RSC 15 week 49

STARTING TO FINISH

This week I've been able to make some progress on my balloons quilt.  The lime green fabric I ordered finally arrived and is exactly what I wanted at a great price.  I also squared up the 30 blocks to make a 5x6 block setting.  Here I laid some out on the uncut fabric.  Most of you who commented to me said the lime was the best color choice for sashing, so here's the proof you were right.

A HAPPY SURPRISE

I had wanted to make a disappearing 9-patch quilt for a long time. This was the result, as I posted in week 46.  It started with two charm packs based on butterflies and flowers, plus some batiks.

I finished making this butterfly quilt as a surprise for a very dear friend many miles away.  I knew she followed my blog, so I had to be careful what I posted about it.

  It had been a secret until Monday when it arrived at her post office.  She got the package and called me on the phone before she opened it, so we could share the moment together.  Her surprise and happiness overwhelmed her and she cried so much that she couldn't read the inscription. I was in tears as well.  She has been a faithful friend for more than 30 years and totally deserved it.

On Tuesday I received these photos from her.

  Z

That's the very best part of quilting, all the reward we need.

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com. Come check them out, so many nice folks share their projects.

RSC15 week 48

,DEADLINES MET, LOOKING AHEAD

Last weekend I worked myself silly (as in making stupid mistakes) to meet two deadlines on Monday.  But I DID IT!  I finished two nearly identical table runners as thank you gifts for two very generous women, because the design spoke to me of Thanksgiving.

These were my Fruits and Veggies runners made with fabrics from the giveaway table at our quilt group meetings.  My friends were both delighted with their gifts and also really loved the backing/binding, an African theme fabric.  I quilted the panels in two diagonal crosses, simple but easy

 So now I was able to relax and enjoy Thanksgiving.  I hope you folks in the States all had a blessed day as well.

Now back to lime green.  For my balloon block sashing I ordered some lovely lime blender, a remnant of 2.5 yards, from Jelly Roll Quilts, and it just arrived today, one of several purchases I'm expecting.

Meanwhile I have laid out a sample block of my first choice for RSC16 with these 2.5 inch squares.

I have wanted to do wonky stars for a long time and recently I saw my favorite version on Deb's blog at VT Quilter.  I'm thinking of doing it in batiks, because their range of colors is so varied.  There are a couple of other patterns I'm also considering.  It's going to be an exciting year!

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com.    Please join me for some fun.

RSC15 week 47

A  BUSY WEEK

Deadlines are a good thing for me and have kept me glued to the sewing machine this week, or so it seems.  On Monday I showed my finished butterfly quilt at our Monona Quilters meeting.

Now I am working on two table runners from the fruits and veggies fabrics, which are both to be given to friends before Thanksgiving.  I found exactly the right backing for them.  It is a very long deep valance with an African feeling.  After ripping miles of seams it was wide enough to also be binding as well as backing.  They are now ready for quilting.

Where is the lime green this time?  I have more than enough balloon blocks for a kids quilt.  So a friend and I  auditioned some sashing choices.

 I originally planned on using thin black strips, but the black was too depressing for a child's quilt.

What about white?

The white did nothing for me or my friend.  She liked grey, but it made me feel sleepy, not happy.

Then the BIG IDEA hit. Why not use lime green sashing instead of making some extra blocks which I won't even need?  Here is our trial photo.

Fortunately I have lots of extra lime green strips, so I will do 30 blocks for the front and a few extras on the back, but no lime green squares.  I will save my fun lime scraps on last week's post to use for my plans for the new year.  Will announce them next week.

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.

RSC week 46

LOTS OF GREEN AND A LOVELY FINISH

It was fun finding the lime greens in my stash.  I found more cute ones than I expected, so I decided to finish my balloons and get started on a new block for RSC16, to see how I like doing it.  Can't hurt to have a couple of lime green blocks on hand just because they are so pretty.  If and when I get the first new one done, you will be the first to know.

My big project this week was finishing the butterfly quilt I've been working on for months.  It is a throw size, disappearing 9-patch.  I used two charm packs with butterfly themes and assorted batiks.  It even has lime green in it.

I found a lovely raspberry batik in my stash, enough to add a nice border.  The backing was bought several years ago for a dress which never got made.  I quilted it on the diagonal, using lavender thread on the front and dark blue on the back. I bound it with the backing, finishing it yesterday morning.

Now I only have two projects with deadlines before Christmas,  in addition to trying to find a finish for my balloon blocks.  It's been a great experience, a good feeling to be part of quilt blogging this year, thanks to all of you.

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com.   Please check out the good things to see there.

RSC15 week 45

LIME GREEN AT LAST

About twenty years ago I made a wall quilt which I called Sunlight.  It was the third in a series using an unnamed asymmetric block from a Michael James book.  I loved the movement in this block, and in this quilt I accentuated the diagonals of rays of sunlight in the woods.  I used basically greens and yellows, with a lot of lime as well as bits of orange and purple.  I learned a lot about color by trying out each one.  Any color made with added white or black was too dull and stood out like a sore thumb, so out it went.

As you can see in the closeup, I used all types of fabric from velvets to satin ribbons. The leaf print is from a thrift shop 1960's silk sheath dress, which was just the perfect touch I was missing.  Since then I have always been drawn to clear bright colors.

I have been busy quilting another project this week, but will get started on some new lime greens soon.   

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com.  Do come and enjoy what folks are doing.