1/2 yards of a Tilda-ish print with pink, coral, and turquoise flowers. There is no pink on the front of the quilt, but the fabric blends well as a backing, so it will have to serve as pink for her!

I decided to try a flange binding and used a tutorial by Jenny at Missouri Star. My quarter inch sewing was a little "fat", so the flange is not quite as wide as I prefer, but I do like the result.

My first and favorite block, before and after quilting.

Closeups of Great Barrier Reef variegated thread

This well-written pattern is Winging It by Wendy Sheppard at Ivory Spring. I used my current favorite Great Barrier Reef variegated thread by Y.L.I. Threads for the top and a creamy high sheen thread for the back. All of the butterflies are from stash, background was purchased at Joann's, and the backing from Etsy. This quilt finished at 72" x 63".

Quilting was done with a butterfly themed panto called "Fanciful Flyers" from Urban Elementz.

The turquoise background is imprinted with dragonflies, so it is definitely a "winged" theme!

Rosie, my quilt assistant, checking for loose threads.

Baby Boy Ryker Quilt

Marvin is trying out the baby quilt

As if I did not already feel old enough, my nephew Gary is now a Grandpa, which makes me a great-great aunt! Gary's son Cory and wife Brooklyn are the proud parents of  "Ryker", who was born in November 2024.

Brooklyn and Cory with Ryker

Little Ryker has 3 given names - Ryker Lennox Gray plus his surname!

Cory and Brooklyn were the recipients of a wedding quilt which I made in 2022. Brooklyn still likes grays and blues and told me her nursery theme was clouds, stars, and moon. I used stash except for the purchase of a bit of Dear Stella Shooting Stars in navy. I did take the liberty of adding in some soft gold/yellow, because after all, the moon is made of cheese!

A big thank-you to Nancy for encouraging words on minky selection - I picked embossed minky in soft gray for the backing. After feeling it, my husband wants all future quilts to be backed with minky!

This quilt measures 48" x 48". I used a petite panto called "Timeless's Stars and Clouds" from Urban Elementz. Although I really like the design for this quilt, I will not buy a petite panto again, because the design is only 5-1/2 inches tall, and I had to roll the quilt frequently on Longmire the Longarm.

Up next up on Longmire is my sister-in-law's butterfly quilt, which was a finished flimsy in October 2023. My SIL has since changed her bedroom from turquoise to pink - lol - but I think she will love it anyway.

On a sad note, my good friend and fellow blogger Nanette has passed away. Nanette was a passionate and kind person who made beautiful quilts. I knew she had health issues, but I was still stunned, as she had posted as recently as February 16. She will be missed. You can find a tribute to her with a really lovely photo right here.

This post is shared with:

Joy's This and That at Days Filled With Joy

Joy's Home Matters Linky Party #519 at Days Filled With Joy

Melva's Sew & Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

Brenda's Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Alycia's Finished Or Not Friday