The Baby Lattice Quilt...finished!

Yeah! The project I've been working on all of this month is finally finished!

Just 3 days ago, this quilt was looking like this:

All it needed was the binding.

Lots of work this month was preventing me from getting into the sewing room.

It's been the winter testing period for the school district.

In the past 2 weeks, I've tested almost 300 kindergarteners and 1st graders.

Once each school day was over, I was too pooped to do much of anything!

Choosing a fabric for the binding always seems to be a tough one.

I lined up the fabric choices beneath the edges to see what would jump at me.

They all did!

So, I had to ask my husband for help.

Yeah, the one who has trouble matching his socks to his slacks.

The one who has a great eye for matching binding to quilt tops!

Using the process of elimination, we ended up choosing the coral floral fabric from Kate Spain.

It turned out to be a perfect choice!

We had a few rays of sunshine this morning and we ran outside for photos.

Has January been gray and gloomy for everyone?

Sigh.

This quilt will be given to the daughter of a good friend who is having the first

grandbaby on both sides of the family.

The expectant mother grew up with my kids and it will be such a joy

to give this to her as she and her husband welcome their new blessing into the world!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal January Linkup

and

AmyScrapSpot

Eight is Great! Project Quilting 8.1

Above is my project for the first week of the

Persimon Dream's Project Quilting Season 8!

This first challenge was named "Eight is Great".

I was stumped for two days on what to do.

Eight? Eight what?

Well, as I thought, I realized that there are 8 steps to every quilting project!! Who knew, right?

1. The Need/Desire

My need AND desire was to partake in this challenge.

I enjoy a good challenge and love getting involved in a blog challenge!

2. Inspiration

Since I was literally dumbfounded for an idea,

I spent some time

searching through my books and magazines and pinterest.

With the theme Eight is Great, I was inspired to create a post  and project to describe the 8 steps of creating a quilt. 

3. Creating/Choosing a Pattern

I found several blocks and projects that

included an 8 pointed star.

Could I make an 8 pointed star?

I had a diamond template.

But it wasn't the right angle to make 8 in a circular pattern.

My math genius husband came to my rescue.

He made me a template that worked! Yeah!

4. Pulling Fabrics

Now that I had my idea and template,

I needed to find the perfect fabrics!

Selvages!!! Selvages to the rescue!

5. The Making Process

I began with a thin white fabric scrap and

started sewing my selvages onto it in rows.

Sewing these together gave me so many other ideas...

I loved the look!

 

I used my template to cut out 8 diamonds,

tracing the shape on the back.

I began sewing them together and the

magic started to appear!

I made a purple patchwork background

to show off the light colored star.

**These fabrics were all used in my classrooms as bulletin board backgrounds. I was happy to give them a purpose!

I quilted with a simple cross-hatch.

The star was treated with Lara's Crafted Applique technique, then stitched to the patchwork background

using a zig-zag stitch.

6. The Finish

Now that the major part of the work was done,

it was time to add the binding.

I also added pockets and bands to the back for hanging.

To the very center, I added 3 sweet buttons

shaped like spools of thread!

7. Sharing

What fun is it to make something and not share it?

If it's not going to be gifted to someone,

it must be shared on social media, right?

This pretty star is being shared here on my blog,

Project Quilting 8.1 and Instagram.

8. Enjoyment/Admiration

It will forever hang on my sewing room wall to remind me of the joy every sewing and quilting project brings me.

My 8 Points of Quilting Star measures 19" x 19".

It was made in my Dubuque, Iowa home.

It contains patchwork, applique and 3 layers.

Stay tuned for voting starting on Sunday, January 8!!

Where'd She Go?

After 31 consecutive days of blogging,

I used my "Get Out of Blog Free" card!

Blogging daily was not an easy challenge,

but it did get easier as time went by.

I've still got ideas rolling around in my head to post about. There's still time for those.

But since Dec. 31st, I've been crazy busy with working, de-Christmassing the house, and starting a new sewing project. The Lattice Quilt is temporarily put to the side.

This is my second year partaking in the

Project Quilting Challenges.

Project Quilting Season 8 by Persimon Dreams started on January 1st and will run through March 19.

Every 2 weeks, a new theme is announced and projects must be completed and linked up in one week.

The following week, viewers get to vote!

Of course, prizes are involved. Sweet, huh?

This week's challenge is: Eight is Great

Submissions are due on January 8th

Since my project isn't finished yet,

I thought I'd offer some teasers...

It involves selvages. I've kept them for years and look for ways to use them up!

This turned out so cool that I hated to....

Diamond templates are used.

My talented husband used his math skills

to make what I needed.

My favorite color is used too!

Each of these fabrics were used as bulletin board

backgrounds from my teaching days.

I hope to have this project finished tomorrow.

Then I'll get it linked up to Persimon Dreams.

In the meantime, Miss Sophie has been

keeping herself comfortable.