Sayonara 2022🐯, Yōkoso 2023 🐰

Farewell 2022! Welcome 2023!!! Here's a Grace and Peace Quilting review of 2022, and a preview of what's to come in 2023, the year of the rabbit in Japan!

 First, 2022: I quilted 120 quilts in 2022, 51 of my own, and 69 for others.

Of my own 51 quilts, here's the breakdown:

💮Best Five 2022💮

We quilters love quilt parties! Cheryl @ MeadowMistDesigns is having a year end quilt link party, her 8th year hosting the Best 5 Blog Posts of the Year!

🎄It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas🎄

Happy 4th Sunday in Advent!!! Christmas is coming next weekend! I was inspired by Sarah at Confessions of a Quilt Addict to share my Christmas decorations, some hand made, some from Japan, celebrating the birth of Christ!!!

The view from our front door--we got a bit of snow this past week!!!

4 Fun Quilts🪡

Here are 4 fun quilts, pieced by 3 quilters, that I quilted recently!!!

Quilt Info #1--Retro Santa Panel:

Maker: Susan

Lucy Boston Day

Happy birthday, Lucy Boston! She would be celebrating her 130th birthday today. Lucy Boston, famous to quilters for her "Patchwork of the Crosses" quilt, was also a British author, an artist, and a restorer of an old cottage and English garden. She was born on December 10, 1892 in Southport, England, and lived to the age of 97. 

This is Lucy Boston's original quilt called "Patchwork of the Crosses", made in the 1950's: 

Tama Quilters is a small group of quilt friends that met in each other's homes in Tokyo, Japan, in the 2000's. We continue to do biannual "summer homework" where we make 6 blocks--one to keep and five to swap with the other members. For the summer of 2019 it was decided we would make Patchwork of the Crosses blocks! Here's my finished POTC quilt!!! ⤵️

I-Spy 🔍 JOEE Quilts

Here are four I-Spy quilts for children in Japan!!! I had help from four quilt friends who pieced the quilt tops!!!

JOEE Info:

A Baby Quilt For Leo

Our neighbors recently had their first baby, a boy named Leo!!!

Quilt Info: 

Maker: Me!!!

Three Finished UFOs 🛸

I have 3 quilts made by Kyle, my co-worker at the LQS, to share with you this month! She is slowly working through her UFO stack.

Quilt #1 Info:

Maker: Kyle

Christmas🎄/Japanese 🇯🇵

I have two quilts to share today, made by two clients: a Christmas quilt, and a quilt from Japanese fabrics!!

Quilt Info #1:

Topper: Lynn

Antique Dogwood 🍃 Quilt

My neighbor's great-grandmother made this beautiful appliqué quilt top, circa 1930!!! She made two of these Dogwood quilts--one was hand quilted back in the day, and this one was left as a top.

Quilt Info:

Topper: Mrs. C. Roffert

Pattern: Mountain Mist Dogwood #29

🫶 Memory Quilt 🫶

Missy is making several quilts from her Mother's blouses to share with her family. Her Mom's favorite color combination was blue and yellow, and she captured that love so well in this quilt!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Missy

What the Judge 👩🏼‍⚖️ Said

Do you enter projects in your county fair? I grew up in the countryside and was a member of the Happy Hornets 4-H club. The finale of the 4-H year is to enter one's best projects in the county fair. As an adult, when the county fair rolls around, I still feel that urge to finish things up and enter them in the county fair!

The rule at our county fair is only one entry in each lot per exhibitor. I make 50+ quilts a year, but nearly all of them fall into the same lot: 

"Bed Quilt 60" X 80" or Larger, Pieced and Machine Quilted by Entrant"

💛Hope For Ukraine💙 Part 2

These quilts are headed overseas to wrap families of Ukraine with comfort and love! I did the quilting and binding on these four quilts! 

Quilt Info:

Toppers: Cindy (2), Gwyn, Janice

Pattern: Hope from GE Designs

🌈 RSC Light/Lime Green 🍏

October's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color is light green & lime green! Angela @ SuperScrappy posts a color every month.

The pattern I'm using is "Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection", by Amy Smart, available on her website or from Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine, Issue 85, where I first spotted it. ⤵️

🎃 Halloween & Christmas 🎄

Two of my friends/clients have been making holiday quilts!!! I have five to share with you today:  

Quilt Info #1

Celtic Dreams 𐮛 QAL

Here's a quilt of my own that I just finished!!! I started the blocks this year on July 31st, during the one day QAL (quilt along) hosted by Gudrun @ GE Designs!!! My friend, Lynn, came over and we did the virtual QAL together!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!

