Hawaii Quilt

 

Finished being quilted

     We went to Hawaii in February 2024 celebrating the 50th anniversary of our first date, we went to a couple of quilt stores.  I already made the pillowcases that I bought in a kit and this quilt is from a layer cake I bought at Kapaia Stitchery.

Pattern

Finished block

Layout of the blocks

     I chose the Off The Grid pattern from the Easy Layer-Cake Quilts book by B. Groves and M. Jacobson.  I had the white on white in my stash from Patched Works (3/19/21) and the black I bought at JoAnn Fabrics (3/15/24).  While at a quilt at home retreat in March of 2024 I made the squares.  While doing a quilt at home retreat in March of 2025 I put it together.  The pattern called for a 5 x 5 layout but since I had 40 squares, I wanted to use as many as possible.  My first thought was to do a 6 x 7 layout with a black square and a white square but when I laid it out, I didn't like how it looked.  The border fabric was in my stash from a different project.  It's hard to see in the pictures but it has silver threads running through it, making it sparkle.

Quilt back

     I decided to use those four leftover blocks as part of the back.  I bought a whole bolt of black polka dot flannel at JoAnn Fabrics (8/9/24) for the backing.  I also used some of the polka dot fabric from the blocks on the back.  

Stabilizer basted on

Magnetic hoop

Label 1

Sticky stabilizer for stitching the flower

Label 2

     Those orphan black and white squares were used to make the labels.  I basted a piece of tearaway stabilizer to the back and then used my new magnetic hoops to do the stitching.  The frame design is from Embroidery Library.  I decided that the one label needed a bit more so I used a hibiscus appliqué design from Designs by JuJu in the corner.  I eliminated the fabric and skipped the stitches that would have gone over the top of the lettering.  I added the lettering with MasterWorks.  I did need to use sticky stabilizer to do the flower as it was so close to the edge.

Quilting detail

Border detail

Block detail

     I took my quilt top to Barb Jolley and we chose a pattern called monsoon that looked like the leaves of the flowers in the quilt.  She used a purple thread that blended in with the fabrics.  The binding is the same polka dot print from the block centers.  This was a fun pattern, not too hard and it really showcased the pretty prints.  

Snow Glad We're Friends Mug Rug

 

Finished mug rug

     I found this really cute mug rug at Designs by JuJu.  I made a pair for my friend Pat and her husband.  I bought some mugs to match for a fun wintertime treat.  I did not stitch the snowflakes as suggested since my fabric had snowflakes already on it.

Prepared snowman fabric

Prepared backing

Hooped mesh stabilizer

Stitching placement line

     I prepared my fabrics as directed including applying fusible web to the back of the flannel for the snowman. I also prepared the back piece with some fusible web that would be used to close up the project at the end.  I did my first stitch line directly onto the woven mesh stabilizer.

Fleece and first fabric

Trimming out the center

Placing the second fabric

Stitching down the center piece

Trimmed center piece

     I laid the fusible fleece in the center of the stitched line, glue side up.  I liked how they had you round off the corners before putting it down.  Then I laid the first fabric over that and stitched the tack down stitch and then the center frame.  I trimmed out the center, placed the second fabric down and stitched the tack down stitches and the quilting lines, then trimmed it up.

Snowman fabric in place

Trimming the snowman

     The next piece was the flannel that I used for the snowman.  I removed the paper from the back of the fusible web and laid it in place, stitched around and then trimmed it.  I think the fusible web helped prevent the background fabrics from shadowing through the white fabric.  Then all the decorative stitching was done.

Backing taped down

Trimming off the extra

Trimming the corners

     I taped the backing piece in place and did the final stitching.  I removed it from the hoop and trimmed the edges.  The directions called for 1/4" seam allowance but that felt a little skimpy to me so I cut 3/8" seam allowance.  Trimmed the corners and then turned it right side out.  I removed the paper from the fusible webbing in the back pieces and pressed everything.  I liked the fact that the fusible fleece was not in the seams so it made the turning very easy and after pressing, the edges were nice and flat.

     The directions included with the design were very good but not many photos.  One thing I did not do was use spray adhesive during the different steps as suggested.  I did not find it necessary, my pieces stayed okay. 

