Piecing Peacefully

I had this crazy goal to finish 15 quilts by Christmas, 7 of which I wanted to get done by Thanksgiving. I wanted to be able to deliver 7 of the Christmas gifts in person in November. Cheaper than postage, and more fun to see the reaction, too.

That was before I volunteered to be a volunteer. Note to self: NEVER volunteer for a political campaign when you have Christmas presents to finish. Two completely incompatible goals!!!

I've since scaled back my goal, doing just half of the kiddos this year and the rest next year. The cousins will all still be little ones next Christmas. I thought I might still be able to finish 7 quilts by Thanksgiving if I did one a week. Ha! Fat chance!

Now there's doubt the Thanksgiving trip will happen, so perhaps I might still be able to get 7 quilts completely done in time to mail for Christmas. I think I might actually have seven tops ready to sandwich now, although only one would be suitable for a boy, and three boys are on the list.


The first newly finished top came together after three weeks of too much time on the computer after work each night. I used three Kona Gray Area charm packs to create a 32" x 40" top, then decided it wasn't quite big enough. I added a 2.5-inch Kona Silver border, bringing the top to 36" x 44". I have enough silver yardage left, I think, for the back and binding. Or should I add one more round of half-square triangles??? Decisions, decisions, decisions!


Next came another of my Spoonflower fat quarters, designed based on "Hearts of Gold." I put a 3-inch border of red Kona around the fat quarter before traveling to the Pacific Northwest for the Deception Pass Classic in September.


I had a plan that included more heart applique when I started this one, but by the time we got back from Washington, I didn't like the red anymore at all. I had enough Kona leftovers from other projects to make a rainbow border, I thought, so I did that instead. I just barely had enough of the purple. I have a short strip less than 2 inches wide now!




I don't know what to do for the backing yet, but I think a magenta or bright pink binding might look pretty sharp.

After all the bright quilt tops I've been working on this year, I'm beginning to crave pastels. But no more new quilts until I finish at least 5 WIPs!!! Maybe...

Every once in a while, I get to crochet on the train on the way to or from work. My adopted daughter called about a week ago and asked for Yoda hat for her daughter's Halloween costume. I told her I wasn't sure I could get it done in time and then didn't post pictures of it anywhere so I could surprise her when I mailed it two days later.


She surprised me two days later with a picture of Kathy in the hat!


I've also been working on snowflakes again, after a month or so hiatus. I whipped this baby up the day before we got to meet Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn in person!


After an overnight stiffening session, the snowflake wasn't quite dry before I had to leave for work the next morning. So I packed it inside a quilting magazine, hoping that would keep it safe until I got to work, and then it got to spend the day at the office with me and all the Pink October snowflakes and pink tree decorating my desk.




That night, patriotic snowflake got a new home!


Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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