February bonus - Leap Day!

What really is Leap Day?   Researching the internet I read that this day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the Earth does not orbit the sun in precisely 365 days.  A leap year is a calendar year that contains an additional day added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year or seasonal year.

So what did I do this Leap Day?  Of course Leap Day is filled with sales from every vendor imaginable, but I celebrated Leap Day by having one extra day to finish up my February challenges. Actually, I didn't need an extra day, I was an over achiever and accomplished my February goals and then some.  

I was on a roll and headed to my studio to get to work. During the last few days we have had a total of twelve inches of new snow in northern Michigan, but today we have sunny blue skies.   I was ready to Leap into a day of sewing, I turned on my radio and the song, "Here Comes the Sun" was playing.  This was great inspiration to start my Leap Day.  

Reviewing my finished February goals:
Bind snowball quilt - check
February string a-long quilt top pieced - check
Moda Blockhead top pieced - check
Quilt guild block exchange top pieced - check
Quilts that I quilted: Heart quilt, Bargello strip quilt, and Queen of Tarts quilt.  (My goal was two quilts quilted and I quilted three - check
Postings caught up - check (more to come)
Extras - Bag Babes purse, Claude the Crab pin cushion, and two baby doll quilts.
Wow! I'm doing a victory lap.  For my February goal treat I'm heading up to the store to buy myself some flowers to brighten up these snowy days.

My February reward

Now comes March.  Can I keep up this pace?  March has 31 days giving me a couple extra days to get more UFOs done. Since  I don't want any of my newly pieced quilt tops to become UFOs,  I will quilt the January and February string a-long quilts, the Moda Blockheads quilt, and the block exchange quilt.  That's four quilts.  Now add to that list two other UFO quilts, that will make a total of six quilts finished.  There will be a March string a-long quilt challenge to piece, if I decide I want to accept it, and another bag babes purse.
So as the March winds blow I plan on blowing through these challenges.  

Crabby baby

Throughout February I was able to work on some fun small projects.  One project was a Teenie Beanie Baby pin cushion.
Cleaning around the house I came across some TY Beanie Babies.  I'm sure you remember the craze in the 90s.  My kids had fun collecting various babies.  It was great that they were so affordable so they acquired quite a few.  When McDonalds came out with their Happy Meal TY Teenie Beanie Babies they were a huge hit with my kids.  Perfect excuse for parents to buy Happy Meals for lunch or dinner.
One TY Beanie Baby I came across was a baby crab called Claude the Crab.  My husband gave me this crab because he said he could tell when I was hungry,  I get crabby.  Twenty-some years later, I still have this original TY teenie crab and it makes me smile with the memory of my husband giving it to me.
This teenie crab was too precious to throw away or donate to a thrift, so I decided it would make a darling pincushion.   With the crab being small and flat I needed to build up the body so pins could be stuck into it.  I found a half shell and made an oblong fabric cushion filled with crushed walnut shells and dried lavender flowers that fit into the shell.  I glued the cushion into the shell and than glued the crab to the top.

My new Teenie Beanie Baby pincushion

Back and bottom view of shell

I certainly didn't need a new pincushion - this makes number six.  All of my pincushions are very different and have great memories behind each one.   Having six pincushions reminds me of when I was a child and my mother's salt and pepper collection.  She had a few dozen salt and pepper shaker sets.  Some of them pretty crazy.  I'm sure they were inexpensive and were fun for her to collect.   The only difference between our collections is that I use all six of my pincushions - we never used any of Mom's salt and pepper shakers, only dusted them.   I don't think any salt or pepper was ever put inside them.
For hoots and giggles I decided to Google Claude the Crab Beanie Baby.  To my surprise the TY Beanie Baby crab is still available for purchase - it just looks a little different.  But there are people who are selling their original TY Beanie Baby - Claude the Crab, anywhere from $8,000 to over $30,000.  In fact, with any spelling error on the tag it could fetch $100,000.  Claude the Crab is listed as one of the most valuable TY Beanie Baby.  Not sure if there are any buyers, but with price tags like this I'm glad I didn't throw mine away or donate it.  As far as the McDonalds TY Teenie Beanie Baby it states that it was distributed in 1993/1999 and they are worthless, because they gave out over 100,000 in just two weeks.  I don't remember when my husband gave me this crab and I con't say for sure if it was from McDonalds.  Where the Teenie Beanie Babies for sale in stores?
Regardless of what is stated on the internet my Claude the Crab is certainly is priceless to me.

