A learning Process, Borders and A Mystery

A Learning Process

I haven't been able to find a fabric I loved for the binding for this so I decided to dig out some of the fabrics from the stars and see if I could piece this by color around the quilt.

It took me two days to piece a section then pin it and sew it on.  By the time I was on the third border I had figured it out.   Rather fun but time consuming.  Made the label today.

Borders

 Sewed borders on the Marco Polo II.

The pictures are not good representations of the colors in the border fabric.

Used a 1 inch inner and 4 inch outer border.

Made a backing and then binding from the blue.

Add to the quilting queue.

Love the center of this quilt which was just laying in a box with the border fabric.

I added borders to this quilt (pattern: Scrap Sensation)which I started in 2018.

It now measures 84 x 97"

I found a backing fabric and added some blocks from a block exchange with friends in 2005 to make it large enough.  Thinking of using the border fabric as a binding but will wait until it is quilted.

Quilting Queue!

A Mystery

 

A couple of weeks back, while checking out some of my older project boxes, I opened up this box.

I took them out and counted them  - 19!  I counted them several times - 19.

I remember making them but for the life of me I don't know why I would make 19.

I thought maybe I was planning to set them on point and drew up a simple plan to set them on point.

There is extra background fabric in the box.

While looking for something else today,  I came across two older zippered tote bags.

One was a red work embroidered tote made by a friend in New York.

The other a Vera Wang style print in blue with this among other things in it!

It also had some medical papers and procedural information pertaining to John from 2012.

Mystery solved.   I remember choosing the simplest pattern to think of to appliqué so I could have something portable to take to John's many appointments.

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I have been recovering from a very mild case of covid this week.

Today I spent a couple of hours out on the porch just watching the grass grow - so to speak.

 

Fabrics Arrive - No Excuses - New Project

Can't remember the date that I ordered these fabrics for my version of "Color My World". 

 I think this is 22 of the 27 colors they recommend on the pattern, certainly enough to start with.  I will try to get the other 5 colors locally or just use fabrics I already have.  Now I can sew the January and February portions.

I ordered these from Hancock's of Paducah and their website says to allow about 8 days for the order to be filled. I called them at 10 days and they said I was still 2 days out.  They did fill my order on Jan. 29th. I got it Feb. 5th.  Along with another fabric order from Old South Fabrics in TN. which I ordered on Jan 31st.

I have a standard sized mailbox and the mail carrier stuffed, no crammed, them both in my box.  It was difficult to get them out but it was fabric after all.

I ordered this floral  to use as a border on the  the China Mosaic top I started making at the start of the pandemic last March.  I think this is the third border fabric I have ordered for it.  But I am definitely using this one.  The good news is I can use the other pieces as part of the backing. The whites and aqua were just extras.  This is my second order from Old South Fabrics - I really like their service and they are very helpful on the phone.

This is a backing fabric that I ordered from an email ad from Whittle's  Fabrics. They have great prices on the fabrics they sell. It was a quick turnaround on that order.

So yesterday I used it along with 32 extra Friendship Stars to make a backing for the Friendship Circles quilt.  

Next I will see when I can get an appointment with Carole to have it quilted.

This is the last of the  recent fabric orders was from The Fabric Patch in Washington State ( also very helpful on the phone).   I just love these little fabrics on the top.  They will go in my little boy stash for projects for Logan. And I love grunge fabrics - thinking about making a pillow.

Here's a little donation project I have been sewing on now and then.  Made blocks in two sizes 9" and 7.5".   I love the chunky looks of these blocks  - I have 35 made.  I think I will make one more and sew it as a 54" square.  I rarely use 4" squares so I had to cut all these  when I was supposed to be decluttering. BTW the decluttering, while a very good idea, didn't work so well for me.  

We have been having so many dreary or cold days - Cinnamon Bread makes my world seem more cozy !

Made some fresh loaves today.

So good with a cup of hot tea!

 

Friendship Star Circles

Finished all the blocks that I had made into kits sometime back - I had twenty-one. 

They are 18' blocks so when I sew them together,  top will be 72 by 90".

I have been thinking about a border as I finished the last of the blocks.

I had in mind a border of very light stars - rather like ghost stars so I made quite a few of them as I was sewing on the blocks.  

I was thinking of the different circles of friends we have at times in our lives and how we lose touch with some for various reasons.  

But they are still with us in our memories.

However - that was so blah!

I drew up a few ideas and voila.

Much better!

I have 3 more border units to make then on to the next project.  Of course the backing and all but the hard part is done.  It should be about 88 by 98 when finished as I am only bordering three sides. 

Stay tuned for that. 

I have decided to do the Wendy Williams  - Color My World Quilt - from the Quilt Show.

I'm a little late starting and still gathering (read that as shopping for)my fabrics together.

S and I met her when we were in England and her quilt was shown at the Quilt International Show in Birmingham.  This is her Round the Garden quilt.