Project Quilting 16.1 - Mythical Creatures

True to form, I am back to blogging only because it is Project Quilting time! That means that I need to remember how to do all the settings to make the formatting on this post consistent with the way it's been since I started about 10 years ago. Ten years? Really? Wow.  I'll think about that later.  In the meantime...

Project Quilting has changed a bit this year. There are still bi-weekly challenges, but no prizes. I'm ambivalent about that. I really don't need anymore 'stuff'. But the fact that you had to finish on time in order to qualify for a prize gave me the extra incentive to actually finish on time! Which I didn't this for this challenge.  In a way, I like it - no sleepless nights with ideas rolling through my brain, so much less stress!

The first challenge of PQ 16.1 is Mythical Creatures. I remembered an applique that was created by Karen Montgomery which is either a gnome or a leprechaun, depending on which hat and beard you use. I had used a variation of that applique when I made my 'gnome' take on Any Which Way, which itself was a take on the Wicked movie poster. (P Q 12.4  - https://myquiltymusings.blogspot.com/2021/02/project-quilting-124-snails-trail.html)

I've decided that I am going to have seasonal wall hangings in my sewing room this year. I don't have one for March, so I decided to make the Leprechaun for this challenge.   It's so rare that I actually finish a seasonal project before the season!  I'm happy that I finished in time for St. Patrick's Day even if I didn't  finish this project in time for the challenge. 

I decided to name him Cornelius, after my Irish great grandfather.  Cornelius the Leprechaun looked a little lonely sitting there with his feet dangling over the bottom border, so I gave him a giant shamrock to keep him company.  I cut some hearts out of the border fabric, and put four of them together to make the shamrock. I had a few left, so they became the leaves. I used a straight stitch on my sewing machine to make a gentle curved stem and just went up and down the original stitching to make it thicker.  

I thought about trying to free motion quilt shamrocks all over the border and background, but chickened out and just did loop-de-loops. 

Cornelius the Leprechaun
13.5 x 17.5 

Now I just have to wait until after Valentine's Day so that I can put up  my new St. Patrick's Day wallhanging!