Two Finishes

I had a very productive Memorial Day weekend! I completed two quilts that I pieced at the retreat last weekend.

The first finish was the Granny Squares quilt. I somewhat followed this tutorial, but shortened the strips so that I would only have two blocks that are the same. I also used 3" wide (2 1/2" finished) blocks and added one more fabric to the mix. It is straight stitch machine quilted. I started with my walking foot, but it isn't working correctly so I switched to my regular zig-zag foot, which worked just fine. It's bound in a dark grey stripe.

The second finish of the weekend was the long-awaited Summer Sampler Series/Solstice Stars that I pieced this winter. It was free-motion quilted in a meandering pattern. I'm still not thrilled with my free-motion work, but this was slightly better than my last effort. It is bound in this really cute green and blue plaid from DS Quilts.

May Retreat

 I went to the retreat without any plan at all, just a few boxes of fabric and some partially finished projects. I knew what I didn't want to work on: the @%#^ Pickle Dish! I started Friday by finishing up the back for the SS^2 quilt.

On Saturday I cranked out another Swoon block and then I started making Granny Squares for a quilt for my father in law. (He's up next in my plan to make quilts for family members from oldest to youngest. The SS^2 will go to my great aunt who is by far the oldest person in the family. I think she's 96.) We stayed up way too late Saturday night while I struggled with a couple of new Modern BOM blocks (the two in the center of the pic.

Prince Swoon

The second Odyssey School fundraiser quilt is completed. The fabrics are the Prince Charming line designed by Tula Pink. I had been hanging onto a fat quarter bundle and it was time to cut into it. I love the frog in the middle of the Swoon block.
I was less thrilled with the quilting on this one. I did very close, loopy quilting and picked up some puckers that I don't like. This quilt ended up being different from the mock-up I drew on the computer. Once I got it put together there was just too much white space. My daughter helped me re-design it and it is much better. I think I might like the back just a bit better than the front.

Quilt in a weekend

I started--and finished--a quilt this weekend. My son's school is having a fund raiser in a few weeks and I promised two quilts for the silent auction. #1 is done and ideas are swirling around in my head for #2. This quilt used Malka Dubrawsky's beautiful collection, A Stitch in Color, and Kona ash. I've never used the Kona ash before, but I really like it now. It's the perfect neutral for these bright colors.

Laying out SS^2

How should I lay out these sampler blocks? I have several ideas, but these two are my favorites:

And what color to use for the sashing? Same white as blocks, light grey, other?? Too many decisions. It was easy just following the sampler block instructions...

Solstice Stars and Summer Sampler

I've finished the Solstice Stars last night. I've been really OCD on this whole Fresh Lemons quilt blocks instructions. This morning I also finished the Starry Night block as well.

Swoon again

Swoon #2 is done! I finished it during a quiet time while our visiting family members (my SIL, niece, and her husband) were out and about. The fabric is Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller fabric. It was kindly given to me by Form&Fabric who hosted the AMQG meetings for a few months. (The meetings have been moving around a lot lately--isn't that interesting!)