Scrap-o-licious

Another Stash Pot Pie challenge from 2010 was this Queen of Tarts - Ohio Scraps quilt.
The pattern description writes that the Ohio Star block is the queen of the star blocks in the quilting world.  In this version, the queen is off her head and set on point.  What would Alice think?  Certainly had my interest.
Using my scrap fabric stash I incorporated colors from my living room couch - cream, pink, purple, dark green and yellow.  This small quilt measuring 46 by 60 inches was designed to be a baby quilt or wall hanging, but I decided it would make a great lap quilt in my living room for those chilly evenings.
As I was cutting loose threads on the back of this quilt to get it ready for quilting I noticed uneven seam allowances, seams with puckers and untrimmed dog ears.  Certainly one of my earlier creations.    I am a much better piecer now.  I started to wonder if it was even worth finishing.  Well at least this would be a way to master my quilting skills.

Queen of Tarts - Ohio Star

So much for doubting myself - this little quilt came out beautiful.  All the imperfections on the inside are not visible on the outside.
As soon as I took it off my long arm and snapped this photo it was draped on the back of my couch.  It will be loved for many years.
And as with all the Stash Pot Pie challenge series the included pie recipe is for Lemon Tarts.  Now that sounds yummy.  I'll be baking up a batch this weekend.
Back to my UFO pile.  It is slimming down, but there is still more to go.

The Midnight Stitcher

My first Bargello project was a table runner that was offered in a day long class.  It seemed small enough to complete during this class.  I didn't need anymore unfinished projects.
My quilting friend and I signed up for the class and began sewing.  It was challenging to get the hang of this technique, but we pushed on through.
After the six hour class was done neither of us had completed our table runner.  I invited my friend to come over to my house to finish our runners and I would make dinner.  We both thought just a couple more hours and we would have our projects completed.  As two in the morning swung around we were almost at the finish line.  My friend tried to stop sewing and go home a. couple times, but felt as determined as me to finish this table runner.  I believe she finally went home around three in the morning with a finished runner.

This Bargello table runner is one of my favorites

This wasn't the only time that I ended up creating until wee hours of the morning.  Since I was a child I would always lose track of time when I was in my creative mode. As I grew into an adult I worked full-time during the day, so sewing was an escape in the evenings where I'd get lost in time.  Regularly I watch the sun start to break through the darkness of night.   After a couple hours of sleep I'm ready to begin a new day, never feeling tired - I just feel fulfilled.

Come strip with us

October 2018 a local quilt shop named OOOO la la sponsored a three-day jellyroll retreat called Come Strip With Us.  I had never attempted a jellyroll quilt and decided this was a perfect time.  When I showed up for the first day I realized that this retreat wasn't the typical jellyroll challenge, but several pattern options were offered.  I picked a Bargello pattern in which different fabric widths from one inch to two and an half inches were used.
This was not my first Bargello pattern to sew.  A few years back I made a Bargello table runner and also, I made a Bargello quilt - which has a crazy story of its own.  I will be quilting that other Bargello quilt soon and share that story.  This Bargello quilt is different than ones I made previously.
The Bargello pattern looks extremely hard, but once you master the technique it is so simple.  It is time consuming if you use narrow fabric strips, but the end results makes a stunning quilt.
Looking through my fabric stash I came across a bird print fabric that I purchased for no other reason accept I loved the fabric with leaves, birds and beautiful bright colors.  I only bought one yard and had no plans on what to do with it at the time of purchase  This was the quilt to use this fabric.  The pattern on this fabric was too large to cut up, so I decided it would work best as the center panel and piece the Bargello pattern around it with matching colors.