Pattern: Kimberly from Stripology Mixology 3 by Gudrun Erla

Fabrics: Celtic Dreams by Lewis & Irene

🌈 RSC Light Blue 💠

September's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color is light blue!!! Angela at SuperScrappy posts the color every month.

The pattern I'm using this year is "Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection", by Amy Smart, available on her website or from Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine, Issue 85, where I first spotted it. ⤵️

💛Hope For Ukraine💙

Gudrun @ GE Designs is collecting quilt blocks, tops or finished quilts using her Hope quilt pattern for distribution to Ukrainian refugees!!! The colors are blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukraine flag. Here's a quilt made by my sister, Quilter Bonnie, and me!!!

Quilt Info:

Makers: Quilter Bonnie and Me!!!

Pattern: Hope from GE Designs

➕National Positive Thinking Day ➕

Happy National Positive Thinking Day!!! September 13th! I have a special finish today--this is my 7th National Day quilt out of 8 that I'm finishing this year!!!

Quilt Info:

Contributors: Tama Quilters of Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, Japan

⬒ Topsy Turvy ⬓ PLUS 2 Giveaways!!

This is a super fun quilt to make, "Topsy Turvy", from pattern designer Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts. I was honored to make a test quilt, and I highly recommend this pattern from a jelly roll, or from your own collection, like I did!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!

Pattern: Topsy Turvy by Preeti @ SewPreetiQuilts on Etsy

Get On Board 🏄🏽 With Sewing

Yokoso! That means "Welcome" in Japanese!!! Welcome to my stop on the "Get On Board With Sewing" blog hop!!! September is National Sewing month and "tropical"/"surf" is our theme! 

Now, here's my tropical quilt!!! ⤵️ Read on for my story! Plus, read to the end of this post and leave a comment to be entered to win some fabulous quilty gifts!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!

Pattern: Sunrise in Paradise--CUTIE Collections by Elaine Church

Sammy Quilt

Kyle made this fun quilt top from some beautiful Bonnie & Camille prints!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Kyle

Pattern: Sammy from Stripology Mixology 2 by GE Designs

Celestial Strippy Stairways 📶

This is the third Strippy Stairways I've quilted, this time in Zen Chic fabrics!!! 

Quilt Info:

Maker: Quilting Cousin Sue

Pattern: Strippy Stairways from Stripology Mixology 3 by GE Designs

Buzzworthy 🐝 Table Topper

Quilter Bonnie got this table topper kit for her birthday!!! 

Quilt Info:

Maker: Quilter Bonnie

Pattern: Buzzworthy Table Topper by Primrose Cottage

🌈 RSC/Bring the Love 🔶

I made 2 more "Bring the Love" mini quilts for the August Rainbow Scrap Challenge, the month of orange--one is orange and the other is rainbow hearts!!! Plus, I made an actual rainbow mini!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!

Pattern: Bring the Love Mug Rugs from Ameroonie Designs

🌈 RSC Orange 🔶

Welcome to Orange, the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for August!!! Angela over at SuperScrappy posted the August color two weeks ago, so I got a jump start on it!

The pattern is "Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection" from Amy Smart, on her website, or from "Love Patchwork & Quilting" magazine, Issue 85, where I first saw it. ⤵️

🌈 RSC Purple 💜

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) for July is purple!!! Here are the purple blocks I made: 

The pattern is Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection from Amy Smart. You can find it on her website, or in "Love Patchwork & Quilting" magazine, issue 85, where it originally appeared:

Baby Elephant Quilt 🐘

 

Quilt Info:

Maker: Susan

Size: 40" x 42"

🍦National Ice Cream Day🍦

Happy National Ice Cream Day!!! July 17th! In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared the third Sunday in July as the day we celebrate ice cream in the USA!!!

This is my 6th National Day quilt out of 8 that I'm finishing this year!!!

Quilt Info:

Contributors: Tama Quilters of Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, Japan

🌈 RSC/Bring the Love 💜

It's been a few months since I made more "Bring the Love" mini quilts for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I made two for July, the month of purple--one with modern prints and one with Japanese prints!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!

Pattern: Bring the Love Mug Rugs from Ameroonie Designs

➖Another Strippy Dippy➖

Here's another table runner I quilted from GE Designs' virtual retreat! This is my Quilting Cousin Sue's Strippy Dippy table runner!!! 

Quilt Info:

Maker: Quilting Cousin Sue

Pattern: Strippy Dippy table runner from Gudrun @ GE Designs

Brick Quilt

Here's a DrEAMi (Drop Everything And Make it) finish!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!!!

Fabrics: Sunshine Soul from Create Joy Project

Virtual 💻 Retreat Quilts

At the end of March, my sister Quilter Bonnie, my quilting cousin Sue, and I did Gudrun's @ GE Designs Virtual Retreat, along with 250+ quilters from 45 US states and 9 countries!!! 

