Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Last one for the year: December ALYOF goal

It's December, and my A Lovely Year of Finishes goal is not Christmas-themed (it could have been, but those projects HAVE to get done, and this one isn't as crucial, so I'm upping the ante by making this baby quilt my December goal. 

Let me start with a bit of a timeline. In 2005, I attended my first Sample Spree at Quilt Market. I made it to the Moda table before they sold out (a feat in itself!) and bought a fat quarter bundle of some beautiful woven plaids and stripes. 

Fast forward 6 months and my first niece was born. I knew exactly what fabric to use to make her a quilt. (no photo...this was before I had a digital camera!)

In 2009, her younger sister was born. I had enough of that fat quarter bundle left to make a similar quilt for her, using the Yellow Brick Road pattern:


Now it's 2013, and there's a new little sister (yay!). I don't have much of the bundle left, but I wanted to sew a quilt that would coordinate with the other two a bit. I bought the fabrics on the right to go with my 2 remaining fat quarters and scraps from the original bundle.

I'm not making another Yellow Brick Road quilt, though. Here's my plan: 3 rows of pennant-type flags (allowing me to use some of the smaller leftover scraps)

Surrounded by four-patches:

This is as far as I am right now; my goal is to finish the top by the end of the month so I can "give" it to my niece when I see her (and then take it back to quilt it!). We don't live nearby, and most of my quilt gifts to this family have been mailed, so I'm looking forward to giving it in person!


Monday, December 2, 2013

Challenge 4 Art: Winter

It's the third deadline for our Challenge 4 Art project. The theme? "Winter."
I struggled with this theme; I love winter and so much about it--the individuality of snowflakes, memories of snowy nights, the bracing feel of winter wind against my cheeks (and then that delicious first sip of hot chocolate upon returning inside!). But transforming those visions into fabric--tough.

I ultimately went down an abstract (at least for me) path. I chose 4 different colors of sky and fused different sized circles to represent snowflakes. I was going for the look of snowflakes flying at the windshield while you're driving.

I chose diagonal line quilting to create the feel of falling snow.


The other talented quilters in our little group are:
Amy of Amy's Crafty Shenanigans
Susannah from fiberchick 
Claudia will join back in next round.


Be sure to check out their projects too when you're done here! 
I can't wait to see the other interpretations of winter.

And looking forward to some real "winter" snow showing up here in Michigan some time soon! 


You can see my previous two themed posts in the links below and also find links for the other ladies' posts as well!
Blue
Growth