This was a project the Guild did at a recent Tuesday bee. I debated with myself about participating because I didn’t want another UFO adding to my already large pile. I decided to go ahead because, if I used Christmas fabrics, I would have a head start on my Christmas projects.

There was a lot of prep work involved before we even touched our sewing machines. Before class we cut out twelve squares from each of three fabrics. We also had twelve squares of Soft and Stable and twelve squares of Steam-a-Seam cut. Once the Soft and Stable and Steam-a-Seam were applied to the backs of two of the fabrics we finally were ready to start stitching.

Once the sewing was started it was a quick finish and, because there was no binding to do, once the sewing was done the project was done with the exception of the beadwork that keeps the flaps together.

Pat has decided this one is a keeper so I’m no further ahead on my Christmas projects.

I knew early in the fall that the Guild were going to have a workshop using a Jelly Roll; on a trip to Calgary I purchased a roll. The Guild offered several pattern options and I chose Sticks and Stepping Stones from the Missouri Star Quilt Company.

After sewing several blocks together on the day of the class I realized the jelly roll wasn’t well suited to the pattern. The roll consisted of very dark strips with bright coloured flowers, and very light strips with bright coloured flowers. With white squares dividing the blocks I felt that the pattern was completely lost; there wasn’t enough contrast between the light strips and the white, and there was too much contrast between the white and the dark strips. I took all the blocks apart and then restitched the blocks using only the dark strips and the white squares. While I still wasn’t completely happy with the results you could at least see the pattern.

I tried a new quilting pattern by following a DVD from the Guild library – Curvaceous Curves and Vines. I need more practice but I like the design. The quilting doesn’t show much on the front, but it sure does from the back!

Pat uses this as a cover for the back of his new TV chair.

I don’t think I’ve ever read the book “Good Night Moon”, but the name seems appropriate.

The pattern for the moon came from a Guild library book but once I made one block I thought it would work with a “Give and Take” technique. I didn’t bother to look up my notes from the class I took; if I had I would have realized it didn’t really suit the method.

When it was done I thought I might be able to use it for a card, but I wasn’t satisfied with it. I’ve added it to the miniature collection in my hallway. When I look at it I can’t help wondering why I didn’t alternate the light and dark background squares.

Maybe next time I can do blocks to represent the phases of the moon. Stay tuned for that!

This project started as a Guild challenge but turned into so much more. Each block finished at 15″ square and I’ve used a couple of them for several mementos from my family and myself. This triptych hung at at 2015 Quilt Show and now resides in my stairwell.

All of the photos can be enlarged to full size by clicking on them.

The Past

 

 

 

Mum’s quilts were called Crazy Quilts but they weren’t entirely what the Guild member who initiated the challenge had in mind. I proceeded with my own idea and used one of Mum’s crazy quilt squares as a starting point. I added a few embroidery stitches but quickly switched to using the fancy stitches on my machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Present

I decided another block would be a good spot for some of my own mementos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Future

 

 

 

Once the Past and the Present were covered it seemed like a natural progression to look at the future. This is meant to be a blank slate but I added a few fancy stitches and some fun buttons.