Here are all three quilts Bonnie made from her retreat box using the "Passion" fabric line!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Quilter Bonnie

🌈 RSC Blue 💙

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color for June is Bright & Dark Blue! Here are my blocks:

The pattern is Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection from Amy Smart! It was originally in Love Patchwork & Quilting, Issue 85, if you have that magazine:

🎉Stripalong 2022 🎉

Gudrun @ GE Designs hosts a stripalong every spring: she refreshes one of her older 2 1/2" strip patterns and spreads the steps out over 3 weeks. Anyone can sew along with free access to her teaching. This year the spring Stripalong ran from April 26th through May 10th!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!

🎶T-Shirt/Red White & Blue🇺🇸/Panel🌵

Susan comes up with such a variety of quilts!!! Here are her three latest:

Quilt Info:

Maker: Susan

🎈National Hot Air Balloon Day🎈

Happy National Hot Air Balloon Day!!! June 5th! I have a special finish today--this is my 5th National Day quilt out of 8 that I'm finishing this year!!!

Quilt Info:

Contributors: Tama Quilters of Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, Japan

🌈RSC Green🌲

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color for May was Sage and Forest Green!!! Here are my  blocks:

I'm making blocks from the pattern, Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection, by Amy Smart.

▬ Strippy Dippy Table Runners ▬

This is the third new pattern we received in March as part of Gudrun's @GE Designs virtual retreat, a table runner called Strippy Dippy!!!

I made 6 myself and quilted one each for my sister and my quilting cousin.These are the perfect size for trying out different quilting pantographs, and I had a lot of fun doing just that!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!!!

Pattern: Strippy Dippy Table Runner by Gudrun @ GE Designs

🌟Kaffe Stars 🌟

Here's another beauty, made by Missy!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Missy

Size: 95" X 95"

💎Jewel 💎

Gudrun's virtual quilt retreats are a blast!!! Here's the second quilt I started making during Gudrun's @ GE Designs virtual retreat in March of this year!!!

The first quilt I finished from the same retreat was Strippy Stairways. Watch for the third pattern from the retreat to appear on my blog soon, Strippy Dippy.

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!!!

Pattern: Jewel by Gudrun Erla of GE Designs

Halloween ☗/30's ⬣

Susan made these two quilts for one of the best reasons--just because she wanted to! 

Quilt Info #1:

Mountain 🗻 Baby

Exciting times--our young friends, Mr & Mrs Mountain are expecting their first baby!!! And this seems like the perfect baby quilt for a Mountain baby!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Me!!!

Strippy Stairways 📶

At the end of March, my sister-Quilter Bonnie, our Quilting Cousin Sue and I enjoyed a real "treat"!!! A virtual quilt retreat, that is, along with 250 other quilters and Gudrun of GE Quilt Designs as our leader and teacher!!! Here's my first quilt finish from our retreat!

Quilt Info:

Pattern: Strippy Stairways from Stripology Mixology 3 by Gudrun Erla

Size: 66" x 81"

Fabrics: Weather Report by Leslie Tucker Jenison for Robert Kaufman

Batting: Quilters Dream 100% Cotton

Thread: Glide--Lead Grey

Quilting: Blender ⤵️ from Modern-Textiles.com

💙Have a Heart💙

 

Quilt Info:

Maker: Quilter Bonnie

Pattern: Have a Heart by J. Michelle Watts

🎄Christmas Dandy Candy 🎄

Here's a quick table runner Quilter Bonnie put together with Christmas charm squares!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Quilter Bonnie

Pattern: Dandy Candy from Pieced Tree Patterns

🚚Two Truck Quilts 🚚

Lynn made two more quilts for a couple of lucky brothers!!! 

Quilt Info:

Maker: Lynn

Pattern: 5-Yard Quilt

Floral 🌺 Flannel

Here's a beautiful flannel quilt finish from Kyle!!!

Quilt Info:

Maker: Kyle

🌈 RSC Pink💗

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color for April is pink!!! Here are my blocks:

I'm making blocks from the pattern Scrap Happy Rainbow Connection by Amy Smart! You can find it in Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine, Issue 85 ⤵️, too!!!

Layer Cake Baby Quilts & Update on Jack's Basket

Whenever I have a bit of fabric leftover, I cut it into 10" squares, 5" squares, 2 1/2" strips and then finally 2 1/2" squares. A favorite quilt to make is to sort through my 10" squares and put together quilts--baby size or lap size. Here are 8 baby quilts I've put together using this style this year!!!

Not only is it fast and fun putting these quilts together, I get to use different quilting pantographs, too!!!