Snow = Quilting

We needed some more snow and we got it! The dogs were very happy! 

We got 22-inches in a 24-hour period. It made for some wavy deck rails.

We got about an inch of snow every hour during the storm. I stayed home and worked on getting the binding done for the Christmas Presents quilt. One of the plowed berms along our driveway worked well for a quick outdoor picture. No yellow snow in this vicinity. 

This is a fat quarter pattern. It takes 30 fat quarters, 10 on each colorway. You stack the fat quarters and cut the present shapes using a freezer paper template...then rotate the fabrics, sew and trim to size. Really a fun quilt to make. 

I bought this kit from a local quilt store...many years ago...and gifted it to my quilting mother-in-law. She gifted it back to me two years ago which was perfect.  I had actually bought extra fabric for the border when I gave it as a gift...the original pattern is border-less.

Most of the fabrics are metallic. I was so jazzed to find the perfect backing that was creamy with gold metallic. The low light photo shows all that scrumptious quilting. I am not quick...and I did struggle with ideas for quilting. I am always thrilled when ideas make it from my head to the quilt successfully.

I broke some "quilting rules," and didn't match my bobbin thread to the top thread color. I wanted cream thread on the back side for all the stitching. I sacrificed a few places where the cream bobbin thread shows through in the red and green fabrics...I did switch my top thread to match the fabric in the blocks.

Really...I should use my best Pirate-voice and say it was "quilting guidelines," I chose to ignore. I am really not a rule breaker.

If you are interested in this pattern the official name is, "#229 Shopping's Done! Gifts Wrapped!" The designer is Sandy Gervais from her company, Pieces from my Heart.

I also need to share the projects I worked on at the last retreat. I finished making the butterfly blocks for, "Madame Butterfly," from the book, "Charm School." I used layer cakes which is perfect as you need two or three charm squares of each colorway for the individual butterfly blocks. 

I'm thinking about using my scraps for a piano key-type border. 

The next big project was a carry over from the fall retreat. I finished all 20 blocks for the pattern, "Skyfull of Stars." This is a free pattern on Moda's Bakeshop website. 

It is a lot of intense piecing but the blocks finish at an impressive 16-inches. I have made this quilt before and will add a small border to finish the stars on the outside edge. 

Not a retreat project but ongoing studio project...

 I am so proud of myself for finishing all the paper piecing and hand applique work on the motorcycle-themed stocking. I need to hand quilt the top and coordinating plain back piece. I'm sure that will take me another month! 

And I have to make the little bear to sit in the pocket, too!

I get to visit my granddaughter soon...I can't wait to see how much she has changed. My son does a wonderful job of sending me pictures of her almost everyday. I can see a little personality starting to show up in those photos.

Then when I get home I need to get my challenge quilts loaded on the quilting frame and done for the next retreat the first few days of May...eek...soon all the snow will be gone and it will be time to work in the garden. I thought the end of winter couldn't come soon enough and now I am almost in a panic that it will be ending.