A SMALL FINISH

I seem to be out of synch lately!  I've been having difficulty with deadlines and appointments too!  
I decided to complete the small wall hanging made from my trial leaf prints.

I did  my usual "stitch in the ditch" to stabilize the quilt, then outlined all the leaves and stitched the veins.  Then I did some wavy stitching with white thread to fill in the blank areas on each block.

I quilted diagonal lines in silver through all the background borders, as the fabric had some metallic silver accents.
My next project is to complete a baby quilt for my community quilts group.  I found a cute panel in my stash, and added 2 borders to make it a bit larger.  Then I found some flannel, and added a strip of stripe flannel to make it wide enough.  I'm off to pin-baste......

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I had a couple of "down days", but I'm feeling much better today, so I was able to get pictures of my latest project.  I used the remaining 4 pieces of the striped border from my Dragonfly Garden quilt to make blocks for this runner.  I lined up the prints and cut all 4 layers into 2 large squares, then cut them diagonally into 8 triangle stacks.

I took the picture in full sun so the the metallic thread would show.  Once again, I used Superior Metallic thread, and their size 14 topstitch needle to do most of the free motion quilting.  I also used some King Tut variegated thread thread to stitch the curvy lines in the sashing and yellow border.

I stitched dragonflies in each of the purple setting triangles, following the tutorial that I found on The Inbox Jaunt.

Check out all the creativity shared on Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

A FUN LITTLE PROJECT

Last winter, when visiting a not so local quilt shop with friends, I spotted this wonderful border stripe fabric.  A piece had to come home, along with some of the coordinating fabric.  It is rich looking with metallic gold accents.

After completing my Grand Illusion mystery quilt, I needed a quick project to work on, so I placed the stripe on my cutting board, and cut one of each coloured stripe.  I cut 60 degree triangles from the darker blue stripe, and made a large hexagon.  I then cut a strip from the coordinating print to make the second stripe the same width, and cut more 60 degree triangles.

Here is the completed runner, that I named "Earth Sea and Sky".  I used gold metallic thread to quilt some of the lines in each block.  I echo quilted the shapes of the lighter fabric, and also in the centre of the darker hexagon.  I used crosswise cut strips of the fabric to bind the edge, to help bring the two totally different looking fabrics together.  Completed in an afternoon!  I showed it to my DIL via Skype this morning, and she loves the colours, so I think it has found a new home.....

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS PROJECT DONE!

I completed the quilting and the binding on my Christmas table topper.  The pattern was a bonus block of the month pattern from my guild, and comes in 3 sizes.  I decided to make the largest size, and mine finished at 33.5 inches at the widest points.

This is the type of project that doesn't photograph well.  The main fabric is white pointsettia flowers with dusty green leaves and lots of silver.  I quilted the green triangles and the main fabric areas with silver thread, and it really sparkles!

This one will probably be donated to the "Every Child Counts Abaco" project to use as a fund raising item.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I don't really have a design wall here - I usually take over the living room and lay large pieces on the carpet.  I do have a small flannel covered cardboard that I use when demonstrating things with my Wednesday quilt group.  We don't start meeting until Nov 14, and the group grows gradually as people arrive south for the winter.

I finished this table runner since arriving here.  The floral stripe fabric was leftover from the border for "The Orient Visits Baltimore" completed in 2011, and was pinned to my design wall up north.  While doing my final tidy up, I decided to use it to make the runner, rather than hide it away.  The remaining small pieces were cut into squares and strips to be used in scrappy projects.  I used a mylar type of metallic thread to do the "walking foot lines" and the free motion stitching around the flowers.  Then I did some curvy lines in the background around them.

I have my "Sing a Happy Song" quilt top and back pressed, just waiting to pin baste.  I didn't find the binding when I unpacked, so either I made it and left it north, I forgot to pack the fabric to make it, or I have to find something that will work with the quilt top.... 
 I also pulled out 3 baby quilt panels and flannel backings that I didn't get finished last winter.  There was fabric for binding, so I cut the strips, stitched them together and pressed them ready for use.  I also pressed the top of the Grandmother's Cross but I have to look for some backing for this one.  I did sew a scrappy binding together. 

DH emptied the drawers, so I filled them with all the small tools, miscellaneous thread, cone thread, and other gizmos.  My sewing room is looking very neat!  I even folded the fabric for my winter projects and stored them on the small set of shelves that we found last winter.

My next project is to make an appointment to have my Pfaff serviced.  I plan to get all the prepared projects quilted with the Juki while it is away.  I get a more accurate 1/4 inch with the Pfaff, so I use it for piecing, and adding some embellishment stitches to my projects.  The Juki is my workhorse for machine quilting, and I use it for most straight stitch sewing other than quilting.

Check out what everyone is working on this week at Patchwork Times! 

CHRISTMAS WISH 5TH SECTION

Once again I had fun rummaging through my Christmas fabric collection to finish this section.

I took a couple of short cuts.  I used fusible web to attach the hearts and stars and made a machine blanket stitch around the edges.  The pattern called for "star pockets", but since I don't know the recipient of this quilt, I chose the simple route.  I used metallic gold variegated thread on the stars and some great 30 wt. Sulky cotton on the hearts.

Now I'm impatiently waiting for the next installment of Christmas Wish from Red Brolly

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  17.5 yards

Used year to date  177.625 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  121.875 yards

 Net used 2012  55.75 yards

Finishing my triangle twist quilt this week really helped with the numbers.  Paper piecing can be wasteful, but oh so accurate!  According to EQ7, and adding the backing and binding fabric, the quilt took 15 yards!

I also remembered to make the challenge blocks for my quilt guild this week (at the last minute!).  The blocks are donated to our community quilts program and used to make quilts to be donated to all sorts of worthy causes. The deadline for the blocks in the October meeting, and they are trying to collect 1000 blocks - there were just over 600 turned in last Wednesday! (I made 17)

Last week, when my DH insisted I visit the local quilt shop, I picked up a panel for a Hallowe'en wall hanging for DDIL2.  I managed to get the quilting done, using a bit of gold and irridescent mylar thread to add a bit of sparkle, and then get the border sewn on as well.  Just in time - DS1, DS2 and DDIL2 will be visiting later this month!

Check out everyone's progress this week at Judy's blog!

CHRISTMAS WISH

I finished the fourth section of the Christmas Wish quilt from Red Brolly, just in time to download the next one!

 I appliqued the stars, using fusible web, and stitched a machine blanket stitch around the edge with a variegated gold/bronze/silver metallic thread, to a dd a bit of shine!

Now onto the 5th section!