Festive Mystery Finish

A bit late for Christmas or else very early, this baby is wrapped up.  My first prairie points are not perfect and I'm not sure when I'll use them again, but they definitely add a nice touch.  It's just tedious sewing the backing edge down.  So I end February with 2 nice finishes.  Another quilt with Sue Abrey's name on the label as designer.  Thank you, Sue.

 

I also made the ninth block in the Ben Franklin QAL.  It's called Happy Home.

It's the middle block in the bottom row. 

 

I'm finishing my course with Cindy Needham on Craftsy, and then I'll try quilting another UFO.  I may have another finish in my near future.

 

Be quilting or be square.

 

God Bless You.

 

There's Nothing Like a Finished Quilt

 

This is a big finish for me.  The QOV is done.  I am going to add a hanging sleeve to the back in case my brother wants to use it, but other than that, this project moves across the finish line.  I feel very good about that.

 

I added a friendship star to the backing.  It's very appropriate. 

 

 

When I was at MQE last spring the person at the Quilt of Valor booth gave me one of the labels they use when they present a quilt.  I doctored the picture so my brother's name isn't visible.

 

 

Some of the backing fabric.  My very poor hand quilting is visible but that's ok. 

 

This means I can move to another UFO and push it across the finish line.  I selected the Festive Mystery Quilt because all I need to do is quilt it and bind it and it's done.  I've already run into problems with that simple intention, so I'll begin today with some unsewing.  That's the quilting life. 

 

I want to give a shout out to SewCalGal for a recent review she did on a Craftsy class with Cindy Needham.  http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2013/02/craftsy-class-design-it-quilt-it-with.html  Based on her post and review I decided to take the course, mostly because one of the segments was about a table-top method of basting the quilt sandwich.  This part of quilting for me has always been the big dread.  Last night I watched the intro and the basting segments and feel that I have already learned so much.  Cindy is terrific, and has a nice way of conveying what she knows.  FYI, when I clicked on the Craftsy link through SewCalGal's post, the course was discounted 25%, but when I opened Craftsy from my browser the course was the regular $40.  I don't know how long that discount is in effect.  

 

Wishing you a finish soon.

 

God Bless You.

 



The Mystery of Festive Mystery

Sue of Quilt Times http://quilttimes.blogspot.com  gave the Christmas QAL participants a challenge:  try and figure out the design of the blocks/quilt.  We have some clues: 
     We know the quilt is 42 X 60 and that the blocks are 9".
     This made me think there are 4 blocks across and 6 blocks down with a 3" border.
     We have our ABCDs.
     We know  it's festive.
    
Since we have 20 C's I thought they would be used between the blocks as a kind of sashing but only across, not down.

That left the As, Bs, and Ds for the blocks and border.

I had to abandon my idea that we were making  pinwheels because I couldn't come up with a 9" block that was pleasing.  Finally I came up with a version of the Friendship Star at I think looks pretty nice.

      This block will leave plenty of patches for a pieced border that I think will look good. 

So that's my guess.  Saturday at Sweet P's http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.co.uk  I'll find out how far off I am:)  Paulette of Sweet P Quilting and Creations will host the Christmas Quilt Along this month, so join us there.  It's always fun.

The ninth block of the Treasure Chest Quilt is Prickly Pear  http://www.facebook.com/#!/quiltinaday and mine is finished.

This block is really easy to put together and has a great finish. 

Only 3 more blocks and we're done. 

I'm going to be looking for a new qal to join. 

Or else I can finish all of my WIPs that are piled up in my sewing room.

God Bless.