Rainbow Interrupted {Quilt}

My first donation quilt for the year.

This quilt is for my son's elementary/middle school program. It is a fundraiser luncheon to raise money and awareness for the kids that have special needs. I have been wanting to do the Strip and Flip Pattern by Allison Harris at Cluck Cluck Sew for quite some time. 

This quilt is utterly and completely made of scraps and stash.  Even the batting was pieced batting scraps. 

I made adjustments from the original tutorial because I wanted mine to be more lap quilt rather than a baby size. Lap quilts seem to fair better at auctions than any other size. 

I can't recall exact changes, but I do know I adjusted my strip widths to be 3" instead of two.  I also made my "flip" section wider so the overall width would be proportional to the length. I basically made two quilt tops WOF to get the larger cut. 

I promise I didn't waste, I 

cut a significant strip width so that I could finally use my butterfly fabric I bought from my friend Bree at Distant Pickles. 

Side note:  I still have a bit leftover and plan to use it on another backing someday. I tend avoid pieces backings as of late and the only piecing I seem to do is a vertical or horizontal strip to add width or length.

The luncheon was very beautiful and successful. As I was leaving? The person that won it, pulled me aside to ask me how she should take care of it. My response to everyone who asks me that when they recieve one of my quilts?

 "Love it. Love it. Love it.  And throw it in the wash on occasion."

  I was soooo happy that it went to someone who knew me and was going to a family who will love it.

Mini Quilt, Sketchbook Cover, Pencil Roll, and Totes....oh my! {Swap}

I was so excited to receive my partner!  I squealed when I realized I recieved the sweet daughter of the actual founder of the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Swaps on Instagram!

I thought of a million of things to send her....it all of a sudden overwhelmed me because I knew I couldn't send every and all things to her!

So I started with her fabric and bought a FQ bundle of one of her favorite designers, Jen Baker with Art Gallery Fabrics

Geometric Bliss.

Then I scanned through every nook and cranny of the internet for my partner. It had to be special.

"Girl on the Swing" kept glaring at me.

I did mine a tiny bit different than the original tutorial that Aneela Hooey does. 

Instead of overlapping, I left a tiny bit of white space in between. I'm not sure why, but I just seemed "right" for this mini quilt.

I can honestly admit that "sketchy" applique quilting is not my forte.  I did my best to make the girl on a swing with her bunny companion.

The other change I made was making leaves instead of apples. 

And cut some flowers from one of the fat quarters out so that it lived in the border too.

After that, I decided that since my partner liked to draw and sketch, I would make her a journal cover and pencil roll.

Linen and patchwork of the Geometric Bliss.  Tried to keep it simple.

And then a little rainbow inside the pencil roll.  I LOVE this pattern by Joelle Haverson from the book Last Minute Patchwork+Gifts.  I have used it for versions of other rolls more than once before.

I had started another foundation pieced cupcake block in the middle of all the swap sewing because my partner's birthday was this past week.  I had planned for it all to arrive for her birthday, but in the end, I'd rather not rush during this busy family time in our lives.

What to do with the cupcake block? 
I had intended it for the sketchbook cover, but it felt too big for it. 

I decided on a tote.  A QAYG project. Completely impromptu and fun! 

The back I cut a large piece of the big floral and then worked my way around.

 Linen top and bottom edges and handles.

I was asked if I used a pattern the other day and I did not.  I have made so many totes over the year that I rarely refer to patterns unless they require fancy pockets...I skipped those this time!

I stuffed the inside of the bag with some yummy chocolate and Valentine Goodies that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of...

I sure hope she loved it!