Fusion Quilt measuring

 approximately 36 x 42

Many very snowy days gave me the luxury of "playing" in my workroom.  This was inspired by a fusion quilt (I didn't know that was what it was called at the time) posted  asfusion quilt on Pinterest.  I used a Romantic floral layer cake from Keepsake Quilting. I cut these in quarters, sandwiched cotton batting and orphan floral fabrics and sewed around the edge.  Turned them right sides out, pressed, and blanket stitched around the perimeter with Aunt Lydia crochet thread .  The blanket stitch became the anchor for my crochet around the edge. 

 It was similar to making a Granny square.  The picture had crocheted flowers but after several tries I was dissatisfied with those flowers.  However, I did not like the way the four corners came together.  An art teacher who crochets suggested yoyos at the corner.  She suggested a button in the center but I felt this was just made the piece too heavy.

The pictures don't do this justice.  It is soft and flirty.   I am planning a second one at the present time but using the entire 10 inch layer cake pieces and quilting each of the blocks before blanket stitching them.  One with Kaffe Fassett fabric would give an entirely different look.

There was a discussion on one of the FB quiting groups about how to organize your projects.  Although I never have more than 3 projects going on at the same time, I do plan future one.  I use a quarter inch graph paper composition book.  I place page labels on the edge of each page and write the name of the project.  Green means they are complete and red stickers means it is still be worked on.  If there is no sticker, it means I haven't started the project yet and it is only in the planning stages. 

This is a chart I have where I mark all the different steps in making a quilt - fabric, backing, batting purchased, sandwiched, quilted, label finished - checking them off as I finish that step.

  

Bear Paw Quilt

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017 complete.  Bear Paw is one of my favorite patterns.  I started this in January 2017 and finally finished in St. Patrick's Day 2018.  It is the most heavily hand quilted piece I have ever done.  Every block is a different fabric from my batik stash.  The background is a beautiful soft color from Wilmington called Paisley cream aqua and is no longer made.  The backing is pieced from a Fireworks batik and the binding is simply the backing rolled over to the front.  I purchased  wonder clips from Amazon and they were so much better than using pins to hold the binding.......I wasn't constantly poking myself as I turned the quilt.  I have just draped it over my sofa so I can look at it every time I pass by.  I love it.

We had three nor'easters dropping as much as 22 inches of snow in one storm.  Beautiful view from my porch. 

This was after the plow went through.  We were out of power for 4 days.  It was a good thing that I am a hand quilter because I could continue to work on projects.  The LED TAC lights that are sold were incredible.  They produce incredible amounts of light.  I could even read by them! 

Curved Log Cabin taught by Beginners Quilting Start to Finish  It is a teaching page on Facebook and her tutorials have improved by quilting noticeably.   

 Choosing the border fabric was a challenge.  I had some lavender but that just was too much lilacs.  The  green fabric was from an online fabric vendor on Facebook :Jellyrolls, layer cakes & quilt backing by Marilyn.  Her backing is $8/yard for 108 inch width and it is quality fabric. 

I have had the lilac fabric in my stash for a long time and this seemed the perfect project for it.  I am now hand quilting the project by doing a diagonal straight line from corner to corner of each log.  Purchased Superior Thread #40 varigated.  I thought the thread was darker, but was light lavenders to pink.  I like it better than what I had planned. 

Blue Star quilt scrappy baby quilt.  30 x 30 so it can be used as a stroller quilt.  This was made for my good friend Melissa's new grandson due very soon.  It has been washed to make it soft and puckery. I handquilted with matching blue Superior handquilting thread and used the lid of my coffee can as the template. 

I love Log Cabin pattern.  I finished the log cabins with scrappy fabric and then appliqued the Sun Bonnet Sue to the center.  I used my Singer Quantum 9960 blanket stitch.  I have been experimenting with different stitches on this wonderful reasonably priced machine. 

Using Perle cotton #8 white, I hand quilted  around each Sue and then stiched in the ditch hand around the logs

.  Each block is made of 4 log cabins with Sue in the middle.  The whole unit measures 16 inches square.  The quilt measures 60 x 72 .  It would be great for a little girl's room.