Lighthouse Quilt Finish!

It took only a few short (ahem...15) months to finish this quilt. 

It is finally done, and I am SO excited! 

Just in time for Easter!! I used a dimple minky for the back and quilted straight lines 4" apart to keep it nice and cuddly. 

The binding is machine stitched with a zig-zag. I feel secure (har-har) in stating, I don't think it's going anywhere...ever. :) 

Yeah - I know....not quilt related. But my favorite boots and I enjoyed the photo shoot together - so I thought I'd keep them in the loop. (P.S. These were a X-mas gift from the Hubby this year. Isn't he the best?!) 

I love this quilt. I also love that it is finished, and - other than a couple swap items due in June and my monthly bee blocks - I have no major projects with pressing deadlines right now. I'm eager to get started on a just-because project - I just haven't decided which...

Linking up with TGIFF.

Boxy Pouch Present

I feel like I'm getting a lot done in March! Way better than February!! Because of this, I have a bunch of things to share, so you can expect a few posts full of fun finishes over the weekend. 

First - I finished and gifted a handmade boxy bag for a very dear friend and co-worker. 

I whipped it up using this tutorial at Pink Stitches. 

Made entirely from scraps, minus the interfacing and zipper. :) The tutorial was pretty easy to follow - and turned out pretty well for my first bag project, I think.  

The only thing I would change would be to add a couple of zipper pulls at either end of the zipper. I actually even had them cut out, pressed and ready to go. But I was kind of "in the zone" when stitching this together, and forgot to add them. 

Oh well. 

I also gave her this cute mug I found at Anthropologie. I thought it was kind of geometric and fun. 

Linking up with TGIFF (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday). 

Stitching for Eleni

I finished my English Paper Pieced flowers for the Flowers for Eleni project (Jodi has a great EPP tutorial for these hexagon flowers at that link). 

This was a fun and uplifting way to learn a new quilty skill. I had never made any EPP before, let alone appliqued anything. I think I will be doing it again soon. :) 

Some quick background on the Flowers for Eleni project: 

In short, there are quilters from all over the world making and sending these little handstitched hexie flowers to Australia, in hopes of comforting a new mother with baby Eleni - who was born with Cerebral Palsy a couple weeks ago. You can read more about Eleni's story at Rachel's blog: Stitched in Color. 

I know what you may be thinking...why worry about this person I don't know, who is more than halfway around the world? Especially when I work in a children's hospital, caring for many families in similar situations here in Utah...? 

But...this felt different. 

Rachel is such an amazing person. I don't know her, and she doesn't know me. We will likely never meet. But I am part of a charitable quilting organization that she dreamed up and put together - do. Good Stitches. There are hundreds of quilters who are or have been a part of DGS over the years, coming together to make and donate quilts to different organizations all over the world. 

Something that means a lot to me.

Quilting has helped give me a purpose. A way to find focus, direction, and distraction through my own heartaches over the past couple of years. It is my therapy. And being able to turn that therapy into something good for someone else is helping heal my broken heart. Stitch by stitch. 

How could I not try to give back, offer some sense of comfort and gratitude to the woman who is helping to heal me? 

I wish Rachel and Eleni all the best in the coming days and years. And look forward to getting to know them from a distance, through this crazy online community that is social media. 

February Bee Blocks

I'm a touch late on posting this....just like I was a touch late on getting my February blocks in the mail. 

Whoops! 

February was a CRAZY month at work. Between RSV season and the influenza vaccine being less effective than usual, well...the hospital was busier than it has maybe ever been. 

But my blocks are getting there, and I learned a lot! 

FYI - these pics are a bit over-exposed. The colors are more saturated and lovely in person. One of these days I'm going to get my husband to teach me some editing tricks so I can fix things like that. Or teach me how to really use the camera in the first place...either would be great. :) 

Quilty Fun Birthday Cake block for Beejeebers: 

These blocks were actually quite a challenge for me. With a fabric cut list of different sizes marked with letters A-W...well, it took me almost an entire day to complete these two. They are not perfect, but they came out to the right size at the end (victory!) and I am quite happy with my fabric choices! LOVE when it works out the way you imagine. 


Churn Dash blocks for do. Good Stitches - Aspire circle: 

These were super fast, and super fun!! I think I can officially call myself a quilter, now that I've made a few classic churn dash blocks. Toni asked for "spicy" colors, which was bit of a challenge for me. I fretted and fussed and switched fabrics around, and at the very last minute decided on these. I LOVE them!! The coral and yellow block is my favorite! 


Kaliedoscope Paper Pieced blocks for We Bee Learning: 

I just finished Elizabeth Dackson's paper piecing class on Craftsy, which proved invaluable for helping me figure out these blocks. The tip to baste important points on the blocks before actually stitching really helped in getting the centers to line up almost perfectly! 


So far, I'm really enjoying being a part of each of these groups!