I had a Productive Week!

     I was able to add another quilt to the finish column this week!   This was number 2 on my UFO challenge list, and has been patiently waiting to have it's quilting done for 8 years!   

Close up under my needle of fabric and butterfly.  

 More Quilting Details -  I did an all-over double loopy meander because the background fabric is so busy, I wanted something loopy and with great texture 

Quilted and Bound! 

Corner Detail 

Back texture detail 

 I also finished putting the borders on this group project for Quilts of Valor.  Our guild did a Quilt of Valor Sew day on Veteran's Day.   I was supposed to be a "table mom", and had this one all cut.  I also pre-did the applique stars.   Turned out I was whisked away to Reno for the week, and someone else stepped in to keep our table group on task.   The had finished all the sewing components, but the borders needed to be attached... so I brought it home to do that.  

Pattern is from a 2013 Fons and Porter Patriotic Quilts magazine.  
"Waving Old Glory".    

All borders done,  Ready for someone's Long Arm

Close up detail.   - every gold star is different. 

       I also made some hand work progress on my Monarch Butterfly project...  the colors in these photos are much better than the last group I took.  You can even see the text on the background here. 

Making progress on the Milkweed... 

 I'm not sure if I'll get  the third UFO project on my list finished this month...  but I'm hoping to decide what my next steps are and to get a start.. 

Off to a Great Start in 2020!

     I started out the year on a positive note! 

A Couple of Finishes...

 I finished a UFO that I  had on my list for awhile.   "Spring" is the last of 4 seasonal projects with embroidery by Crab-Apple Hill.   

  

Spring -  Finished!  

I also finished one of my #2's from my APQ UFO challenge.  This one is a lap quilt for our guild's Comforting Quilts Program.  I'm hoping to finish at least one a month.  These were stars from a Block Lotto when I hosted a Color Wheel Tour Block of the Month for our guild back in 2014.    I'm hoping it can cheer someone up while keeping them warm. 

Quilting close-up detail

Stars on Black - 43" x 43"

A new challenge start!  

 My small hand stitching group decided to do a challenge for our quilt show in March.   Hand stitched,  something with the color orange, which was chosen out of a hat..... and smaller than a Fat Quarter.  

I chose to do a Monarch Butterfly on milkweed.  

this is my inspiration photo.... found in google images, so I'm sorry but there was no credit given to the photographer. 

Inspiration photo 

I had a fat quarter of a text fabric, which I dyed green.    Then I used some orange marbled cotton, and using fusible web I fused two layers together...  Reverse applique with black wool over it and then embroidery to finish the butterfly.   It will sit on top of the milkweed as a dimensional item when done. I plan on adding more body details over the wings when I attach it to the flower. 

Butterfly - approx 9" across wing span. 

I'm using a variety of variegated threads to embroider the milkweed flower. 

Here is my progress on the embroidery so far...  trying to use my threads that are not as  expensive under the butterfly... so that is where i started.   

                                     Embroidery progress to date

With the butterfly in place...  I am tickled with the way it's coming along!   Since I'm our show chair,  i need to get this finished in the next few weeks, because things get really crazy as the show approaches. 

                               A general idea of how the butterfly will sit when done. 

  

The Beginning of a New Decade.... or... What I Accomplished in the Final Months of 2019

    Well,  once again I went months without posting anything....  


Much has happened since I finished that baby quilt.....   Where should I start?  

I apologize up front... this is long but it  has lots of eye candy for pictures.... 

Grand Kids Projects -  

 I decided that since our  thee grand kids have all finished college,  started jobs and moved away from the nest in Helena that it was time they got a quilt.    

     Kaleigh loves pink,  and as I started working on Bonnie Hunter's "Good Fortune" mystery last year it was the perfect color combination for her.   I finished piecing the top while I was at our Spring Retreat last March.   I had really wanted to use Minky on the back and purchased some in April.    However... I'm a chicken!   it needed to be pieced,  and since I quilt on my domestic machine.. it really needed to be spray basted.  This is an outside job at my house with Mike having Asthma...  and I procrastinated enough that summer came and went.....  so I decided to go with a nice thick flannel on the back.   

Good Fortune - 72 x 72

Back texture close up 

Front - Quilting Detail 

Front - Quilting Detail 

Wrapped and ready to ship 

Back Texture 

 "Bronco Spirit"  is for our oldest grandson.  He is a Denver Bronco fan.  He graduated from Montana Tech a few years ago and just bought his first home.  The quilting on this one is along the seams so the back texture wasn't really as exciting as the other two.... but I must admit that turning that 85 x 85 quilt every 8 inches was a bear of a workout!  

Bronco Spirit - before quilting 

Quilting close up 

More Quilting detail

Labeled and Wrapped  

Aaron graduated last December and he has moved across country to Nashville Tennessee.  A Philadelphia Eagle Fan, it only made sense to use team colors for him as well.   I decided on a log cabin quilt.    When it came to quilting,  feathers were a definite decision!  "Fly, Eagles, Fly!"   this is 95" x 95",  because I cut my strips too large... LOL  

Close up Quilting detail

Back Texture of feather quilting 

This is BEFORE I fixed the 2 turned blocks...  

Labeled and wrapped! 

  Some hand stitching happened this fall! 

Last spring,  Sue Spargo did a workshop here in Portland.   I didn't take the workshop, but I did purchase her book and one of the extra kits that was available.   

I then later, found a class at one of my local quilt stores that was based on Sue Spargo's embroidery.  I had the kit,  and I had the book.... so I took the class.   

I had done some wool work prior, but it had been applique with basic buttonhole stitching.  All the different textures and effects from threads and stitches is addicting! 

Here are a few of my hand stitching projects that were done this fall. 

Rainbow Spiral 

Rainbow Spiral - back 

Stitching Detail

 

Stitching Detail

Stitching Detail

Stitching Detail

Stitching Detail

          

Stitching Detail

 

   

Seasons in Wool - on our mantle 

  I also finished a long term project in wool that is a seasonal project.   Pattern is by Buttermilk Basin and was a Block of the month.   Knowing just how bad I am at changing seasonal items here at home,  I opted to do Seasons, rather than Months.  I did a lot of this stitching in the car while traveling.  Wool is so forgiving.  

Seasons in Wool - background crazy patch block - 12" x 12"

 

The background block is always there, and then a smaller 8 x 8" block hooks with hook and eyes over the black area so you can change and switch them up as you want. 

Seasons in Wool - Winter 

Seasons in Wool - Spring 

Seasons in Wool - Summer 

Seasons in Wool - Autumn

Seasons in Wool - Christmas 

 A few other projects that  I worked on were a quartet of seasonal embroidery patterns by Crabapple Hill.   I had finished the Autumn one back in approximately 2011.   The other three were in varying stages of finished.  These are all small wall hangings the approximate size of a fat quarter. 

Spring - now waiting for borders and embellishments and the quilting 

  

For the Summer project,  I used a baggie of tiny corner triangles that were gifted to me from a friend.  The colors were perfect!   I machine quilted this one because there were so many seams in the pinwheel borders. 

Summer Pinwheels 

Summer Pinwheels 

Summer Pinwheels 

The Winter project is one that I had finished the embroidery on several years ago.  I had even  started to make the wonky crumb scrap borders. They needed to attached.  I hand quilted this one. 

Winter 

Winter 

Winter  -  Before Binding 

   This Autumn Hexies -  The first one I finished in the series. I stitched the hexies together by hand on the border  and hand quilted it. 

Autumn Hexies 

Autumn Hexies 

     After finishing "Rainbow Spiral",  I couldn't stop playing with stitches and thread... so I started an autumnal leaf project using 3" squares so that I could practice some linear stitches that were difficult to try on those 1-1/4" circles. 

This is now ready to be layered and quilted.  It is about the size of a fat quarter. I haven't named it yet... 

Autumn Leaf Embroidery Project 

   With all this stitching, I need a needle roll, correct?  This is Sue Spargo's pattern.  I made my own labels.  This was a fun project. 

Needle Roll 

Needle Roll - inside details

I found some Japanese Cotton at a quilt show this fall and wanted to try some wool on that.   This project will become a tote bag.  One side with the bright squares the other with the owl.  The owl inspiration came from an adult coloring book that was given to me when I retired.  I'm nearly done with the owl side, and then it can be finished. 

Owl- needs the belt area finished and some details added in body.  

Coloring Sheet I used for inspiration 

   

A Quilt of Valor - 

My friend and quilting mentor, HollyAnne Knight over at the String & Story,  had a summer quilt along.   The pattern was her "Star Island".   I chose to do it in darker Americana colors so it can be a Quilt of Valor.   

I machine quilted it on "Sophie",  my Janome 9400.  

Star Island - Before Quilting 

Star Island 

Star Island - Back quilting detail 

Star Island... The Quilting process begins 

Star Island - close up quilting detail on back 

Star Island -  Quilt plan  ideas

A Lap Quilt for Comforting Quilts...   

     One of my UFO items for the year was this little lap quilt made from extra parts from a quilt I made about 10 years ago.  I already made another quilt for "Foster Club" a couple of years ago.  I think I've used up most all the blocks and pieces that were left over.    I finished the quilting while at Summer Retreat in July.   

Marble Madness Lap  Quilt  

Marble Madness Lap  Quilt 

Marble Madness Lap  Quilt 

Marble Madness Lap  Quilt 

Proud to have a finish! 

"Phire's Radiance" - another UFO Finish 

      This quilt was a mystery quilt I tested the pattern for back in 2010 or 2011.    Jessica JE Smith at the Quilt and Needle is the designer.  I tested the quilt as a mystery and had no idea where color placement would be.  I used fabric from my stash and am so happy with how it turned out.   I finished to top way back when, but felt I didn't have the skills I wanted to use for quilting it.    

     Thanks to HollyAnne Knight's Free Motion Quilting Academy, I have the confidence to tackle just about any quilting project now.   I'm over the moon with the results on this one.   measures just under 60 x 60. 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance 

Phire's Radiance - Quilting in progress 

Phire's Radiance - marking the center section