Remember this cartoon from a couple of posts ago? Well, I decided to break the secret rules about Blocks of the Month quilt-a-longs and decided to finish up my quilt at Month Nine.
The world didn’t end.
I used a three-inch border, then some snazzy dots for the binding.
That sweet checkerboard on the back is another bit of fabric from Sherri and Chelsi. I’d been hoarding collecting their fabrics from their very first collection, and used only their fabrics in this quilt. The patterns are from the Sherri, of Sherri and Chelsi, and you can find them on her website, A Quilting Life. She’s already talked about her BOM (Block of the Month) for 2026 — lots of fun, there!
I did machine-stitched binding again for this one. My friend Lisa taught me to use two different colors of thread: one matching the binding, and one matching the backing. It went pretty quickly.
The title is from a poem by Kwame Dawes, as I liked the imagery in it.
My quilter, Nancy, did a great job on using one of my favorite patterns, Boujee by Urban Elementz. This is Quilt #310.
I superimpose the quilting design over a lightened image of the quilt, to help guide her on the size I want.
It’s nice to have it done, and hanging on the bottom of the guest bed. Thank you, Sherri!
And I think it’s okay to throw in a couple of other things, here. One is squircles (free pattern on this post). I’m seeing them pop up here and there, especially on Gladi’s blog, where you can see her squares in the background as she shows the basket she won from her guild’s show (which gave me complete guild-envy). She also shows them on her social media. I’m closing in on 80 of these little guys, and I’ll put them all up on my pin wall when I do make it to that milestone.
I’m seeing cheddar-colored fabrics in a lot of places. I have been collecting these for about a decade, and thought It Was About Time. Plus, Gladi has been working on a cheddar quilt, and Barb Veddar has more than one on her IG feed.
I’m using my Azulejos pattern and made some test blocks to answer my burning question: Do I like it better when all the scrappiness of the blues and cheddars are mixed up (the two on the right)? Or, do I like it better when there are only two different fabrics in each block, but the quilt will be scrappy?
I just couldn’t handle the chaos of the blocks on the right. The whole quilt will look scrappy, but it will have some order to it, or at least that’s what I’m hoping.
Autumn has arrived in the bedroom, with my pillow and the Nancy Rink Amish quilt, Shadow Owes Its Life to Light on the bed. Our weather is so strange — like it’s 82 right now as I type this (Saturday afternoon). In November!
The quilt remains folded on the end of the bed as it’s too warm, and we lift it off at night. Rain is supposed to show up next week, so maybe we’ll put it to use then.
This morning, I helped my sister figure out her artist’s statement for her art, which led me to think about another conversation I had with another quilter, about how she’s more interested in watercolors right now. Another is working hard at learning the flute. It reminded me of this quote, from Todd Plough:
It is not the brush you bring to the canvas but what you bring to the brush.
As long as there is some kind of canvas (quilt, digital screen, thick watercolor paper, clay) and some kind of brush (needles and thread, a computer mouse, a paintbrush), you are good, in my mind. Of course this coupling of canvas/brush could be so much more than what I thought of. It could be food and a dinner plate. Or a bowl and some rising sourdough bread. Or wood and a bandsaw. I’ve scrolled through enough posts in my life to know that there are multitudes. And while you may start in one, you will probably end up with another, even if you continue with your first creative love.
What matters is what’s behind the brush, and that is you.
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I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that Amish quilt before, it is just stunning. I have been kicking the quilt off the foot of the bed, but we are due for snow tonight so that may change!
Hayley and I want a basket at the quilt show last week, but it was not nearly as beautiful as Gladi’s win, but it’s still exciting to unpack it and see what’s buried inside!
I’m with you . . . 9 months 12 months who cares if the quilt gets finished. An dit’s a lovely finish! So are all your squircle blocks. My canvas for most of the year has been memory making. I’ve been working on a digital scrapbook of sorts about myself and another documenting my quilts plus actual scrapbook pages for my son. I need to be creative but not always with fabric. I’m starting to feel the tug to return to quilting so I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Try as I might I never seem to manage multiple projects at a time well.
Thank you for this post Elizabeth, especially the last affirming paragraph. Yes, creating in any form is the important aspect of fulfilled life. I have often mentioned to friends, in conversation, that your life, especially your retired life, should involve do something creative. I love your idea for the cheddar/blue quilt . It will be stunning! “Build Me A House of Light” is a lovely quilt, with very pretty quilting!
I’m so happy you’ve found a new interest too, Susan! The watercolors you’ve done, that I’ve seen, are amazingly beautiful. And I’m sure you’re finding it creatively fulfilling. Keep enjoying!
I love the way you ended this post; indeed what matters is behind the brush (or keyboard). I’m so grateful for your interesting and thoughtful posts. I started reading it this morning but got pulled into our normal Sunday routine full of catching up with family (1 hour on FaceTime with my parents, 2 hours via zoom with my dear husband’s parents), enjoying the warm sunshiney day for a few walks, and here I am at the end of day so glad this was waiting on me to read and think about over the evening as I wind down.
But, quilts! No, the world certainly did not come to an end for your deciding that you were done with a Block of the Month. I think it finished beautifully; congratulations on seeing another quilt across the finish line. And I think your blue and cheddar quilt is going to be beautifully scrappy with your left of photo blocks. In the end, what matters is who is behind the sewing machine, and I have every confidence it is going to turn out wonderfully. 🙂
Another nice quilt! I’m going to try combining a picture of the quilt with a picture of the panto like you did. I often request Urban Elementz designs. Thanks for the idea!
Thanks so much for mentioning my squircles (and thank you for your inspiration!) and my use of cheddar! I’m looking forward to seeing how your new cheddar and blue quilt develops. Congratulations on both of your recent lovely finishes, Krakow Circles and Cabin of Light. I completely agree that sometimes a quilt is finished before one originally expected it to be done and that’s OK! I’m envious of your warmth – tomorrow AM it will be 32 degrees here and we now have 3 quilts on our bed! I LOVE your ending comments on creativity – so important!!
Good for you, you rule-breaker you! Go ahead and get-er-done, I say. “Build Me a House of Light” is so nice. I’m doing precisely the same thing with “Posh Penelope.” Gotta get-er-done (in November, I hope) and move on. Glad you are enjoying making your squircles. I’m sure I would enjoy making those blocks too, but… other priorities at the moment. As for your new cheddar/blue Azulelos pattern, you made me smile. I would have picked the scrappier-looking blocks on the right! 🙂 To each her own. Indeed, your quilty friends are doing other things – Susan @patchnplay is watercoloring (I sure miss her blog; and that she used to comment on my blog); Cindy at @liveacolorfullife is fluting; and Linda @flourishingpalms is round loom (or long loom) knitting. It’s not unusual for us creatives to find new ways to make beauty. Love that!