Wishing all my Canadian friends a wonderful holiday for the coming weekend
Australians as a whole don’t do Thanksgiving, although many traditional churches do have a low-key harvest thanksgiving service in our late summer or early autumn. But I like thankfulness, and since it’s likely impossible to indulge in too much thankfulness, the Chameleon and I are getting on the Canadian bandwagon today. Happy Thanksgiving for the weekend and Monday, Canadian friends and everyone!
It wasn’t until last year that I became aware that Canada has its own Thanksgiving Day, separate from the American occasion. And then I forgot again. Until I was reminded recently by Ann on Instagram, after I showed previews of my current Island Batik project. And of course, I was also reminded again right here by several friends on Tuesday. So while, I wasn’t initially planning on having this project done in time for Canada’s holiday, I have since become enthused. After all, my Canadian readers might make up only 10% of my views, but easily several times that percentage of my commenters. You Canadians are such a friendly and encouraging bunch, punching way above your comment weight, and for that I am genuinely thankful.
And so it happens, that I have pulled out all the stops to have a Friday, Canadian Thanksgiving, Island Batik Ambassador October challenge finish. If you are not Canadian, like me and 90% of my readers, then today you get to take an extra, small thankful pause for free. And, if you’ve been eagerly awaiting for the turkey’s reverse side since Tuesday, then be extra thankful. Today’s your lucky day! Your wait has been cut very short and you are about to cop an eyeful.
You’re welcome. 😀
Happy Thanksgiving Turkey – the quilt
Like I said on Tuesday, the turkey quilt is my Island Batik ambassador challenge project for October. I was asked to make a holiday table topper featuring appliqué. The fabrics and the Accuquilt tools featured in this post were given to me as part of the Island Batik program. You can find more about both in my previous post. Specifically, I used Island Batik Solids, Basics and Foundations fabrics from my July supplies. And the Cleopatra’s Fan die (affiliate link) from Accuquilt.
On Tuesday, I left you with my holiday table topper looking like this:
All of the piecing was done, and I had some of the appliqué secured too. I also had the back side of the quilt prepared. But that was a seeeee-cret.
Quilting the Thanksgiving Turkey table top quilt
Since then, I have done some feature quilting on both the turkey’s front and back, on two separate layers of wool/polyester blend batting. I was pretty happy that my FMQ feathers looked so good, as I haven’t done any for quite a while.
Then I used the quilting outlines to align the front and back layers into a quilt sandwich. Mmmmmmmm, turkey sandwich!
I then quilted around the turkey from the front side at a hopping-foot’s distance from the turkey’s seam line. Since my alignment of the sandwich layers was pretty good (although not perfect), this meant that I didn’t cross any turkey parts on the back with stitching either. My turkey might have been even better if I had taken the time to baste him…
I then quilted radiating lines from the turkey to the edges. I started each quilting line individually at the turkey, which meant there were a lot of thread ends to deal with. But this was better than trying to prevent the layers from bunching up in the middle if I’d quilted in towards the turkey from the outside edges. The bulk of two batting layers only just fit under my Sweet Sixteen foot, so maneuvering the quilt sandwich without shifting the layers was harder than usual.
Binding the Thanksgiving Turkey table quilt top
After the quilting was completed, I used my chalk and measuring tape trick to map out a circular edge, then trimmed the quilt with scissors and stay-stitched the edge. If I had my time again, I’d do the stay-stitching before the trimming, because the double layer of batting caused a couple of quilting lines to pop open a little once they were cut. But no real harm done.
I then bound the quilt with solid grey binding to match the background. I even cut the binding strips on the bias! It was worth it, as the binding went onto the curved edge easily. And there you have it. My Happy Thanksgiving turkey table topper.
And the promised juvenility….
Do you want to see the back side of the turkey quilt?
It’s got more Cleopatra’s Fan tail feathers. And those FMQ feathers that I am pretty proud of. See?
Oh, you want to see the turkey’s backside?! Well, I’m warning you, if you keep scrolling, you’re gonna get mooned by one very annoyed turkey. He’s not being very mature about his contribution to Thanksgiving.
Don’t say you weren’t warned!
Christmas detractors have the Grinch. I am introducing the Thanksgiving Grouse. He’s a turkey with an attitude. Can’t think why he’s so upset…. Then again, you might be grumpy too if your invitations to Thanksgiving dinner were always so loaded.
Ok. Happy? You were warned.
Eat the potatoes, the turkey’s gone bad. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 😀
Wild Turkey
I guess we also really need to see the turkey in his natural habitat, i.e. on a table. Here he is, being a good sport and a festive cover for my tired green drinks table. One side for when I’m feeling sunny side up…..
And the other for if I’m not!
Happy Thanksgiving Canada!
Wishing all my Canadian friends a very happy Thanksgiving this weekend/Monday and a very delicious celebration. Thanks to Island Batik and Accuquilt for giving me the fabric and tools to make this quilt. And extra thanks to all of you who regularly read my gobbledygook, Canadian or not.
Gobble, gobble.
The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!
Would you like to keep in touch with Clever Chameleon and the fun quilty ideas I design as well as find all over the internet? You can follow directly for email updates, or through Bloglovin’, Pinterest, IG or FB. All your follow options can be found here. Don’t forget to link up all your current quilting projects on Tuesdays at our Colour & Inspiration Linky parties!
