January is a very busy month for me. I’m teaching three classes at the local quilt shop, hubby starts rehab today for 2 to 3 times per week, and quilts needing finished for the spring quilt shows are pouring in. So last week I didn’t have any personal sewing time, but I was able to work on some fun customer quilts.
This cute train quilt uses a simple patchwork pattern, but the fabric is so beautiful that it doesn’t need complicated piecing to make it shine.

Don’t you think that any train lover, young or old, would adore this?
To keep with the locomotive theme, I found a fantastic pantograph to use. I kept the thread color light on top, and dark grey on the dark blue backing fabric. You can see the quilting design way better on the back:

That thread color certainly doesn’t look dark grey does it? Trust me though, it is!
Another quilt I finished quickly was a Quilt of Valor made by one of the ladies in our local quilt guild. I never mind donating my services for a QOV quilt; I feel it’s the least I can do to try to say ‘Thank You’ to those who have fought for our country and the freedoms I enjoy. This quilt uses a panel and pieced blocks.

The pantograph I used is called “Victory” and I purchased it from My Creative Stitches. It was one of their $5 panto’s, and as of yesterday it was still on sale. So if you need a quick and easy digital design for your own QOV quilts, hop on over to Christy’s site. (no affiliate) See a close up of the design below:

Those are the only two quilts I can share with you today. I have a custom job loaded and it is taking waaay longer than I anticipated. But hopefully I’ll make good progress on it this week. And even though my schedule is crazy busy for the next few days, I’m going to try to fit in just 15 minutes of sewing every day so I can make more progress on my own projects. Hey, every little bit counts, right?
Have a great day!
NOTE: You may have noticed that I haven’t held the Main Crush Monday linky party yet this year. That’s because I’m trying to decide if I’m going to continue holding it or let it take a break.
I’d love to hear what you think. Do you like MCM? Do you want to see it continue? Do you feel that linking up brings readers/comments to your post? Any feedback you wish to leave would be greatly appreciated!
Oh please do not let Sheldon Cooper (of Big Bang Theory) see it.
He will be all over it 🙂 Welcome back Beth. You were missed.
The train pantograph is awesome and perfect! I need to put the $5 panto on my list of places to haunt now that I have ProStitcher. I do love MCM…but you need to do what suits you. The replying to everyone gets hard and time consuming.
I love the quilting rom the back! Do as you want for the linky party, great if you continue, ok if you stop, I will still follow you 😉
Just getting to sew a bit, whether it’s something for you or someone else, is therapeutic, right?! I hope life settles a bit and calms a bit for you now, and I hope your hubby’s rehab goes well and that he recovers well. As to MCM, it was one of the linkies I always tried to use, mainly because it kept me connected to what you were up to! I completely understand if you need to take a break. I’ll still read your posts and check in with you now and then. 🙂
love to see what you are working on. Only do the link up if you want to and it is not work for you!
Hi Beth! Yes, yes, yes (are you thinking Meg Ryan . . . ) this is the perfect train for train lovers. I have several in my life and the would adore this. And the panto you chose – perfect to give it movement and the hint of maybe steam from a steam engine. PERFECT! Plus, I can see and imagine the path you took to stitch this especially with the fabulous photo you shared. I’m PINning that tout suite. Good luck with the 15 minutes of sewing – it really does make a difference plus it calms the crazies. Interesting question about MCM. I love your linky party but mostly because I like seeing what you are up to. I’d have to check my stats to see if it is a traffic draw. But I never have linked up for that reason – I love seeing what others are working on. I always – EVERY WEEK – find inspiration and ideas to PIN or ponder. You do what you think is right for you. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne