Bears in the Suburbs

 This poor quilt sat in the UFO pile for years and years. Six years, to be exact! When I finished the top a year ago, I posted this recap of the project. You can hop over there if you are interested.

I'm in quilting mode, getting a few quilts done for upcoming Habitat for Humanity home dedications. It was easier to get this done after I had an idea of which family it will live with.

 

I did an overall stipple through the blocks in a medium tan thread. I'm having some trouble with Superior So Fine threads breaking or skipping stitches. This may be due in part to low humidity. Who knew?

 

I wanted to play a little in the borders, so I treated each one to a different design.

 

Even though I used a lot of mauve from the 90's, I still like the overall effect. I love the stripe that pulls all the fun colors together. What's not to love about a bear's paw?

 

Bears in the Suburbs 

 Bears in the Farmhouse Quilt Along by Judy Laguidara

Started February 2009

Top completed January 13, 2014

Quilt completed March 24, 2015

72" X 87"

Bears in the Suburbs

Phew! This 5-year old UFO is finally a completed top. Sharon from Ninigret Quilters challenged us to finish one UFO each month. For January, we were told to complete #7 from our list.

How about a recap? In February 2009, Judy Laguidara at Patchwork Times lead a quilt-along called Bears in the Forest. I immediately signed up and pulled fabric from my stash.

Step 2 half-square triangles completed...

 

 Stitching during a retreat weekend...

 Step 4 was completed by March 21. I'm not sure what made me stop there, but this is as far as I got. Was I unhappy with the brown border? It is a little dark, but it will have to do.

 When I was ready to take pics, I asked Julia and boyfriend Fred to hold it up. I accidentally called him Pete. Oops! (Pete is settling in at Camp Pendelton. He's fine, but anxious to get started with training.) This was Fred's first time holding a quilt for me and he did a fine job. Remember the quilt Julia made for him?

I'm not comfortable quilting anything this big on my Bernina, so I'm calling this one mostly done. I'll be donating it to Habitat for Humanity, so I'll see if someone in the guild will quilt it.

I don't live in a farmhouse, so I've renamed this one Bears in the Suburbs. It seems like there are bear sightings nearby every summer. I hope they stay away from my backyard! (There was one in Fred's yard once.)

Quilt Stats:

Quilt Along by Judy Laguidara

Started February 2009

Top completed January 13, 2014

72" X 87"

Do Over

I failed Bear Paw 101.
I was trying to be so careful. I don't know how I turned not 1, but 2 sections of "claws."


That top right quadrant is a little askew, too. This is such a small block (4" finished) that I'll just start over.

I need one of Karen's desktop design walls.

Bear Paw

I took some time yesterday to design my MQX Charity Challenge piece. One requirement is that it has to contain at least one bear paw block. I wanted to see if I could accurately piece a small one and I was really pleased that I could! (It is perfectly square in real life. Ignore the bad camera angle.) They will be way nicer with the provided batiks.

On the bear theme, my brother sent me a slide show of Maine wildlife department employees doing health check ups on hibernating bears. I'm terrified of bears, so that is one job I will never have. The cubs are soooo cuuute!

Pete had a short school day today, only one mid-term exam, so we did a little shopping. We are attempting to jump start the economy single-handedly! He needed new boots and a sleeping bag for all those Boy Scout campouts, and we did major damage at Wal-Mart. You know all those staples add up, but a teenager has no clue. He was shocked at the bill and asked if he could keep the receipt. Whatever.

Poor Julia is swamped! Mid-terms, a huge global studies project due next week, swim meets, and rehearsals every day for the high school production of Cinderella this weekend. She can't wait until February!