Rustling Leaves Rag Quilt

 

Finished throw

     I bought this kit 20 years ago from Keepsake Quilting.  The kit included 24 fat quarters from which you were supposed to cut two 9" squares.  By the time I had squared off one side I wasn't able to really get two true 9" squares.  Fortunately since it was a rag quilt, one square being slightly smaller wasn't going to be a problem.  I did use a double layer of batting in each each as I wanted a little bit of a warmer throw.

Traced leaves

     I cut all the squares at home and traced the leaves onto paper backed fusible web.  ( I found out when I was putting away the pattern instructions later that I had missed the maple leaf shape, oops)  While at my 'quilt retreat' in Fairfield Glade I fused the pattern to the fabric and while watching TV one evening I cut them out.

Appliquéing the leaf

     I laid out the backing squares on the bed in the second bedroom, then laid the top squares on top, and then placed the leaves where I wanted them.  I fused the leaf to the top fabric square and used an appliqué stitch to stitch them on.  The first leaf I did I used a piece of tearaway stabilizer because I wasn't sure that the fabric was thick enough to support the stitches and remain flat.  It was so hard to tear out the stabilizer that I tried one without.  It turned out fine so I did the rest without the stabilizer. 

Finished, not washed

Needs to be washed

     After getting all the leaves appliquéd onto the squares, I started putting it together.  I would layer the sandwich and either stitch corner to corner for the plain squares or I traced a square around the leaf and stitched that.  I put them together as I finished each square because I didn't want to lose track of placement.  The last stitching to be done was to stitch all around the outside of the quilt.  Then while watching TV in the evening again, I snipped all the edges.

Finished and washed

Back of the quilt

    When we got home I threw it in the washer and dryer.  They do recommend using commercial machines but since it was only a throw size I used our front loader washing machine at home.  This was fun.  Not sure if I will do another one

Birthday T-shirts 2025

       As all the grandkids' birthday parties have now been held, I can show their birthday t-shirts.  Each year I make them a t-shirt (except their first birthday) and put money in their college fund.  First up is Cltn who turned 12.  As he is getting older, I just did a plain grey t-shirt for him.

     Next up is his sister Miss M, who turned 10. I had this pretty floral knit in my stash.  The ribbing is from a sweatshirt of my mom's, her great grandma.  My mom passed away just two years ago so my granddaughter did know her and saw her often.

     Next up is MTB who turned 9 and is a baseball nut.  The embroidery is from Designs by JuJu, one of my favorite places to get designs.

     Next up is his brother, SEB who turned 7.  I wanted something simple and this alligator fit the bill.

     Next up are the two youngest grandkids.  GJB turned 4.  I had a small piece of the dinosaur fabric left from a previous year and added the yellow fabric from my stash to make him his t-shirt.  Of course I added a dinosaur embroidery to the front.

     Last but not least is Miss V who turned 2.  I made her a matching t-shirt to her older cousin.  

     These are the patterns I used, just tried and true t-shirt patterns.

A Trip to Fairfield Glade

The first day from our bedroom deck

     We just got back from two weeks in Fairfield Glade TN.  We had a wonderful two bedroom place in a Wyndham resort.  The trees were absolutely gorgeous when we got there.  I went for a long walk or hike every day.  John was working and I brought my sewing machine.

My sewing room for the stay

     I put together three quilt tops, just lap sized ones, and a small rag quilt with appliquéd leaves.  In the middle of our stay we went to a money and Marriage event in Franklin TN.  We also visited with our daughter-in-law's aunt and uncle.

Snow

    When we returned to Fairfield Glade, the weather had turned and we had a bit of snow but then it warmed back up.  John had off Veteran's Day, so we were able to do a hike together then.  Our last full day there, John and I went on another hike.  Here are a bunch of photos from the walks and hikes.

Irises in November?

Daddy's Creek

     We found out that Wyndham is selling off this resort and we will no longer be able to go there.  We have been multiple times and really love the area.  I was so bummed to hear this as we were planning on going there at least once a year after John retired.  

The last day from our bedroom deck

     By the time we left after two weeks, most of the leaves had fallen.  I'm so happy we were able to enjoy one last time there.