Quilt #126 :: Peace, Love, and Intergalactic Donuts

For the second year in a row, I participated in the Project Linus mystery quilt. Last year's mystery quilt drew me in because it had an international theme. 

If you aren't familiar with the organization, Project Linus distributes homemade quilts and blankets to children facing long hospital stays. It's a wonderful way to brighten up a hospital room and bring a little love and cheer to someone who could use it. 

This year's mystery quilt was called Sweet Violet's Bakery and Confectionary. 

Because it was a mystery, I started making blocks without an idea of what the final design would be. Because of the name and main character, most of the quilts featured a lot of pinks and purples. As the mom of a boy, I decided pretty early on that I would make a more neutral quilt. My inspiration print was this tie-dye heart print that I used for the backing.

The designer of the annual mystery quilt, Mary, always challenges me to try something new. This year, I learned to make some 3D blocks. My cupcakes were filled with extra frosting. 

My candy wrappers stick out a little. If I were to do it again, I might have sewn some cereal box bags in the ends to make them crinkle.

When I got to the big Violet block, D suggested I make a rocket instead of a flower. Such a great idea!

One of the last sections was the awning, which is made of real flaps. I decided to practice my freemotion cursive by writing the name of the quilt under the flaps--Peace, love, and intergalactic donuts. 

For the last three flaps, I wrote, "You Are Loved."

When I showed D, he loved the secret message. He also really loved the rocket. First, he asked if he could have it. Then I explained why I made it. He agreed I should give it away. Then he asked me to make him another one!

I'm not sure if I'm going to make another one of these for D, but I did recruit him to help me take pictures of the quilt at our local donut shop, which inspired the name. The first time we came by, they were already closed, so I had to settle for this picture. 

When we came back the next day, to buy donuts and ask permission to take some pictures, the staff was wonderful, suggesting backdrops and even holding up the quilt!

In addition to delicious donuts, the shop is very retro and cool.

I didn't realize how much orange played into the theme until we came to take pictures. 

As I worked on this quilt, I thought of the little one who will eventually snuggle under it and prayed for his/her healing, for peace and strength for the parents, and an overwhelming sense of love for them all. Perhaps, like D, the new owner will be comforted by dreams of delicious donuts. 

This quilt was my One Monthly Goal for April, but I forgot to link it up to the update party. But, I did make my goal!

Linked to:

Monday:
Design Wall Monday @ Small Quilts & Doll Quilts
Modern Patch Monday @ Modern Cologne Quilters
Monday Making @ Love Laugh Quilt
What I Made Monday @ Pretty Piney

Tuesday:
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All the Things
Colour & Inspiration Party @ The Clever Chameleon

Wednesday:
Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
Midweek Makers @ My Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter
WIPs on Wednesday @ Esther's Blog

Thursday:
Needle & Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Friday:
Beauties Pageant @ From Bolt to Beauty
Finished Or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts
Off the Wall Friday @ Nina Marie
Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Saturday:
UFO Busting @ The Madd Quilter

One Monthly Goal :: April 2019

My April 2019 One Monthly Goal is going to be short and sweet because my non-quilting life is going to take front and center. My mommy is finally moving in with us! She is out of her apartment and staying in a friend's casita in the retirement park in Arizona where my grandparents first started spending their winters more than 30 years ago. They have both passed on, and after twenty years off and on, Mom is seeing her favorite spots before she and her Havanese, Murphy, come up to Ohio to live with us. I'm excited to have her closer, and to puppysit my furry brother while Mom works through her bucket list of adventures. 

I'm still plugging away on the Omigolly quilt I started last month. I hope to have that finished by early next month. 

This month, my goal is simply to finish the Project Linus mystery quilt I started last year. It was my second year doing the mystery. Project Linus is an organization that gifts quilts and blankets to kiddos in the hospital. My top is finished so all I have to do is quilt and bind it. That SHOULD be doable this month.

