Another UFO bites the dust!

Several years ago (2022) I had purchased at a resale table 9 block kits from Quilts Plus which was a quilt store in northern Indianapolis.  ( My first quilt shop way back in 1978.)  Each block had 5 different pieces of fabric and the pattern to make the blocks. I love, love, love to make a block in a couple of hours. ( like for my Stash Bee, or the BOM at guild, or even the Blockheads or Sewcialites. ( FYI the new one starts tomorrow on Fat Quarter Shop.)

So I made the reproduction blocks and devised a setting and found a reproduction border print. 

I layered it and quilted the outlines of the blocks and lattice. And it SAT and SAT for for years! 

I pulled it off my pile and started my quilted  to finish it.  I first did some straight line quilting in the pieced blocks. And then I even added more. 

I needed a plan for the solid alternating blocks. I searched for a stencil template as I didn't want to do my circular feathers again. I ordered it from Linda's Electric needle and it came.  I then marked and quilted it all in one night. Fortunately, I had a great water soluble marker that worked very well. ( Getting it out is another story.)

But it is gorgeous and DONE!

Close ups of some stitching:

48 inches square!

Here comes the sun!

 And the big reveal: I have completed finished this wall quilt!   

And I love it, even more after it has been quilted by my long armer. 

The pattern is from a book by Karen K Stone whom I also took a workshop with after I had finished the top.  It was great to meet her in person and see some of her new creations. 

My objective was to use 5 colors for each block: red, gold, tan, background and black. I did use paper piecing for the border arcs as well as the pieced arcs. The rest was just pieced by machine using traditional methods. 

I started it in January of 2021 as an online challenge. It was abandoned for a time, and finished piecing last year.  My quilter returned it recently as I did not need it until my guild's show in March. She did a custom job. 

And maybe you can find my mistake that I did not recognize until I got it back. I just had to laugh!  

"Here comes the sun!" is my title.

And the Games begin!

 I love watching the Olympics...and have for decades. I can even remember Peggy Fleming spinning away decades ago.  I loved the ice skating then, and still do.  I had dreams of skating away myself.  I could maybe go backwards on the ponds in the park. Not very athletic am I.

But while watching all the amazing athletes and different winter sports or learning about Italian history and culture, it is great to do hand sewing or cross stitching in front of the television. I do have a binding to finish for my latest wall quilt.  I can't wait to show you. 

In the meantime, I have my last blocks for Baltimore Bliss completed.  As they are only fused on, I have lots of stitching ahead before I assemble them and then get it quilted. But it is great to get the 12 blocks completed.

Additionally, I have finished a few more Dear Jane blocks. I have been able to keep up with the group on facebook and even add a few more of the geometric simpler blocks. The online group has been focusing on the center blocks.  And that is good as I have done most of the top 2 rows and am now working on the bottom one. I have no intention of completing the intricate triangles in the border,. So I will need to create my own setting.  ( a long ways off)

I have also completed a Valentine cross stitch for a bowl filler. 

And 2 Stash Bee blocks for February: 12 inch blocks

Quilting day with friends

I have caught up with my Dear Jane blocks from the Facebook page. Man the sawtooth star in the 5 point star was a bugger: even with paper piecing. But it is out of the way and done.  Here are the blocks from the quilt along:

This one needs some tweeking in the center( They are 5 inches.)

So I have 22 blocks completed so far. 

And I have made progress on my Baltimore Bliss from Fat Cat designs. It was easy to take for a day's work. No heavy machine to carry. Very nice to share conversation and a meal with friends and get some dedicated "sewing time" in.  Mostly tracing and cutting of the appliques. 

Another is cut out and ready to assemble and a fourth is in the process. 

Which leaves me with the cross stitch progress to share. I am liking the Lugana fabric to stitch in. This is Primrose Cottage Winter Quaker pattern