Giraffes in a {Rainbow} Row

Look up! Way, way up!

Is it a quilt? Is it a sail boat?

No! It's a row of rainbow giraffes!

After a lot of indecision about choosing prints or solids, the giraffes were finally made using all Kona solids - Lipstick and Deep Rose, Tangerine and Orange, Sunny and Canary, Avocado and Pea Pod, Cyan and Pool & Magenta and Violet.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to go dark or light for the background, but in the end I chose white to match my blog header. And I am so happy with how the quilting stands out against that crisp white!

Prior to this quilt, I have never had one of my tops sent out for quilting. I had this quilt professionally quilted by Sarah Yetman of Spooled Rotten Quilts. I met Sarah when I was giving a trunk show for her guild back in September. She is a longarm quilter who offers custom quilting. I was hesitant to have someone else quilt one of my quilts, but I am so glad I took her up on the offer. My only instructions were to have fun with it. And she sure must have followed those instructions.... It turned out beautifully! Thank you Sarah! You are a master!

For the backing I sent along this print called Wideback White Words from Mad About Patchwork. And I used Kona black for the binding.

The "Giraffes in a Row" quilt finished at 60" x 60"

and was the 56th use of my 2nd edition of 100 labels

ordered from Ikaprint.

You can see my 4 giraffe version of this pattern here.

The Giraffes in a Row quilt pattern comes with instructions for the 4 giraffe quilt, that finishes at 39" square, using one colourway (yellow/brown) OR 4 different colours, AND for the 6 giraffe quilt, that finishes at 57" square, using 6 different colours. And you can find the pattern here.

Giraffes in a Row - 39" square all same

Giraffes in a Row - 39" square 4 different

Giraffes in a Row - 57" square 6 different

Linking up to Finish it up Friday with 

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts

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Let's Bee Social # 195

Welcome to the Let's Bee Social!
So glad to have you join us for the Let's Bee Social weekly linky party!

This week I have finally gotten around to working on my 6 giraffe version of the Giraffes in a Row pattern. Finally! It was a tough decision to make. What colour of background should I use? Something light or something dark? What about the focus fabrics? Should I go with solids or keep on practicing with using prints?

In the end I was highly influenced by my new blog header and decided to use a white background and good old solids. I have been stressing myself out for the past few weeks, but now I'm right in my happy place and so glad to be piecing in my comfort zone! 





I have a double trunk show in Waterloo, Ontario today and am looking forward to meeting everyone at the Waterloo County Quilters' Guild. Then I hope I can get back at those giraffes tomorrow and soon have a finished top!



Meanwhile, down on the farm.....

The photo above was taken 7 years ago this month. I took the photo to enter in the local fall fair's photography section. The subject was "Point of View". I just found this photo recently on an old memory stick. The name "memory" stick is dual purpose because these old photos sure do bring back memories. My son will be turning 17 this coming Monday.

In the photo my son Russell is climbing up the old square bale elevator to the top of the barn. His old dog, Dodger is looking for a way up too, but as much as he wants to follow Russell, he isn't keen to climb the elevator.


Now back to the here and now.......




I am so thrilled each time I receive an email with an attachment of a finished quilt. Really. Truly. It makes me smile inside and out to see that someone enjoyed making one of my patterns. That is my goal. I want my customers and quilt alongers to be happy all the way through the whole process. I hear a lot of stories of the dreaded UFO's that people start and loose interest in finishing. So if you are writing to share a finish, then that tells me you had fun!

Today I am excited to share two emails that were sent to me with finished quilts attached.




First up we have this adorable Giraffes in a Row made by Gale.

"I purchased your pattern early in August and made the larger version for my new grandbaby. Thought you would like to see my version. I used some of my batiks, that somehow seem to never get used.  Love how it turned out and really enjoyed making it. Feel free to share it if you wish. While grandbaby # four for us is only a month old and cannot appreciate the bright quilt, her two year old sister has already claimed it. Love your patterns and hope to make more in my future. Happy Stitching, Gale"

I thought Gale had used white for a background... Just like in my blog header! But it turns out this a very pale sky blue. And I love that scrappy binding. What a clever way to continue the rainbow goodness all the way around!

