This is my Fairy Garden Party, based on Bonnie Hunter's Garden Party pattern. You can go here to read how this quilt shrunk when I was making it at a workshop with Bonnie, if you are not already familiar with the story. And here you can see how the top came together back in 2017.
I am linking with Wendy for our monthly minis. She keeps us going with her encouragement and example. Follow the link and check out the wonderful autumn mini she made, and enjoy the links to the other mini makers there.The quilting of this has had me stumped. It is small--as you can see here, with my hand in the photo. Sometimes I feel like things this small can look clumsy if you put too much quilting in them, especially if you don't use a really fine thread. Hand quilting was not an option, because the back side is wall-to-wall seam allowances.I finally decided to stitch down either side of the green chains, and around the flower centers, with a little more quilting in the borders. (You can see that I forgot to get rid of the marked lines in the border before taking these photos.)
When I started trying to stitch straight lines from point to point down the sides of the green chains, I had to keep weaving from point to point--there were no straight lines involved. Oh, well, I am so done with the quilting on this. I had the outer border almost completely quilted when I discovered the tension on the back was off (even though I had tested it before I started), and I had to unpick it all. But it is finished now and I am glad to cross this off the UFO list.
Also in the UFO department, I have made major progress on The Beast, my youngest son's king-sized college graduation quilt. It is all quilted!!
Maybe I will actually have it trimmed and bound in time for Christmas, since I didn't make it for his birthday (2 days ago).The random number generator chose comment number 26, so my lovely friend Kris (who blogs at Lavender Quilts) will be getting a package of my herbal soap when it finishes curing in a couple of weeks.
Hope you are finding beauty in the world around you.
Until next time,
Janet O.
Your tiny piecing just continues to astound! You quilted it beautifully too. So frustrating to have tension problems. Your son's quilt is a true labor of love and looks terrific! I always hear great things about Utah State.
ReplyDeleteThis little quilt is gorgeous !!
ReplyDeleteJanet!! That little quilt blows my mind!!!! So many teenie tiny pieces.... so beautiful! I can imagine hand quilting was definitely a no go in this one. Your son’s beast quilt looks wonderful. I’m sure you are happy to put a check mark by that one. 🎃🎃🎃🎃
ReplyDeletewow gorgeous photo....and 2 awesome quilts that are way above my pay grade...excellent work dear janet!
ReplyDeleteOMG it is so beautiful! What talent you have.
ReplyDeleteYour mini is just adorable!! It is unbelievable that you can work with such small pieces. I wonder what Bonnie thought! I got to go to one of her workshops about 8 yrs. ago and it was great. You did a great job on the T-shirt quilt! Love it. There is much beauty to behold here in Oregon, but I mostly see the turning leaves now and they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteincredible! I can't believe how tiny your quilt is. It is mini perfection.
ReplyDeleteThe quilting is simple and just right. I agree they can get quite over quilted when so small.
Your son's T-shirt quilt is one of the best i've ever seen. It all goes together beautifully. I'll bet you'll get it done for Christmas.
Congrats to the winner of your soap. '
Gorgeous sky photo. So important to find the beauty these days.
Lovely quilting choices for your Fairy Garden. Yours is one the best versions I've seen of this quilt. It really is charming. And 'The Beast' is such a treasure! Your son is going to enjoy this quilt.
ReplyDeleteWe're enjoying some beautiful weather here on California's central coast. The blue moon from this past night is just leaving us. My animals don't acknowledge that time change malarkey. We were up at 4:15 HA!
Fairy Garden is amazing! I would have gone blind sewing those tiny bits, so applause from me to you! It turned out beautiful. And more congrats on the beast. It looks wonderful and I am sure he will enjoy it, even late.
ReplyDeleteWe are hanging in here. Not worse and at least stable.
