Wonky Challenge with Island Batik

I have had my project done since November...then I wrapped it up to gift it to my grand daughter and forgot to take a picture!!!  This is how my brain works after going through withdrawals from a medication my Dr gave me for chronic pain.  But everyday is better and I hope to get my mind back soon! I am now 15 days free of Cymbalta!!!! 

So....here is my Mini-Wonky Star quilt.  I made it with scraps left over from the Spring Blossoms collection.  The pattern can be found on the Missouri Star You Tube channel. Lots of fun to make! It uses 2 1/2" strips and your background fabric.  

That little elf sitting on the quilt is old....68 years old to be exact!  He belonged to my first husband, Jack, who died in 2000 and was a little toy his mom saved all these years.  I was so excited to get this little guy, and decided he might be one of the first Elf on the Shelf elves!  His name is Jack Ray, and I think he will have to go live with one of the grandkids someday...probably Jack.  

I backed the quilt with some Minky furry fabric....so nice and cozy!  My grand daughter is autistic, and I am hoping the texture and weight will comfort her.  

Peace and grace from Sharon and Bella the Yellow Cat

Stamp of approval from Bella :)

P.S.  If there are any of my patterns you wish to purchase on Craftsy, be sure to go there before December 28.  I am reducing all of them until that date.  Then my store will disappear from Craftsy.  

Cozy Log Cabins Challenge with Island Batik

This month, we are challenged to play with log cabins, so I had to do one of my favorite variations of a log cabin block...the pineapple block!  One of my favorite tools to make this block is Gyleen Fitzgerald's Pineapple tool.  It is so easy to use!  

I used Island Batik Alpine Jingle cut into 1 1/2 inch strips to make my pineapple, starting out with a 2 1/2" square.  Made 9 blocks and sashing is 1 1/2".  Then, with the leftover fabric, I started on my December challenge...wonky and whimsical...making wonky 6" x 8" tree blocks.  While they were on the design wall they started to mingle, and I decided I had to use them for my border.  I'm glad I did, as it turned out to be a fun quilt!  

At Thanksgiving, I gifted it to my sister, and it hangs on her dining room wall.

Stay tuned for more holiday inspiration coming soon!

grace and peace.....Sharon

Monday meanderings...

I cannot believe that I did not sew one stitch last week....not until Saturday!  Had company, then I had strep throat and was on the sofa for the rest of the week.  But I did get a little crochet blanket done for Project Linus, and some hand applique...so I feel a tiny bit productive! and I used up scrap yarn!

I'm working on my Island Batik November challenge and I thought I was working on my December challenge when I first started piecing these blocks using the Alpine Jingle fabric Island Batik sent to me.

 My pineapple blocks are made with 1 1/2" strips, the center square is 2 1/2" with a 3 1/2" square flipped on the corners.  I LOVE using Gyleen Fitzgeralds Pineapple Tool...so easy!

Then I decided to make some wonky improv trees using my left overs.  Once I got them made, I did like the idea of making a quilt, but then I thought...what if?  And tried the blocks out as a border around the pineapple quilt.  I like it! (except now I need an idea for my December challenge)

Hopefully I get this completed this afternoon and start quilting it!  What's on your Monday afternoon agenda?

A view of my back yard....we are having the most amazing display of color here in Missouri this year.  Hope you are enjoying some beautiful fall weather!

Linking to: Main Crush Mondays

Candy Cat

I love paper piecing, so the Island Batik challenge for October was easy for me....until I had to pick a project!  This adorable Candy Cat has been on my list for a bit, so I printed out the pattern and used up my scraps from previous Island Batik projects.

A favorite tool of mine to use is the Add-a quarter ruler....makes it so much easier. Also, I grab my markers and make colored marks to help me remember where each piece goes.  

You can download this project here.....Unicorn Hearts.  Oh...and cute fish bones are available too!  FREE!  

Check out the #candycat on Instagram to see all the wonderful, colorful cats using this adorable pattern.  There might be a quilt in my future using this pattern!

For this project, I decided to make a pillow.  The border is fabric from Island Batik Petting Zoo...don't you love it????

I took this picture right before the freeze last week....not so pretty this week, but a bit spooky which is ok!  Hope you are having a glorious fall!

If time permits, I may have to make another paper pieced project, as I found some darling Halloween projects to make.  So many ideas and not enough time and energy!

Grace and peace....Sharon

Star Struck with Island Batik

I found this quick and easy pattern in the Missouri Star Block magazine, and decided to use the 2 1/2" strips provided by Island Batik.  I love how this turned out using the Sweet William line of fabric.  

As usual, Jenny Doan provides and easy strip quilt to make in no time!

Stars and Stripes

You can find the pattern in Block magazine, Summer Volume 5, Issue 3.  Very fun to make!  

Starstruck was the September challenge, and I am woefully behind! 

But I really have been sewing and designing, things are not so foggy anymore. Stay tuned...hopefully I can manage to show you what I have been doing once I get back from a short trip to Branson, MO.  We have been married 10 years on the 17th and decided to take a little anniversary trip.  

grace and peace....Sharon

linking to:  Main Crush Mondays

And the winner is......

  The Happy Go Lucky Sew Along is finished and I hope all of you enjoyed making this quilt.  As you complete your quilt I hope you will share a picture with me or put it on Instagram.  

Shelley aka Happy, has won the grand prize for a completed quilt top.  I love the bright colors she has used.  It turned out beautiful!

Happy had fun making  the extra blocks and rearranging, to make a larger quilt with her hand dyed fabrics.  Since the fabric came from a project she and her mother made, she named the quilt Happy Fayes Sampler.  I think she did a great job with this!

The Fat Quarter shop has graciously donated a gift certificate !

Thanks so much to all of you for sewing along with me!  Hope to see your quilts soon!

Bloggers 2018 Quilt Festival

It's that time of year again!  I love all the quilt shows that happen every fall, but I fail to make it to all of them!  So this is one of my favorites....I can get a glass of cold tea and go to the quilt festival in my comfy easy chair!

A huge thank you to Amy  at Amy's Creative Side for hosting the Blogger Quilt Festival.  And there are some wonderful prizes....you might like to enter as well!

I am entering my All a Flutter quilt which I made this summer.  It is made from Island Batik fabric...All a Flutter.

If you look closely in the lower right had corner, there is a little butterfly that has come to inspect the flowers on the quilt.  So, I decided that All a Flutter was the right name for this quilt!

Not an appliqued butterfly! 💓💓💓💓

Hope you will go visit Amy and all the beautiful quilts that have been entered!

Grace and peace....

Sharon