Busy, Busy, Busy Work

What have I been up to this last month?  TONS of stuff!!!!

First off, I played around using a Moda Layer Cake from their new collection 'Whitewashed Cottage' and one of Missouri Star Quilt Company's numerous free video/tutorials to put together this quilt top.  This pattern is called The Bordered Periwinkle.

Also on my agenda was getting this quilt top (below) that my mom made on the longarm and quilting it for her.  She made this for her one and only grandson, Brandon, who is graduating in a couple of weeks from The University of Alabama.  She used Alabama colors and a basic "Sawtooth" block to create this HUGE queen size quilt.  Since I'm such an awesome daughter, I also added the binding and completely finished it for her. :) :)

Along came Easter!  On Saturday (the day before), I decided that I wanted something cheery and spring-like hanging in a 'naked' spot on my kitchen wall.  I rummaged through my closet of 'projects waiting on completion' and found a little "Blazing Star" wall hanging needing to be quilted.  I must admit that I impressed myself by how quickly I tossed that project on the longarm, quilted it, applied binding and hung it up by 11:00 pm Saturday night!  I had no clue that my family members would start arriving for Easter dinner with so many gorgeous flower arrangements that just made my new wall décor pop!

Here's a close up....the wall-hanging is not crooked....the picture itself is crooked. :)

I also quilted this Mesmerize lap quilt for a new friend.  She used batik scraps and I quilted it using a pantograph called 'Fern Gully' by Urban Elementz.

The back....

A 10 day trip to Tennessee was also squeezed into the month.  My Dad had a knee replacement so I surprised them by showing up on their doorstep after he was home and recuperating.  I didn't realize till I got home that there is no pictures of me with my youngest grandson, but I do have this photo from the night I took my two oldest grandchildren out for dinner at Applebee's and dessert at Dairy Queen.

Once I returned home, I had to catch up on a project I'm helping with for Quilters' Haven where I work part-time.  Our customers (as well as employees) are making "Star" blocks in patriotic colors.  Once we have enough, we plan to make a Quilt Of Valor to present to a local veteran.  This is what has been contributed at this point in time.....

This past Friday I learned of a local puppy that needs heart surgery.  My vet is helping to raise the funds needed and I offered to make a quilt to donate and use as a raffle item with all funds going toward the puppy's medical expenses.

I searched through my stash of fabric on Saturday and found these two fabrics.  I just LOVE the doggie faces!!!!!!!!!  I figured this fabric would be perfect to make the quilt I designed and shared in an earlier post called "Bird's Eye View".  Since designing that pattern, this will be the third time I've used it in a two month time span.  It is so quick and easy and the perfect quilt pattern when needed a "themed" quilt.

The center of the quilt was cut and pieced on Sunday, and I added the puppy paw prints border last night as I watch television.  Now I just need to get it loaded on the longarm and quilted. 

Wouldn't you know it....I already have the PERFECT pantograph design to use called "Puppy Paws" by Urbanelementz.
                                                       
Speaking of doggies.....one of my little ones has the talent of turning ANYTHING soft into a napping spot.  I had only laid this plastic container with some scraps of cotton batting on top down on the ground for a few minutes while I looked for something.  Needless to say....I didn't disturb her and allowed her to use it as a bed for as long as she wanted while I played in my sewing room.

Guess I will close this post by showing the JACKPOT of gifted fabric I received from a friend on Saturday!  Five bags of the most glorious fabrics!  She was cleaning out her sewing room and decided she no longer wanted these pieces....Christmas, Patriotic, Batiks, Panels, Reproduction, Modern....OH MY....I'M IN FABRIC HEAVEN!!!!

April has certainly been a productive month for me!  I hope I can keep it going during May.  So what have YOU been up to lately?  I'd love to hear all about it!