Sunday, August 19, 2012

Two quilt tops finished this week!

Major happy dance over here at Dayspring Farm!!  Why?  Because I finished TWO quilt tops this week!  Neither of them were UFOs but I was determined that they wouldn't end up that way.

Firstly, let me introduce you to a quilt I'm calling "The Blessing":

I apologize for the picture.  It was late at night and this was indoor lighting in our staircase but as soon as I finished the top I wanted to snap a picture because it's an exciting thing to finish a quilt top!!

Anyway, the story on this quilt is this:  My DH and I have a B&B and this has been a record year for us and we count that as a huge BLESSING.  In our King suite we have a king sized bed and unfortunately it's the only room that doesn't have one of my quilts.  Here is a current photo of the bed:


I really like the quilt I bought for this room but it's still a knock-off and not one of my handmade quilts.

The other day when my DH and I were changing the linens after guests had checked out, he remarked, "you really need to make a quilt for this room, because this just isn't you".  Nice eh??  I had a pattern in mind already as I wanted it to be simple enough that it wouldn't take me a decade to finish it, but still striking enough to satisfy my eye.  I bought some dark black and pink rose fabric with this King Suite in mind but didn't have a clear idea of coordinating fabrics.  So DH and I pulled some fabric from stash and he said "green".  The pink I was thinking about as a contrast would scream PINK and that's not what I wanted. Anyway, I found 2 nice coordinating fabrics to go with my dark rose, a pale sage green and some black & white polka dots.  I LOVE polka dots!  anyway, the result is the quilt I'm calling The Blessing!  I've named it that to remember the blessing of the Lord on our B&B this year and the blessing of my husband blessing the work of my hands.

The quilt will be going to Arlene MacKenzie of On Point Quilting Studio for long arm quilting because it's just too big for me to do, even on my quilting frame with my Janome 6500.  I've already got the binding ready to go with a goal to getting it on the bed soon!

So that was finish number 1.  Now onto number 2.

Fiesta quilt!

I was really on a roll this weekend.  I worked a lot on the weekend with 9 guests in the B&B so I took some time in the studio yesterday without guilt.  And I really wanted to get my Fiesta quilt done that I started at Quilters' Affair in Sisters in July.  And are you ready?  I got it done!  The columns were assembled into a quilt top yesterday and last evening I thought, "what the heck; I am so close to finishing, I'll get the borders done".  At that time I saw that Bonnie Hunter was on quilt cam so it was doubly cool as it felt like I was actually sewing along with her.   It was a fun evening sewing along with the finish line in sight.

And here's is Fiesta!


I'm having second thoughts about the border.  It seems to hem the quilt in a bit for my liking.  I was thinking that lighter fabrics would be better.  I may do a rework on it.  What do you think??

Anyway, that's the kind of weekend it's been.  9 guests checking out today means it's laundry and cleaning time, so until next time,

Mavis

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Fireworks quilt blocks are finished!

I'm very happy with myself.  Not only did I get out of my comfort zone and buy some Kaffe Fassett fabrics, and do something entirely new and different as far as a ruler and pattern goes, I actually came home from a class and continued to work on the class project!  I know!!  I'm very pleased.  I have been working away on this Fireworks quilt out of "Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin" by Sara Nephew.  Today, despite the 90 degree temperature in my sewing room, I managed to get all of the blocks up on the design wall and play with layout.  Here's where I'm at right now:


I found that I chose a lot of fabrics from the Kaffe Fassett line that seemed to 'read' all the same.  The result was that there was too much yellow and all the light blocks seemed to run together because they were too similar.  So, I began digging into my stash and pulling some other colours to create some light blocks without yellow, but adding purple and pink.  I also added some deep rich burgundies and purples and some light blue too!  This is the result.

I now have to finish the setting triangles and have just reviewed the instructions for that.  Maybe, just maybe I'll get all of that done and can then start thinking about what I want to do on the border.  I'd love to use up the remaining fabrics for the border so I may insert some small triangles much like the designer of this quilt, Scott Hansen, did.  I love using it all up.  Waste is bad and makes you feel bad doesn't it?  Well this will be a 'feel good' border because I won't be a wasteroo!!

Anyway, that's what I've been up this long weekend in between greeting  B&B guests and making breakfasts, and setting tables, and hanging sheets out on the clothesline.  It's been a pretty fantastic day!

Until the borders when I'll be back to post some more pictures!

Mavis