Forging Ahead...

Still finishing those projects that have been stacking up! Here are two pieced twin-size tops that went to my quilter last Monday along with my other finished tops (Floral Bouquet and EPP Stars).

They are the same design and use the same fabrics, but the placement varies. This is as close as I can come to making two of the same!!! And I had to take a two-year break in between the two!  The pattern for the top is in Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, by Kaffe Fassett. It is called "Yellow Potpourri" in the book.

I especially like the architectural details on some of the fabrics, and then blue is always good!

I am hoping those quilts will layer nicely with plain dark blue quilts underneath them, and an ivory dust ruffle. I am trying to dress up a boys' room! Not an easy task!!! I have learned to stop asking what they want, and just do what I want though...

The next quilt I am having a blast with is "Sutton Grange", by Di Ford. I started this last spring, but didn't get very far. I think I must have been very tired indeed! I have gotten it back out, and we are liking each other a lot!  Here is Di Ford's version and pattern.

My version is slightly different. (Did I hear someone say, "Uh, DUH!!!")  The beauty of these patterns is a gorgeous design one can customize! The pieces are just laid out, not sewn, and that top intertwining border isn't sewn yet!!! Proceeding in fits and starts...

My center is lacey and has a few buttons, so far. I have several ideas of what is going to happen to this block over the next few weeks...

For the second border, Di Ford was very lucky and used a fabric which she fussy cut and appliquéd by broderie perse. I didn't have a fabric I thought worked in that way, so I used lace and some trim.  I plan to continue to use lace in the other borders where Di Ford repeated the fabric, but each will be different. The intertwining appliqués are directly from her pattern. I love how they turn out.

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I will add the lace corners after the yo-yo border is in place. I just know I am not the dedicated piecer that Di Ford is, so I substituted yo-yo's and embroidery for all the pieced quarter circles. I am having tons of fun, and that is definitely part of my agenda!

I apologize this entry is a little later than I planned. I could not get the software to work last Friday when I started this entry.  Here it is!  All good... back to hand embroidery... YAY!

Keep your quilts happy,

cynthia

Back In Finishing Mode!

Remember that list of projects I wrote up a few months ago to finish before I started anything new??? Luckily, you don't have to; only I do!!! I can check a few things off!!! What a good feeling! It's very tempting to say, ok, enough of this, on to something new, but I have held off and will keep with the program...

Here is the first quilt I have finished and will deliver to its recipient very soon. The future owner is a dear friend and member of a small quilting group several of us have here in Houston. We have lots of fun when we get together, and I hope that shows in the quilt.

This quilt is for Ida, and she is the dark-haired beauty! We are all quilting fairies!!! We work magic with quilts! At least that is what we tell ourselves on a good day... I just hope Ida loves the quilt and enjoys it when she looks at it!!!

The next piece that is ready for my quilter, a quilting fairy in her own right, is my EPP stars. I added just a little embellishment to the top and a row of colonial knots between the stars and the border. I am happy with it as a first effort.  I am looking forward to making other EPP quilts, lots of others!

The last photo is the fabric for the backing, which I really like.  It is in the stars on the front; I like the lacey design and the soft color.  I am looking forward to seeing this top quilted. It is a throw size.

And one more! Yes, I said I was in finishing mode!!! Now, I only laid the laces on the border to show you what I am going to sew down today. So, to be fair, I photographed the top without the lace in the border and with it.  You can see which you prefer. This is a pattern by Yoko Saito. My book is in Japanese, but I think the name of the quilt is "Floral Bouquet Quilt".  The book is now available in English. As you will see I changed a lot of the details, but the layout remains the same.  I really think this is fine. A pattern is a guide. Use it as you wish.  That is my philosophy.

There are lots of details in this quilt, and there are still some I have to add that go between the blocks. It has been great fun to use lots of different techniques and fibers and fabrics. Color is my one constraint. Other than that, pretty much anything goes.

I want to mention a book I received in the mail yesterday. It's Country Style Quilting, by Lynette Anderson. Fabulous!!! Delightful!!! I think you really need it!!!

Fall is in the air here in Houston and that only means one thing:  Quilt Festival!!!! Hope you are coming!!!!

cynthia