Project Quilting -- Snowball

I've had my block done for over a week; it just needed binding. This afternoon, I put binding on a quilt for my granddaughter and then attached the binding to this challenge block. About halfway through, it suddenly hit me: Today is the last day!!  Yikes--I got busy. 

My block is done. I actually worked on this shortly after the disaster in Paris. I was so sad about what had happened that it was easy to choose the colors to go with the blue. I had to use red and white, the colors of their flag. The pattern is called "Round the Twist."  I'm calling my quilt simply "For France."

 And a shot of the back:

Dory

Project Quilting -- Nine Patch

Whew...made it!! Just under the wire, so I think that's what I'll call this one:  Under the Wire.  Its almost 9 p.m. as I type this, so I'm not kidding. I just finished the binding.

I had my first idea for this quilt from EQ7--my go to because creativity is not in my vocabulary. But then, at a retreat this past weekend, a friend had a book called "Circle of Nine." The theory was nine specific blocks set in a quilt with different spacers.  This was my take on that theory.

And below is a close-up of the center quilting. Nothing fancy, especially since I didn't have a lot of time. No shot of the back as its a dark gray with purple thread--nothing shows...sorry!

One more challenge and that block is revealed tomorrow. I will get that one done sooner!

Thanks for looking!

Dory

Project Quilting -- Flying Geese

September's block: Flying Geese.  I really wanted to make one of those dimensional quilts with the geese floating around in a banner-type configuration of graduating size.  However, since I don't have a clue where to even begin something like that, instead I opted for some Buggy Barn geese.

I had no real plan in mind when I began this. Consequently, the first time I put it together, I didn't like it. I kept telling myself that it was finished and it was good enough...NOPE! To me it looked like I'd done my geese and then just added borders, which, BTW, is exactly what I did!!  BLEH!!!!

 So I took it all apart and started again.  Although this is nothing to "write home about," its finished and on time.  In my book, that's a WIN!!

 And the back.  Not nearly as much quilting on this one.

Thanks for looking!!

Dory

Project Quilting -- Pinwheel

This month its the Pinwheel Block for my Focus Through the Prism challenge. I opted for yellow...no idea why. Seemed like a good idea at the time! I chose gray (vs black)  background because I didn't want my quilt to look like a giant bumblebee!!

Once again, I have to thank EQ7 for my pattern. I did a search for pinwheels hoping for inspiration, when I came across this pattern. It immediately appealed to me because it resembled a  saw blade. Odd only if you don't know me.  My husband used to log with draft horses and he had his own mill on our property in California. We spent many hours feeding logs onto the mill and watching the blades spin as they ran down the logs, cutting them into boards.

Although today is the 31st, I actually finished this in plenty of time--in fact, I was sewing the binding on Friday night during the Seahawks game. I had DAYS to spare--two to be exact!!!

Here's a shot of the back...quilting these is always fun for me.

Think I'll call this one "Saw Wheel" -- so clever, I know!!!! (Quit laughing at me!!)

Dory

Project Quilting -- Log Cabin

This is what happens when you have EQ7 and no imagination...

This month's block was Log Cabin and since I couldn't think of anything else to do, I kept it simple. I do like the black fabrics I chose to set off the red, but really....this one is nothing to write home about.

Here's a shot of the back that shows the quilting. That at least took a little thought and fun design elements with the curved crosshatch and the feathers.

Here's the biggest problem. It needs a name...HELP! What do I call it??  "Unimaginative" comes to mind! <smirk>

Dory

 

Project Quilting - Friendship Star

As reported last month, I'm participating in a challenge organized by Project Quilting and Persimon Dreams. This is the second month and the block that this month's project is to be designed around is the Friendship Star.

Initially I was on EQ7 playing with designs, when my friend Marei started asking me questions: What color was I going to use? What did the block mean to me? etc.  At that point, the block was a block and I had no idea about the color. Then I happened to see my Laurel Burch fabrics and everything fell into place.

 This is my finished project; I'm calling it "Tribute to Elly."

 

I didn't get my first horse until I was 35, although I can remember wanting one since I was a very little girl. (I used to drive my mom nuts!!) I bought Lady Elysees, "Elly," for all the wrong reasons: She was beautiful and I fell in love.  Many years later, we completed Tevis, the most famous and arduous endurance ride on the West Coast. (100 miles in 24 hours from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, CA)  Myself and my crew wore orange t-shirts and Elly had beautiful orange reins--color decided: Orange. My Laurel Burch fabrics are from her Mythical Horses line. (I'm a freak about horse fabric--it never looks real, so I love that these horses aren't supposed to look real)

Below is a close-up of the quilting on the main star:

 

 The smaller star block shows a mare and foal; shortly before I lost Elly, she had a little filly. Her barn name is Emma. During the two months they had together, Elly was a perfect mom!

 

Another close-up--this one of the flying geese:

 

 And the back...showing all the quilting. 

Although compared to many of the other projects in this challenge (CLICK HERE to see them), I'm really not being as creative as I'd hoped. However, I'm really pleased with how this one turned out.

Dory

Amish Monkey Wrench...Sort of

I did it...I finished my block in plenty of time; days to spare!!

In keeping with my original idea, I went with an Amish theme and then quilted the heck out of it. Good thing I decided on the modern Amish--I didn't have enough green fabric for my original idea!  This is the first of seven in the Project Quilting: Focus through the Prism Challenge

Below are a couple close-ups of the quilting.  Amish in style, perhaps -- not so much in the quilting.  Sort of overkill!!!

 

 Of course I had to stitch a Monkey Wrench block too...<g>

  

We get the block "assignment" for Part Two on Monday.  I'm getting excited...I may be forced to purchase more Cherrywood fabric! <he he>

Dory

I'm Doing a Challenge

...because, as you know, I simply don't have enough to do!!!!!

Its not my fault though, really, it isn't. I adore Cherrywood Fabrics and I have since I first found out about them years ago. I have never seen such beautiful fabric--its cotton that looks like suede! Nuf said!!

I received an e-mail at the end of April about the Focus Through the Prism challenge and the fabric fat-quarter bundle from Cherrywood that was the only requirement. Of course, I ordered the fabric without having a clue what I would do. I mean, really...look at those colors!! I couldn't resist (I didn't try real hard though <wink>)

 

So I've had the fabric for a few weeks now and just the other day I finally came up with an idea. As you know,  I'm a quilter and while I can come up with many different ideas for quilting a quilt, I have little to no designing talent when it comes to piecing. However, I've been reading a series of mystery books with an Amish theme and the light bulb flashed! What if I make my projects to resemble Amish quilts...ding, ding...we have a winner!!

These quilts are to measure 20" square and each month for the next seven months, we are to use one color from the bundle as our focus fabric. At the end of each month, we are to submit a picture of the finished quilt and at the end, quilts will be chose to travel with an exhibit for a year. Now I have no fantasies that mine will be among the travelling quilts; however, I want mine to coordinate when I hang them on my wall. Seemed like Amish quilts fit that requirement.

Oh, and one last requirement: we are to work from a specific quilt block chosen by Kim at Persimmon Dreams. This month's block is Churn Dash.  After playing in EQ, I think this is what mine will look like:

Not sure that I'll use red, but I like the idea of black as the background. Or maybe I'll do a Modern Amish??? (Ignore the white bits around the blocks in the corner--I just didn't move the blocks enough to cover that area up) 

 

So what do you think??  Amish-Amish or Modern Amish??  And what do I do when its time to use the dark blue fabric? I'm thinking dark blue on black may not have enough contrast!!  (Can you say, "duh!")

Thoughts????

Dory