You and your turkey are just too cute!! I love what you did with that cleopatra fan AccuQuilt die! This is an adorable turkey table topper!
Oh, Dione, this turkey is The Best! There’s always a place for thanksgiving and good humor. I’m glad you gave us both. Well done! Your turkey is perfect.
Wonderful project! The feathers are really perfect – both pieced and quilted. I love it. I will make this one day when I have grandchildren to torture!
I chuckled all the way through this post! I love the turkey, backside and all! What grand fun. I’ve always liked the Cleopatra’s Fan block. Now it has attitude and I like it even more!
You are too funny. A turkey sandwich and unbasted turkey. Thanks for starting my Friday with some chuckles. It’s easy to see where the Chameleon gets his cleverness from.
You are too funny!! Thanks for sharing. He should be happy. He has been spared the chopping block!! He gets to Grace a table.
What fun! Thanks for the good wishes! Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to you, too.
Giggle Giggle. This has turned out wonderful. I love the back side. Thanks for sharing and for inspiring. Have a wonderful weekend.
First off, wish I were Canadian…I’d love having a purple turkey for Thanksgiving!
Secondly – wow – talk about being the butt of the joke!
😉
I love it! It is absolutely wonderful! If you reduced the Turkey’s size just a bit, his front and back could go at the 2 ends of a table runner, to ensure no one misses the 2 sides of Turkey – but I also like the idea of him changing to fit your mood. Brilliant FMQ feathers, too, and lines radiating out keep him as the focus.
I’m so glad he came out in time to celebrate our Thanksgiving in Canada, and please assure him that we won’t be eating any of his friends at our house. Thank you, Dione, and have a brilliant weekend.
You are a rare bird Dione, and I invite you to my Thanksgiving table. Note that the roasting turkey is waiting for tomorrow to get stuffed. Thanks for another delightful post, There is really nothing about this project I would change
He is a winner, front and back. Love those lines of quilting and his fan tail!!!
What an absolutely fun and adorable project! Your blog is so much fun. Happy Thanksgiving! It’s my favorite holiday and since I’m originally from northern Minnesota , just a hundred miles from the border, I’m delighted to celebrate Thanksgiving with our Canadian neighbors.
Oh my gosh i so love your turkey. Especially the backside. It gave me a great giggle. I really really love your posts and always enjoy your most talented products you always put a sile on my dial.
Love
Sooze
Hello Dione
I was reading what started you off quilting and came across your bear BOM how can i get access to the patterns am happy to pay i just live bears and particularly your bright and happy patterns would love to give them a whirl!
Cheers
Sooze
Your turkey Thanksgiving table topper is just so cute, job well done!
From a Canadian follower, thanks so much for the happy wishes & we’re thrilled to have been the urge to get him finished early! Love your work, talents & willingness to share with us quilters.
I enjoyed your blog and your beautiful turkey.
You are amazing and have such a wonderful sense of humor! Laughed all the way through this article. Too cute.
Okay, I love the flipside…this turkey got back! I have to try making one of these. Just too dang irresistible!!! Love your work, Dione! And Happy Thanksgiving to you as well! Will be traveling to your end of the world for a double Thanksgiving this year…one near, one far…wish I had the time to make one of these to take along…next year, next year…she says cackling…
Thank you for finishing your project in time for our Thanksgiving. That bird sure has attitude and I love it. Your feathers are perfect and you gave me a really good chuckle. Sorry, but one of your bird’s friends is missing a couple of legs as I make turkey stew for the weekend.
Lol I saw his back side on Insta the other day and thought I need to get over there and see what that naughty chameleon has done now… I love it! No turkey here at my house on Monday; it’s just the two of us, and I’m vegetarian, and our daughter lives across the river where they celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of November on a Thursday?? Crazy. So she’ll be working on our holiday! Anyhow, thank you for learning about and remembering another country’s holiday, and you are right: it’s always a good thing to pause and be grateful. And now you’ve given me pause…somehow I forgot about the appliqué part of our challenge, so there may be a slight design change for my project! I love the two-sidedness of your table topper; I’ve done that with a couple of small projects and it’s a ‘two-for-one’ IMHO.
Live you Thanksgiving quilt, and the cheeky back.
Oh Dione I must say this Canadian almost had to change her pants when reading your post. I was chuckling so loudly DH had to come see what had tickled my funny bone so much! I love the flip side of your “bird” and will long thing of your humour when stuffing the bird for our Thanksgiving dinner. Love it!
Love, Love, Love your cheeky turkey! The nerve of that fellow to be hanging a moon, and on thanksgiving! That bottom is so round, it’s a harvest moon for sure. Don’t know what Cleopatra would think of the feathers, but I think they’re fabulous, and your post is just plain funny. Was lol-ling as i read it. Well done.
This is so cute, I’ve never been mooned by a turky.
Totally adorable! I love it!
So adorable and funny! Canadian Thanksgiving is so often forgotten, thank you for the shout out!
Thanks so much Dione for your wishes. I really love your turkey and thanks for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks! Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
I really love how you put your challenges together. Will you be producing a pattern for this one?