A Quilt For Handsome...

Stunning long-arm work by Pat Alderman

After my hair appointment yesterday (I have to look good for the holidays,
right?), Handsome took me to Parrish to pick up his finished quilt from 
Pat Alderman. (I'm not cleared to drive myself yet.) He hasn't see it, as it's
his Christmas gift this year, but I just know he's going to be completely
thrilled when he unwraps it on Christmas Day. I know I'm over the moon!

Perfect quilting for a masculine design

Pat accented the Princeton plates without making them too girly. I love how

 every decision she made creates movement without being over the top. She

used a washable wool batting, so the quilt has the most wonderful drape, too!

I'm loving the final result!

I'll be binding the quilt in just a few days and then it will be ready to

place beneath our Christmas tree. Thank you, Pat, for another splendid

quilting finish. I'll be entering this one in our quilt show in February, too.

I think it's nearly time to sit back and relax! Just a few more packages

to ship and then I can enjoy the entire holiday with loved ones.

There really isn't anything better, is there?

Rainy Days and Thursdays...

 What to do on a cloudy Thursday that quickly turned to rain?

Well, for starters, teach the final class for the Over The River quilt.

That was really fun. I saw one finished quilt and helped with pointers

on another. My third student had a funeral to attend and couldn't come.

I headed home and went to the studio to work on the Princeton Plates.

 

 I asked Handsome for his input and together we chose the sashing, 

cornerstone and border fabrics. The blocks are all assembled now, 

so today, I'll square up the quilt and add the first and second borders.

 Then, I'll be ready to send it off to the long-arm. While it's away, I'll make

 coordinating pillowcases, shams and prepare the binding for its return.

There's still a bunch to do, but I couldn't wait to share my progress.

 If you need me, I'll be in the studio.

Catch ya later!

Circular Thinking...

 What a great weekend! I found time to work on the Princeton Plates quilt.

 I enjoyed resting with my feet up, stitching the plates to the background 

fabric. I kept my supplies close at hand - Kimono silk thread, Thread Heaven™,

silver bee thimble, scissors and needle. Everything I needed when my attention

turned to the quilt - available when the urge to work on it struck my fancy.

 By the end of the day Monday all of my plates were sewn down!

Time to change my focus to creating the circles for the center of the blocks.

I gave Handsome fabric samples and asked him choose his favorite for the center 

circles. The winner was the blue paisley fabric. I think the blue  will be just the 

right choice for these plates. After all, the Moda "Princeton" line looks just like 

men's ties when used this way, and the blue center moves it even more in a 

masculine direction. Even so, I like the choice as much as Handsome does.

I made a template for the center and then began the applique' process of

forming the fabric into circles.  I need eighteen circles for eighteen plates.

 Today will be a total play day. I'll make the rest of the circle centers and

sew them to the plates. I bet I'll be pretty close to adding sashing by Friday.

There will be a lot of "circular thinking" before this step is finished. (snort)

What will you be working on today?

Pretty Patchwork Quilts and Plates...

 I have another quilt book to tell you about!

This one has beautiful appliques', with finished quilts in a variety of sizes.

Cyndi Walker, author of "Pretty Patchwork Quilts", loves bright and happy

colors. She artfully combines fabrics and patterns into such cheerful designs.

 "Ginger Snap" is one of my personal favorites, but this 80 page book has 

more than a few quilts that I really, really, REALLY want to make!

 Even the names of her quilts are clever - this one is called "Sweet Charity".

 There are a dozen quilt patterns in this book, and while some have applique',

others use traditional piecing techniques. I found so many designs to love.

One of the things I can tell you is that, even when I don't have time or energy

to sew, I can always disappear into my patterns and books. I spend hours

dreaming and scheming about what I'll choose for my next project.

For now, I've pulled out the fabrics and pieces to go back to finish Handsome's

"Princeton Plates" quilt. I think he's been more than patient as I've worked on guild

projects and "other things" since Christmas. It's time to complete his quilt next!

