Thursday, May 26, 2016

a start

Spring is just too busy!  I've been scrambling to find time to get started on my new applique project.  I want to make Radical Rose & Reel a pattern from Collector With A Needle by Dawn and her daughter.  It was a big decision to settle on what to start next and I deliberated many choices. I went over to Dawn's website to consider Harrison Rose that Hilda is making and as soon as I saw Radical Rose & Reel it was love at first sight :0)
I ordered background fabric - I love appliqueing on Moda Bella Solids and they can be hard to find where I live.  I settled on Eggshell - I feel it is a bit of a gamble to order fabric online but I'm really happy with how it looks - not as stark as white but not yellowy either.
Then I chose the other fabrics.  I love, love antique red and green quilts but I just couldn't picture myself appliqueing the exact same block 9 times with only 3 fabrics so I decided to go scrappy with prints.  I think they are all similar enough to pull off the look of the antiques I love.

I usually applique with the freezer paper-on-the-top method but I thought this pattern might work better with backbasting.  For that I had to draw the pattern onto the back of the fabric.  The 24 inch block is BIG!  The only window large enough was the livingroom window.  (the pattern has a full size 30 inch drawings too)  I am finding the pattern to be fantastic - it has the quilting lines marked on it too! Of course I can't wait for that part either!!
Today I started with some backbasting... prepping for it goes really slow... I hope I like it.  I can always switch back to my freezer paper-on-the-top if I don't.  Maybe tonight I can take my first applique stitches :0)
There has been a very little bit of machine sewing as well.  I am following along with the Thimblecreek mystery quilt and I have my 40 -  six inch blocks ready for the setting instructions.  Shown here is one of each of the block patterns. Anyone following this mystery will notice that I didn't make the house and tree blocks - I'm pleased with the blocks I substituted them with.  I hope I like the setting!
 I've been quilting away on my Bird of Paradise quilt.  Outline quilting goes fast and is so relaxing.  So far I am very happy with the basting - don't miss the vertical lines at all.  I will try some background fill quilting when I get 4 blocks outlined.
 
I have about 3 1/2 blocks done now so it should be soon.  Every once in awhile I feel a little bit guilty about abandoning my 1/2 quilted Lily Quilt - I tell myself I will get back to it when the novelty wears off of quilting this one.  I wonder when that will be?

Happy Quilting!!

16 comments:

Lori said...

Your new project is pretty aweseom! I like the choice of same color, different print.
Fun hand quilting!!

Kleine Vingers said...

Love to see the new applique quilt. I like the idea of different red and green prints. And the quilting looks lovely. greetings

Kyle said...

It's hard to narrow it down when there are so many wonderful patterns to choose from. I had the honor to visit Dawn at her home last week. Let me tell you, seeing all of her patterns in real life is awesome. I like the idea of a scrappy palette. It will create a great look and interest. I've never tried back basting, but maybe I should someday. I didn't realize you were doing the Thimblecreek blocks as well. Love the colors you picked. Funny that you replaced the two I was thinking about replacing, but was too lazy to think of something else. Your hand quilting is beautiful. It looks like you've got lots to keep you busy during the summer.

Dawn said...

I love your pallet for Radical Rose - I think it will be stunning! I hope you like back basting as much as I do.
You hand quilting makes me want to get to the hoop today - inspiring. Great to have some piecing going too. Thank you for sharing. Have a nice weekend!

Wendy Caton Reed said...

Oh yum! I love your fabric choices for Radical Rose and Reel. And yes, it must have been hard to chose over Harrison Rose after seeing Hilda's fabulous rendition! Your quilting is looking lovely. Don't worry about the Lily quilt, you will get back to it eventually. It is a syndrome that my friend calls "creative flea". I have it too!

Susan said...

Always important to have the next project planned, and very exciting to be making a start. I like your idea with scrappy fabrics of the same colour. I am put off by just using the same two or three fabrics as well. Enjoy!

Cheri said...

Your hand quilting is just awesome. My our colors picked for your new project look perfect.

Every Stitch said...

Such a treat to see your work Janet - I put off reading it till I could settle in and have a long look with a nice coffee! Love the quilting pictures - looking just wonderful isn't it?! So exciting to see the new quilt - scrappy will be perfect in those beautiful fabrics. Such a pretty pattern and I do hope you enjoy back basting - I find it quite quick now I have done so much of it! I use an A3 lightpad and just move my pattern/fabric around on top to do the tracing - as long as it is pinned things don't shift.

Nancy said...

Great choice for your next applique project. Dawn’s patterns are always a pleasure to stitch. This pattern looks perfect for back basting.
Your hand quilting is wonderful. I had to double check because it is so perfect at first I thought it was done by machine.

Gayle said...

I've never attempted the back-basting method for applique work but I've heard it's awesome. Looks like you're well on your way to a wonderful new quilt!

Karen said...

The bird with nest is one of my favorite blocks in the quilt.

Taryn said...

Your scrappy red and green looks like a fabulous choice. I can't wait to see it start to come to life. I love back basting. Things come out so smooth.

Barb said...

Your new project looks great.
I have never tried back basting.
Your quilting is off to a great start. Looking forward to seeing what your backfill is going to be.

Karen in Breezy Point said...

I love the colors you used for your ThimbleCreek blocks. I am dying to know how we will put them all together! Your hand quilting is looking lovely!

MARCIE said...

Your hand quilting is always sublime! That bird has been a long process! Love your mystery blocks as well. Always fun to see your work!

Lynette said...

oooo, Janet! I just love your fabric pull (and I agree on Eggshell being so nice!) for the Reel quilt. That is going to be so pretty! I love the backbasting method. You'll get a feel pretty quickly for how far you can space the basting out on non-curve areas to let the prepping be a little faster. For 98% of applique work, I GREATLY prefer this to the freezer paper method.