Queen-size Bargello with a center panel of leaves and birds

Close up on the quilting design of vine swirls and leaves that are inspired
from the fabric center panels

Let your love shine

With today being a day of spreading love I finished this quilt in time to share for Valentine's Day.
This UFO heart quilt has been folded and forgotten since 2010.  Now finished it will be loved for many more years.
This pattern was a mystery quilt with piecing starting in January 2010 and finished November 2010.  Each month our quilting group would receive a part of the pattern to complete this finished quilt.  The truth be know - I dislike mystery quilts.  I prefer to see the finished quilt to decide if I want to spend the time and money to make it.  If there are some new challenges in the quilt blocks it could get my interest.  Don't get me wrong I do love this finished quilt.
I do get roped into making some quilts by my quilting friends.  I probably would never make a particular quilt, but a friend will say "let's make this quilt together - it will be so fun".  It's always fun to quilt with friends, so I'm hooked in.  Frankly, how many quilts do I need to make.  I have quite a few quilts already on my to-do list I'd like to make.   I'm slowly working my way through that list.

Hearts or flowers?  Or heart shaped flowers?

I sent a picture to my daughter and she instantly saw flowers - like tulips.  Tulips, she must have spring fever too.  I do see tulips or hearts.  What every makes your heart thump.
Working my way through my UFOs and feeling refreshed and inspired to keep working.

Snow fun

While it is snowing outside it is warm inside as I finished up this snowball quilt.
This simple snowball block, made in avocado green and white Kona fabric, is simply stunning.  The geometric design reminds me of the mid-century style, which I love.

I quilted most of this quilt in January in straight lines following the octagon shape and left the center three inches unquilted.  The centers ended up puffing out.  After looking at it for a week or two I decided I needed to quilt the centers to hold the centers down.  I quilted a spiral design in the center which did the trick.

This snowball quilt design is simple but stunning.

The spiral stitching in the center of the block holds down the
puffy center perfectly

When I checked my thread to finish the quilting of the spirals I found that there was very little matching thread left.  The closest store that I could purchase this thread is an hour away.  That rat is on my heals again.  I took a chance and trying to conserve my thread I only wound my bobbin half way and began quilting.  I can't believe I made it and with only inches of thread left.

Ha ha Rat!  It was too close for comfort, but I did finish
this quilt with the thread I had left.

While I had down time in January getting my long arm quilter tuned-up I wasted no time and made a matching pillow from the corners cut from the snowball blocks of this quilt.   I love using up all these scraps.
This has been fun.

Lattice Top Friendship Path

Lattice Top Friendship Path is another Stash Pot Pie quilting group challenge from 2010.  Not only was this group designed to use up our fabric scraps, but there was a wide variety of blocks we learned.
The Lattice Top Friendship Path quilt combines two popular blocks, the Friendship Star and a Nine-Patch variation sometimes called Thrifty.  Like the frame on a picture frame, there is also pieced border called Twisted Ribbon.  I think it is simple but stunning.

Close-up of the Friendship Star block

A funny thing about trying to use up your stash fabrics - it seems that I use one fabric from my stash and purchase a few more fabrics to construct the quilt.  And since I always make my quilts larger than the original pattern I buy extra fabric so I always end up with more fabric.  In the end my stash always gets larger.

Patriotic Nine-Patch

This quilt pattern was one of the challenges from the Stash Pot Pie quilting group I belonged to in 2010.  Our group met every other month and was challenged with two quilt patterns with the goal to use up our stash fabrics.
My finished quilt was inspired by one of my fellow quilters from this group, named Evelyn.  Evelyn was from Belgium.  She met an American young man a couple years previous and they married.  He brought her back to America to live in the Detroit suburbs.
We became good friends.  During the year every challenge Evelyn always made beautiful quilts in red, white and blue.  One meeting I asked her if her home was decorated in red, white and blue or was this just her favorite colors.  She replied:  Yes!  I moved to America a couple years ago and I love America.  I can't wait to become an American citizen.  She went on to say that during the war the United States saved her country.  The United States is great.  Although her family in Belgium misses her, they are happy that she was now living in America.
After that conversation I felt like a spoiled kid complaining about things that were going on in our country.  And here a foreigner has moved to my country and is so excited to be here that every quilt she makes represents America.
The next quilt I made was red, white and blue in honor of America and Evelyn who reminded me how great our country is.

