When your hobby is also your job (so lucky!) it does blur the lines between work and rest. It’s healthy to mark boundaries from time to time. That why I set the Ice Cream Soda quilt apart when I embarked on the project years ago. No goals, no pressure. Just slow, satisfying sewing.

As such, this project has been floating lightly on the periphery of my attention since summer of 2019, when we moved to Europe and I began hand-stitching the blocks. It has accompanied me on every train trip between now and then, as well as found its way to my lap many nights on the sofa. Slowly but surely, it’s been growing. Here’s where I’m at today.

Ice Cream Soda Log

Complete Ice Cream Soda blocks: 54
New Blocks Cut Out: 2
Blocks with Filler Pieces Added: 33

Total Blocks Needed: 68 whole blocks and 8 half blocks

The filler pieces are those solid aqua bits between the blocks. Fortunately, you only have to attach 5 filler pieces per block and then they can nestle together in this way. I think that’s clever! The solid aqua I’m using here is a Freespirit Designer Solid called Caribbean. I think it has a wonderful soft, peaceful vibe.

Though joining the filler pieces has been going faster than I expected, I do still have a healthy pile of Ice Cream Soda blocks still awaiting filler pieces. I’m focusing on that process at home and saving making new blocks for trips. That works well since sewing new blocks travels lighter.

Actually, we have planned our first return trip to the United States for this May/June. It’ll be 3 years, almost to the day, since we immigrated to The Netherlands. I’m sure I’ll still be sewing half blocks (if not whole blocks) at that time. How fitting to bring it along!

Now that the quilt is really coming together, I’ve been wondering where it will be enjoyed when it’s finished. I had always intended to keep it, but actually the colors don’t work for our living room at all. Nope, not At All. Hmmm - what about the master bedroom? Maybe it could be an alternative for our bed, to shake things up a bit. But then, could I get away with finishing it with a large border, or would have I have to make extra blocks?

Probably extra blocks too. Do I dare?

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