February 2016 ~ Crayon Box Quilt Studio

February 15, 2016

City Sampler At Your Own Pace Quilt Along Linky Party

It has been a really long time since I've had the chance to make a few more blocks for my City Sampler. It is a good thing that I didn't set any sort of timeline for myself for getting this quilt done. Maybe by this coming Halloween?

Since I needed a much deserved break from sewing the appliqued pieces for my Girl Scout troop's t-shirts, these were the perfect little distraction. The next blocks are the first 5 in the Half Square Triangle chapter. This is block #36, with the bat fabric actually being Purple and not Blue (why does Purple photograph like that?)

Here is my version of block 37. I realized after I completed it that my HST is split in the wrong direction but I've decided to leave it this way.

Block #38 is all spiders and skeletons.

I used this fun hearse fabric for the center of block #39.

And last for this post, here is my block #40.

I've completed 15 blocks out of the 100 so far....I have a long way to go.

I really should get back to working on the troop t-shirts but these are so much fun. I think I'll take a look at what the next chapter offers and then decide.

Now it is your turn to show off the progress you've made lately on your City Sampler blocks.

February 10, 2016

Alex's 100 Good Wishes Quilt - A finish

I finally have a finish to share with you and this one has been a really long time in the making.....to the tune of almost 10 years.

This is a very special 100 Good Wishes Quilt for my friend Lisa's daughter Alex.

This quilt took 10 years to become a reality because, like me, Lisa started collecting squares of fabric from friends, family and others waiting to bring their daughters home in the Spring of 2006, after our document files officially arrived in China.

Lisa and Alex finally became a family almost exactly a year after we arrived home with Sunshine and when she asked me just over a year ago if I'd be willing to make this quilt for her daughter, I was truly honored. Lisa and I were brought together by our adoptions and to be a part of this very meaningful gift for her Alex means the world to me.

I started with this pretty stack of squares, many of which are also in Jammer's 100 Good Wishes Quilt and will be in Sunshine's too (when I eventually get around to making hers) since we were in some of the same swap groups.

Lisa and I looked through a lot of ideas for 100 Good Wishes Quilts and once she chose which one spoke to her, I set to work, first by sorting the pieces into color families to see what I had to work with.

I paired up similar colors diagonally in the 4 patches, coordinating the other pair with complimenting colors.

The blocks went together quickly and the sashing was added to one side. Then it was time to lay out the blocks for final placement. As you can see, I had some "help".

The top was actually finished last summer and then waited for Lisa to decide what she wanted for the backing. She originally focused on a bright teal from one of the blocks but after hunting all over and not finding what she envisioned, she went in another direction and found a backing right before Christmas that ended up working really well.

I chose the Flying Paisley Panto for this and I like the way it compliments the overall design. It is tough to actually see in these photos, but the white sashing and borders is actually a White tone on tone print with small paisleys on it.

Finding a good thread color for such a scrappy quilt wasn't easy but in the end I chose an Off White So Fine. It clashed less with the darker fabrics than a pure White did and it still looks great against the white fabrics.

The backing Lisa picked was this Tangerine Aboriginal Dot and it looked great with all the bright and fun prints on the front plus the pale Yellow batik Lisa brought me that I used for the cornerstones turned out to coordinate perfectly for the binding.

I used an Orange thread on the black that blends in so all you see is wonderful texture.

Right now the finished quilt is whisking its way to them in the midwest and I can't wait to hear their thoughts when they see it for the first time.

This quilt actually has 144 wishes in it and it finished at 93" x 93".

Each 100 Good Wishes Quilt that I create brings with it so much emotion as I remember the many days, weeks, months and years that we waited to bring our babies home. There is so much hope and longing wrapped up in those small squares. From now on Alex will be able to look her quilt and match the squares up with the wishes written to her and know that she is truly wrapped up in love.

February 1, 2016

Another blogging absence

Boy I sure haven't been able to blog much lately and it really bothers me but sometimes that is life.

I do have a finish that I can write about, once I'm able to get pictures of it of course. Stay tuned for that.

The reason for my current absence? It's that time of year again.

Yes my life at the moment is all consumed with Girl Scout cookie season. Not only am I keeping track of the sales for my entire troop of 11 girls but Sunshine and I have been going out every weekend during the day to knock on our neighbors' doors. She set herself a big goal for this year (the same as she actually sold last year = 650 boxes) so that is a lot of doorbells to ring.

A few of my readers also purchased cookies from Sunshine last year through the Digital Cookie program but this year due to technical difficulties with the actual program, our Girl Scout council is not utilizing it so we have to take the orders and ship them ourselves. No biggie but I've had to do some weighing and figuring of shipping costs for those orders.

If those same ladies (or anyone else) needs their Girl Scout cookie fix, we'd be happy to send some your way. Just email m e.

I am getting in a tiny bit of sewing too but this is also for my Girl Scout troop. My girls wanted troop t-shirts and after looking at countless options online and the girls not really liking any of them, I'm making them myself.

The tracing and cutting of the letters is taking more time than the actual sewing is but I like the way they are coming out.

The first event that we will wear them at is later this month so I need to get all 13 completed soon. Hopefully after they are done, I'll finally have time to get back to some regular sewing.