In the Shadows...

I joined in the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Along back in October, but didn't post anything about it because I wanted it to be a surprise for my swap partner. I am horrible about keeping a secret and if I had posted about it I might have mentioned something I shouldn't. 

My swap partner listed orange, pink, gray and anything cheery as her favorites. I really wanted to play with solids and her color choices were just perfect for this. When I went shopping I pulled out all the solid fabrics that fit in this category and then narrowed it down to 8 colors and the dark gray. Made from Robert Kaufman Kona Solid fabrics in the colors cerise (my fav!!), if I only had saved my receipt I might be able to list the other color names - sorry and the background is Charcoal. The bright colors against the dark gray background make the colors much richer than they appeared on the bolt.

The finished size is 22" by 22" and made entirely of 4" half square triangles. I used Karen at Sew Many Ways method for creating the HST. I am sure there are patterns out there like this, but I just arranged the HST until I got the placement where I liked them.

The straight line quilting was done on my Pfaff 2122. I was so unsure about the quilting that I even asked quilting questions on instagram and the response was to continue with the straight lines. But after I washed it I love the quilting now.

As always I work right down to the last minute and then almost forgot to take pictures. I took all these pictures at work in the parking lot, although not the best glamour shots they will have to do. This quilt remained unnamed, mainly because I wanted the intended owner to name it, but when I was picking out photos to use for this post the one above told me what the mini quilt name should be for me at least - 'In the Shadows'.

You know those times when you are struggling with life and everything seems so empty? (Believe me I do, depression affects so many people and I have dealt with depression for most me life - although that is another story for another day.) Things may seem dark, gloomy and and empty - just as your about to give up, there is that tiny twinkle, that little light in your dark abyss and you fight to reach it. And eventually you see it and its bigger and you gain that tiny bit of hope and it grows. That is what this mini says to me - In the shadows there is always hope!

I sure hope my swap partner loves this little quilt as much as I do. I almost wanted to keep it because it's such a happy cheerful quilt. It's on its way to you partner :)

Thanks for hanging out and letting me tell you about my quilting adventures in life!!