Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2013

It's that time again!  Amy has put together another

Blogger's Quilt Festival.

This is such a great event in the quilting community.

We get to see what inspires everyone,

and what they are up to.

So if you are new to my blog, welcome!

And if you have been here before, welcome back!

This time around I am showing a medallion quilt that I have just finished.

This quilt is very special to me for a number of reasons.

I started the middle blocks thinking I would make a quilt like this one

for myself, after I had given this one to my daughter.

Funny enough, I showed that quilt last fall.

More on that in a bit.

Then I was asked to make a quilt for a donation to a special charity.

So I took those four center blocks and started on my way.

I used a inspiration quilt from Kathy's Material Obsession.

You can see the post about that here.

As usual, I jumped right in with no plan or measurements.
I did some flying geese and corner stones.  I added a striped border.
Then . . . 

I changed a few things.  I didn't like the small striped border above,

So I switched it out with a smaller green border below.

I loved the finished top so much!

And it would be hard to part with . . . but . . .

I chose channel quilting, using the edge of my presser foot

to measure the width of the 

channels.

A Denise Schmidt print for the binding.

I love to photograph my quilts at the beach!

The sun is so great this time of year.

I love a pieced backing.  The backing didn't  photograph so well, but I love the polka dots

on the bottom half of this quilt.  My new favorite!

So where is this donation quilt going you ask?

Well, I didn't talk about it here, but last year I had breast cancer.

There, I said it.  I want this place to be about creativity and moving forward.
I wasn't ready to "let the world" know.

And now that I have moved forward, it is easier to talk about it.

I am fine.

I won.

I don't ever give up.

My darling daughter, "the kid," took amazing care of me last year.

There were only giggles and hope.

Maybe a couple of tears, but honestly not many.

So the quilt that I showed last year at this festival, was a gift to her for all that she so 

selflessly did for me.

It is only fitting that this new quilt with the same stars goes to a cause so close to my heart.

 This quilt is going to the Breast Cancer Alliance silent auction

in two weeks in Greenwich, CT.  I hope they make a ton of dough!

And here is a picture of me with my new niece a few weeks ago.

Life goes on, hair grows back.

Never give up!

Thank you Amy for another wonderful festival.

Medallion Quilt, the saga continues . . . .

I have been slowing working on this medallion quilt

for a donation to the Breast Cancer Alliance for their silent auction.

I thought I would use up some of the blocks from my fractured quilt,

But they seemed to uniform.

So I tried making those same blocks with contrasting fabric,

some wonky pinwheels . . .

Better, but I need more movement.  That blue and yellow one crashed with a thud!

Still, something is missing . . .

The pinwheels were all going in the same direction,

so I made one in the opposite direction and Voila!

There are more to be made!

It's moving in the right direction now,

But . . .  It needs something else.

I think I will brew on this for a bit.

As promised here is the inspiration piece from Material Obsession.

I think I need smaller pieced blocks.  And spiky things.

Hummm.

on another note.

I am working on these beauties too.

From Victoria's 15 min play class this past week.

That girl knows how to push you out of your comfort zone!

What have you bee up to??

A Lazy Sewing Sunday . . .

What a spectacular day in the northeast today.

I couldn't decide what to do first.

So I went for a nice long walk by the water to collect my thoughts.

When I returned I was ready for a bit of sewing.

I am working on a donation quilt right now.

A medallion of sorts.

It is inspired by one of Kathy's quilts at Material Obsession.

I can't find the picture right now, but I promise to show it in the next post.

While we were at Quilting by the Lake,

Kathy spoke about contrast and helping your piece pop.

I realized that while I use a ton of rich color,

sometimes there is not enough contrast.

So I am working on that.

This little project was started a month ago,

and has been hanging around ever since.

It is going to be a wreath.

It is taking FOREVER to tie all those scraps.

But I will keep at it, because I think it will be really fun.

Like my sewing corner?

It has reached the tipping point again.

A total chaotic mess.

I can barely cut anything.

This week I am going to visit my niece, nephew and family.

I wanted to find a cute little doll for my niece, one, who I haven't met yet.

Have you been to Toys U Us lately?

OMG, I know I am old because I was wandering around like

a shock victim.  I was asked if I needed help three times.

I was just trying to find a sweet baby doll for a little girl.

They all looked like they were on crack.

So I settled for this sweet little Peebles.

Soft, sweet and a red head.  Perfect!

On another note . . . 

I spent yesterday afternoon in the city.

In Bryant Park.

With some hilarious, very fun peeps.

You know who  you are!

Hope you had as much fun this weekend as I did!