Safari Tango

 My last finished quilt of 2020 is called Safari Tango. It might be the first true double-sided quilt I've ever made. The front was started in an online (Zoom) workshop with Diane Harris, The Stash Bandit, hosted by Ninigret Quilters. She calls her pattern Twofer Tango because you could get two quilts from your effort. The half square triangle units are bonus blocks from the creation of the main X-blocks. I chose to add mine around the border instead of harboring yet another UFO!

 

 

The back of the quilt was one of those long-simmering UFOs. Started in a class with Thomas Knauer in 2015, also hosted by Ninigret Quilters, it is a code quilt with the word SAFARI spelled out in Braille and repeated in a loop.

 

Both sides of the quilt used fabric that was purchased by Julia and me in Tanzania in 2014. The background print on the front was a big chunk of fabric from Joann's that came to me from someone else's stash. It is a grass-like print which was perfect since Julia's research project that semester in Tanzania dealt with grasses in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Quilting is all fun and games until you stitch onto a glove. I might have had better luck if I had remembered to drop the feed dogs!

Safari Tango

60" X 86"

Safari started in 2015 

Tango started 10/17/2020

Completed 12/30/2020

WIP Wednesday

 My guild challenge piece is coming along for Narragansett Bay Quilters. It's due next Thursday, so I really need to get moving. I was at my sister's house last weekend, basting pieces for the top row. Her granddaughter had fun putting together the stars with Grammie.

 Most of my free time recently has been spent preparing for lectures. Last night, I spoke to my home guild, Ninigret Quilters, about quilting on the internet. The topic wasn't my idea, but it was fun! I got to drag out all my swap pieces, BOMs, mysteries, and trendy patterns. Berta was one of my holders, and this post is for her! Pat, thank you for taking pictures!

Yes, I'm that short and my hands are always moving.

A note to my Ninnies: If you need more info for something you saw last night, click over to my Completed Projects page or try a search in the box top left.

Since my last post, I finished a bunch of small projects for my next lecture. I'm saving the big reveals for the Clamshell Quilters next week. Here's a tease...

I'm a Modern Blue Star Mom!

Fussy cut hexie gears and lots of quilted texture.

What do these three minis have in common?

All this snow has given me plenty of time to stitch! 

Lee is taking a break from her WIP Wednesday link-ups. Thanks for 5 years of fun, Lee!

Bits and Pieces

As I was pulling photos for today, I realized I hadn't shown you my mini challenge from the Ninigret Quilters show. We were provided with a fat eighth of the brown print with polka dots. Since I had taken a class with Vanessa Christenson, I was eager to play with her ombre fabrics. I used Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles to prepare the applique. After a few days of hand work, I went to town with some tiny machine quilting. I used up a full bobbin of 50 wt Aurifil on this 12" square! I added the yellow ric rac under the binding since that was the only color from the print that hadn't been used yet. 

Now on to the random projects...

I'm putting together an English Paper Piecing kit for a friend who had surgery last week. When She's ready for visitors, I'll give her the kit and a lesson.

 

When I was browsing for EPP stuff, I stumbled upon this hexagon starburst block on Stitchery Dickory Dock.  I couldn't resist giving it a try and I absolutely loved the first one (on left). I do not need another EPP project with two others waiting to be finished, but I can't help myself!

I printed and cut enough paper pieces for 22 blocks. They are all laid out on the piano bench until I dig out my tiny baggies. I'm not planning ahead with fabrics. I'll pull scraps for one block at a time and we'll see what happens!

Last weekend I taught a fabric box class for my co-workers and/or their families. It's a small office, but it's a very crafty group! We had a fun morning and everyone did a great job with their boxes.

This ticker tape birthday card was really fun to make! With crazy mom quilts celebrating her 9th Blogversary, Ticker Tape was fresh in my mind. I tacked down the pieces with glue stick and then stitched around in a square spiral.

Why do scrap projects make such a big mess?! Here you can see the stitches on the inside. I kind of like the wonky lines and texture of the perforations. Now I just need to write a message and sign the card.

I've been teaching private lessons to my friend's mom, Sandy. She is making her first quilt from her granddaughter's t-shirts. Yesterday, we laid out all the blocks and she learned how to piece the rows. It was a fun puzzle to put together, and I think we were successful in distributing the colors and sizes.

 

Last one. I quilted an outreach quilt from Ninigret that will be delivered on the 14th. Now I have 6 labels to make and attach before then. I'll print them on my ink jet printer, so it will be a quick job.

 

I need to stop playing with fabric for a few hours and get busy on some computer work. My procrastination became this blog post!

