Sunday, September 18, 2016

Two Finishes & Vintage Candy Cane Snowman

I have a lot to show you today but first . . .

Some of you are you are confused about the back basting applique technique I talked about last week.  Gay, from Sentimental Stitches, has a step by step tutorial. Gay is left handed so right handed people will be sewing the opposite direction. I noticed she marked on top of her fabric too.

Now onto the show & tell stuff!


Last Sunday afternoon I started quilting this snowman and I couldn't stop! I did all the quilting in an afternoon. Now I admit, there isn't a lot of quilting on this little quilt. I stitched in the ditch along the edge of the border fabric, then just outline quilted the embroidery. 

Since this project was hand quilted, I hand sewed the binding on the back side.
On the backside you can see the straight line quilting in the border fabric.

Several commented on how perfect this stripped fabric was for the border. This was fabric left from the Zippy-Strippy quilt I made DIL 2 in June.


He finishes at 12" square and I'm displaying him in a picture frame. I had to take the picture from the side, there was a glare otherwise. 

I'm not a seasonal decorator. If I think something looks nice, I display it, no matter what the season. 


The pattern is Vintage Candy Cane Snowman by Crabapple Hill Designs. The pattern was purchased from the Pumpkinvine Quilt shop in Middlebury, Ind.

Since the embroidered snowman project is completed, I'm appliqueing again every evening. Block 22, Crossed Laurel Spray, of the Pastor's Attic Quilt has been started. Freezer paper in the back of the leaves is the technique I'm using for this block. Pictures next week.



I also got the king size pillow cases sewed. Yes, I am finished sewing pillowcases! At least I think I am, you never know for sure.

Last spring I finished two flimsies which were to be long arm quilted. They were both quilted by Tammy from the Three Sisters Fabric. Last week they came home. I've finished the binding and they are officially finished!


First is the Summer Lake Log Cabin quilt designed by Judy Martin. The pattern is found in her Log Cabin Quilt book. I purchased a kit from Lolly's Fabrics in Shipshewana years ago. I love how she has turned out.

This log cabin quilt finishes at 95" square which I think is a rather awkward size for a quilt, but it is what it is.
The colors that read as blue in the picture are actually purples.

A close-up of the center star. 




The snail blocks in the center and the border are actually pieced the same as the log cabin blocks. It is just the placement of lights and darks that make a different design.



I used a purple whole cloth for the quilt back. The simple meandering stitch shows up nicely. 

I also stitched both sides of the binding on my machine. The straight stitching on the back beside the binding doesn't bother me at all. I think it looks just fine.
The next quilt is Cherry Blossoms by Karen H. Her blog is Faeries and Fibres. (Click the heading Patterns by Karen H. She asks that people link to her blog, not directly to the patterns.) 

This quilt is different colors than I normally use but I think she looks so peaceful and elegant. The 9-patches finished at 3" and the little HST are 1" finished. 

Karen had a plain fabric border on her quilt but I added a pieced border. I thought the border was needed to add a definite stop to the center, it looked too plain. The binding is a flange binding.
Again this binding is machine sewn on both sides.

The backing fabric for both quilts came from Calico Point. They have the most reasonable priced quilts back of anywhere, including the online fabric stores.  I like whole cloth backing, no piecing!
Here is a close up of some of the blocks.

This quilt was made entirely from my stash, even the background fabric!

She is quilted with meandering and measures 90" x 102". Karen's pattern finishes at 69" x 82" but I wanted it to be bed sized.

Both of these quilts will go on the pile to be given to the grandchildren as they become adults. 

Linking to - Log Cabin LooniesKathy's Slow Sunday StitchingQuilting is More Fun than Housework, Em's ScrapbagLove Laugh Quilt, Super Mom - No CapeQuilt StoryEsther's Wednesday WOW!, Sew Fresh Quilts, Silly Mama Quilts, My Quilt Infatuation, Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, A Quilting Reader's Garden, Show Off Saturday

37 comments:

  1. Your little embroidered quilt is so adorable. Your two bed quilts are exquisite. I love them so much!! Thanks for sharing them with us.

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    1. It feels so good to finally have BIG finishes. Thanks for visiting.

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  2. Oh my goodness, those are two gorgeous quilts. I always love a log cabin quilt, but I never realized that I could get those snail blocks from it. I have added that to my idea book. I love the border you added to Cherry Blossoms. It beautifully frames all those nine-patches. As for your Snowman, I have got to get that pattern. I love the border and quilting that you added. I think it is great that you have put it in a frame. So pretty

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    1. I just wanted to protect the little project. She won't be up all the time but this way she'll stay fresh & clean. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  3. Loving ALL your finishes... esp the snowman embroidered and hand quilted! Like your blog... my first visit! Kathi

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  4. Love all the finishes with Cherry Blossoms being my favorite! :)

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    1. Cherry Blossoms is my favorite too. Reading over the comments, that seems to be the favorite of most everyone! Blessings, Gretchen

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  5. Love that last quilt you show - it would be a favorite of mine! the Santa is really cute with that strip border.

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    1. The Cherry Blossoms seems to be everyone's favorite. Mine too. Thanks!

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  6. Congratulations on three amazing finishes! Love that scrappy cherry blossoms!

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    1. It is so nice to finally have a BIG finish and there are 2 of them. Yes, I agree, the Cherry Blossoms is my favorite too. Thanks for hosting Slow Stitching Sunday. Blessings!

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  7. Enjoy seeing all your lovely finishes. But I really like the cherry blossoms quilt. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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    1. Cherry Blossoms did make a dent in the pink fabrics but there is plenty of the other colors left. Thaks for the link. Blessings, Gretchen

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  8. You have very lucky grandchildren! Your quilt finishes are beautiful!

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    1. I would have been thrilled to have a quilt made by one of my grandmothers so I decided I am going to do that for my grands. The oldest grand is 13 so it will be awhile before any of the big quilts leave home. Thanks, Gretchen

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  9. I love all your projets, but the snowman caught my eye, he's adorable!!! I am a seasonal decorator and love snowmen. BTW, thanks for leaving a comment on my blog this morning, you came in as a no reply blogger so I am glad I caught up with you this way!

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  10. Sometimes I leave my e-mail on my comments but sometimes I forget. I guess I'm a lazy decorator. This snowman will be on display until probably next summer or until I have something to replace him. Thanks for stopping by. Gretchen

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  11. I just love Karen H's blog. So many ideas & she shares them freely. I would love to spend a week with her!! Your Cherry Blossom quilt is exquisite!! great finishes

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    1. All of Karen's work is beautiful. I just love this Cherry Blossom quilt. My only regret is I didn't make her king sized. Then I could have used her on our bed! Thanks. Blessings, Gretchen

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  12. Great projects....summer lake log cabin quilt is awesome!

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  13. Thank you. I had my moments of doubt when I was piecing her, but she turned out lovely. Whoever selected the fabrics for the kit did an awesome job, much better than I could have.

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  14. From the embroidered and quilted snowman piece to the last of the quilts your work is just beautiful.

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  15. The snowman is just as sweet as can be. Everyone seems to like a snowman design.

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    1. I really enjoyed this project. I can myself embroidery more of these for gifts in the future.

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  16. I love, love, love your snowman! The pillow cases and quilts are lovely, too!

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  17. WOW!! So impressive!
    thanks so much for linking up!

    brooke@sillymamaquilts.com

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  18. I love the idea of using a picture frame without glass to display that little snowman. Something I want to try in my own home now!

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    1. I left the glass in the frame. I wanted to keep the white fabric white. Thanks for visiting!

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  19. I love the Snow man and the purple quilt. Heck I love them all. I am sorry for posting so late - we lost our internet for a few days - talk about 'upset'...

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  20. All of these are lovely but I love the Cherry Blossom quilt. There is just something about scrap quilts that really sing to me.

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    1. I like the Cherry Blossom best too. I think she just looks peaceful. I need to make another quilt with those fabric colors. Thanks for stopping by.

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  21. The batik is gorgeous, the snowman adorable, but I really like cherry blossoms. How did you choose your colors?

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  22. I liked the colors of Karen's quilt and decided to use them for my quilt. I didn't buy any fabrics but used what I had in my stash, so my colors aren't exactly like Karen's. It is easy for me to get stuck always using the colors I like. I'm trying to use different colors in my fabrics! I think it is interesting that everyone likes the Log Cabin quilt but the favorite is Cherry Blossoms. Blessings.

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  23. What wonderful finishes. And Cherry Blossoms is fabulous! So great you used your stash.

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