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!

I finished the monster quilt

I finally finished June's monster quilt. It's not really a monster, it's a beauty! I love her choice of fabrics and the backing is especially wonderful. Most quilters end up using wide backing because it is so much easier than seaming yardage for a back. June used some ombre fabric and sewed it together for the backing - it is really stunning! The gradation does not photograph very well, it looks even better in person.

Now I get a day off from quilting to do my taxes - oh joy!

I am 4 Quilts

Last night was a meeting of the other guild I belong to, Emma Creek Quilt Guild. It is a small guild that meets every month in Hesston. We had our game night and guild Challenge. The Challenge was "I am 4 Quilts" and had to include a four-patch, four shades of one color of fabric and embellishments. At first I was uninspired but then decided to go overboard on the "4" aspect. My quilt had 4 flowers, 4 frames around the center, 4 bugs and 4 embellishments. My favorite part though, was the name: Fourplay.

It's always interesting, and amazing to see how different and creative the entries are! Here is one from my friend Sherry.

This is Virginia's, all hand quilted and hand embroidered.

This one by Deane won Viewer's Choice:

Mine won Best Quilting:

Annette won Best Use of Embellishment. Her quilt had the cutest little rotary cutter with stacked buttons for blades.

I'm almost done with June's Monster Quilt. I'll post pictures if I ever reach the end of it.