Thanks to everyone for the enthusiastic response to my first Craftsy pattern.

I really appreciate your supportive notes - and purchases!

Sending grateful hugs to all of you.

Making More Princeton Plates...

I'm back to working on the quilt for Handsome. I thought all along that I

might make the centers using this creamy paisley fabric, which also appears

 in the "spokes" of the plates. I like how it keeps the blocks more neutral.

But, it's not going to be my quilt. I showed the two choices to Handsome...

and he prefers the blue centers. Alrighty, then. Blue it shall be.

(Although I might ask him one more time before I start the stitching.)

I have over half of the blocks finished (except the centers), and will be

finishing the rest soon. I'll show you more when I get to sashing them together.

What do you have planned for this week?

Are you working on something creative?
Whatever you have planned, I hope you have a little fun mixed in.

Princeton Update...

I didn't want you to think I've just been sitting around resting on my laurels. I have to work toward a November 30th finish for this quilt top if I'm going to make the deadline to get it to the long-arm in time for Christmas.

It starts with twenty blocks with twenty plates. I've assembled nine plates with the other eleven patiently awaiting Prissy's (my Babylock Espire) touch. I decided to hand applique' those first nine plates to their base blocks and then finish assembling the last eleven.

I've already completed five of the plates, so I'll be back to joining more in no time. It takes me just over one hour to applique' one plate to its block. When the blocks are all completed, I'll add the sashing and borders to complete the quilt top.  I'm hoping to make the deadline, but just in case, my fallback position is his January birthday. I'll let you know how I do.

You know how I work...December 1st, this Santa's helper goes into full production mode. I'll share my list with you then - but everything is usually scheduled for a December 16th deadline so I can get it all in the mail to arrive with plenty of time to spare.

What are you working on this week? Are you making any of your Christmas gifts this year?

School Is In Session...

I'm not likely to show you much more of this project in process because I don't want to give too much away. I'm never sure when a "certain someone" might be checking out my posts and I don't want him to see his Christmas gift before it's completed.

I just couldn't resist showing you what the Dresden plates are going to look like. I have fallen in serious love with the fact that the spokes remind me of little ties, so this fabric really lends itself well. (Just a reminder: The fabric line is Northcott's "Princeton", and it's available from Shabby Fabrics.)

I haven't decided yet which fabric will be the center circle, but I'm leaning toward the tan paisley that you can see in the two spokes above in this photograph. I'll use the blue paisley as the sashing. I haven't decided on the border, but I've got plenty of the fabrics below the plates to give me some choices. I guess you'll have to wait right along with me to see where it goes from here.

I'm also stitching away on the Wisconsin block for our guild quilt. My goal is to finish all my work so that I can show it to the members at our guild meeting on November 13th. I'm about a third finished, and I'm determined to meet my goal. I promise to show it to you again when the stitching is completed.

Can you even believe that it's already November? So much to do and now I need to make a list and schedule to really manage my time as we head toward the holidays.

I hope you're not eating too much Halloween candy today. Remember to eat your veggies first! Have a great day and I'll see you again tomorrow.

Ivy League Fabrics...

Shabby Fabrics just debuted a new fabric line from Northcott Fabrics. It's called "Princeton" and I have the perfect project in mind for it.

In the event that a certain person (essential to my every breath) would see this, I can't mention any names. It's going to be used to create their Christmas gift this year, but I'm sharing the secret with you, so "mum's the word". Promise?

Just look at these gorgeous prints and colors! I have what I need to make a queen size quilt, and I'll be working on it so I meet my deadline so it's quilted in time for Christmas Eve. 

I finished hand sewing all my pumpkins yesterday and will assemble them into my table runner today. I'll have it finished in plenty of  time for our Saturday morning coffee group, and I'll share a photo of it with you on Saturday, too. I always know when I've made a "hit" because Handsome tells me he likes it, too. He told me today that he thinks it's going to look great on our dining room table. It just doesn't get better than that!