a BIG FINISH!

So excited. Oh, my Gosh!  I can tell you what February weekend I started this years ago;  I just can't tell you the year.  Several years later, it was take to retreat and the setting was planned. And then last summer I found all the lost pieces, and put it all together, in June even.  It was the sent out for specialty quilting and picked up in late July.  And it sat.

So new year, new goals, and a new FINISH.  y

It is about 0 outside, so no photos there. Plus our pretty snow melted.

Close up of the Dresden blocks made from some 80ish Thimbleberries fabrics I was going for as many as I could. It is a stash quilt except for the back. The pattern was an Edyta Sitar single pattern with two templates for the Dresden block. The pointy fingers were actually dimensional, but I didn't know how it would quilt, so I appliqued them down.


Here is the quilting in the bordering blocks:  ( going with a sunflower theme)



And here is some traditional feathering:



And lastly a back and front show.  The backing was an extra wide Kim Diehl.
You can't really see the quilting it is so busy.



I just need a label and rod pocket for entering out quilt show in March.

UFOing away.

I am catching something. Ugh the stuffy nose and scratchy throat are getting to me.  I can't talk very well, but it doesn't hurt.

So last night I did not go to have dinner with the grandkids. My spouse took my food to them. But then the babysitter was already feeding them.  Anyway, a couple hours of free time to myself after ingesting some soup and hot water to drink.

I cut out my sashings for my Meadow Mist Mystery.  Yeah! It is hard to do because it is an extra wide fabric and there are 4 layers.

I cut out my binding for my Dresden Spin. I had already decided to do a scrappy navy edge and had purchased a pack of fat quarters for it. They were sitting on the cutting table ALL FALL.  And then I even attached it to the quilt.  I am SOOO excited to get it to this last stage!  Now for a couple evenings of hand sewing,  and maybe even a label. The quilting is gorgeous.


Here is a sneak-peek of the front side.




Here is the binding work.

2018 is starting off on the best foot.  It feels good to get things moving forward.



Oh, I am starting a new project.  Yes?



There is a quick strip quilt : /Regatta Quilt Sew Along.
And I have a jelly roll just waiting to be sewn for a donation quilt.  Now I just have to get the backing and solid in between.   No deadlines, no pressure.  Straight sewing.

Doing the Dresden Spin

Dresdens: a fun block.  This went together well with the templates from the pattern by Edyta Sitar.  It is an oldie. She has a more modern looking one; check out her blog.

But I have had these dresdens made and appliqued to large squares. The layout had even been planned, cut out, and partially assembled. I believe I started this at least 7 or so years ago, but think it is longer... maybe 10 years. Piecing the dresdens was fun; my goal was to use as many different fabrics as possible, all Thimbleberries. 

My delay was what to do with the points as they were not tacked down on the sides. I just decided to  machine applique them with YLI's monofilament.  I am not thrilled with the effect, but I am thinking done is better than perfect. Here is the completed top.  Off to the quilter tomorrow.  I would like some designs in the large triangles, maybe feathers?  

Yes! !!! Another UFO out of the way, and flimsy together. 

Secondly, here is the latest Blockheads block.  Nice 6 and a half inch block.

Have you ever had a day where things just don't go together as well? Yesterday, I had that day.  I remade a friendship star.  Easy peasy.  Maybe to assemble.  Just make sure your layout is right.  It took 2 more tries for me., and then the same thing happened with this block. But it is done, too.

Here are all 18, so far.  For 17, I made the piecework version by Lisa Bongean. I liked the flags, but just didn't want to applique it. 

Winding up June

It has been an odd month for June.  The weather has definitely been atypical.  The only warm/hot part is when I was traveling to Canada.  Last night we again had rain and really loud lightning. Even the tornado siren went off for high winds. And it has been cool all week: I find I need fuzzy socks  to keep my feet warm and even a sweater during the day.

I had the joy of being with my grandsons this morning while Mama went to the doctor for a check up.
They were cuddly and fun. There is nothing like hearing them giggle or say," I really love you, Nonny!" I feel so very lucky to be a part of their lives.

I had finally gone in to see the doctor last week for a sinus infection that wasn't horrible, but wouldn't go away for 3 weeks. The cure is worse than the infection. I am on amoxicillin with augmentin; it gives me stomach issues and a headache by the afternoon.  Oh, well 3 more days.

But instead of sewing yesterday I cut out lots:  Both my latest Blockheads are cut out and ready to assemble.

Done:



Then I cut out 2 colors of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge getting ready for the rest of the year. Two yet to cut, but are pulled and ready in a pile ( And I need a few more blues and browns.)

I felt lucky to find the missing red pinwheel for my Dresden quilt; even located a brown piece.  All that is needed are background triangles and 1 more brown.  Not bad for an old project.


And I found this with it.  Bonus! It is pieced and in rows.

Spring flimsy and more

So excited:  this is in the flimsy stage.  Hooray.  I need to adjust a few seams at the edges of the piano key borders. But I really like how it added to the quilt. It looks like tans, but is really yellows and peaches.  I ordered the backing so it is all I can do for now.

I had fun with the piano keys and didn't realize how many colors I had.  I could go 18 keys without repeating.  That doesn't include some of the layer cake squares.  Here are the corners ( another pinterest find.)

 

Next up:  Dresden Beauty;  This is an old UFO.,. at least 10 years. It began with the Dresden pattern from Edyta Sitar. I had purchased it at Rosemont's quilt show and even got her templates which made it easy. 

 The stars were put together at one retreat and a few more nights. Then the setting was a quandary but wanting to go with the scrappy theme. 

I carefully appliqued each star to a background square:

 

And it has sat.. waiting for the finish.  Notice I am missing a few squares.  Ugh..  will keep searching. But I finally decided to invisible machine applique the points of the center star points. 

Now I will finish the quilt and send it off to be quilted. I want something more than an overall design, but am not comfortable experimenting on this one. 

It feels good to get things done.