A Few More Pictures

Just a few more pictures of this reverse applique quilt. I've never seen better applique work. I think it might take me a life time to finish something like this!

Two Amazing Quilts

Over the last couple weeks, I've been working on these quilts. They are gorgeous. I think the blue and white quilt has the most amazing applique I've ever seen (reverse applique). This quilt was brought to me already quilted. It was just outline quilted and the one sashing strip quilting was taken out and a small feather was put in there. Then all the background quilting was added to each block -- all 120 of them! I add some straight lines on one side of the appliques in the border and a feather on the outside. The bottom picture is what the quilt looked like when I received it and shows the sashing stitching I took out. I'm pleased with the final outcome. Even the back is beautiful. The brown quilt is a favorite because I love the color combination -- kind of reminds me to finish the brown quilt I have (only needs to be quilted). Enjoy the pictures. I'm glad I could work on something so beautiful while going through all this stress these last weeks.

Basket Quilt is Quilted

I finished the quilting on the basket quilt. I'm pleased with how it turned out. The quilting doesn't show up like it would on plainer fabric but I still put some time and effort into quilting it artisitcally and with designs that I thought would add to the beauty of the quilt. I'm not sure if this will hang in the front entry hallway or our bedroom. The quilt was so long in the process of getting to this point that it deserves some place of prominence! Now just to get the binding done.

Vacation Quilting

I must admit that my idea of a perfect vacation is a quiet place, a beautiful view, a good book and some handwork. There is a time and place for adventure and all sorts of entertainment but a true vacation is rest, relaxation and a chance to have 'down time'. I always take handwork along. I love to applique, embroider, knit, crochet and attach bindings. I just love handwork. Sometimes it's good during a movie. In fact I know some quilters who measure their time to hand stitch bindings on in terms of a 2 movie binding or a 3 movie binding, etc.

Tomorrow we leave on vacation. I plan to take my quilt, Leah's Spring, and work on the applique in the center block. I also have another quilt along (my brown quilt) that needs a lot more applique work before it will be complete. I'm taking some knitting. Of course probably only one of these will see any progress, but having a variety of handwork options always seems like a good idea on vacation. Where we are going there will be things to do, pools to swim in, hikes to take, bikes to ride, canoes to paddle down a river, etc. Most likely my family will enjoy those things immensely and I'll spend some of our time participating. My handwork, though, will be my true vacation!

Applique Work

I have the whole day to myself. My family went on a hike up the Eagle Creek trail. I like to hike, but not 15 miles and not on this trail. It has to many dangerous spots. Besides I was looking forward to a day to do things that I wanted to do and not meet so many family demands. So I have gone to Beaverton Farmers Market and browsed through all their vegies, fruit and flowers. Very enjoyable. Callie went with me and first we stopped at Dutch Bros for a beverage that would make our trip that much more enjoyable. We also enjoyed some fabulous pastries from one of the booths. After I got home, I worked on a customer quilt, read, went grocery shopping, ate junk food for lunch (no one to tell me it wasn't healthy), spent time online and best of all -- worked on Leah's Spring quilt. I'm to the point of needing to get the applique on the center block. So I found a sweet pea flower online and drew the design on paper. Then I worked on a few different quilting designs and laying out the applique ideas on paper. I decided to use circles on this quilt (at least in the center) so I drew the design into a circular arrangement and then traced it onto the quilt. My husband made me a light box several years ago as a Christmas present and even though it doesn't get a lot of use, when I do need it, I'm so glad to have it. It makes tracing so much easier. Now I'm ready to cut the appliques, pin or glue them on, get the embroidery going and get this quilt finished. My goal is to have this quilt done by the start of school. Hmm, that may be difficult but if I have anymore days like today I'll accomplish that goal.