Best of 2020

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is hosting the Best of 2020 blog party, the fifth year for this event. She is offering the opportunity to link up our five "best" posts from the past year. We get to decide how we choose those posts, but I'm going to follow her suggestions.

1. Post with the most views:  Star Cluster Baby Quilts

I made quilts for the two newest additions to the family over the summer, and this post got the most views by far in 2020. We haven't been able to travel and meet the new babies yet, but it's great to see both enjoying their quilts!

2. Post with the most comments: Orange Peel Rainbow

Orange Peel Rainbow, 36.5" x 48.5"

The Orange Peel blocks were my hand-stitching project for over a year and a half as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I got them all joined together into this small quilt top in August.

3. Post that provoked the best discussion: Scrappy Bear Paws Setting

The above photo shows my Scrappy Bear Paw blocks on the wall with scrappy setting triangle fabrics, an idea that ended up being rejected. Here's a photo of the finished quilt top.

Scrappy Bear Paws, 47.75" x 68.75"

4. Post showing your favorite 2020 finish: Dresden Stars

Dresden Stars, 50" x 50"

Besides the two baby quilts, this was one of the few quilts to get completely finished this year. It felt great to get this long-time UFO, which was started in 2013,  done and hanging in our living room.

5. Post that is a personal favorite: 2020 Rainbow Scrap Challenge Wrap-Up

My final Rainbow Scrap Challenge post of the year shared all four of the rainbow projects that became finished tops by the end of 2020. Besides the Orange Peel Rainbow and the Scrappy Bear Paws shown above, it also included my Scrap Snap quilt, Rainbow Cascade, and my two RSC Square Dance tops.

Rainbow Cascade, 60.5" x 72.5"

RSC Square Dance tops, each 40" x 60"

Despite all the challenges of this very strange year, I'm happy with the progress I made on my quilting projects for 2020, and I look forward to continuing in 2021. Thanks to Cheryl for giving us all the opportunity to share our favorites from the past year. I'm linking up with her "Best of 2020" blog party.

Happy quilting and Happy New Year!

Julie in GA

Star Cluster Baby Quilts

There are two wonderful new additions to our family! Two of our nieces had babies recently, which means I can finally share the baby quilts I made for them.

Both of the baby quilts were based on the Star Cluster block pattern by Judy Martin. Her pattern is written to make either a 12" or a 16" block, but I scaled it up to finish at 32". Then I added some borders so each quilt finished at 40" x 50".

The first quilt to be finished was made in turquoise/teal and golden yellow with added borders of flying geese. The second photo has light coming from the side, which lets the quilting stitching show up better.

Here is the flannel fabric that was used on the back.

The second quilt has even more colors, and the added border is pinwheels.

And another great flannel for the back.

Of course, the best thing about making baby quilts is seeing their new owners with the quilts. I received wonderful photos of them from their mothers. The quilts look very oversized with the newborns, but I know that won't last long. We can't wait to meet these little ones in person!

This is Mariella...

and this is Rolan.

 Linking up with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Blogger's Quilt Festival 2017

It's time once again for the Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side. There is an amazing variety of quilt styles on display, and I can't wait to spend more time checking out all the gorgeous creations!

My entry for this year is the Star Cluster baby quilt that I made for our great-niece Flora. 

Star Cluster baby quilt for Flora

My inspiration was the quilt Interlocking Stars, shared in 2015 by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Her starting point was a pattern called Star Cluster by Judy Martin. Judy's pattern is for a block that finishes at either 12" or 16". Sarah super-sized the pattern into a 64" single-block quilt. I went half-way in between the two--the center of my quilt finished at 32", and the border brought the finished size up to 37.5" square.

Star Cluster by Judy Martin

12 or 16" block

Interlocking Stars by Sarah Craig

I had such a good time making the first Star Cluster quilt, that I ended up making two more for other new babies. I varied the piecing for the centers of the stars and also changed up the borders for each quilt.

Star Cluster baby quilt for Charlotte

Star Cluster baby quilt for Fritz

I am linking up to the Fall 2017 Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side. Check it out for tons of amazing quilting creativity!


Julie in GA

April 2017 Goals and March Report

March was a busy month with lots going on, but I managed to make good progress on several of my quilting projects. I met my One Monthly Goal, and although I didn't complete my two tasks for Judy's UFO Challenge, I did move both of those quilts closer to completion. Here's my list from March.

1. One Monthly Goal--Finish up the third Star Cluster baby quilt.  DONE

2. Add borders plus piece a back for Maple Stars top.  BORDERS DONE, no backing

3. Quilt and bind Stack & Whack Spinners quilt top. Most of the quilting is DONE

4.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make a set of red Scrappy Trips blocks. DONE

Also figure out another pattern to make using the pile of 3" red strips  MORE SCRAPPY TRIPS

5.  Meadow Mystery--join all blocks together into finished quilt top.  DONE

APRIL GOALS:

1. One Monthly Goal and UFO Challenge #1--Fiesta Log Cabin remove borders and make more blocks to make this quilt rectangular

2.  UFO Challenge--quilt and bind one of my Christmas panels.

3.  Wonky Log Cabins--join blocks, add borders, quilt and bind.

4.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--Make 4 Scrappy Trips blocks with multicolor fabrics.

