Five Fat Quarter Fun Entry

Last week I stumbled across the Five Fat Quarter Fun Contest hosted by Jedi Craft Girl & Gigi's Thimble. The two of them have been challenging each other to create designs that use just five fat quarters, plus the option of two background filler fabrics, and they hosted a contest for others to give it a try. The only problem was the deadline - I read about it just four days before the Oct 25th close of the months long contest. ​But a finished flimsy threshold for entry meant I might have a shot.

Now to be perfectly honest, I'm struggling with sewing time lately. A lot. I had grand plans for going back to work full time while still running my business part time (gotta make the most of that 4-6 am window!), parenting three kids, having a hot dinner on the table every night, and keeping my house drop-in friend ready (I say "friend" because my friends wouldn't mind a few dishes in the sink or toys on the floor, and I at least wasn't so deluded to think I could attain drop-in fancy company ready ; )

So guess how that's all going? [*cue sound of screeching tires*] In fairness, my day job is going swimmingly, my parenting is passable, and the kids get fed daily (okay, a few cereal for dinner nights in there, but mostly loving my crock pot!). However, let's just say it would be wise to call me an hour (or two?!) before you plan to swing by so I can "fluff the throw pillows" (which by no means is a euphemism for "run around like a maniac, stuffing clutter into closets, and screaming at children to pick up their dirty laundry"). 

But notice what I didn't mention? Quilting. Yeah, that's been back-burnered big time. I try to wake up early before the kids and get some stitching in, but too often that little window of time gets devoured by social media and email catch up or my very early rising offspring. And my old habit of hitting my sewing studio all day on Saturdays while the kids adventured with their dad has gone by the wayside, since my husband's job currently has him working seven days a week and the other responsible adult in the house then has to pay attention and make sure the children aren't setting anything on fire. (Have you read Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson? If my current predicament brings even a vague smile of self-recognition to your face, you should go read it and Raising Demons and I promise you will laugh and then want to fist bump Shirley's six decades ago self who describes the universal realities of parenting in a way which will make you wish she was still alive to invite over for a glass of wine after the kids are in bed.)

But, I digress. I saw the #FiveFatQuarterFunContest, I grabbed the baton, and I ran with it. I knew I had just the baby quilt sketch in my notebook to pull it off - simple, secondary pattern, and a perfect use for the stack of Alison Glass' new Diving Board fabric that was sitting on my cutting table. One weekend preschooler nap time and two very late nights later, I had the top cut and pieced, and entered the contest on the last possible day.

Upside: I now have a new pattern to write & one test flimsy complete!
Downside: I now have a new pattern to write & one test flimsy to quilt! lol

​But seriously, I was so happy for the little incentive to throw myself headlong into sewing for a few days, even if I can't always run throttle wide open for very long. I'm looking forward to finishing the pattern draft and getting it out to testers within the next week or so... right after I rein in a week's back log of laundry and dishes and vacuuming and... ; ) Then hopefully my #PrairieFlowerPopQuilt pattern will be out later this fall!