Sunday, January 10, 2021

Project Quilting Season 12 week 1

 Surprise!  While I love challenges, I seldom, if I recall maybe even never enter the Project Quilting challenges.  Mostly because I have other challenges to do, the monthly Island Batik Ambassador (yes, I'm an Ambassador for my 8th!!!!! Year).  I usually don't have time, nor do I need to make something in the color/design chosen. 

But this time, I did, so I am entering.  Maybe I'll win a prize, but even better, this is already sold.  Win-Win.

In their 12th year, Project Quilting is a challenge where you make a project in the color or design of the posted challenge within a week, and write details on your blog, etc, and link to the post.  It must be either applique, patchwork, or 3 layers stitched together.  This week, it also needed to be yellow and gray, the colors for Pantone's Color of the year.  But last week my Sister-in-law's twin asked me to make her a gray table topper like the other she has, but for year-round use.  I am not sure if she has Valentines and Halloween, but I do know she likes the Center Stage pattern by Pieced Tree Patterns, because it fits on her table in her fairly new condo.  So, the question was, did she also want yellow?  Well, our mutual niece got the grey and yellow topper I made for the Island Batik and Accuquilt challenge in 2020, so yes, she loved the colors in that.  She was over last night, and I just asked again, and showed her the fabric.  She loved Sterling, an Island Batik neutral, and I have enough of the yellow from Lisa's topper to accent it.  

So, this afternoon, I grabbed my Pieced Tree pattern, and precut the fabric into strips to use with the Accuquilt GO! 3 " finished HST die, and cut the required pieces, plus the setting triangles.  A few phone calls later, the top was pieced (it was a chatty sewing time).  I grabbed a section of Island Batik Grey solid from the Ambassador boxes, and loaded it on Vanna, my Handi-Quilter Amara.  I knew I wanted to do a feather wreath in the center, and decided to try the Fairy Feather triangle and border blocks in Pro-Stitcher.  I loaded Aurifil 40-3 long arm thread in 2600, Dove, for quilting and grabbed a scrap of Warm & White batting that was just the right size.  Within the hour, I had it quilted, and took a break for left-over lasagna, and watched tonight's Hallmark movie.  I had already prepped the binding, so I went back up, changed the settings on the machine and put on Aurifil 2600 to finish the binding, and add my name tag.  I'll write washing directions and the year on the back with a sharpie.  

Anyway, here are some progress photos.  
Just finished piecing, and sent this to Ellen for approval. 
Starting quilting on Vanna.  I thought the Fairy Feather triangle design was pretty, and would look good with a traditional Feathered Wreath center.  
I used Rice for the background, an Island Batik neutral. That's often supplied to the Ambassadors, too.  I did purchase the bolt of Sterling, and the yellow is from a previous collection provided to the Ambassadors.  I use Aurifil for piecing, and quilting.  

Okay, it doesn't really work with my red table cloth, but it will look lovely on Ellen's grey and white 
table.  


Backside, solid Grey from Island Batik, and detail of the quilting, Fairy Feather border.
I love how Sterling has a touch of yellow in it, it's a great basic, and works so well with today's theme.
Bound and done. 

Details:  Made by Maryellen McAuliffe on Saturday, January 9, 2021 in Franklin Square, NY
Aurifil Thread, Warm & White batting, all fabric from Island Batik.  Machine pieced and quilted.  

I had fun with this challenge, and will be back to working on the December Island Batik Medallion challenge tomorrow.  But this is the first finish of 2021!  

Thanks for visiting.  
Maryellen


8 comments:

Emily said...

I really like this pattern, and the yellow and gray are quite lovely together. Congrats of your first finish of 2021!

Darlene S said...

I've always loved this pattern and it looks great in the fabrics/colors you selected, along with your stunning quilting. Great job. Lastly, I'm amazed this is your 8th year as an IB Ambassador. Seems like yesterday you started. But then, I've loved all of the stunning projects you've created using IB fabrics.

Turid said...

I really like this quilt. And your quilting is great. I find it difficult to quilt like that on my little machine.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Beautiful table topper! Congrats on having the PQ12.2 challenge prompt align with something you needed to make, anyway.

Christine said...

Beautiful finish for the challenge. Love the colors! Congrats on the finish.

Kathleen said...

Love table topper...and congrats on year #8....I don't know how you do it.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

It looks great. I'm hoping the next challenge is not too hard.

PersimonDreams said...

This is absolutely stunning! So happy to have you join in the challenge fun ;)