The last couple of quilts I’ve made — or techniques I’ve been learning — have been intense so I’m ready to make a simple utility quilt for donating to some organization or person. Here’s what I’ve been working on for the last couple of days:

Doesn’t look like too much at this point, does it? 😉 I went looking for a fun fabric collection and I had gardens on my mind. I found “Delilah” — butterflies, flowers and stripes in lovely colors. This fabric is “Delilah” (hence the title) designed by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabric. I already had a jelly roll quilt in mind (jelly rolls are 2.5” wide by width of fabric [usually 240-42”] and I had some blue ombre fabric for the “sky”.

I’ve sewed the three columns with one more to go and then I’ll sew the rows together. I’m thinking of diagonal quilting, but I might decide on something else. We’ll see. . . .

As I was evaluating jelly rolls, I stumbled across this panel titled “Cleo the Bejeweled Cat designed by Chong-a Hwang (take a look at her other collections — they’re fabulous ! ):

and instantly my brain & heart said “ WE. MUST. HAVE. THIS”. It’s a panel 24” wide by 43” long. I haven’t worked with panels at all — I’ve never even been attracted to any that I’ve seen. This one definitely called my name. I’ll add some borders to make it large enough to call it a quilt. This will be a quick but satisfying project.

After I finish Cleo I’ll go back to paper piecing with a refreshed brain eager to take on a new challenge . . . I’ve decided on the pattern and will be searching our local quilt shop for fabric. More about that next time. . .