The theme this time was Sweet Violet's Bakery and Confectionary. The designer's original pattern was heavy on purple and pinks, but I wanted to make a version that a boy would love. Since my little guy loves, space, my confectionary takes place in space, and instead of being a flower, my Violet is a rocket.

My son enthusiastically approved. 

You'll be able to find pictures of my progress on this quilt as #peaceloveandintergalacticdonuts To see what I'm currently working on, including my 2019 Brain Injury quilt, follow me at deJongDreamHouse.

Previous OMGs:

March 2019 - Omigolly Miss Jennifer (full post)

February 2019 - Miller Music Quilt (full post)

January 2019 - Molly's Mermaid (full post)

December 2018 - Baby Burd Quilt (full post)

November 2018 - Baby Burd Quilt

October 2018 - Carolina Jewel Quilt (full post)

September 2018 - Mrs. Knoch Labyrinth Walk (full post)

August 2018 - Kindred Spirits Quilt (full post)

July 2018 - Dutch Canuck Quilt (full post)

June 2018 - Daybed Pillow

May 2018 - Oops and Ophan quilt (full post)

April 2018 - Lots of Love Wedding quilt (full post)

March 2018 - On Ringo Lake (full post)

February 2018 - Grandma's Kitchen (full post)

January 2018 - Project Linus (full post)

December 2017 - Cards 'n' Cowboys quilts (full post)

November 2017 - Cancer Can Kiss My Donkey quilt (full post)

October 2017 - Stella's Memory quilt (full post)

September 2017 - Texas Strong quilts (full post)

August 2017 - quilt shops in Europe visited! 

July 2017 - Celtic Midnight (full post)

June 2017 - Niels' Weighted Blanket (full post)

May 2017 - why I gave up on Brutus (full post)

April 2017 - Lainey's Ladybug (full post)

March 2017 - Nana's Last Quilt quilts (full post)

February 2017 - En Provence quilt (full post)

January 2017 - Zeke's first year quilt (full post)

December 2016 - Falling for Alex quilt (full post)

Linked to: Elm Street Quilts

2018 Project Linus Mystery Quilt

Since I started social quilting, there are two mystery quilts I know that I will participate in each year. The first is Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt, which starts around Halloween and promises to make something gorgeous out of scraps. The other is the annual mystery quilt by Project Linus. 

If you aren't aware, Project Linus is an organization that gives blankets and quilts to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug.

The Project Linus mystery quilt is an annual fundraiser for the organization that helps in a couple of ways. The $15 entry fee raises money, and the resulting quilts are then donated to local chapters of Project Linus to be distributed to kids.

Last year's mystery quilt was called "Exploring the World with Ethan." I loved the international theme, so it was a happy accident that I learned about it. I really enjoyed the process and the other quilters I met through the Facebook group, so I knew I would want to participate again this year.

If you are a quilter looking for a fun project, the 2018 theme has been announced.

The mystery quilt starts September 15. You can sign up to participate here.

Linked to:
BOMs Away @ What a Hoot
Finished or Not Friday @ Buy Hands Quilts
Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River
Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Monday Making @ Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward @ Em's Scrap Bag
Needle & Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Off the Wall Friday @ Nina Marie
Oh Scrap! @ Quilting is More Fun than Housework
Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All the Things
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter
What I Made Monday @ Pretty Piney
Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
WIP Linky Party @ Silly Mama Quilts

One Monthly Goal :: January 2018 Update

Even though I didn't post my January One Monthly Goal in time for the Elm Street Quilt link up, I still posted my goal of finishing my Project Linus mystery quilt here on my blog.

I'm happy to report that my quilt is finished!

Not only did I finish my goal, but my quilt was selected as one of thirty to be eligible for a prize for the second part of the fundraiser. Starting this week, voters can make tax-deductable donations to Project Linus by voting for their favorite quilts. You can find more information here. 

Linked to:

#96: Project Linus Mystery Quilt

Midway through January and I have my first finish of the year! Last fall, as my to do queue was filled with mystery quilts and quilt alongs, I learned about the Project Linus mystery quilt. Project Linus is an organization that gives homemade quilts and blankets to kids who are seriously ill or traumatized. 

