Revision : :

Just a few days after this past New Year, after two weeks of no sewing, I ignored the post-holiday clean-up to start that Christmas quilt I've dreamt of making ever since I made that very first quilt a few years ago. What began with a stack of Art Gallery fabrics in Christmas-y colors, ended with a stack of HST's and a start, two scrappy bear paw blocks that I LOVED!







And then they ended in work-in-progress basket until this morning!

So often, when that hopeful quilt just doesn't happen, I humble my plan to a pillow sized project. Something doable when things get hectic, that still feels rewarding. A new plan for these beautiful blocks!



I'm hoping to have these finished as pillows to share early next week, along with a very special project that these quilt blocks inspired!!

I'm also having my first Quilt SALE! on my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Facebook page, HERE! I decided it was time to offer these up to new homes where they can actually be used & loved. Thanks for looking!

♡ Maureen

Interlude : :

Unfortunately, I still don't have any pretty new quilt photos to share here today. When we had time on Monday it was sleeting outside and so we decided to wait. I'm just so completely excited about this quilt, I can't wait to share it. It might just be my most favorite quilt yet! It's the third that I've backed with an Art Gallery voile and if I have my way, I will only back quilts with this gorgeous substrate for the rest of my quilty life. I'm such a fan!



My Follow the Arrow Quilt, this newest Emmy Grace collection quilt, and my Scrappy Hourglass quilt were each backed in a different voile print. The feel of this soft, fluid, lightweight cotton fabric is unparalleled, especially went quilted! I recently received a roll of my Midnight Roof print in voile from Art Gallery Fabrics and I cannot wait to back my Scrappy Bear Paw quilt with it!



I've only completed just one more block since last week. Truthfully, I didn't enjoy piecing this one together as much as the first, most likely due to the fact that they are identical and I lack the diligence for repetition. I managed to push through, but now I'm considering a little tweak in design for my Scrappy Bear Paw plans!





I did, however, enjoy making a second quilted Folk Plaid pillow the other day! This time a little smaller than the first one and finished with a quilted Midnight Roof back with some left over Emmy Grace quilt binding in Ripples River. I adore this combination of denim blue and honey yellow!!





I've added it to the pile of pillows that I plan to sell soon!



And now I'm feeling the urge to start something new! Have a great day!!

♡ Maureen

Red : :

Yesterday we said goodbye to the last of our family visitors and another magical holiday season. It was so good & special, and I hope yours was too! After saying adieu I probably should have dove right into the decoration removal duties & New Year's cleaning, but instead I felt called to the sewing room. Finally, my chance to sew!

I had shared my hopeful post several weeks back to attempt, again this year, to make a holiday themed quilt for my family. I pulled my fabrics, sketched out my idea, began cutting, but just never found the time. Then I humbled my plan to a pillow sized project and still, all I had to show days before Christmas was a stack of red HST's.





At first I considered creating a quick & simple zigzag pillow, thinking ahead to Valentine's Day, but after a little shuffling and rearranging I decided on a classic but scrappy Bear Paw block!



Made with my very first cuts from my own rolls of Wild & Free, combined with shades of reds & pinks paired with creamy low volume fabrics, and a little pop of my Folk Plaid blue. I do love this first block!



It finishes at a large 25" square and is made up of 4" squares and half square triangle units, in case you're interested in making your own. My plan is to make a large quilt, I'm thinking three rows of three blocks with sashing!



Photographing my finished red block this morning to share here felt a little symbolic. It's not a color I ever wear or often use, but it's such a happy color, so joyful. A perfect first project for the New Year!

xo Maureen