Thursday, October 30, 2014

It's about time!!

This was only my March UFO.  I made the final border really large, but may trim it down. I want enough space in case I choose to do swirly feathers. It isn't a top that I think needs feathers, but I want to practice them, so I figured it would do. Then it will be bound with the black polka dots fabric in the sashing. I haven't measured this since I put the borders on today (finally!!!), but it appears to be exactly 80-something by 90-something. : ) I had to put it on my design wall sideways.
My year of the UFO has been an abysmal failure! My goal was that by now I would have 7 UFOs to flimsy stage. I wasn't even expecting to finish one a month. I cut myself some slack for the summer months and the holidays at year's end, and gave myself one "bye" month just in case. Little did I know.

When I was asked, back in March, to do the mini quilt trunk show in May, I became laser focused on minis and have had a hard time disengaging from that mode. What can I say? I'm hooked! So here is the news from the mini front.

My "Fall" Lamb for All Seasons (not to be confused with the Halloween LFAS which you can see in the post linked here) is now ready to go up on the wall as soon as October is history.                                                             If you are new to the blog, this is part of a series of seasonal little quilts I have been making using the free Primitive Gatherings "Old Glory Gatherings" pattern.

Next up is what I am calling Cherry Chocolate Churndash. This was a copy of a quilt made by Kathie Holland (inspiredbyantiquequilts blog). I admired hers and she offered me fabrics to make one like it. The churndash blocks finish at 3".
I am really smitten with it. You can't see the quilting very well from the front.
 This back view gives you a better idea. Recently Mary, (quilthollow blog) described how to get a good photo of quilting designs, and I concur. It is how I take my photos of quilting, too. In the morning I lay my quilt in front of an East facing window and let the natural light spill across the surface. The shadows accent the quilted pattern. Then I take the photo WITHOUT a flash.







I think the quilt is very happy in its new home on this table in my bedroom. Love the colors, the fabrics, and the pattern! Thanks so much, Kathie!







Another nod to Kathie for the fun blocks shown here.













These windmill blocks finish at 4" and are made using one of the little templates found in this set from Baycreek Quilting. I lifted this photo from their website. Kathie had recently made a little quilt from these blocks and provided the link to order the templates.
You can order them from Baycreek Quilting here.  You get this entire set, with shipping, for under $10.



I am using this for my current leader/ender project. I don't know how large I will go with this. Right now I have just cut a bunch of reds, blues, and blacks from my scrap basket. I'll see where I am when I have used these up and decide whether or not to cut more.

We've had some gorgeous sunrises lately. A few days ago I told some of you I had run outside in my pjs and scampered across my frosty lawn, barefoot, to get to the corner of my yard for this shot without any power lines in it. I think it was worth it. : )
Until next time,
Janet O.


34 comments:

  1. Lovely! I think your feathers look lovely.

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  2. Great idea for taking Pictures! The sunrise would be hard for me to see since I'm a late sleeper. Kathie's Blog is down, what happened? You have a lot of things going right now. Glad you got the BIG one to Flimsy. I Love seeing your projects.

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  3. What a great post Janet...I love seeing your mini's.
    The main thing is you are getting some of your flimsy's done. Love what you have done so far....especially the churn dash...the feathers are lovely.
    Julia ♥

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  4. What a great post to read with my morning coffee. I always love all your projects, but I especially love your churn dash quilt and the fabulous quilting! And of course those minis are adorable too!

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  5. Seriously...you make a big quilt? LOL It's beautiful! :0)

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  6. congrats on your finish and a beauty it is...and those tiny churn dashes.....very very nice....and glad to see the lamb ready to hang....go at your own pace and enjoy the journey....

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  7. Great job on your quilts - even though you didn't reach your goal on UFOs - you got a lot done anyway! Who ever does reach that goal? Hee Hee! I did finish a couple, but still have several UFOs to go. Boo Hoo. I just tried to look at Kathie's blog and couldn't get into it. Hope everything is OK with her.

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  8. Congrats on your finish! It looks awesome, and I personally hope you keep the wide border because your quilting is so amazing.
    The churn dash is lovely - I love chocolate & cherry in any combination!! looks so sweet on the table.
    the new leader/ender is fun.
    I happen to think you accomplish a lot, but I did love the use of the word abysmal.
    That sky is so majestic! You can practically hear the angles singing.

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  9. Fabulous sunrise! Love it! Great tip on photographing of quilts ... alas, the only east-facing window I have is a small window above the kitchen sink. That little churndash quilt is fabulous! I just LOVE it! Some progress on your UFOs is better than no progress at all, right? ;-)

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  10. There's always next year! Congrats on the finished top. Beautiful and will be even more so after you quilt it. It's very large - is it for your bed? Fall lambs is so sweet and the churndash looks right at home on the table. Love the red, blue and black color combination for the windmill quilt. Reminds me of a hand piecing project I should pull out. I can just imagine you scampering outside to get the photo of the gorgeous sunrise. I hope it made you smile. I did!

