Star Wars! (pattern testing)

Fandom in stitches put up a call for Star Wars patterns and got a BEVY of responses.  These are the two patterns I tested, and I love them!  Plans now laid for the BOY version of our charity quilt to be donated this coming December.  (Insert happy dance here)

Light Sabers designed by Gretchen Kohlhaas

Death Star designed by Kristi Lehane

You can find these patterns HERE

The other new patterns offered (posted after release on fandominstitches.com 3/21/16)

Squee.... Super secret project coming....

I promise.  I'm not doing nothing. There are projects in the works - just several I can't actually share yet.  sigh.  that's the hardest part of quilting and pattern testing...

but I can leave a hint right here for you...

and it's coming soon...

before summer...

and it's super happy making!

Passing it forward (RAK)

Several years ago when I began this quilting journey I had lots of people who really went out of their way to help me out as I began learning.  The Fandom In Stitches community stepped up and sent fabric, answered tons of questions, directed me to videos, encouraged me to keep going, gave me tips and support as I tackled harder work - pretty much they have taught me about the absolute goodness that can be found from online friends.

This year, I was gifted several garbage bags of fabric - far more than I could ever use myself.  I took some, and then decided to pass along the extras to this same community of quilters.  All said, we were able to send out 69 envelopes of fabric.  To our gifter - thank you for allowing me to pass along such wonderful goodies - to those gifted, I hope you will make many projects and pass it forward!

Oklahoma!

Did a toughie new pattern testing for a broadway series panel.  Definitely not for the weak!

Snape tribute (Alan Rickman RIP)

There are a few very special book series that have spoken to my heart and impacted me in big ways and among them is Harry Potter.  I was not a join in the merriment right away kind of fan, in fact it wasn't until book 4 that I even deigned to "look" through the book.  It took me a day and a half to wolf down the first one and I was hooked.

I've been asked by different friends and family what the big deal is.  I mean it's JUST a story about wizards and witches, right?  I can honestly say that the fact that they are witches and wizards is the least amazing part of this book.  It's more a story about a boy who overcomes hard things and forms his own family since his literal flesh and blood do not act as family should.  It's a story about forgiving, supporting, and forming relationships that COULD have made him bitter and sad.  Instead he CHOOSES to be happy - and then fight for happiness for others in his same situation.  He does not back down when faced with scary/difficult/nerve wracking/frustrating problems - instead he chooses to face them, with his carefully formed family supporting him, even when the world would tell him to give up.  And, perhaps my favorite part?  He does the right things, because they are the right things - even when they are the hard things.

So of course like millions of fans - when I heard of Alan Rickman's passing a few days ago - my heart grieved.  Alan portrayed Professor Snape, perhaps the most misunderstood, misjudged person in the series who, in the final end of the book proves his worth, and his love all along.  I don't usually love movie versions of books, but in this case the character was so well portrayed that I can't help but join in paying tribute to the man who brought the character to life.

and so I share this tribute for any other HP fans out there.

Pattern by Kristi Lehane of Peach Blossom Patterns

Whipping up some Christmas love!

This year I took some extra time to make some well needed aprons for my sweet bunch o'kids!  Patterns are all found at fandominstitches.

Charity Quilts - sharing the love

I was given the opportunity to help out a project with our women's auxiliary group at church this year - with quilts!!

Each group was asked to make two quilts (twin size) 1 boy, 1 girl.

I wish I had taken more up close photos of this boy/superhero quilt - I loved the pop of the black and blue stripe with the different colored squares.

But I did get some up close shots of the girl quilt!! :)

This article was published about the project