Sunday, January 03, 2010

What I've been up to!


So..no progress pictures were shown before Christmas...because dd#3 reads the blog. This quilt is much further along than the picture above shows, and 300% brighter. I used a string block variation, where I began with a foundation piece (in this case the polka-dotted fabric in each diagonal center) and worked outwards toward opposite corners. This makes it so the seams are all encased between the strip on top, and the foundation piece on the bottom. I placed a purply red mottled fabric as a 2" border and a final row of blocks all around the edge. All the fabrics are batiks, and variations thereof, mottled, fossil ferns, overdyed prints, etc. The batting is a bamboo/cotton blend.

It's all layered and pinned, and I am in the process of machine quilting. I had preplanned the quilting, but the best-laid plans don't always work out. This is a large piece for me, my largest in fact! It's about 68x84 and I don't have the space to do lay it all out and get fancy. I am ending up stitching in the ditch around the blocks and on each side of the diagonal, using a multi-color orange thread. The binding will be random pieced of the quilt's fabrics...or the same as the border, really not sure yet.

Gosh, sure hope she likes it! It's got a long journey ahead to Iraq, I've got my fingers crossed for it's safe arrival and many years of snugglies.

Merry Christmas Peach!

Saturday's Progress
Meal planning - nope
Grocery shopping - a little, whatever we could carry home
64 oz water - 32 oz
A bike ride - nope; walked 1.7 miles instead
1 hour of Quilting - yup
1 hour of Studio Cleaning - nope

Sunday's Goals
Take down Christmas lights
Grocery shopping
1 hour of Quilting
1 hour of Studio Cleaning
Walk around the block

18 comments:

Rian said...

300% brighter, huh? Hang on, let me get my shades!

Jen Manuell said...

Guess what? You're one of the lucky folks....please e-mail me with your mailing address (fisheyerugs AT hotmail DOT com) ;-)

Jen Manuell said...

P.S. The quilt is very pretty :-)

Anonymous said...

Muma! WOO HOO! I cant wait for my quilt! i love it, love it, LOVE IT! And I LOVED reading your blog! FANTASTIC! LOVE YA!

-The BEST dd#3 in the WORLD

Anonymous said...

Muma! WOO HOO! I cant wait for my quilt! i love it, love it, LOVE IT! And I LOVED reading your blog! FANTASTIC! LOVE YA!

-The BEST dd#3 in the WORLD

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

Love the bright string quilt. Its wonderful.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

It's beautiful - love the brightness.

Kim said...

Hi, thanks for the advice on the sewing machine question. I purchased one tonight for $150. Now I will have to teach myself to sew!
Kim

Libby said...

Hi - your comment came as 'No Reply' but I wanted to give you the information you requested. We purchased our kitchen lights at Lowe's. The cabinets are knotty Alder finished with a Hickory stain. It was a little hard to envision it all from the small samples, but we love how it's all turned out.

MARCIE said...

Hi there QF! I started answering your comment on my blog and got "no reply". Wanted to say I won't be keeping the snow! Hey, that is some bright quilt you are making! I bet if you take it outside they can see it from space! Hee hee!

The Calico Cat said...

That's HOT!

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Okay Fitzy!! This looks fabulous, but it was a month ago and I reckon it's all done now!! I LOVE strings, especially this and think I deserve to see the finished quilt...you see, if I am to give up buying mags you need to keep my inspiration coming!!!...Am watching this space!!!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I imagine this is quilted and long-loved by now. Well done.

Julia said...

Hi Quilting Fitzy, this is my first comment on your blog.
By now the quilt should be all done. I will read your blog as I get a few minutes or hours and I hope that you return to blogging soon. JB

Anonymous said...

Sweet blog! Continue the good posts.

Deb Hardman said...

Of course she'll like it! How could she not? It's beautiful!

Carly said...

ooh that quilt is so pretty!! thanks for the comment on my blog! :) the buttercup bag took probably 4 hours total, including cutting. it went together very fast and i imagine the next one i make will go even faster. :)

Erika Jean said...

look how many comments you get, you should start BLOGGING again!