The Bull's Eye Quilt--She's Finished!

I am happy to say that this quilt is labeled, washed, and dried! I hope you can see the quilting I did in the cream areas. First I used my walking foot and did straight lines through the bull's eye block centers in both directions (with dark brown thread). I used a variegated cream/taupe/tan to quilt freehand circles in the center of the background blocks. It went so well, and I was done in a flash. I love the way the edges of the raw edge applique circles curled up gently after it was washed and dried. What a wonderful and fun quilt to piece!

~Joan

Bull's Eye Quilting

Finally started machine quilting this baby tonight. I have had the borders on for some time. Tonight I pin basted it using my Little Gracie frame. I pinned it so that I could stitch in the ditch one way in the center through the middle of the pieced circle blocks and remove MOST of the pins. I use straight pins. Safety pins would be, well, SAFER, but they are a pain to put in and take out. As it is, I just wrestle with the porcupine, fling the straight pins towards the pink magnetic pin cushion in front of the serger in the picture, and get a few scratches.

Making this used up so many ugly prints. Plus I used a piece of backing that someone sent me way back when that I forgot I had. Win-win!


Here is a close-up of the border fabrics. The inner border is chocolate brown and the outside is an orangy-red (the color of tomato soup). The quilting thread matches the border soooo well that it's hard to see.

I am quilting loops and hearts in the border. I also made a scrappy binding using up even more of the ugly fabrics that we used in the center. Also pictured are the Machingers (machine quilting gloves). They are wonderful. Not hot and give one great control. Plus they were only $7!!

That's enough for tonight. Off to bed soon. Hope you enjoy a quilty day.

~Joan

CHECK This Out

FRONT:

INSIDE:COVER OPEN AND LYING FLAT:

So far I have not caved to the "make something with your fabric selvages" rage that I've noticed here and there. Until last night, that is. I saw the pattern for this checkbook cover on a blog. Seeing as my cover was split, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out.

The amazing thing here is that I had some non-Thimbleberries selvages to include.

This whole project took about 30 minutes to make, and that included changing threads to match and cutting the selvages from fabric edges.

~Joan

Need New Shoes?

The other day when I showed this quilt, did you think, "I'd like to have one just like that"? Well--now is your chance. I just listed this on eBay last night. It was one of those I'd-really-like-to-try-that-pattern moments. Now I've got that out of my system.

Go to www.ebay.com and search for Ruby Slippers Quilt. Or you can look to the left and click on whistlersmother10's auctions.

~Joan

Moving Piano Playing

Last night my DH, son, and two college guys moved our piano from upstairs to downstairs. We are in the midst of some major (and I do mean major) furniture rearranging and general household organizing. God only knows what's been thrown out in the past month. And He's not telling...neither is Susanna!

We are hoping the move makes it better for all, contains the piano playing noise in a different room and level of the house, and allows for more space in the desk areas.

Upward and onward...

~Joan

New Footwear?

Ruby Slippers...this is a two-color quilt. The pattern is from Atkinson Designs. I pieced this during several evenings of insomnia. It lacks an outer border yet. Soon...very soon.

This is "baby" size...with the border, it will be about 65" x 45", I think.

A close-up of the center...very fast and easy. The blocks finish at 6" square.


A busy day of laundry, weeding, cooking, and possible some painting later...if it all comes together!

~Joan

Two Tops Ready to Machine Quilt

I am going to be getting machine quilting thread for the borders of these two quilts in a few minutes. I can't find a picture of my 20th Century Bull's eye with borders, but they are dark brown inner border and a orangy/dark red for the outer. Stay tuned--it will be machine quilted before you know it. Hahahahaha...

Here is the center of my Steps and Stars...I added the outer two borders this AM...

I will be looking for a matching green thread for the outer border.


This measures about 70" x 90"...much bigger than I originally anticipated.

Eager to get started on these, but first, a trip to the quilt shop for thread.

~Joan