Welcome Joel Thomas

March 1st welcomed a new little guy into our world - Joel Thomas.
Joel has an older brother, Evan, who is now two.  When Evan was born I made a quilt for him.  My older son helped me pick out the fabric at our local quilt shop.  When it was finished my son and my daughter claimed it was their favorite baby quilt I've made.  With that in mind, I found leftover fabric from Evan's quilt that I decided to make Joel's quilt from, but I wanted it to look different but sort of the same.
I love the pen and ink drawing look of this fabric line from Moda called "Thicket".  I used the same black line drawn animals, but added a little more color for Joel.  Evan and Joel live in Minnesota so the woodsy animal look seems appropriate.

Evan's baby quilt from Deember 2017

Baby Joel Thomas quilt finished April 2020

With the quilt finished I'm getting it ready to mail.  In the package I've included a book and snacks for Evan and I made a couple face masks for mom and dad.  A little something for everyone and trying to help keep everyone safe.

Another nine face masks made today for family and friends

Time flies when you're having fun and quilting has been fun and rewarding during the stay at home orders from our governor.  As of today, May 15th is the scheduled last day for staying home in Michigan.  I'm excited to get businesses open again and to be able to buy whatever I need.  Shopping has been a challenge lately and the shipping services has been horrible.  But on the positive side,  I've used up a lot of my stash fabrics lately.
I made eight more face masks plus a special one for my youngest son - a Crown Royal face mask.  He has been saving Crown Royal bags for me to make him a quilt. I'm currently in the process of  piecing the quilt together.   But in the meantime, he will be surprised to receive this mask.

My son will be surprised when I give him this special
made  mask

With still a couple more days left in April and the next two days are going to be rainy, I think I'll tackle quilting another quilt.  I'll be back again in May.

Dutchman's Puzzle

Today was a rainy day making it a great day to work on my UFOs
A couple years ago Missouri Star Quilt had a video for making the Dutchman's Puzzle block/quilt.  Continuing with my mission to use up my stash fabrics - I found large amounts of a few blue fabrics that worked out perfect for this quilt.  The size of the quilt I made was as large as the fabrics would make blocks, so it ended up a good size of 85" by 85".  This was a very simple pattern and being larger squares this quilt was pieced together very quickly, but today I finally quilted it.

Dutchman's Puzzle

My piles of UFOs is dwindling down to a handful.  During April I've pieced a couple new quilt tops and I want to make sure that they get quilted and I don't end up adding them to my UFO pile.  With April winding down and May a couple days away I'm hoping to tackle one of those quilts tomorrow.
Like so many quilters/sewers I've been side tracked sewing face masks for family and friends.  I've made and mailed about 100.  Recently I've had a request for six more masks.  I think I'll make a couple extra for backup.  Put that on my to-do list.

April showers bring...

Today April showers brought another finished UFO.  While Mother Nature was busy showering my gardens I was busy quilting.
Hopping from Grayling, east to Oscoda and as far as south Saginaw to eight different quilt shops, I participated in the 2010 Middle of the Mitten Shop Hop with a few of my quilting friends.  Shop Hops are so fun.  The participating quilting shops are all decked out with lots of displays, patterns, demonstrations, gifts, raffles and of course fabric.  It's a quilters paradise.  And of course there is always a stop for lunch.  It's truly a girls day out.
Every time I've participated in a shop hop I've found myself getting caught up in the moment.  I end up buying that new demonstrated tool that I still haven't used, bought a pattern for a beautiful quilt that was on display and still haven't made it, or bought a few yards of fabric with no idea what I need it for.  But it was great fun.  I think the quilt shops must have one of their busiest business days of the year with all of us crazy shoppers - the stores are packed.
During the Middle of the Mitten Shop Hop we received a quilt block pattern from each shop to complete a quilt.  The theme in 2010 was "Reach for the Stars" so of course the blocks were stars. I finished putting this quilt together shortly after the shop hop, but it finally got quilted today.

Reach for the Stars quilt is 60" by 60"

As I was quilting this quilt I sadly realized that only five of the eight shops are still in business.  I haven't heard of any Middle of the Mitten Shop Hops in a few years.  I wonder if they still do a shop hop.  I'll have to look into this - I'm ready to do some hopping.

As March marched by

I am extremely happy with meeting and exceeding my goals and accomplishments for March.  In fact, for my New Year's resolution - to tackle my UFOs - my success has been very rewarding. A great weight has been lifted off my shoulders by staying focused and cruising through my goals.

Here is my stack of 2020 completed quilt.  Instead of a stack of
UFOs I have a stack of finished quilts.  Now they just
need to find a place to rest.

With the coronavirus stay home orders I have not had an opportunity to shop for my March reward, but I did find this beautiful violet plant in bloom and decided this would serve as a well deserved reward.

March reward

The month of April has started with warm temps and the snow has disappeared quickly, so my inside sewing time has started slowing down.  I feel that I'm in a great place with my UFOs to easily focus my time to outside and gardens.  Therefore, I decided that I will not commit to any more resolution goals until possibly September.  If the weather keeps me inside, I will be sewing and will post any of my finished quilts that I complete.  Let the sun shine!