Elephant Parade Finish & H2H

 My Elephant Parade is finished! The white backgrounds don't seem to match exactly--somehow another plain white got mixed in with the Kona white I was using, but you can really only tell in the bright sunlight.

 I made my elephants scrappy using all my small stash of gray fabrics. I quilted it horizontally about every 1.25 inches using my wavy stitch on my Pfaff. It has been washed, so it got very crinkly because of the cotton batting and its finished size is 43.5 x 50 inches.

 Here is the froggy and

 one of the birds. I just used a close zigzag stitch for the eyes.

 My turtle has the perfect shell--a green with squares on it. I thought I used the last of it, but I found an eighth more in my green tub and then used it as the leaves on the flowers. Lorna's Elephant Parade Quilt was made with all solids, but I mixed in some prints for mine.

 The tulip in turquoise with a sweet baby elephant next to it--precious!

 Here is one of the proud mama elephants.

I have so enjoyed participating in the Elephant Parade Quilt Along! I was so excited when the flower blocks posted on Sunday. I whipped up my flower blocks immediately, pieced the whole quilt, pin basted it, and quilted it. I chose to use a wavy quilt stitch with my walking foot on my Pfaff just like the sample quilt. I also attached the binding and then spent a few evenings this week hand sewing the binding and hanger down. My hubby thinks I should embroider tails on the elephants with it look like they are being held in the trunks...What do you think?

The backing was purchased at my LQS from the sale bin and was $4.50 a yard. 

I just pieced the back with the same fabric instead of using an accent stripe because I had plenty of it. I did add a simple label prior to quilting.

I work at three elementary schools and there are usually a few babies born each school year, so I just make baby quilts whenever I see a design I like knowing it will be gifted eventually. Here is the link for info on the Elephant Parade and this free pattern 

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/p/elephant-parade.html 

Lorna is also working on a ZebraZ Quilt pattern and I am already collecting black and white prints for it. I have no idea who will be the recipient of this adorable quilt, but I will add it into my completed baby quilts and wait until it is the right match.

I am a WINNER, WINNER chicken dinner!!!

This week I received this Color Theory charm pack and mini jelly roll I won from Kansas Troubles Quilters' blog! 

http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/2015/03/collections-for-cause-quilt.html

I am looking forward to working with these cheery spring fabrics soon.

Late to the "Mystery" BOM Party! I usually do not participate in Mystery quilts--the one I made probably 15 years ago was a disappointment. Quilts are expensive and time consuming, so it is kind of risky to make something you are not sure how it is going to turn out. But, I bit the bullet and joined the "Mystery" BOM Quilt from Buttermilk Basin Design Studio. There are several reasons I decided to join:

1. it is free--this is huge!

2. it is made with wool felt and I am missing working with wool felt

3. I can make it from fabrics and wools I have on hand--anytime I can make something from my stash count me in.

There will be 11 designs posted on the 15th of each month. The pineapple block was from January and the flower pot was from February. The blocks are made on 6 x 10 inch pieces so far, so I don't think it is going to be a very big quilt. They are showing darker browns for the backgrounds, but I don't really have that many pieces in my stash--I have decided to use light browns/tans for my backgrounds as I have plenty on them. You can find more information about these designs here http://www.buttermilkbasin.com

I will be working on these blocks and the new one that will post today and of course my Journey of a Quilter for Slow Sunday Stitching http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

Today is the first day of sign-ups for the Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2015. Here is the link http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2015/03/hands2help-time-to-signup-and-giveaway.html

I already have this quilt made for Happy Chemo and will be finishing one of the Rainbow Medallion tops as well.

The new Snapshots block with the tea kettle is posted and I need to catch up on my Charm Square Sampler blocks--I have plenty to work on. What about you?