Sugar Plum again

I finished quilting my miniature wholecloth, Sugar Plum.  After I had washed and blocked it and let it dry I didn't think the design (the unquilted purple part) showed up very well.  I decided to (gulp) paint that part with fabric dye in a darker color.  It was scary to do, but I think it is an improvement - what do you think?  I may even do a second coat to get it a shade darker.  After all that work I at least want the darn design to show!

It did snow yesterday, my poor crocus look a little chilled.

Back to customer quilts tomorrow.

Sugar Plum

 I am still trying to finish my miniature quilt for MQS. Fortunately, they allow you to enter unfinished quilts.  I really tried to at least get the quilting done, but ended up having to enter a mostly quilted quilt with blue marker all over it.  It's a whole cloth quilt called Sugar Plum.

Today felt very spring-like with temperatures in the 60's - it was wonderful.  Of course, snow is predicted for Saturday, but that's the usual wacky spring weather. It is supposed to warm right back up again.

More Thimbleberries

I finished another Thimbleberries sampler, this time from Ruth.  I like the lighter color palette in this quilt, more pastel than usual for Thimbleberries.  I enjoy quilting samplers like this - it is fun coming up with something different for each block.

For Lil Ned's benefit - these are cheater blocks.

Ruth also gave me this little heart quilt made from that yummy fabric from Moda called Rouenneries.

Now I get a short break to work on the miniature quilt I want to enter in MQS this year. 

Thimbleberries Queen

If I can get another quilt finished by Saturday, I will be back on schedule.  Poor Marsha had to wait a few weeks for me to finish hers.  Marsha is Thimbleberries Queen- I have quilted dozens, really, dozens of her Thimbleberries quilts and she swears she still has a closet full of unquilted tops. I told her I will have to name a wing of my house after her.  Lynette Jenson, founder of Thimbleberries definitely should!

 

This quilt has cheater blocks. 

I heard from Indiana Heritage Quilt Show that my wholecloth wall hanging Woodland Tapestry won an Honorable Mention.  Especially after seeing the list of winners, I was happy with that! 

I smell Spring!

This pattern is called The Queen and Her Court. Luckily I really like this quilt, this is the fifth one I have quilted.  At least three of our local Quilt Shops are doing it as a Block of the Month, so there are more of them out there percolating.  I have three more on my waiting list!  This one was made by my friend Susan who does meticulous piecing and applique, so it was a pleasure to quilt.

I took this picture with the quilt laid across the longarm and the colors are much truer.

This is a smiling Susan with her quilt - I think she liked it!

It has been acting spring-like the last few days with temperatures in the 60's!  It is a wonderful change.  I have been eyeing our neglected backyard - I hope I have time to do some work out there this spring.  In the meantime I can enjoy our view of bermuda grass taking over the garden beds.

I had time today to sew the borders on my wild and crazy applique quilt.  I had to really hunt for that border fabric - I had one yard in my stash of exactly the color of turquoise hand dyed fabric I wanted. Who knows where I bought it and after searching at our local quilt shops and on line, I had to give up on finding exactly the same color.  When I asked Charlotte of Charlotte's Sew Natural in Newton for help choosing another border fabric, she recalled seeing that color at her other store, Charlotte's Bargain Fabric.  She has a good memory for color because it was exactly right as well as being cheaper than a hand dye.  Thanks Charlotte!