It's been ten years since the Stash Pot Pie group has met.  In fact, the quilting shop closed shortly after that.  Unfortunately, I haven't seen Evelyn since the quilt shop closed, but I'll  never forget my friend from Belgium.  Thank you Evelyn for opening my eyes.

Tulip Time Nine-Patch

May 2010 inspired this quilt named Tulip Time Nine-Patch.  This was the first time I worked with Batiks.
 I love tulips.  In fact, they are one of my most favorite flowers.  Unfortunately they only last a couple of weeks.  In the past I've planted hundreds of tulips in the fall anticipating a great show in the spring.  As the tulips started to bloom our deer ate them and pulled most of the bulbs out of the ground.  I think tulips are one of their favorites too.
Wondering why this quilt is named tulip time? Although this pattern is named tulip time, as I assembled the blocks I enjoyed the simplicity without the instructed appliquéd tulips in each nine inch block.  However, I did add appliqué flowers in the outer border.

Tulip Time Nine-Patch

As I was quilting Tulip Time it reminded me that spring is around the corner.  In Northern Michigan  snow usually sticks around in April and snow banks linger.  So blooming tulips is a welcomed site in my yard towards the end of April and early May.
This year it was reported that the groundhog did not see his shadow on February 2nd which means we will have an early spring.  Fingers crossed that his prediction is correct.  Our first snows started at the end of October.

Rats!!

In the Chinese zodiac 2020 is the year of the Rat and right now RATS seems appropriate.  I came close to completing my goals for January, but fell short.
I hate excuses, but my January goal to quilt a quilt each week started with a big obstacle.  While working on quilt number one my long arm quilter started skipping huge stitches.  I had to take it in for repairs.  Luckily only my tension and timing needed adjusting, but this caused a two week delay.
Finally mid-January I was ready to rumble.
Despite this set back I accomplished so much in January.  While I was waiting for my long arm repair I made a pillow from scraps of my green and white snowball quilt. Once repaired and back in operation I quilted four quilts and bound all but one. That is one shy of my five quilt goal, but considering I only had about three weeks with working equipment I'll pat myself on the back.

Four quilted quilts from my January challenge

I will post each finished quilt separately.
Reviewing my other goals the Moda blockheads quilt is very close to being finished and my strip quilt challenge for January is pieced and ready for quilting.  I also made a purse with the Bag Babes group.  Not bad.
I'm sticking to my commitment, so no reward for January.  I'll nail my goal next month.
I read that during the Year of the Rat  "not to fear the rat spirit animal because it symbolizes an abundant period that will soon take place".   I was not born in the year of the Rat - I was born in the year of the Horse.  If you believe in zodiac readings my year has started off as predicted.  I read that  "the Year of the Rat will prove troublesome for the Horse.  The promise of fortune from the previous year has passed, and it will be a struggle to get through this one.  Because the Horse and the Rat are not compatible, problems will appear around every corner.  To combat this misfortune, perform good deeds throughout the year, such as community service or random acts of kindness.  Although bad luck is on the horizon, the Rat does bring success to all.  If you get the chance, take it immediately."  This being said, towards the end of January my iron died, a few days ago as I was preparing to blog for January my computer mouse stopped working.    That darn Rat is up to its trick again this month!  Today I got my computer repaired and ordered a new iron (it was actually on sale for $25 for the same T-Fal iron I paid $60 a few years ago and free shipping) so am up and running again.  Evidently ,January was an unlucky month for the horse.
So now for February goals:
I will bind the green and white snowball,  finish piecing the Moda blockhead quilt, there will be a new strip quilt challenge, the midnight stitchers has a block exchange on February 21st (I need to make 60 9-patch blocks to exchange), I will quilt two more quilts and finally catch up on my postings.
The days are getting longer and I'm ready to check these projects off my February to-do list.  Watch out Rat - I'm full of energy and this Horse is on the run.