ICE for Michelle

This is the block I received from Michelle for our
Chicago Modern Quilt Guild Challenge.
Lots of prints - really different from my usual style.
That's what challenges are, right - to stretch us?
Clearly she was headed toward some flowers.
I just changed the scale a bit for a
Lady Bug Picnic:

I used the striped fabric to make the
squares for the flower pot &
the mini quilt on the clothes line.
For the fruit tree I was
channeling Kathy York.
(Big thanks to Michelle for
reattaching the buttons that fell off - oops!)
My favorite bit is the plate
on the picnic table:
Michelle's blog is "Bacon then Eggs"

Doors Done!

Couldn't resist this picture which features
my assistants: daughter and our dog Blaze.
I think it also captures the contrast between
the bland gray of our Il March
and the bright colors I was craving to work with.

Some quilting:

during which I realized my Bernina is due for a tune up.

Though this quilt kind of "did in" my goals of a Finish it February
it was exactly the right thing for me to be doing.

Harmony

Another "Finish it February" success! This is "Harmony" - pattern (and material) by McKenna Ryan. It is off to the dorm already. I really like the look of these small wall quilts mounted on canvas - hope to try it with one of my own designs soon.

Peace

This McKenna Ryan pattern piece was a gift for my daughter. It was the first time we ever both liked the same thing from a set - our aesthetics are dramatically different - so this, and a companion piece (Harmony) are late Christmas gifts. Her color pallet, nature for me.

I'm practicing "Finish it February" at my house - no new projects until a few of the UFOs are complete. This also provided some free motion practice which is on my list of "do's." The back before mounting on canvas:

Peace was a January finish, Harmony - hopefully - will be a February