Moving right along!

Bowtie Hugs and Kisses is finished (almost)! 

The binding and label are on, so all that is left is the handwork.  I'm very pleased with how it came out. 



And it got the "Sassy Seal of Approval!"

Next up my list is the Tossed Pinwheel quilt.  She's all ready to be basted and quilted.

But, wouldn't you know... the backing is not wide enough for the the width of the quilt.  I worked out a plan to use up some of the remaining charm pack to piece the back together.  I'm hoping my friend will be pleased with this gift.

Also on the design wall is a quickie that will be for a special child in Oklahoma.

 
The bright and cheery colors make me smile.  I had a whole box of 5" charm squares, and this is what I did with quite a big stack of them.  Of course there was a lot of sliver trimming to be done.

I wonder what I can do with all these teeny tiny pieces...  Ideas anyone?  

Practice, Patience and Progress

But not perfection...  



I finished up the final quadrant on my Dad's Bowtie Hugs and Kisses last night. 

It's supposed to be a lap (I call them nap size) quilt, but turned into a monster size 58" x 72".  It is by far the largest quilt I've attempted to free motion quilt.   It was a bit tricky making sure I didn't catch the 3D centers of the Bowties when quilting, but I managed to keep away most of the time.  Only a few times I caught my darning foot in the fold and had to take the machine apart to get it free.

It wasn't until I was about half way through the first border that I realized I forgot to change the top thread back to the variegated thread I had used through the first three quadrants of the quilt.  Oops.  I'm sure no one will notice. 

This morning I finished the inner red border and started on the checkerboard.  It's coming along nicely.

I'm stuck for what to do with the two blue borders, so I'm going to link up to Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project to see if I can get an idea or two.  I love Leah's blog!  It has helped me learn so many things, and given me the confidence to quilt my own quilts rather than send them off to a long-arm quilter to do for me.  Thank you Leah!

I think I'm going to take some more of her advice and "GO QUILT".

On my Deisgn Wall

I'm working on several projects, like most quilters. 

On the wall right now is a variation of the Disappearing Nine Patch with pinwheels called Pinwheel Toss by Clover & Violet. I used a few charm packs (maybe 3?) from Missouri Star Quilt Company by Nancy Halvorsen called Basically Nancy.

Also on my design wall is a special request from my son for one of his former West Point roommates who is due to be deployed soon.  This one is called Fourth of July and the pattern is by Bonnie Hunter.  I used Red and Blue homespun, and neutral star fabrics.  I really like the way this one is coming together.  I will look at it a while, and move the blocks around so it doesn't look too matchy-matchy.



I'm working on free motion quilting a quilt for my Dad. I've used homespun for the bow ties and the pieced border. I'm still learning, and my quilting isn't that consistent yet, but I'm proud of the progress I'm making.  This is a 3D bow tie set in X and O pattern.  Dad's health is declining, and we're far away.  I want to remind him that we are thinking of him, and wrapping him in Hugs and Kisses.

Bow-ties and Hugs and Kisses - On rhe design wall

On the Sewing Machine now

Close up of quilting in progress

And, I just finished the binding on "Tea Party" one I've been working on for a while.  This one is using 1930s reproduction fabrics I've had in my stash for a bunch of years, set in the Broken Dishes pattern.  I watched a tutorial over at Missouri Star Quilt Company.  This one is for a nice lady at a nearby nursing home whose family is far away.  It should fit very nicely on her lap.



"Tea Party" with the Sassy Seal of Approval.