This was my first year doing the mystery, which is an annual two-part fundraiser. The first part is the quilt along. In order to receive the weekly clues, quilters give a $15 donation to Project Linus. Once all the quilts are complete, the second phase of the fundraiser is a contest where the public can vote for their favorites. 

From the Project Linus website:

From all entries received by the deadline, anyone can vote for their favorite quilt(s) from a link on our website, and voters may vote more than one time. Each vote is $1 with a minimum of 10 votes ($10) per instance. Voting begins on 12:01a CT on Saturday, February 3, 2018 and ends at 11:59p CT on Friday, February 16, 2018. All funds collected through the voting process are also considered a tax deductible donation to Project Linus and will go to National Headquarters to benefit all chapters.

This year's theme was "Exploring the World with Ethan." The blocks are a combination of traditional piecing, paper piecing, applique, and even a few 3D elements. Each block had a different geographical theme. As an international family that frequently opens our home to guests from around the world, this theme was just my style!

Lantern from China:

Three weeks in China changed my life. 

Ship in Oceania:

Whale in the Antarctic:

The leaning tower of Pisa, Italy.

I was there on a VERY hot July day.

The castle was intended to be Neuschwanstein in Germany.

But I modeled mine after Helmond Castle in my husband's hometown in the Netherlands.

A tipi for the North American plains. This was my first time making a 3D element. 

A plant for the Amazon rainforest in South America. 

The pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

Koala for Australia. One part of the world still on my bucket list. Especially as I find more and more quilters down under. I started embellishing my blocks a bit at this point. I added the body of my koala so his head wasn't floating in my block. 

              

A penguin for Antarctica. I added the water and iceberg.

The star of the quilt is Ethan, an African elephant named after a grandson the quilt designer, Mary Balagna. 

The final block is a stack of books to read more about our beautiful world. This was a fun block as it reminded me of the library quilt I made last year. 

When Mary announced the fabric requirements of orange and blue, I knew I had the perfect background fabric in my stash. I bought both prints a year ago while visiting Holland, Michigan. Look at the little Dutch girl! And the verbage print includes Dutch, too!

I'm so happy I found the perfect quilt to use these prints.

As always my son wraps his love in my quilt. 

I hope that whoever receives this quilt will feel love and support in whatever they are facing and that the bright colors brighten their room and their spirits. 

Linked to:

One Monthly Goal :: January 2018 Update

It's a new year and I'm already behind. Sigh. I'm writing this post on January 8, one day after the link up for Elm Street Quilt's January OMG closed. But I'm posting it anyway, now, because I'm still going to work on it. 

My brain injury has been giving me grief lately. I've been dealing with blurry vision and vertigo for the last few months, which has made my regular headaches worse. The culprit seems to be that my saccadic dysmetria has gotten a lot worse. This video explains it better. 

Long story short, my medical team is adjusting my meds, as well as my contact prescription. We'll get there, but the adjustment is kicking my backside. 

Excuses aside, my goal for this month is to finish my Project Linus mystery quilt, Exploring the world with Ethan. The top was completed as part of the quilt along, but now it's time to get it quilted and bound. 

This was my first year doing the mystery. The annual fundraiser for Project Linus consists of two part. The first part is the quilt along. In order to receive the weekly clues, quilters give a $15 donation to Project Linus. Once all the quilts are complete, the second phase of the fundraiser is a contest where the public can vote for their favorites. 

From the Project Linus website:

From all entries received by the deadline, anyone can vote for their favorite quilt(s) from a link on our website, and voters may vote more than one time. Each vote is $1 with a minimum of 10 votes ($10) per instance. Voting begins on 12:01a CT on Saturday, February 3, 2018 and ends at 11:59p CT on Friday, February 16, 2018. All funds collected through the voting process are also considered a tax deductible donation to Project Linus and will go to National Headquarters to benefit all chapters.

So, I am motivated for a great cause, even if I posted my goal late!

Linked to: