Gridster Bee Blocks for Me!!

As mentioned in my previous post, I was the Queen Bee for May in last year's Gridster Bee.

I chose a block that is a free tutorial found *here* by Gigi's Thimble, but specifically asked for either a Christmas Green or Christmas Red scrappy block.  Many of my bee mates made me more than one!

These were the first batch made by me as examples and so I could see if this is what I wanted.

It is so much fun to be Queen and have blocks trickle in through the month in the mail!

A pause in the middle to see how well they played together!

I did end up making some more blocks, at first just to even it out, but then I really wanted a bed size quilt.  My goal has long been to have a Christmas quilt for each bed in the house.  (That's 6)

I finally got the last border on and it had to sit for a day or two before I even got a chance to press it and finally I ran out to get pictures before we (finally!) got some snow here in WI.  I don't think we've had sun here for a week. 

I really debated about this border.  It looks nearly black here, but it is a dark green.  I didn't want to shop for more fabric, so decided that this was it.  I think I'm OK with it now.  It really frames the center blocks.

A fun backside shot.

A Christmas Quilt Finish

Woo Hoo!

A Christmas Quilt finished before Christmas.

OK, so it took a whole year, but hey, you can't win them all. 

Last year I had picked up the fabric plus the pattern on the $5 table at the guild's rummage sale.

In January I had most of the top put together.

Looks like that was the last time I mentioned the top in my blog.  Well, as you can see, I did add some more borders, I wanted it to be big enough for Mini's bed.  My goal is someday to have a Christmas quilt for each bed.  At the rate I'm going, the kids will start moving out first...

Anyway.

The finished product!  The pattern is called "Take 5".  You are supposed to start out with 5 pieces of 5/8 yard coordinating fabrics. 

 The whole quilt is flannel, front and back.  I quilted in a large loop.  Partly because it was easy, partly to warm up for the Log Cabin quilt that I quilted, and mostly because I used a polyester batting.  A fluffier one, so fancy quilting is unnecessary.  Why fluffy polyester?  Someone gave me a bunch of batting.  Use what you've got!  And it does make for a very warm and cozy quilt.

 I pieced a bunch of scraps into the back.

 Including chunks of the selvedges.  Now I'll always know the fabric line.  :)

I even remembered to get the label on.  Just need to get that filled out.......

Mitten Quilt - Finish!

 So happy to get this little quilt finished and up on the wall!  I've had it in my head for about two years.  After another project a while back I had a stack of 10 white flannel mittens.  I always wanted to use them in a quilt.

I used a fat quarter of snowflake printed material and some dark navy to create the 9-patch.  The mittens were lightly fused to the background and then I did a button hole stitch around each one, by hand.  

 The quilting is a variegated thread and some small stippling.  I quilted right up to the mittens, so they stand out a bit.

 I'm not sold on the leaves and berries on the one mitten.  I can't decide if I like it, or its weird and distracting.  I'll leave it for a couple of days and see how I feel.

 The back isn't particularly Christmas-y or Wintery, but a good chance to use up some fabric.  I created pockets at the top to insert a dowel.  This is the most brilliant way I've seen to hang little quilts.  I stole it from Elizabeth at OPQ.  
This little quilt finished at 16.5" square.
See you tomorrow with the list of WIPS!
Linking up w/ Crazy Mom Quilts

Made In Cherry Quilt Along Top Complete!

Finished the top last week!

 Checking fit on the intended bed.  I had been contemplating a pieced border.  Unnecessary.

 Trying to photo outside.  With help.

 It was windy, there was no way I could get it to lay flat.

Here is the backing.  I just love it.  There are definite bonuses to working on a Christmas Quilt in January/February.  Clearance sales on Christmas Fabric.  This is from Connecting Threads.  They have a green version, too.  I would buy it, but I have promised self to only buy fabric for specific projects.

Now, it won't get quilted real soon, as I have other projects that have to be completed and this is just a fun project.  I have been sketching some quilting ideas, though.