Monday 27 January 2014

Barnabas Presents...

I've had a few of Kathleen Tracy's books of small quilts for a long time and for quite a while I've thought about joining her on-line group to take up her monthly challenge...she chooses a quilt from one of her books each month and puts that to her group to make. Finally, in the closing days of 2013, I got my act together enough to at least put in the request to join the group - the first step! The challenge for January was the Bear's Paw in her book, Prairie Children and Their Quilts.  This is both the first book of Kathy's that I bought and one of my favourite blocks - time to act!  I added an element of my own to the challenge - it had to be made entirely from scraps...no cutting into fat quarters or metreage or anything that wasn't in the scrap boxes (yes, boxes plural, sad isn't it *LOL*) with the exception of the backing...and I managed that...with even the backing coming from a piece of fabric that I had "inherited", thanks Rosie's friend Annie (MHDSRIP)...

Friday it was raining so what better time to start playing with fabric...machine pieced and quilted, washed/dried and all done by Sunday afternoon...

Barnabas insisted that as this was a Bear's Paw quilt it was only fitting that he be in the photo...
 
I do have to thank my 6-12 friend Barb for gifting me a shop paper bag full of what she called scraps (our definition differs wonderfully in my favour!) that included the pieces I was able to cut the borders from (as well as quite a few of the other fabrics used in this little quilt).  I had a moment or two of terror when the chocolate scrap I chose for the binding wasn't going to be workable (not enough of it - darn) but a dig around found some scraps of a darker chocolate that worked - instead of milk chocolate binding it has dark chocolate 70% yum!...

First challenge met...now to wait out the suspense of which quilt Kathy will chose for February...

Happy Stitching...

13 comments:

Susan said...

It's a lovely little quilt, no wonder Barnabas has claimed it. I love Kathy's small quilts too. I'll enjoy watching your progress.

marina said...

what a gorgeous mini.
I don't think I would knock back your friends scrap bags at all if all those lovely fabrics were scraps.

Melody said...

It is a delicious little quilt. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make next time.

Ann in PA said...

Lovely little quilt! The colors and fabrics are beautiful...so is that sweet little bear. :))) Ann

elliek said...

Great little quilt. Maybe 2014 is the year of the finishing or doing what you say you will do when you get that "round tuit" It is my year for UFO's becoming FO's

Mistea said...

Cute quilt for a cute bear.
Gotta love those scrap boxes. Free project and finished. Yay.
Enjoy stitching the scraps.

Katherine said...

Love your mini quilt and its great that you have further challenged to use only scraps too. Looking forward to seeing the next one.

Kerry said...

Lovely little mini-quilt perfect for your little bear. Very good use of border fabric, love what you've done.

Grit said...

Your mini quilt looks wonderful.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Welcome to SMQ. Your quilt is beautiful. Love the border fabric!

Fiona said...

Lovely little quilt and the colours are perfect ....
Hugz

Maria said...

Such a lovely little quilt, and the colours work so well! I feel sorry for quilters who don't have boxes /plural of scraps as then there is more chance of finding that scrap that is needed to finish something, as in your binding! Lol

Shay said...

Totally freaking cute! And so is Barnabas .

Cant believe you magicked that beauty up out of scraps. You're amazing!