Two months into the year? Already?

It is hard to believe that it is already the end of February!  Where did the year go?  We did score a beautiful granddaughter on my Dad's 84th birthday a month ago! Best present you could give to a great grandfather! He was tickled pink! :)

I have challenged a group of my fiber art friends to do a Sweet Sixteen project. Since it is Sweet Sixteen this year (2016) I thought it would be fun!  Feel free to join in if you are interested.  Leave me a comment (make sure that you are not set to no-reply) The rules are simple.  Make something (fiber arty) that has 16 in it. It could be one piece that has sixteen fabrics, a shawl with sixteen sections, sixteen art quilts, 16"x16", etc. Whatever says Sweet Sixteen to you! Due December 31, 2016.  My theme is that I am doing a monthly piece that is 16"x 16". Each month will be focused on a color. I combined it with my Quilt Keepers challenge, using the orange batik as my pebbles.

Original idea

Final version

I am into peace signs. Always have been. Right now I think that the more you put peace out there, the more it will become so. At least I would hope so. Peace, pass it on. I wanted to do some more with the idea of mosaics, so I fused the batik and then hand cut out pebbles.  I was going to arrange the pebbles in a double row, but felt it looked too clumpy. I fused the pebbles to the black background. I free motion quilted to outline the pebbles and then filled in the background with peace signs.

Just before the binding

back

The quilting shows up better on the back. I have a design in mind for my February piece, but have not had a chance to get it started. I hope to show it off next week.

I have been preparing for Pie Plate Patterns Super Spring Retreat. They are a mother/daughter design team who live in a small town 15 miles Northwest of my small town. It is a fun retreat! A nice thing for them to do for the local quilting community. And bonus! This year it is opening on my birthday!  

I have relisted my patterns for sale on Craftsy. I am not set up to handle VAT, so if you are in the EU and wish to purchase a pattern, please do so at my Etsy shop, they handle VAT on instant download patterns. Thank you.

We were down in Kanab last weekend and there was a Hot Air Balloon Fest.  What fun!  I have never seen balloons up close while they are filling and launching.  I would never go up in one, I have a fear of heights, but it was exciting to see all the bright colors floating near the red rock cliffs.

Looks like fun!

Heading out over the valley

My favorite, Smokey the Bear!

Lifting off

This is my off the wall, and Finished Friday post for this week.