Saturday, October 23, 2021

Elephants, a Giveaway and Positivity

Happy Saturday! Even though we’re retired, there’s still always something fun and exciting about reaching the weekend!



On Wednesday, I shared the two quilts I made from the awesome Masala Box pattern just released by my friend Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts. There is a giveaway of a copy of the pattern generously donated by Preeti. You can read more about it and enter by leaving a comment on that post. The giveaway is open until Sunday October 24 at midnight MDT. If you just can’t wait to get started, you can visit her Etsy shop and get a pdf copy right away! It’s a beautiful quilt that can be made in several sizes, and the instructions are clear and well written. 

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Speaking of Preeti, I finally finished my Positivity quilt. Preeti and Bernie hosted a quilt along, with the resulting quilts going to Mercy Hospital in Sacramento California . I started it last spring along with half the quilters in Blogland (that may be a slight exaggeration), and kept apace until I had the entire top pieced. But in July we had water issues in the basement from a storm, as well as basement flooding in August. So, while dealing with the construction of gutting my studio, repairing and restoring the walls, etc., I only had one table and a small area in which to sew. Thankfully, we’ve been “put back together” for a few weeks and I’m working hard to get caught up. 


Positivity measures 60x80”. The pattern and several setting variations were furnished by Preeti. I chose a simple arrangement using light and darker blue backgrounds. 


The quilting was done with a walking foot using the basic serpentine stitch on the diagonals and in the vertical and horizontal seams. The fabric in the above block (forming the cross) was one I purchased on Spoonflower. It and the striped fabric that I used for the binding are what inspired the colors and fabrics chosen.


The backing was a wide-backed blue piece from Connecting Threads. I’m so relieved to finally have this one done and off my plate! It will be mailed to Bernie next week!

This week I also had a chance to play with some lime green scraps to make a couple new blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. And as usual, I’m linking up to Scrappy Saturday to join in all the fun things that are going on there (come check it out!)


Are these elephants cute or what?!? The pattern is Stomping Ground by Wendy Sheppard . I’ll be making lots of these for RSC ‘22 and whenever the mood (or fabric) strikes me. I want to make at least one rainbow version for myself, a smaller one for Quilts for Kids, and one for my DDIL Kim. Yep, we’re going to have an Elephant-athon here at Chez Kizerian! The blocks are 10” (finished size) each, so I could also see setting these with an alternating Irish Chain block. So many possibilities! 

This morning, Cousin Kim and I are off to attend a Quilts for Kids workshop at Quilters Lodge in Draper. This is our annual QFK Scrappy Workshop, and I’ll be giving a small trunk show of scrap quilt ideas and teaching the Zipper Quilt to attendees. It’s a simple and bright block by Lynn Dykstra of Klein Meisje  Quilts. I’ve got lots of pre-cut kits ready for the ladies to check out and begin sewing. Good times!!

21 comments:

  1. I hope your Zipper Quilt workshop goes well today. Love those gorgeous elephants. Lime green suits them! Sounds as though you’re going to sew up a stampede of elephants at your house.

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  2. The elephants are so great,Cathy! What a fun new idea for a kids' quilt! Way to go on getting your Positivity quilt done. I have mine on my list to get all ready for quilting this week. Have fun at the workshop!

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  3. Wow, lots going on! I love the elephants and your plans for them. Yes, set them with an Irish chain! That would be an interesting and easy quilt. I love the Positivity quilt, too. It's interesting and soothing. We used to call the alternating darks and lights "hopscotch," and I still think of these quilts as hopscotch quilts. Enjoy your workshop!

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  4. Congrats on your beautiful Positivity QAL finish and on those darling Elephant blocks in the Color of the Month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Cathy!!

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  5. Those elephants are great. I made two crib quilts from that pattern for my twin granddaughters. So fun!

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  6. I love the little green elephants! seems to be a theme....

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  7. congrats on your wonderful comfort quilts finishes! and those elephants, oh my! sew cute!

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  8. Your Positivity quilt is (positively!!:}}} ) beautiful...what a lovely finish...I like that serpentine quilting a lot.
    What adorable elephants...they will make a great piece using RSC colors...
    Hugs, Julierose

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  9. Oh, those elephants! What a glorious RSC quilt that will be.

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  10. Hope you see lots of eye candy a the trunk show. The elephants are a great block. They are nicely proportioned. The bright green and grey makes it super fun. Hope you had a great weekend!

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  11. Those elephants! Absolutely adorable!

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  12. What could be more fun than a couple of lime green elephants

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  13. Looking forward to herds of colorful elephants! Oh, they are so cute!

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  14. Green elephants caught everyone's attention - they're lovely and unexpected. They will make such fun quilts!

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  15. Hope your workshop went well! I’m commenting late. Saturday was spent raking leaves and filling the “yard waste” dumpster! I have to join everyone in commenting on your elephants! Those are going to be fun! Congratulations on the Positivity finish! You amaze me!

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  16. Your Positivity Quilt turned out great - that Spoonflower fabric really shines!
    Love the elephant blocks! I've seen them (or variations) around and about Blogland, and have considered making them, so maybe I'll be joining your (Baby)Elephant Walk next year. Yes, now you'll have that song in your head all day - you're welcome!

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  17. Those elephant blocks are adorable!

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  18. Hi again! Positivity is finished!! I love the color path that you chose for this quilt. I love blue but rarely seem to use much of it in my quilts and hardly ever as a background unless it's navy. I need to extend my color palette more often and branch out and away from white and ecru! Fabulous finish and I am 100% certain that there is a Merciful patient that will be wrapped in your love. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  19. This is such a musical blogpost - I keep hearing my name :-D The simple layout of your Positivity quilt really shows off the beautiful colors - I love this version. Speaking of love, those cute elephants have captured my heart and I want to wrap my arms around them. And speaking of wrapping my arms, I am sending big squishy hugs to you.

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  20. Love the green elephants! I can't wait to see all the other colored elephants you come up with.

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  21. Oh, those elephants are a delight!!!! I can 'see' them done using some of the African fabrics you have. Hmmm.....maybe you could find some great patterns for other African animals to include???

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