Final reveal...outdoor pictures

Waited until the sun dried the grass and yes it is still green in December. I guess all the rain and some snow has helped.

Several pictures....before washing. I did not pre-wash the fabrics and I knew the red would run. But used several color catchers and they worked great. Some of my red threads are showing, but that is ok. However marking the quilt with light green and purple chalk did not come out with washing. No problems with the red. Washed again after using oxyclean, still present. Then used toothbrush, hot water with oxyclean, better but still slight viewable. Well decided it was ok and now is in the dryer. I am thinking I will enter it into a fair. We will see what happens this spring with a possible move.

 
 
 

One of the last steps..

Spent the past few days folding the prairie points and machine sewing them in place. The last two evenings spent tacking down the backing to the points. I have one large side to do and then it is finished. Here are some teaser photos.

I am loving this fabric as it matches the whole quilt.

The points even go with the backing.

It is a large quilt and very warm when I work on it in the evenings.

Quilting almost finished.. Prairie Points to come

Planning the fabric for the points. Found the perfect fabric, but was not in store so had to order in on line.
Another surprise was the English Manor book from Ebony Love as a gift for my pictures of this quilt and the miniature quilt.

On the home stretch...last borders.

Another milestone. Spent the last week working on the last few larger blocks mostly in the evening.
Yesterday finished during the Packer game...third straight loss of the season.

Later in evening started the quilting on the final border. Decided red contrast as I will have red prairie points. Using the triangle theme. Need to fill up these border spaces as they were last minute due to larger pieced backing. This fabric was purchased at SAS in Tucson AZ so did not want to waste the fabric. Maybe if time allows will get four sides done this week.

Last 12 big blocks to quilt

On to the remaining 12 big blocks to quilt. I decided to use the same quilt patter, using the trusty melon shape from wedding circle template. I am loving this design and show up so well as the last border. I have half of a block left on one side. Also using black quilting thread which I have never used before. Starting to think about the final solid border. It maybe some triangles. I am planning on folded prairie points and figured out yardage. Will use a coupon for this bunch of material. Looking at red...but maybe some hints of other colors..we will see what the store has. Have to bring in the quilt for the perfect match. The original red fabric I do not have enough and it is no longer at the site. What I have left will go into this years Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt for Cherith.

Here is up close of current quilting. Finish by end of week?????

Flying geese completed

Miniature Finished

This was a QAL by Ebony earlier this year. I did a mini as I saw someone else doing it. I did the majority of blocks and they are half size the original. I first planned on original setting but decided to mix it up in a different setting. Quilting is pretty self describing. I plan on using prairie points on the big one, so tried it out on this one. I liked them pointing in and is great contrast against the blue border. Washed, labeled and hanging sleeve done...it's home will be bedroom in Marana AZ, in our new Sunflower Home. Will hang in January 2016 when we arrive.

Downton Abbey- flying geese quilt pattern

Flying geese quilt pattern

This is something I have planned for some time. It is easy,yet fills up the spaces. I am free hand drawing the pattern so no block will be exactly the same. Geese are not the same.

Downton Abbey hand quilting continues

Made excellent progress on my quilt. Finished 2 blocks and started the black border. Will do rectangles and squares in red. I have completed two sides and started the third. I just love this quilt and taking my time with the quilting.

Next set of blocks..4 to finish the next row...press n seal...

Actually the four previous blocks were two and two with different quilting patterns. Tried to combine simple and dense quilting.

Next four set are very basic blocks within a block. I wanted to try the press n seal technique. So I picked a medium dense center and ended up with simple swirls in four corners. It is either the press n seal or the fabrics that are making quilting theses blocks a bit more harder. I like the design so I will proceed slowly and rest a day I between blocks. I would like to use the press n seal more, but we will see how this week goes. Spent a good part of yesterday quilt under the umbrella on the deck with a great view. Breezy, so quilting was not bad. Very relaxing with a drink near by.

A few more circles.

Second set of blocks

Next blocks (4) with this quilting design. Looping pattern in lower left and upper right corners. Plan to do in all corners.

Next set of quilting of blocks...

Quilting is taken from a few ideas. Finished one block this evening.