Oh my Goodness! Your Garden party is sew sweet. I haven't worked much on my version from the Retreat I attended with Bonnie. Such tiny pieces even in the Quiltville pattern size. Glad the beast is quilted! fun to see all those T-shirts, he will love it whenever he does get it. You'll have a wrestle to get the binding on. Beautiful scenery from your window. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are one talented quilter. Those tiny tiny pieces are unbelievable. You have the patience of a saint to work with such incredibly small pieces. Glad the Beast is almost done. Look how you can go from microscopic to huge😉
ReplyDeleteI think this post could have been titled Beauty and the Beast! Your tiny quilt is just amazing, and I have to admit I love the backing batik too. What a glorious sunrise/sunset photo! You are brave indeed tackling The Beast! Not anything I aspire to, have enough issues quilting plain old quilting cotton! Your son will love the finish though, you did a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteAs always I'm in awe of your miniature quilts. This one is so beautiful. Hugs
ReplyDeleteWow congratulations on such a teeny tiny finish! I had read the story of the quilt as it went along, but I enjoyed going back to revisit it.
ReplyDeleteYour mini is delightful. I know that there has to be many, many seams allowances on the back of each block as I have sewn that type block....only not that small. Those squares on point for the setting make the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking your Beast must weigh a lot. I don't think I could turn over if I slept under it!
LOve the colors and lines of the mini...
ReplyDeleteThough I have to say it makes my head hurt even thinking about working with pieces that small.... And then you showed it with your hand and I do not even want to go into details about how the size of that piece makes me hurt to think about... lol
I can't even imagine stitching or quilting such tiny pieces, but as always, your work turned out beautiful! No doubt your son will be very proud of his quilt too! ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteJanet, Your October mini is great. I agree on your decision about the quilting. but I have to tell you that when I first looked at the first picture I noticed that the orchid was LARGER than the quilt!! Now that's a mini! You are such the maven! LOVE IT.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your son won't be disappointed in your t-shirt quilt. It's great. I've made many of them and yours is one of my favorites.
And the sky? You know how I LOVE pictures of the sky. That's a keeper!!
;-))
Gosh your fairy garden party mini is just stunning Janet ... such tiny pieces & wonderful quilting. I am also staring in awe at your beautiful orchid there beside it. How gorgeous. You will certainly have your sons quilt finished for Christmas I am sure. xx
ReplyDeleteFairy Garden(Party) and Giant T-Quilt... LOVE!!!
ReplyDeleteI think your Garden Party looks great, Janet! Beautiful backing fabric. It's always frustrating when there are quilting problems. I don't know if it's a relief or satisfying when we finish quilts with problems. Maybe sometimes both.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing the Beast. It looks fabulous and I'm sure your son will be thrilled to use it when it's finished.
Your last photo is beautiful. Sunrise or sunset?
Love the mini Garden Party! So sweet!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I took a look at your post title and the first picture and thought your beautiful orchid was being referred to as a beast! I'm so glad I was wrong. That quilt for your son *is* a beast! Congrats on finishing the quilting; now my favorite time ... movie and binding! :) Your mini is amazing. Your patience with all of those little pieces and putting them back together in the resulting eye candy, just blows my mind!! Yay for Kris!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI simply cannot fathom this quilt pattern in such a small size. Your talent is truly remarkable! I adore it. Kudos for doing the t-shirt quilt. After my last one I said "never again", but we as quilters know how that goes. Your closing photo is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour mini is beautiful, and I love the t-shirt quilt too! Well done! :0)
ReplyDeleteLittle quilt, bit quilt- both are super!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, your mini is great this month!! I love how colorful it is!! :-0 And your son's quilt is magnificent!! Too bad I am not closer so I could bind it for you!! And I won!! Whoo!! Hoo!! Thank you ever so much!!
ReplyDeleteI just love your little quilt! I can't imagine sewing such tiny pieces. The quilting looks just right! Your son's t-shirt quilt is striking. Bet you'll get it done for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAdore your mini! I never thought of all those seams coming together. Perfect quilting of it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing, Janet. And perfectly quilted! And talk about one extreme to another. It must have been fun to cut loose on that big t-shirt quilt after the intense precision of the mini. Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteThose pieces are so small. The backing is so pretty as well.
ReplyDelete