Slow Hand Quilting & Applique

I quilted across the vintage Boston Commons quilt this week. 

The white background fabric isn't perfectly flat but it is quilting nicely. Do you see my whoops in this picture? Apparently I ran out of thread then forgot to finish that one feather. The feather has been quilted and I rolled.

Last summer (2019) Kevin hosted a mystery sew along called Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt. His pattern is very similar to the design of this quilt.

I did not finish the applique for the center of my blue Stars Around the Garden but I did make progress. I should get it finished it this week.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching,  Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Red Easy Breezy Blocks

 I've decided to add a 3rd project to the RSC, easy breezy blocks! Easy breezy is Bonnie Hunter's leader/ender project for this year. I did some figuring and modified the pattern for 8" finished blocks using 2-1/2" strips. I ended up making 12 blocks.

These blocks and the future blocks will end up being used for charity quilts.

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday

Even More Blue Stars Around the Garden

 Piecing 12" finished blocks go fast. Here are the last six blocks for my blue Stars Around the Garden.

While I was piecing the last several blocks, I kept looking at all the blocks on the display wall. Not all the fabrics pulled together like I had hoped but they were nice enough except for that block on the top left row. That just didn't make me happy. I want the fabric around the center to highlight the center. That fabric just make it look blurry, so I redid that block!

Doesn't this block look more interesting than the other block? Just the center of the block was reworked, the outside HST's are the same as before.

Once the cutting table is cleaned off, I can get to the sashing. I'm going to add yellow corner stones which the pattern doesn't call for. I need to finish the center applique medallion first though.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Clever Chameleon, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday

Blue Stars Around the Garden, the Center & Hand Quilting

 For several weeks I've been appliqueing the center for blue Stars Around the Garden. This is why the hand quilting progress has slowed down.

Hopefully I'll finish appliqueing the leaves this week then I can progress with sewing the sashing and blocks. I never cut the sashing segments ahead of time because I have already trimmed the center incorrectly (trimmed too much) then needed to make adjustments in the sashing.

I did make some hand quilting progress this week.

The center white sashing puckers didn't quilt out as well as they did on the other side but the right side had been especially bad. It does look a lot better than it did before quilting.

I had taken a close up of the quilting of the center after I quilted it this week but it disappeared into the void of wherever pictures go.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching,  Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

Red Circle of Squares

 Two red circle squares blocks have been pieced, a darker one and a bright one.  These are fun blocks to make. Here is a link to the directions if you want to make some too.

Sorry for the blurry photo but you get the idea.

The background fabric is leftover backing from quilts made for two of the granddaughters. There are pieces left so you'll see more blocks made with this fabric.

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday

Southwestern Quilt Finish!

Joy, from Calico Point, did a lovely job of long arm quilting the southwestern quilt. I had decided I wanted a more 'manly' quilting design for this quilt since our son-in-law will be using this quilt too.

I selected this dragonfly design which shows nicely on the backing. But are there dragonflies in Arizona? I googled it and this is what pulled up. 

I used the zigzag fabric for binding which I machine stitched.. Our daughter will be visiting in a few weeks, I'll see if I can cram this 71" by 100" quilt into her suitcase to take back with her. This quilt will see use this winter when Phoenix cools down and air conditioner season is past.

Here is the quilt roll.

When I purchased the fabrics for this quilt so many years ago, they put it in this nice shopping bag. The fabric lived in this bag for years but I could always see this orange bag. I always knew where the fabric was. If I can't get the quilt into her suitcase, maybe she can have a carry on?

Linking to Peacock Party, Put Your Foot  Down, Whoop Whoop Party, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, Brag About Your Beauties, UFO Busting

More Blue Stars Around the Garden

 More blocks for blue Stars Around the Garden have been pieced.

This quilt has an applique center medallion which I have been working on for several weeks. I'll show that part in an upcoming post.

Linking to BOM's Away