Strawberry Squares // Finished Modern Quilt

Have you heard of Eleanor Burns? Her trademark is "Quilt in a Day," which is basically what it sounds like. Her work isn't particularly my style, but I was happy to channel Eleanor Burns yesterday!It all started when I received this in the mail yesterday (my last fabric purchase for 2 months. I sound like an addict. I probably am one, but still.+) Isn't it pretty?

Its Remix by Ann Kelle. I had previously bought a yard of one of the butterfly prints to back my I-Spy Quilt. It matched perfectly. And yes--once you use a long arm machine to quilt a quilt anything less is no fun at all! And I love my sewing machine!

I did something I have never done before. I pulled the fabric out of the envelope, walked upstairs, and started cutting it up and sewing with it. Baby N took a long nap, which coincided with preschool and a playdate here for Mr. L., which made for a fun few hours for me! I really really really wanted to run to the store and buy some lilac and light green solids to throw in with the pink and yellow that I had, but I figured I couldn't break my resolution (no new fabric for 8 weeks) five days into the new year. I used two different kona pinks, because I didn't have enough of either on hand. It sure is a pink quilt! Then, while my husband was at evening meetings, I pin basted and quilted the quilt. I love baby quilts (it measures 38x38). If I had not had to rip out 1/6 of the quilting due to an unsightly pucker in the back, I would have been done well before 11:30pm. Oh well. Almost. I machine bound the binding last night and spent part of today burying knots and tying off some loose ends.This quilt is off to its new home soon--I traded the quilt for portraits of my kids for Christmas. I hope she likes it!

And since I'm posting at Sew & Tell, here is my other big finish from the last few weeks. Besides 100 Quilts for Christmas, my sewing machine took a break this holiday season!

Speaking of 100 Quilts for Christmas, we donated 43 quilts and blankets locally. 43! I was so excited. We got a nice thank you note from the Alexandria Office on Women today. Thank you again, Tricia, for delivering the quilts.  And thank you everyone who participated for your kindness and generosity. I heard of 130 ish quilts that were donated this holiday season.

And a post like this wouldn't be complete without a mosaic of some of my favorite projects of 2010, right? Happy New Year, everyone!

+