Friday Finished and More

As I stated in my last post, my sewing time has been limited due to some dental issues. I'm feeling better; but with more work being done earlier this week, and more to come in the next couple of weeks, I'm still kind of a mess. Even with that though, I've been successful at doing some sewing, just nothing that requires a great amount of thinking.  😀

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a picture of what looked like a very messy and crowded design wall. I've been working on those items and am happy to say that I'm being successful at finishing some things.

I completed the binding on my 24" version of the Tartan Terrace Table Topper and I like how it looks. Not bad for using scraps to test my math skills.  😉  I think I might make the larger version too. It's pretty easy and goes together quite quickly.

I also quilted and bound my larger Faith Hope Love wall hanging. In the past, I've generally made three individual wall hangings and I've always liked them. (I think they make great gifts, especially wedding gifts.) I've only made one other single wall hanging before, and I wasn't in love with it. I followed the pattern instructions, but felt like everything was too close together and cramped. I made adjustments and this is a bit larger (44" wide x 23" high) and like it much better. 

Here's the backing I chose and I'm very pleased with that! 

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I think I want to make yet another version of this. I envision more spaces between the figures and making it longer - like twice as long. I've sketched some quilting ideas for those extra open spaces and think that I'd like this as a bed runner. I'll keep you posted...

Buried underneath a bunch of smaller projects on that design wall was this Patty Cake Quilt. The top was complete when I posted that pictures but I was debating on what I wanted to do for the backing.  

Here's what I decided. I took the scraps from piecing the blocks and what I had left of the background, and pieced this. I'm happy with results. 

This is actually on the frame waiting for me to feel good enough to quilt it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that happens today, but won't be too disappointed if it doesn't.

I'm stitching the binding down to the last side of my large version of the Wayward Transparency This should be done tonight and I'll post pictures of both of my versions. I really like this quilt and am so happy I participated in the Quilt Along with Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl. 

I used some of the same fabrics from my Wayward Transparency quilt for this Zen Table Runner, which uses a Curvy Log Cabin Ruler. This is quilted and ready for binding. Since it's not very large (18" x 52"), I should be able to get this done tonight too. Yay!  I pulled some of the binding back and clipped it to verify that I liked my dark brown binding choice. I do! 

Here's a close up of the quilting. I used a simple meander in the blue and then freehand quilted repeating half circles in the dark areas. In retrospect, I really should have used my walking foot for this. I did that on the first one and since this one is for me, I was feeling a bit daring and decided to try it freehand. I think I was over-confident in my skill level because there is some unequal spacing between the lines on many of these. Good thing I had matching thread! I pieced the backing from left over fabric and will show that when it's all quilted. (Yikes! The uneven quilting lines really show up there!)

Also on that design wall were blocks from the pattern testing I did for Rachel Rossi. The top is done and I'm deciding on backing so I can get busy quilting it. I can't share it yet, but will do so when Rachel gives the go ahead. I like how it turned out and can't wait to show you!

I guess that I better hop off of here if I want to accomplish everything on my list. Oh what should I do first.....

I'm linking up with Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. If you need inspiration or want to see some really neat quilting stuff, be sure to check out Sarah and the others who link up today. 

Design Wall Monday

My design wall probably looks like a mess to you right now, but to me it is organized and there is a plan in place for it all. 

These are all projects that I want to will complete by the end of the month.

The small hexagon table topper is done except for a little more hand stitching. That will be done tonight. This is a half size version of Tartan Terrace, a pattern by Doug Leko of Antler Quilt Design in his book Winterlude. I have a friend who asked for my help in reducing this from 48" square to 24" square. Of course I needed to buy the book to do that, and I'm so glad I did. The book contains 18 patterns featuring the fabric collection "Forever Green" by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics. I really like all of the patterns and can easily see myself making at least eight of them, if not more.

The blue and brown table runner (Zen Table Runner, made using the 8" curvy log cabin ruler) needs to be quilted. I have the backing and binding is already made for this. (That's hanging on the left side by the houses.) This is the second one of these I've made and I gifted the first one before taking pictures. 😞 I'll quilt this on my Bernina and it won't take long. Perhaps I'll layer this tonight and get started on it. 

The Faith Hope Love wall hanging on the right, behind the table runner, is also ready for quilting. Unlike the others that I've done recently, this is one piece instead of three. Like the Zen Table Runner, the quilting will be easy on this and since it's small, I'll quilt it on my Bernina. I have yet to decide how I'm going to bind this, but I'm kind of thinking about a black binding or a scrappy one, using the fabrics in the body of the quilt. I'll decide after I quilt it.

The Patty Cake Quilt  top which I showed last week, is now complete and I decided to not add any more borders. I've got the backing ready for this and hope to get this quilted by the end of next week. The only fabric I have enough of to use for binding is the teal (first complete block in the top left corner), and I think I'll like that. Of course, like I usually do, I'll wait until it's quilt and make my final decision. 

And finally, I've got a handful of the blocks for the Rachel Rossi pattern testing up on the wall to help me decide fabric placement for the remaining few blocks I need to make. (This is not all the blocks, but just what I needed/wanted to see to make my decisions.) I'm loving these blocks and the fabrics I'm using.  

What are you working on today?

Check out the quilting eye candy at 

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making

Design Wall Monday

Happy New Year !

May 2018 bring you love, peace, joy, prosperity, and lots of time to be creative.

I also hope that in 2018 you find yourself excited about things, just like Sadie did during her school Christmas concert. I want to find joy in the little things in life and rejoice about them. I want to rejoice whole-heartedly and not worry about what others will think of me. Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments!

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I almost forgot that today is Monday, which means I should be posting a Design Wall Monday post. (Gee, I didn't even drink last night, so I can't use that as an excuse.)

I do have something on the wall to share. The pattern is called Patty Cake Quilt by Eleanor Burns and I'm using a Sun Print 2017 Layer Cake by Alison Glass. For the grey background squares, I'm using Aged to Perfection - Vintage Tiles by Maywood Studio. 

I saw a smaller version of this made by a friend and fellow guild member Judy and; and I loved it. I knew right then and there that I was going to make one. Here's Judy's quilt. (Sorry for the bad picture.) Can you see why I fell in love with it? I love her fabric choices.

I decided that I wanted to use stash for my quilt and since I had the Layer Cake and enough background fabric, I was all set. The pattern offers instructions for four different sizes, but of course I wanted a different size. I'm maing mine in a 7 x 9 layout and I'm not sure if I'll add more than the first border, which will be a the grey background fabric. (Judy's quilt does not have borders.) 

I'm working on a pattern testing for Rachel Rossi and here's the fabric I'm using. I can't show you much yet, but I promise that I'll be able to do so soon.

The fabrics on the left side are from All a Twitter by Hoffman Fabrics.  Those eight fabrics are actually fat quarters that are all together in a continuous panel. I love that idea! I chose the carnation version, but there is a teal version called Sprout. Even though I wasn't planning to do so, I purchased all of may fabrics for this at M&E Quilt Shoppe. I went to the shop to look for the wavy lines fabric or something similar and fell in love with this combination. They have both of the colorways for the fat quarter panels, as well as other fabrics from the line.

What are you working on today! 

Check out the quilting eye candy at

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making