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  11. Love the churn dash quilt. The quilting is just right. Hugs.

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  12. Perfect photo of you quilting on the churn dash......that raking light shows it off beautifully. The maze of stars is so beautiful too! You will have fun quilting this one! So, you just carry those UFOs to next year.....you are ahead of the game since you have a plan!

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  13. What a bunch of beauties! I want to come see all your pretties in person! Perfect colors!

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  14. Your time spent practicing machine quilting has certainly paid off. Beautiful quilting.

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  15. Wow...your projects are such an inspiration! Good job finishing a UFO!! I love the mini churn dash...but really I love all the projects in this post! LOL

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  16. I'd love to see you 'scamper' some day Janet! I'm rarely up that early anymore, but maybe when the time changes it will happen again? (NOT) Great idea for your leader/ender project - looks like it's a very organized process - I really should try that some day too. Finally home from CA and it feels so good! Happy Halloween - do you get many trick-or-treaters out in the country?

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  17. Ooooo Janet - that picture was definitely worth it - gorgeous!!!!
    I failed miserably at my UFO plans this year too :( But I did manage to accomplish some other things instead that I enjoyed and am very proud of - and I would definitely say that you have also!!! Your little minis are darling!
    Thanks for the tip for photographing quilting stitches too. I am hoping to get into a Sharon Schamber class on feathers at Quiltfest next year. I may never make them as beautiful as you do, but it will be fun trying!

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  18. Love , love Cherry Chocolate Churndash. The fabrics are luscious and the quilting makes it awesome. Thanks for the photography tip and the gorgeous picture of the sunrise. Barefoot on a frosty morning would make you scamper!

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  19. Your quilting skills are so fine on that Cherry Chocolate Churndash and I can't wait to see your "practice" piece of the big quilt whenever it gets its feathers! The little half-feather scroll inside the triangles on the churn dashes is a very appealing design. Good work!

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  20. Hi sweet friend. As always - every project is just fabulous!! But I must confess that Cherry Chocolate Churndash takes the "CAKE"!!!! Can you do a quick tutorial for me about how you quilt the feathers - I want to try them! Do you do a feather and then bump? I tried to look at a large photo - but couldn't figure it out!

    Your sunrise is gorgeous!!! Well worth the frost bitten toes!!

    Blessings!

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  21. So many lovely projects! You did did such a fabulous job quilting your Cherry Chocolate Churndash! Your Fall Lamb quilt is really sweet. Congratulations on getting your Garden Maze top completed. Beautiful sunrise!

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  22. The black garden maze sashing sets off the rainbow star blocks perfectly. Great quilting on the churndashes. And a beautiful sunrise indeed.

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  23. We've had some amazing sky lately too. Your photo is beautiful. Enjoy practicing the feathers, although I think your feathers are pretty darn spectacular!

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  24. Lovely to see what you've been up to! Although you haven't got through your ufos you've still achieved a lot. Beautiful sunrise, well worth the frosty escapade! Nice photo too of your quilting, getting the right light makes such a difference. Like your L-E project, something a little different :-) Mine is currently a ufo which isn't totally straight forward but I feel good that I am making progress on it!

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  25. Awww...I wish Kathie's blog wasn't shut down -- is this a permanent or temporary thing? The Cherry Chocolate Churndash is wonderful! I love pink and browns together! Your March UFO is gorgeous!! And the wool lamb with the pumpkin is precious. I love the acrylic templates! Oh what I could create!!! :)

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  26. You are a brave soul to scamper through the frost barefoot! Yes, that picture was indeed worth it! Thanks, too, for the photgraphy tip re: an East window... I love knowing that. Your cherry Chocolate Churn Dash is equally delicious to view as the flavor names imply; the quilting is perfect too! I just love the pinwheel blocks too; I might love them even more (if I were going to piece them) if they were larger... ha! ;)

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  27. Beautiful! I can't wait to see your feathers that you quilt in the borders! BTW...I am also working on windmills for my leader/ender project! LOL! I am using the same template too! I think right now that I have 54 of them done and I am planning on a total of 528.

    Have a wonderful and Blessed day
    Kristie

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  28. I love the Cherry Chocolate Churndash. The colors are stunning and the quilting is oh la la. Beautiful,. You certainly have the feathers down to a perfect presentation, Hope all is going well in your family.

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  29. I love those 16-patch stars...filing that idea away for someday! Your minis are fun. I can see how making those small beauties could become addictive.

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  30. What gorgeous quilts! That red one is especially nice.
    We have had some beautiful skies as well. Love your view!

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  31. Janet, amazing sunrise. I love the view from your house! And your quilts are, as always, just inspiring! Put your shoes on next time (or even just your slippers, gf!)

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  32. What a gorgeous sunrise. That’s about the time I am just getting to sleep.
    Sure wish I had an east facing window to take my pictures.
    It’s always fun to see all the pretty little quilts in your post.

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  33. I'm such a sucker for feathers - looking forward to seeing them on that wide border! Love that table - is it a family antique?

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