Happy Days & Allietare Completed

This is my Allietare completed - the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt from last year. I did a straight border instead of scalloped like she suggested - a lot of stitching in this quilt but a feeling of accomplishment when it is completed - plus all the fun of sewing along with others on the same project.

 The following are blocks from my Sarah Fielke Happy Days BOM this year. I can't imagine how these are all going to look together. I am depending on some 24 stars not shown to pull this all together, plus the borders. Wow, is it bright and colorful!

 Many different techniques were used. Above were hexagons that were large enough I used the "starch appliqué" method instead of glue or hand basting. It worked great.

 Lots of appliqué . . .

 and several have been paper pieced.

I'm still wondering how this orange block will fit in with the rest - a difficult appliqué block but like eating an elephant - one "stitch at a time" got it done and many many hours! I'm hoping all the other spots of orange will make it blend well. 

Our group got together a couple of weeks ago with Jane back in town and we had show and tell!

 Wonda finished two quilts she worked on at our retreat . . .

 and Gerry had her strawberry quilt ready for a quilter. I can't for the life of me remember this pattern name - something to do with strawberries and she put redwork she did by hand in all of the center blocks.

 

I think this was Gerry's also! Very pretty soft colors - reminds me of Robyn Randolph fabrics from years ago - and they may be! Happy Stitching!!

Flower Garden, Flower Pots & China Shop

 Another really long-term project I have going is the Flower Garden by Kim McLean. It may take me longer than my Lollypop Trees did! But, ever so often I finish another block.

 I have learned something about myself recently - or actually faced up to the fact that I enjoy "kitting quilts" possibly more than sewing them. Always being afraid I won't have any handwork ready, I will get a whole quilt ready for appliqué and then it lays in its container for possibly years, waiting to be stitched. So as of now, I have months/years worth of appliqué all ready for stitching. I am trying to make a dent in it now. These flower garden blocks have been ready for quite some time!!

 Speaking of a quilt waiting for a finish - this is Flower Pots by Kim McLean. I began it in September 2010, six years ago. Now I got the appliqué completed but was putting off the sashing, also knowing that the blocks did not come out to the size indicated on the pattern so I was going to have to make an adjustment. Procrastinate . . . procrastinate . . .I finally solved this 'problem' by restitching a couple of bird tails and was able to proceed. I spent a week recently sewing the sashing and putting the top together and now it is ready for quilting. My backing just came in the mail today!

Here is a partial picture of the top - the bottom half. Just gorgeous fabrics to me and I'll admit to trying to match mine to the pattern picture - that can be fun and a challenge in itself.

As you know, I'm a fan of Kaffe Fassett fabrics and this quilt pattern was published in Homespun - an online magazine. It was designed by Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession quilt shop in Australia and her team which worked with Kaffe Fassett. In 2015 the patterns were published monthly so I subscribed. I ended up buying the kit for the fabrics from glorious color.com and made the quilt this spring and summer. I did all the appliqué on the machine and bonded the outer edge of the fabrics with Lite Steam a Seam 2. 

 Here are some close-up views.

 Love the fabric choices and combinations!

 There were several techniques used, including lots of hexagon flowers in the side blocks of the center. I did hand stitch all of those together then machine appliquéd them down. The platter had hexagons around it also.

Here is more of a close up of the hexagons on the right. I still have a little more to show but I'll save that for another post!! Happy Stitching!! It is GREAT therapy!!

Spring 2016

It's been a while since I blogged so I'm going to pick up where I left off in March. Life has been busy and it's easy not to blog or think no one is reading anyway with so much other social media. But, this also helps me keep up with my quilting to see when I made things so here goes!!

 This is my stack of circles I worked on early in the year. I finally realized I was getting little else done even though I liked the project so stopped at around 100, which will make a nice wall hanging. This was from Quilty Folk.

 Our quilt group had a retreat at Mexico Beach, Florida, since one of our members moved there to retire. We had a great area for sewing - the clubhouse of the neighborhood. Only four of us were able to be there so we missed the others but were able to share with texting, etc. Above is one of the blocks from my Sarah Fielke BOM 2016 - Happy Days. 

 Here is Jane on the left showing her Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt from last year - Allietare. She did the smaller version and even did the scalloped border - it looks beautiful! Gerry is on the right holding it with her.

 We went to a quilt shop in Panama City, Quilting by the Bay! That was fun!

Here was a display when you walked in the door!!

 

 We made it to the beach one day.

 Gerry was stylish in her hat as she sewed her red and white quilt. 

 Jane with her pretty pineapples!!

One of Wonda's projects had these pretty stars around the border.

 More of my Sarah Fielke BOM. 

And one more block - this is going to be a bright and busy quilt!