Gail also noticed that there was a small omission in the pattern. The blue giraffe was one piece too short in the neck. Now that I am finally working on my own version of the large size quilt, I see that she was right! Thank you so much for sending in the correction and.... Thank you so much for allowing me to share your rainbow-tastic new finish, Gail!

Secondly we have this precious Forest Friends 2 baby quilt made by Duane.

Do you know how much I love that wavy line quilting? Of course you do!

Thank you so much for allowing me to share your lovely new finish, Duane!

Let's Bee Social! 

Click to visit the Tablerunner Bliss bloggers who are quilting along this week:

• Lorna (Sew Fresh Quilts) Hey! It's me!
• Connie (Freemotion by the River)

Want to quilt along?

Tablerunners a great for a quick make for gift giving... Even if you end up wanting to keep it for yourself! Tablerunner Bliss by Sherri Falls is the perfect book for inspiring you to create.

You can order your own copy of this super cute book here at Fat Quarter Shop.  

Now... It's your turn for Show and Tell!!!

What have you been working on?

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• Click on at least a few of the others who have linked up.
• In your blog post, please include a link back to my blog.
• Grab the "Let's Bee Social!" button from above and put it on your sidebar. This way others who visit your blog that week can join in the fun!  Share the news of this new linky and Let's Bee Social!
• Following Sew Fresh Quilts is not required. But it sure would BEE nice!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Rainbow Sunday Stash.... And Squirrels!

This year I have been working hard on using fabrics from stash for most of my projects.


However, we all know that at some point you need to replenish that stash. And today's post is all about fabric additions. Rainbow style!

These pieces are a bright delight! 

Never having shopped from here before, I was surfing the internet last week and stumbled upon this sweet honey hole.....

It was difficult not to choose every print carried in the Clinton Modern Creative lineup, but I narrowed it down to these few....

When I shared about my Giraffes in a Row finish last month, at the end of the post I showed a my second stash addition for the year. There was a stack of Kona Cottons for the Giraffes: Violet, Magenta, Cyan, Teal, Lime, Avocado, Canary, Papaya, School Bus, Flame, Deep Rose and Lipstick; for the Background, Essex Yarn-Dyed in Charcoal; for the Backing: Widescreen Crosshatch in Black and for the Binding: Kona Charcoal.



The plan at that time was to make the 6 giraffe version of that pattern using all Kona solids for the giraffes. But after visiting Clinton Modern Creative for the first time.....

I had a MAJOR change of heart! 

I have always been drawn to solids but have been working on incorporating more and more prints into my designs - and my stash. So the plan now is to use some of these new additions WITH the solids to make the giraffes.

Libs Elliott Tattooed Bright Eyes Yellow 

Shiney geometric goodness!

Alison Glass Sun Print Link Yonder 

The Birds and the Bees... And lots of dots!

Seventy Six by Alison Glass Orange/Gold 

More birds and bees!

L-R: Libs Elliott Tattooed Bright Eyes Yellow; Seventy Six by Alison Glass Orange/Gold; Libs Elliott Tattooed Quantum Light Green; Seventy Six by Alison Glass Grasshopper Numbered; Seventy Six by Alison Glass Peacock Numbered; Alison Glass Sun Print Link Yonder; Libs Elliott Tattooed Quantum Light Purple; Seventy Six by Alison Glass Dotted Traced Birds Raspberry; Libs Elliott Tattooed Quantum Blue

And SQUIRRELS!!!!

Why squirrels????
Why not????

And besides the fact that I like them.... My daughter loves them!!!!!

 Dear Stella Pine Grove Squirrels

BONUS! Not only did I receive a discount code for my next order...
I also received this free mini OLFA cutting mat!







You can find the Giraffes in a Row pattern here in my shop.

This new fabric was purchased from Clinton Modern Creative. 

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