Second set of blocks quilted

Finished the second group of quilting blocks. Now to decide on quilting for the next group of four. Would like to use a feather type quilt in the triangles. Not sure about the other set in the block.
Quilting is coming right along.

Main block quilting

They are in pairs...

Next block...

Mini Downton...blow up??????

Completed the top...it changed a bit from yesterday. Love it and shared it with the group. Probably will go a general overal, quilt pattern. Maybe an Arizona hand project.

This way....or

This way??? Not sure.

Side project..mini Downton Abbey mystery

During the mystery, some gals did mini quilt blocks. I begun this process and really enjoyed it. (Except the math).

The material was picked out by Dan for my retirement gift. I may not have enought fabric, but can substitute as needed with my stash. Here is an update on blocks I made yesterday and today. While not perfect, it will get lost in overall quilt. So happy with the progress. Keeps my sewing machine skills up to date.

Blocks completed

Overall quilt process.

Next few blocks to quilt..design...

So this is the quilt design for the side blocks...two parrell sides.

Border one completed..quilted

Last night I completed the first border. While I thought about many designs, this is the final decision. It began with just one pass of circles, then morfted into a second pass. I like the look against the red fabric. Just finishing the closing quilting around the outer edge.

I will begin working on the three blocks on the side. I found some of my other quilting books and have more to consider. I also experienced with using "seal and press" to copy the quilt design and then place over quilt and quilt over design. I tried machine quilting...just not for me. So yesterday did it on one of the placemats for Arizona home. I was very happy with the result. May have to try this technique on this quilt for some of the blocks.

Half circles positioned.

Quilting template with use of "press and seal".

Let the hand quilting begin....4-27-15

Picking out the quilting designs is always a challenge. Each time I hand quilt I like to try new designs and improve my stitches. Sometimes I get anxious to get it all done. With being retired and more time on my hand I can relax a bit and enjoy the process even more. Now what gets in the way is all the lovely posts of quilts. Pintrest has been very helpful with designs completed on quilts.

For this quilt the blocks are much bigger than I am used to. They are also more square in appearance. I would like to try some feathers and more curves in my quilting. I am going to try to focus on one block or border strip at a time.

Then first block is a lovely block and one of my favorites. I finally decided on a simple feather design repeated four times in each corner. I will admit that the feathers are not identical, but I still love the effect on the block. They do not take up the whole block song was looking for some kind of filler. At this point I will leave it as is. This actually look me 3-4 days to complete. I used chalk to trace the design which works for me, but by the time I go to second block some of it got wiped out. I had cut out a template that I used to guide me in my remaining blocks.

My next area of focus is the bold red border that surrounds the center block. I have searched pintrest for ideas and asking the quilt to speak to me on a design. I have decided on half circles with a few intersecting at a few points. I thought a simple design here with the red and then the ivory switching would be a good choice. So will begin this today.

Our weather has been cool so it has beeb great to get a warm quilt on top of you. I have found that with spray basting, no hoop is the best way for me to quilt. I sit in my recliner with the foot part unto support the quilt. Moving it around provides a bit of upper arm exercise.

Progress picture....

Let's catch up

Dan and I spent 5 wonderful weeks in Tucson AZ. I did have on my agenda a stop at the SAS fabric store. I heard so much about the store, fabrics and the cost. I recently completed my insurance health assessment and got a 75 dollar debit card. I knew exactly where that money was going. I think it took me about an hour and a half sorting thru fabrics and coming up with a selection that I could use in the quilt for the backling. Original fabrics were the Egyptian fabrics, but felt I could substitute the southwest theme, especially since we have not been down here for about 15 years. I also will be a second home during the winter months as we did purchase a home on the last day of our stay. Actually the colors of the fabric go with the house and plan on making some placemats for the kitchen. So here is the pictures to get this all caught up. I have sandwiched the quilt and have picked a quilting design for the center block. Hope to begin quilting soon. Plan to take my time with quilting, but would love to have it completed prior to returning to Tucson. We will see.

Loved how it turned out

 Here is my southwest backling...I love how it turned out.

Here it is below my top, I remembered now that I will need to ad some borders to it.

Here it is with the borders.

Here is out kitchen of our new home in "Sunflower"- Marana Az.