Go Big or Go Home - a therapeutic fabric challenge

This spring our guild in Iowa had a fabric challenge. I picked the fabrics for the challenge online and when they arrived I was horrified to find out that they weren't the exact colors that I thought they would be. (I have been burned way to many times ordering fabric online.) But that would just make the fabrics that much more challenging for everyone! (Spin, it's all about the spin.)

But what to make? The challenge started just when we were in the throws of getting our home ready to list and I was stressed out to the max. Doing anything that required exact math and precision was out of the question. Around the same time I saw these pictures on Instagram by @chaucycomplete and fell in love. Her pieces are tiny. So very tiny. I knew that wasn't going to happen so I channeled my inner "Carol". Carol is a member of our guild who makes everything big. No small quilts for her! So I started cutting and sewing, cutting and sewing. I would start to cut smaller pieces and then think, "No! Quilt like Carol!" and "Go Big or Go Home!" I had a blast. It was just what I needed.

Des Moines Modern Quilt Group - Solids Challenge - April 2016 - Look at all those beauties!

It was nowhere near finished when the challenge was over, but I finished it up last week. All solids. All from stash! I would like to donate it to charity but for it to be twin sized it needs to be bigger. I can't keep adding to it as I am running out of solids. What?!? I know, crazy. But I have a chunk of dark gray that I think I will use as a border. Do you remember when Kona Coal was really in as a background color? It is leftover from those days and needs to be used.

Now I just have to figure out how to square it up. There is not one single straight seam in that baby. Wish me luck! I'll check back in when it is done.

Quilty Friends

We are all moved in here in St Louis and everyone is doing pretty well (except for the kido home throwing up!). Seriously though, we have been so blessed. Everyone has transitioned to their new schools really well with only a few bumps here and there. In fact, our cat has had the hardest time adjusting - she spent the first month pooping all over! Grrr...

I have my sewing area set up and have been working on some things. But before we get to that I wanted to show you this beauty.

At my last guild meeting in Iowa my wonderful, amazing, lovely guild-mates gave me this wall hanging. Isn't it amazing!?!? Everyone pitched in to make spools, piece, quilt and bind it.

Look at all of those improv spools! I love the variety, colors and fussy cutting details. And the wood grain shelves and quilting? Swoon. I tried at one point to guess who had made which but failed miserably.

And the pincushion with fancy quilting and embroidery? Too cute!

The piece de resistance is the sewing machine pieced by Doris. (That is the sign of a great friend!) Great fabrics and colors and I love our guild's logo.

I really can't express how important and special all of my relationships with my guild-mates are to me. They are an amazing group. *hugs*

Now I just have to get my rear in gear and figure our where I am going to hang it. It has to be the perfect spot for the perfect gift!