A Flurry, and Free Motion Quilting Challenge

In her recent post, Kristie, of Quilting Cowgirl blog, asked if we were working on any holiday projects to keep for ourselves. Well, this just happens to be on my design wall. I think I am going to keep it, but you never can tell for sure. : )

Last year LuAnn, of Loose Threads blog, made her own  smaller version of the free Moda Flurry pattern, using a charm pack and a little yardage. You can see her quilt here. She then held a very generous giveaway for two charm packs and some yardage to make your own. I was lucky enough to win and was determined to get it made for this Christmas. LuAnn had tweaked the original pattern and I tweaked her version. The "packages" are all sewn, but everything else is unassembled--just clinging to the design wall. It really is a quick pattern to make up.

Once again I am squeaking under the wire with my FMQ post for the SewCalGal FMQ Challenge. The month of July we were taught by Angela Walters. She gave us a very detailed tutorial of a design she calls "Tiles". I practiced this one several times. I really like the look of her design, but I was appalled by how wiggly my "straight lines" turned out. This was my third practice piece and you'd think by now I could have sewn a straight line.

 I decided to try again and this time I lightly drew some lines to follow. It didn't really improve matters.

I was tired of doing the same design over and over, so I branched out. I didn't warm up on any of these other designs and that wasn't a good idea. I unpicked one of them and redid it.

So this is pretty random, but I was thinking about the little flag tumbler quilt and wishing I had time to make another full-size tumbler quilt. I made this one a few years ago. It was just made from random scraps--some my own, some from my Mom. I've just always liked a humble little tumbler made of scraps.

It sat for quite a while before getting quilted and gifted. Now I'd like to do one in CW prints. Alas, it will have to get in line. Too many other things that need to be finished before I start something else.

The main thing right now is to get the quilt for my daughter's fundraiser marked and basted. Then Gidget and I need to get serious about doing a big quilt. Why is it that the first full size quilt I do on Gidget is one that is going to be on display? Just lucky, I guess. : )

Until next time,
Janet O.

Goodies in the Mail from LuAnn at Loose Threads!

If you haven't seen LuAnn's post with the instructions for this quilt check it out. This is LuAnn's own version of the Flurry pattern available here for free download at the Fat Quarter Shop.
She wanted a wall hanging so she made her packages using charm squares, rather than a layer cake. Then she had a giveaway for the fabrics to make your own and I won! The package arrived today.
This gracious woman was already going above and beyond in her give away--it included 1 1/2 yards of Kona white and 1/2 yard each of the Kona red and green, along with 2 of the Flurry charm packs.

But the package contained more. Along with everything promised, LuAnn had added 3/4 yard of this cute candy fabric for binding. She had gone to Quilts Plus to see how they had quilted their Flurry quilt and decided to get this to bind hers. She got some for me, too.

Isn't it fun? What a nice surprise to find in the mail on a busy, hectic day!
Among other things, I had just returned home from a nearby cemetery where I visited the grave of my dear friend who died after a brief illness in May. This would have been her 60th birthday today. I had driven to town first and picked up some of her favorite flowers to put on her grave. As I stood waiting for them to be wrapped I just started crying as memories of this special friend flooded my mind. I felt very conspicuous, and couldn't get out of the store fast enough. I drove to the cemetery in tears. Once there I sat on a bench by her grave in this little burial place at the base of the mountains. I looked back toward the entrance that gives a beautiful view out over the valley. I spent about 20 minutes there, all alone, listening to the birds. They were usually the only thing I could hear, and it was very calming.

I left for home feeling more at peace. When I found LuAnn's package in the mail and unwrapped this treasure, I was smiling. Thanks seems inadequate, LuAnn. You are most generous!

Until next time, from the little mountain valley where the sagebrush grows,
Janet O.