RSC16 week 1

A NEW YEAR FULL OF PROMISE

I feel a new lightness and excitement today, mainly because I accomplished two goals this week, so RSC15 came to a good finish.

First, I completed the balloon block flimsie, my first ever Rainbow Challenge.

My friend and I put our heads together and worked out a final design for the backing.  It's going to be fun, but that's all I'm saying for now.

The second finish was my secret gift for my daughter, the table runner made from a Connecting Threads kit. which I ended up binding on Christmas morning.  I had to give it to her when I arrived for dinner there so it could be the centerpiece of her table.

She was delighted and my SIL got some great photos of it on her big dining room table.  She was especially happy that I had used the African-style valance fabric on the back, which she had seen on the two other runners I made for friends at Thanksgiving.  

The backing also made a perfect binding.  I machine quilted all the outlines, using my walking foot.  For the center squares I did a simple four-petaled figure, using a pale olive thread along with maroon in the bobbin.

That's not the whole story.  I love the elegant kit fabric so much that I ordered a larger kit from the same line, naturally on a great sale deal.  I will not make the kit, but will have three yards of this precious stuff, three yards of black and many other fabrics.   What better way to start off the year!

For my first blogging year my total of finished quilt projects included three Project Linus kid quilts, an iPad carrying bag, a rainbow zigzag twin quilt,  a butterfly throw quilt, the balloon flimsie and three table runners for a total of ten projects.  Not a lot compared to most of you, but I feel a sense of accomplishment.  And I am one happy quilter looking forward to a new year of fun, fabric and friendships.  I wish the same for each one of you, dear friends.