I am emerging from lots of sewing, most of which I can't share yet... I know! A bit frustrating, but also very exciting - I simply CAN'T WAIT for the end of the year when both, McCall's Quilting and Quiltmaker Jan/Feb issues are likely to come out - with my quilts in them!! EEEEK!!
Rememeber that second stack of lovely colors I showed you earlier?
It is a queen size quilt now and I am so happy how it turned out!! I wish I can share it all now, but here are few little sneak-peeks...
I quilted it all on my friend Robi's Nolting, and it was so much more fun! Both because I love, love love quilting on a long arm (doodling is so much easier!) and even more so because I could do it in a good company - Robi was sewing up a storm behind me and a whole quality control department - aka her lovely cats! - were there too, of course! At the end I had to do it in a bit of a tight time, but it was still just fun!
The thread of choice was 50wt Aurifil - I use this taupe, neutral color cone for all my piecing, did it in this quilt too, and it actually turned out to be the best choice of color for quilting as well!
I quilted some leaves...
And some flowers too...
I used Dream Wool batting for the first time and I really love the enhanced definition of quilting it gives! It is also very light!! Definitely doing that again...
After quilting fun was over, I decided to do that "faux-piping" binding and I just love it!
You know, I realized that I didn't do a queen size quilt in a while now, and boy was that a pile on my sewing table!! Not to mention some unusually hot and humid Buffalo weather while doing it... (yes, no AC in our old house...) - but it was all so worth it!
Of course I had to take few photos, just for myself and while doing that, found that this lovely new mum, a "just because" gift from our next door neighbors, was such perfect color for my little photo-shoot!
Did I mention I love that binding? He, he...
Once that quilt was in the mail, I had to do a quick baby quilt - a coworker is having a baby boy any day now and this needed to be done fast! So digging through my sizable kids fabrics stash, I found this lovely (and wide!) border print with animals - a dozen happy pinwheel blocks, some polka-dot background fabrics and those border strips and - VOILA!
I used minky for the back and this happy, sunny yellow stripe for the binding. I really love how quilting actually showed well on the minky!
Beautiful, turqoise 50wt cotton Aurifil was a choice for quilting
Look how quilting shows!
I had fun with just doodling different designs in pinwheels, some fun messages in between - like "smile", "dream", "love", "skip" and "jump"...
..."hug"... :) All the things I wish this little one will do all the time!
Speaking of baby quilts... One that is so extra special is still not done! My precious Natalie is still waiting for her quilt from Grammie... I know, really bad Grammie. :( But you know what, it is important that it is made with love and just as it should be in every detail, so I am OK with that. So is she, he he...
I just wasn't happy how it all looked when I started placing it all on the design wall, and it also needed to be a bit bigger, so back to making more HSTs, in few more color combos...
Yeah, I do things whenever I can - so this was taking Thangles paper out - in bed! LOL! Smesometis my poor husband just shakes his head...
So after making more, here is what I have. I did this lineup on my design wall literally just this morning, early, and then had to go to work! Snapped this photo quick just so I can look at it during my lunch break and see what needs to be changed later today...
Quite a few things, I see, but that's OK!
I am trying to create a lower contrast and lighter area in the lower middle, where elephants will be, and then darker, more contrast on top and bottom... Not quite happy with this one yet, but I do have some extra HSTs to play with. Later tonight...
In the meantime, cooler weather is here and pups are much happier during our walks - I just love this photo from this weekend... Marley is really such a great big brother. And Charley is learning and growing into a great, lovable buddy. They make me smile every day.
At the end, I have to share my beautiful photo - Labor Day weekend was first time we were ALL together again (since our daughter and her hubby came to visit ). It was a time to treasure and I am so happy we took this photo. I call it - MY EVERYTHING. 💗
My family is my heart beat and I am so grateful, every day. <3
