Welcome to 2022!

It's hard to believe that it's 2022.  We're going on two years of the COVID pandemic, and all of the things that go along with that (quarantines, masks, canceled events, etc.).  It's just days away from the world missing Mom for five years.  And, EEK... I turn fifty this year!  Even with all of the craziness out there, I'm feeling very optimistic about this year.  I've planned some family vacations for later this year.  I'm feeling very productive in my life, in general.  And, I've made a list of quilts that I plan to finish up this year!!!

Now, what to write about?  I've got a dozen or so photos to finish catching up.  Be prepared... it may feel kind of eclectic, and some of these are a little older.  I just want to make sure I share everything that I planned on sharing before I move on to my recent stuff.

First in line is a wholecloth medallion quilt that I made for my sister.  I fell in love with the sparkly fabric at the Southern Belle longarm retreat that I go to every fall.  And, I fell in love with the quilting pattern set from Joyce Lundrigan at Methodist Hill Quilt Studio for her All in One club set, Mandala Dreams.  This was the outcome!  And, I have the fabric to make a second one for myself... I just need to remember where I put the fabric.  LOL!

My version of the Mandala Dreams All in One quilt.

Next, I have a couple of Skill Builder club quilts, also from Methodist Hill.  If you aren't aware, this is a monthly club that comes with instructions for a fairly quick-to-make quilt top or project, along with quilting patterns and videos with helpful hints and instructions.  I try to keep up with the monthly skill builders because I learn so much every time I do one, but I just don't have the time.  Maybe one day, when I'm retired!  The first photo is the June 2019 Star Spangled Banner project.  I made it pretty much exactly like the sample and I love it!  The second photo is the October 2019 Seasonal Minis project, where I learned how to do applique on my Statler, and how to make decorative stitches.  I did a Christmas ornament mini, which I put out every year during the holidays.  The only negative to this one, which isn't really that negative... the red fabric bled through my white ornament.  In my head, I just tell myself that it looks like I did it on purpose.  Ha!

My Star Spangled Banner

My mini ornament, with the "purposeful" red bleeding on the white.

A couple of years ago, my friend, Sheila, and I made this super adorable dachshund quilt for our friend, Mikella, for her birthday. It turned out so cute!  I used a quilting pattern with pawprints and bones that pulled together the pooch theme.  Mikella loves dachshunds, and I think she loved this quilt, especially the cuddle backing fabric!

Overall view of Mikella's dachshund quilt.

Closeup view of the dachshund quilt.

Closeup of the back of the dachshund quilt.

Sometime over the last two years, I took a virtual workshop class through my guild.  It was Accordion Sewn HSTs - The Carpenter's Apprentice, taught by Beth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs.  She taught us a very unique and innovative was of making half square triangles that come out perfectly and have almost no waste fabric.  Incredible!  The photos show both the accordion before I've cut the HSTs apart, and the finished (not yet quilted) Carpenter's Apprentice... another one on my list to complete this year.

From top to bottom, fabric laid out to be sewn, a completed accordion, a star made from HSTs that have been cut apart from their accordion.

The completed Carpenter's Apprentice top.

Lastly, I have a set of projects that I purchased at the 2019 Houston International Quilt Festival.  First, I fell in love with the cute patterns and embellishment kits at Happy Hollow Designs.  I admit that I purchased easy piecing grid fabric from TenSisters Handicraft, rather than from Happy Hollow.  Why, I have no idea.  In any case, the patterns are very scrappy because you just cut lots of little squares of the colors that you're using, iron them onto the grid fabric, and stitch away.  Everything comes out perfectly, with all corners meeting like a dream.  The pattern comes with the cute buttons and embellishments, that really make the project stand out.  I have another pattern waiting for me to complete... another on my list for this year.

My completed S'More Snowmen project.

I also fell in love with pretty much ALL of the mini quilt projects at Les Secrets de Marie, in her Just a Little Box packages.  The package was just so cute!  I wish I had taken a photo before I took them apart and made the mini quilts!  I did purchase two of the kits.  The only change I made was to use my own red fabric in the middles of the log cabin blocks.  She sells the frames that go along with the little quilts, too, if you want them.  I thought they were too cute to pass up.  And, my friend, Becky, made the little boxes that the kits came in, into pincushions for me.  Love!

My mini tumbler quilt in its cute frame.

My mini log cabin quilt in its cute frame.

The cutest little pincushions a girl could ever ask for!

That's all for now.  I hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season, and rang in the new year with joy and with family.  I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2022!

Keep on quilting!

Jenny