the worst block

I finished the block with its red center  :0)  It is probably one of the worst blocks I have ever made - it is not flat and it puckers on the curves.   But, I love it anyway and I am SURE that all of it's problems will just quilt away - lol!

 I also found I had another signature to make a block for.  I spread out all the blocks and finally made a decision about how I am going to set them.  I have changed my mind about this project several times but now I want it done!  I need to make one more block and then borders...

Oh dear- why do I always get stuck at this stage?

Happy Quilting!!

not much new...

It's been awhile since I last posted.  Spring break was in there - always a busy week with the kids.  There has been some stitching happening but not much that's interesting to show.

 My friend and I worked on our Circle Game quilt one morning.  This block was so hard!  The curved inset seams just about did me in.  It is far from perfect but I really like it so I'm just going to use it as is.  I still need to choose a fabric for the center circle.  I'm thinking it should be red  :0)

 I have the first 2 branches of leaves appliqued onto vine panel #12.  I really want to hurry this project along to a finish but with 250 (or so) leaves per panel rushing seems like the wrong word to use - lol!  I have a loose goal of one branch per week.  Steady progress will get it done.

 

 I am getting very close to a finish with handquilting my Crowfoot quilt.  I completed the feathers on the border this week and all that remains now is diagonal line fill in quilting (not as exciting to do as feathers)  I like how the feathers filled in underneath my initials and date.  I wasn't sure how it would look to put feathers only on one side of the stem but I think they frame it nicely.  I've entered it into the outdoor quilt show in late May and it should be done on time.

It snowed all day Monday again this week.  As you can see it is melting fast and I appreciate the signs of spring that are appearing.  Spring comes very slowly where I live - it tries my patience every year.  Happily there is always lots of color to be found on the shelves and table in my sewing room :0)

Happy Quilting!!

2 more to go

I finished my Susan McCord Vine panel #11 yesterday and today I added it to the growing top  :0)

 It is getting difficult to photograph. A picture outside would be nice but we had snow again on Monday and it was wet, muddy and cold out today.

 With just 2 more panels to applique the top is close to full size now.

 There's nowhere in the house to lay it out flat to take a picture.

 That didn't stop me from taking pictures though. Every panel completed feels like an accomplishment and taking pictures is kinda like celebrating :0)

This panel had lots of large, pieced leaves - my favorite!

So, I thought I would pull out my Bird of Paradise quilt and work on the side borders but since I haven't designed them yet it was easier to print off panel #12 from Janet's blog Quiltsalott and get started on that.  I feel a bit panicky if I don't have some applique prepped and ready to stitch and that's a silly thing to lose sleep over - lol!

Happy Quilting!

a finish and a question

I finished machine quilting a new table runner for my coffee table.  I'm always happy to finish up with machine quilting - its not my favorite...

 I did very basic quilting - straight lines I can use my walking foot to do.

 Here is on the coffee table.  It does a very good job of covering up the dents, holes and marker scribbles of the last 15 years.  It is lighter than the other one I made for this table -it should be good for spring and summer.

 I had a hard time choosing binding. I almost used a dark brown to frame it a bit but in the end I decided on this fairly solid red.  I just barely had enough.  This was a good project for using up last bits and pieces.
I really, really wanted to start something new but...  this quilt has been calling my name again.  I would really like to finish it - its been a ufo for a long time.  Yesterday I pulled it out and added the outer row of sashing and corner posts.  Most of it was even already cut.  I need to push through with this one and finish it while I still like it. 

Unfortunately, I don't really like the fabric I bought for the border anymore.  (This picture doesn't show it very well)   Its just too yellow for my liking.  I also think it needs something more for a border than just a wide plain border.  A row of hst's or zigzags made with flying geese - something fairly simple.  What do you think this quilt needs for a border?  Any thoughts?  I'd be happy for any advice you have to offer.  Thanks!

Happy Quilting!

progress is progress



I am still working away on the handquilting for my Crowfoot quilt.  I started quilting it in September of 2013.  I was so sure it would be finished by this past Christmas and now I'm wondering if it will be completed by late May in time for the outdoor quilt show.  Oh well, it'll be done when its done!  Last night I started on the 4th and final border.  I decided it was time for my initials and the year.  

 Can you make them out?  " JO  2015 "  I was almost going to quilt them in blue thread so they didn't standout too much and detract from the feathers - lol!  I can hardly see them in white thread so I'm glad I went with white.  While I was drawing the numbers and letters I got out my other quilts with stitched dates and initials.  My daughter walked in to see what I was doing and remarked she had no idea that there were dates stitched into these quilts a couple of which we use all the time in the livingroom  :0)  

I also got the surround pieces on one more of my Circle game blocks.  This was the slightly too big block.  I don't mind that the points got cut off a bit - at least I tried to cut them all off more or less evenly :0)  I am still debating about the circle that's slightly too small...

Happy Quilting!!

a lovely antique

I had the privilege to see this wonderful antique quilt this week at my guild meeting.  Wow, am I ever glad I didn't have to miss guild!  I had only my phone with me for a camera so the pictures aren't that great.  But the quilt... was marvelous!!

 It was very well loved and had a couple holes in it. 

 The red fabric as well as the flower centers were shredding but the beauty of this quilt takes my breath away.  Can you see the corded binding? The covering fabric was pretty much gone leaving the blue cord showing.

 Quilts like this I usually only get to see in books or online.  It was so soft - the texture was wonderful!

 It was very densely quilted. 

 I wasn't able to get a good shot of the full quilt (kicking myself about that)  The border only ran around 3 sides.

I want to make quilts like this!  I simply must finish one of my applique projects so I can start something like this.  I'm feeling very inspired!

 



Happy quilting!!



more circles

It felt like time to get back to my Jen Kingwell Circle Game quilt.  A friend and I are working on it together.  She's been pretty busy so instead of starting a new block without her I put surrounds on 2 blocks I had already made.

 I really like this block with the flying geese going around.  It has such a large center circle so I decided to fussy cut the large paisley to fit in there so it wouldn't look empty.

 This other block is probably my least favorite so far but it fits in there and lets the other blocks be more interesting.  It just needed the surround to take it from a circle to a square block.

Now that I have 9 blocks completely finished I can get a really good idea of how it will look.  (its a 16 block quilt)   I love how all the different Minick and Simpson lines work together.  I have 2 more circles made and I guess that leaves 5 more blocks to start.  I'm more than halfway  :0)  To confess the other 2 circles waiting for surrounds have "issues".  One is a bit too big and the other one a bit too small.  I'm tempted to just trim the too big one down and not worry about cutting points off.  The small one is a different challenge.  Could I add a coping circle around it?  Is there such a thing?  They were ones I made near the beginning.  I guess I could try remaking them in hopes that my piecing has improved...   Generally speaking I'm more of a fudger than a perfectionist.  I'll have to think about it for a few days.

Happy Quilting!!