5.  Finish the quilting and binding on the Stack & Whack Spinners quilt shown above as #3 for March.

That's the plan for the month ahead. I will report back at the beginning of May with a progress report and a new set of goals for the next month. I am joining the One Monthly Goal link-up for April at Elm Street Quilts and Judy's 2017 UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Star Cluster #3 Baby Quilt is Finished!

2017 has been the year of the baby quilt for me, and I just completed my third one of the year. All three quilts have been variations on Judy Martin's fabulous Star Cluster pattern. Each of my quilts are slightly different than one another--you can see the other two quilts HERE and HERE.

This quilt is made entirely from music prints. The father plays the trumpet...

 and the mother plays the viola.

To go along with the music theme, I included a piano key border. I had some trouble getting the border to fit, but finally got it all to work together. The quilt measures around 39" square after a trip through the washer and dryer. Baby Fritz was born about 10 days ago, and I hope to present him with his quilt this weekend.

Star Cluster #3 baby quilt
39" square

Finishing up this quilt was my One Monthly Goal for March. I am very happy to have met my goal, and I will be linking up at Elm Street Quilts.

I am also linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle, Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts.

Have a wonderful, quilty weekend!

Julie in GA

Another Star Cluster Quilt

This is the third time this year that I have used Judy Martin's Star Cluster pattern to make a baby quilt. Each quilt has been in different colors with some variations in the piecing of the star centers. You can see the other two versions HERE and HERE.

First of all, here is a close-up of the fabrics in this quilt. The parents-to-be are both musicians, so I am using some of my collection of music fabrics on this quilt. I made another baby quilt using some of the same fabrics when they had their first child (see it HERE.)

Since the quilt is made from all music fabrics, it seemed to make sense to do a piano key border. Unfortunately, I've been having trouble getting the border to fit. The center of the quilt measures 34.5", and the border strip along the side is closer to 35 or 35.25". I've already tried making some of the seams a little deeper, but it still doesn't fit. It might be time to just trim down the strips at the the two ends and call it good enough! The baby won't mind.

Star Cluster pattern by Judy Martin

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

From Purple to Teal

Let me begin by saying that improv piecing does not come naturally to me. I am much more comfortable when working with a definite plan. However, I have seen many people create beautiful rainbow quilts from scraps and crumbs. Our January color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was purple, and when I found a pile of small purple scraps left from an earlier project, I decided to give improv another try.

Last Saturday I spent a large part of the day making these blocks. I used up most of the purple scraps that I showed last week plus a few pieces from my strip drawers. My blocks measure 6-1/2" unfinished.

The February color for the RSC is blue-green (teal, turquoise, aqua, etc.) I love these colors and have a sizable collection of scraps. I started the month by making Scrappy Trips blocks using 3" strips and Bonnie Hunter's instructions. I made 3 blocks to go with the one I'd made earlier. I'm including a close shot of each block so you can get a better look at the fabrics. Most of those fabrics are at least 12 - 15 years old!

Scrappy Trips Around the World
pattern by Bonnie Hunter

It isn't scrappy, but I recently finished this baby quilt that is mostly teal/turquoise fabrics. I wish we could have gotten to Wisconsin for the baby shower today, but no such luck. 

Star Cluster Baby Quilt
variation of a pattern by Judy Martin

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday and at Oh Scrap at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday.

Julie in GA

Another Finished Baby Quilt!

Baby quilt #2 for 2017 has been completed! It feels so good to have both of these quilts finished in the first month of the year. I have at least one more baby quilt to make in the next month.

Star Cluster Baby Quilt #2
39.5" square after washing & drying

Here are some closer photos of the stars so you can check out the fabrics.

Quilt back (all flannels)

This quilt is a variation on Judy Martin's Star Cluster pattern, the same pattern as quilt #1. You can read more about my inspiration and see the first quilt HERE.

I am linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle, Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, and Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Have a wonderful, quilty weekend!

Julie in GA

First Finish of 2017!

It's amazing what can get finished when there is a deadline involved!

We know several young women who are expecting babies around the end of March to mid-April. I felt like I had plenty of time to make baby quilts until the baby shower invitations started showing up! The first shower is this Saturday for our niece Ashley. The baby quilt was started on Dec. 20th and finished on Wednesday, Jan. 17th.  Less than a month--that's speedy for me! The only thing missing is a label.

Star Cluster baby quilt
37.5" square

For the back I made a large nine-patch out of flannel prints to keep it all cozy and cuddly. The quilting is mostly diagonal lines following the piecing seams. 

My inspiration was a quilt called Interlocking Stars, shared almost two years ago by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Her inspiration was a pattern called Star Cluster by Judy Martin. Judy's pattern is for a block that finishes at either 12" or 16". Sarah super-sized the pattern into a 64" single-block quilt. Mine is just over half that size, coming out at 37.5" after washing and drying .

Star Cluster by Judy Martin

12 or 16" block

Interlocking Stars by Sarah Craig

I am linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle, Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, and Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Have a wonderful, quilty weekend!

Julie in GA