Things are finally coming together.  I’ve finished up two and a half of the projects I took with me last weekend on the Watson quilting retreat.  Who was I kidding? – only myself -  There was no way I could finish 5 projects in one weekend – but I did try.

The top is complete for the baby quilt.  It’s also been quilted and bound.  (Good thing too.)  I was just told that she is having a baby shower November 6.  I didn’t know that one was planned this early.  For once I’m ahead of the game.

Quilt for Riley Diane

It was an ‘on and ‘off’ rainy day on Sunday, so I took advantage of forced time indoors and finished the quilt shams for my son.  The side borders are Seminole Patchwork blocks that are also border his quit.

King Size Pillow Shams

Lastly, I’ve embroidered three bluework blocks and have started on the fourth for my Linda Hunter quilt.  The pieced blocks are all finished.  I’d like to finish this top by the end of November.

Pieced and embroidered blocks

The other two projects, will probably go with me on our winter trip to Texas.  I really need to get started on some Christmas presents.   I’m hoping I have enough time to finish two twin size quilts.  The sticky part will probably be finding someone to quilt them at this late date.  I may have to try and quilt them myself – but I normally don’t like to quilt more than a lap size.  – Am I up for the challenge?

Tip of the Day:  When cutting borders for wall quilts I always cut the side borders with the fabric’s lengthwise grain to prevent wavy borders.  The will also lie flatter against the wall.  On a bed quilts, that doesn’t seem to be a problem.

One quilt in particular caught my attention at the Snow Country Quilt Show.  This Bluework quilt was beautiful.  I just wish it wasn’t hung so high.  I couldn’t get  a good picture of the detail.

Bluework is traditionally worked with indigo blue threads.   In reality  red and blue floss  are used interchangeably for any Bluework or Redwork  pattern.

Blackwork is another popular form of embroidery.  I thought the only difference was that black thread was used.  In reality, when black thread is used on a Redwork or Bluework pattern it is called ‘Black Redwork.’    Blackwork is completely unique in that the technique is counted thread embroidery worked in a geometric design with black silk on even- weave linen.

For example this Blackwork snowflake is featured on the Yahoo picture page.

This looks pretty interesting and warrants more research.  You learn something new every day!

What a great day Monday was – we were able to spend the whole day at our favorite pastime -  quilting.

The Gang

We started off with an all day class with Linda Hunter on Redwork.  We’ll be putting the embroidery in this cute wall hanging.  She shared tips on making easy half square triangles using  Thangles, a grid and the Easy Angle ruler (I’ve had one of these rulers for some time, but have never used it);  as well as tips to addsetting triangles to finish the quilt and discussed some border options.  At the end of the class she challenged us to finish our quilts within the next couple of weeks – Sure -  right!   We all enjoyed her laid-back teaching style.

As the  guest speaker at our monthly Guild meeting Monday evening, Linda treated us to a Trunk Show of some of her beautiful quilts along with a lecture on the History of Redwork.

In addition, we  showcased our 2011 raffle quilt at the meeting.   The Thumbstall membership has been working on the applique borders and pieced blocks for the quilt over the past few months.   The pieced blocks are from the pattern, Granny Stars by Nancy Mahoney.  The border pattern was designed by one of our Guild members, Sandi Holland.  She based it on the  fabric we’ll be using in the center of the block.

Elegence

Center Block Fabric

Well its almost here.  Thumbstall Biennial  Quilt Show.  I was pretty productive last year, finishing a queen size quilt for my daughter’s wedding and a king size quilt for my son at Christmas.  Unfortunately since both of my children live out of town I won’t be able to display them at our quilt show in July.

Additionally, I was able to finish two quilts for our guild’s Fat Quarter project and

Simply Charming (quilt fat quarter quilt project)

Delectable Mountains (guild fat quarter quilt project)

a second Fat Quarter quilt to be used in the Silent Auction at the quilt show,

Seasons - Silent Auction

a challenge quilt using a unique focus fabric, and

Quilt Show Challenge

the quilt Seasons – My Favorite Things.

Seasons - My Favorite Things

I particularly enjoyed working on this project.  It not only depicts the seasons by month but I was able to find quilting stencils to use in the borders that are specific to each season.

Quilt patterns for Seasons border

Actual borders on the quilt:

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

I finished my hand embroidered Seasons quilt during our 2009 winter get-away and have been stymied as to how to quilt it without sacrificing the beauty of the embroidery.  I took the top to a guild meeting and received some very good suggestions.  I was going to add some more embroidery to the white spaces, but now have decided that I would fill them in with quilting instead.    I needed some quilting options.

Seasons Quilt Top

After putting it up on my design wall, I checked online and got a few ideas then went into the EQ5 program and found some perfect quilt stencils to compliment this quilt.

Quilt options

Quilting Pattern for Blocks

Seasons Quilt Stencils for Borders:

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

My next step is to make some quilt sandwiches to practice quilting these designs.  I normally cut muslin and backing squares 12″x12″ to use as practice pieces.