Quarantine UFO Series #2, My Friends Finish

My second quilt in the pile of UFO's was actually not mine started, but mine to finish. A very dear friend lost her mother a few years ago and she inherited all of her quilting and sewing supplies and projects. She wanted to finish them for her mom, but wasn't sure how.

Last year, she asked me if I would be willing to finish it for her. She had the completed top, the batting, and the backing. It just needed to be pinned, quilted, and bound. Because of the size, I knew I would only be able to do a meander but it worked.

She did a wonderful job balancing her colors and completing her stars. It made my job easier and I am super happy with how it turned out.  I used some of the leftover backing for the binding.

My plan was to donate the quilt to a non-profit or a hospice home maybe. Since everything is still in a state of lockdown, I'm waiting for now. Eventually someone will be able to enjoy this beauty, and it will be well-loved.

Quarantine UFO Series, #1 Cats and Dogs Quilt

I continue to look for the sunnier side of things in these strange times. Back in March when the lockdown began, I was initially focused on making sure we had our essentials in line and enough supplies for the family. Then, my focus was on figuring out how school was going to work with the changes. Both of these are tasks that still continue, but being at home made me look around and assess what I have to do at home that I've put off. 

I had a stack of quilt tops complete with backings that needed quilting. I decided now was the time. My first one was a project I started back in 2015. A friend had given me a stash of fabric that she'd cleaned out of her collection.

I used the disappearing nine patch scrappy quilt method. I really took my time with layouts and mix ups to make sure my colors were well distributed and the patterns were balanced.

I actually purchased the backing in 2016 during a San Diego trip that included a detour to my fave fabric shop; Rosies. It's a great place for backings because of their great prices. It wasn't quite big enough a piece for my project (mostly because I am not good at measuring, ha!), but it worked out. I had some scraps left over. I love adding some of the fabrics from the quilt to the back when I can.

I did have enough backing leftover to make the binding, which is a great frame for the quilt. It has a nice color balance, and the pattern keeps the binding broken up and interesting. 

I wasn't sure how I felt about this quilt when I started, but I have to admit when I saw the finished product I was in love! The colors are so different than what I usually pick, and they're amazing! The pattern was also something new I hadn't tried before, and I really liked the results. So glad I finally had the time to get this done. It's a wonderful addition to my collection.