Priscilla's Challenge Quilt Top Finished

 

 

I'm very excited to have this quilt top finished.  I've been working on it for a few years in between projects.

 

 

It all started when my neighbor Priscilla and I went shopping...

we both spotted the bolt of fabric on the markdown shelf and I let her take it.  After we got home, she asked me if I would have bought it if she hadn't.  I told her that I probably would have but I really didn't "need" it.  So, she said she was going to split it with me and we would have a challenge to see what we would each come up with.  So, she gave me two of the center panels and some yardage of the green cheater fabric.  Since that day, I collected fabrics that would coordinate and I think I now have enough for 20 quilts! LOL!  I will be sharing some with her soon so I hope she gets back to work. *wink*

 

My plan for this quilt was to make blocks that reminded me of Priscilla and the things we had in common because I'm going to be just like her when I grow up!

I started from the center and went out.

 First, I had to show our love of sewing...spool blocks. 

 

Second, I knew I wanted to do friendship stars in reds and whites because I made a quilt top for her and that's what it was made of.  I use her quilting machine and she will never let me pay her so, in trade she brought me a bag of red fabrics and said I could make a quilt top for her out of them in any pattern I want. Well, I had to make friendship stars!  By the time I was done with the quilt top, I had fallen in love with it.  (I can't seem to find a picture of it...guess it's time for a visit)  For her quilt top I trimmed all the blocks and I knew I really didn't enjoy that part of the process.  I used Half Square Triangle Exchange Papers by Edyta Sitar for Laundry Basket Quilts for my blocks so that I didn't have to trim...so easy!

 

Third, since I enjoyed those papers so much, I used them in a second row on the quilt...shoo fly blocks.  The song "shoo fly don't bother me" comes to mind and Priscilla doesn't let things bother her...she just does what she wants!

 

Fourth, is my favorite row...the tree blocks.  Now, Priscilla loves trees any kind of trees.  She has planted her own little mini forest in her yard.  She had mentioned once that she would like a red maple and it just so happened that I found one while shopping on Earth Day.  So, the kids and I picked it up for her.  Little did I know it wasn't the red maple that she was talking about (the leaves are mostly green) but since she loves trees she planted it anyway.  The tree block with the red and green leaves represents that tree. I also had to put in a tree block for me.  I haven't really decided if it is a willow tree or a palm tree so I'm going to call it a combo tree.  My bedroom is decorated in palm trees and I have one in my living room too.  But, when I'm out and about, I love to look at willow trees.

 

 

Fifth, is my grandmother's flower garden blocks.  Priscilla has spoiled us like a good grandma with her bread and cookies. She's shared flowers with me from her garden and I have given her flowers to grow.  I originally wanted to make the whole row as hexagons but I quickly found out that they aren't as much fun as they look so, they got stems.  The leaves are paper pieced and pleated.

 

 

I started to paper piece veggies for an additional row at the bottom but, they were too small and the quilt was really long enough.  So, the two tomato blocks will go on the back with the label and I'm hoping to piece the year on the back.  I would have pieced the year for the front if I would have thought about it sooner.  I guess I could make another quilt, I have enough fabric! LOL!

 

On to the quilting.  I'm not sure how I want to quilt it yet except that I'd like to quilt our first names into it.  Guess I need to give that some more thought yet.