WIP Wednesday

 Now that the garage is cleaned out enough for Bill to park his car there, I am free to sew again. Yay!

Started & Finished: Be Mine. Read all about it in yesterday's post. Seeing it hanging in the kitchen makes me smile every time I walk in.

In Progress: Ninigret Quilters Friendship block swap. My blocks are ready for the next round of the swap at next week's meeting. I've always loved that blue and yellow batik.

These are the blocks I swapped for last month, plus a few extras of my own. Cool, right?

Next up: The Ninigret UFO challenge project for February is #6. According to my list, I need to complete this nine patch swap from 2009. Yeah, it's time!

Ongoing: We've had two snowstorms this week, with another on the way on Sunday night. I'm sick of shoveling, but it has been so pretty.

That's all for now, so it's time to link up. Have a great week!

Stash Sorting

 A few months ago, a crew from our guild cleaned out the sewing room of a member who had passed away. She was sweet and kind, and I enjoyed seeing projects that we had worked on together at workshops and retreats.

I'm still sorting through her fabrics and supplies. I did make some progress over the long weekend. I found some UFOs that I wanted to finish, and did. Joan had pieced this Dresden plate, and prepared the center circle. I found more of the floral fabrics, pulled out some of her batting scraps, and completed this sweet wall hanging. Those of us of a certain age will quickly recognize the 90's calicoes!

 This table runner was even easier to finish. The top was already layered with batting and backing, ready to quilt. The runner and Dresden will be sold at a guild auction in July. Why is it easier to finish someone else's UFOs than our own?

I mentioned last week that our guild provides quilts for local Habitat for Humanity homes. This is the pile stored here that is waiting to be quilted. Another member has more at her house. Yikes! It may be time for a machine quilting workshop.

 

There are several single men and teen boys who will need quilts this summer. As I was sorting Joan's stash, I pulled all the manly fabrics and kitted up a few quilts.

In the '"keeping it real" department, this is what my garage still looks like...

I have a deadline to get this all cleared out by the end of the month. Hubby wants to park his car in the garage this winter.

 

Stuff is so overwhelming! I have a new organization plan for this year. I'm focusing on one area of the house each month. It is a relief to walk into a room and realize that I don't have to worry about it yet. I'll get to it later.

Road Trip

The Ninigret Quilters hopped on a bus yesterday for the 3 hour drive to New Hampshire for A Quilters' Gathering. I had never been to this show before, so I ignored my loathing for bus rides and joined in the fun!

With a half-quilted quilt at home, I was on the hunt for filler quilting inspiration. This amazing modern quilt by Rose Orr knocked my Red Sox off!

There was a lot more appliqué in this show than we're used to seeing, with lots of cool filler quilting around it.

This anniversary quilt by Carol Smith glows!

And then there's the haul from the fantastic vendors!

V and Co. yummies,

some necessary tools, including a Sharon Schamber Quilt Halo, 

aqua for Julia, plum and mustard for the mini swap, and I could no longer resist a bit of The Boo Crew.

On the way home, we stopped at the Quilted Crow, a really lovely shop.

 

 It was a wonderful, inspiring day!

Quilt Show Wrap Up

 I forgot to show you the Ninnie Nines. I was really happy to have five completed quilts from our nine patch swap to display. Mine is the one hanging in the middle. Don't you love the Sister's Choice with black points on the bed?

Julia and I had some fun in the Westerly Armory museum. I pasted a picture of Pete's head onto this uniform and sent it to him with the note, "This will be us on December 13!"

 (Please say a quick prayer for Pete. He was diagnosed with pneumonia on Thursday, which is not uncommon in boot camp. He was on one day bed rest and 3 days light duty. He should be back to a full training schedule by now. It looks like he will be able to stay with his platoon and graduate as scheduled.)

Bob Harrison, Featherweight dealer/repairman and my machine quilter's husband, presented me with a Featherweight skeleton as my reward for winning best of show! It was part gag gift/part real gift. I was told I could trade it in for a working machine. I've wanted a FW since I met Bob at least 15 years ago. I told him this was the year, so he sweetened the deal!

 

Ellie Coffey, my friend and president of the guild, gave me this enormous, gorgeous bouquet!

It was great to have Bill and Julia there, but we missed Pete. When my kids were little, they used to come to the show wearing their Halloween costumes.

What goes up must come down. In just over an hour, the Armory was just an empty drill hall once again.

 

No, I did not trade in the gutless machine.  She is my major award!

I did finally buy a Featherweight! She was born in 1938 and she is so pretty!

It's time to start stitching and planning for the 2015 show!