#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: