Making Progress

Machine quilting "Big Bang" from Jan Krentz' class- "Rainbow Star"; when she came here to teach in Sept. 2011.

 

Marking the color challenge quilt.

Snow Day

 

Here are a couple of works in progress - I've started blanket stitching the center section of wool applique "Little Tulip Crossing" designed by Lisa
Bongean of Primitive Gatherings. Her method of preparation is to fuse the pieces using Steam a Seam 2 lite. I had trouble getting the pieces to stick, so I pinned some of the pieces, but I don't like getting "stuck". Yesterday I rewatched Lisa's episode of "Quilt with the Stars" on QNN to see what I'm doing wrong - I'll press again using more steam. She used lots of little presses and lots of steam.

 

The February "Dixie Diary" block is finished and posted on the Flicker group. I had an idea to fussy cut the oval applique - the original pattern has either a star or a heart in the center of each block.

 

 







 



First Finish of 2013

Finished stitching the binding last evening. Making the label and scrapbook page today. Registered it for 2013 QuiltFest. The pattern is by Dawn Heese of Linen Closet Designs. I bought the kit at Quilter's General Store in Rockford Oct. 2011. Substituted some of the fabric from my stash. Quilted diagonal lines echoing each side of the ditch with walking foot, and free motioned a flower stencil in the center of each block. The original pattern's name is "Beasley". I named my quilt "Mother's Gift" after a favorite song of that title by Shawna Carol - also the traditional block pattern Grecian Cross was in a quilt on my parents bed as I was growing up. I'm guessing the quilt was a gift to my mother at her marriage.