I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Friday, April 29, 2022

Back from the Quilter ! Binding Choices and Other Quilt Project

 


Hello, hello on April's final day this year. Out like a lion, April thinks she is March, all blustery and cold.

blue bird [indigo bunting] in my friends' secluded backyard


What a thrill it always is --- the big box arrived from my quilter the other morning. [Lori C / Quilter's Imagination]. So fast! I think she did both quilts in just one week, and so beautifully done as always. Note the gorgeous Baptist Fans on this eye-popping beauty.

Now to choose bindings. Always good to audition with phone photos here on my big screen. It's so often a surprise to me, the final choice. I don't know how other quilters can choose and cut bindings ahead, I just adore this final step in the process.


This is my Antique Block Challenge quilt. I still am not showing it completely till it's all done, but you --and- - I  can see enough.


I was sure I'd pick the red and almost did go ahead and cut it.
 

Then other ideas in the stack of new fabrics clamored for their turns. How about cheddar?


I was amazed at how much I love the grey mushroom sprig.


No to the red and tan lozenges, no to the dull mustard matchstick.






Which do you think I chose in the end?

......................................................


Lori C also beautifully finished this wild and colorful antique top. You'll recall its wonky piecing.



Amazing that the careless construction doesn't show at all on the front. She knew perfection did not matter once hidden. I planned to use a double pink, but considered the green backing fabric too. The green on the left is a repro from Annette Plog for Marcus Bros. Isn't the match great.

                                      

I like pink better than I like green so pink it is. [pink also from Annette Plog, Petite Perennials lines]






.................................................

Lori C also enclosed this beautiful stack of 10" cuts called  Prairie Dry Goods by Pam Buda.


I never see Pam Buda's fabrics to buy when I shop online and I really am impressed, love them all. I immediately had ideas for this fun gift, but perhaps will let it simmer and not jump in too soon. Repro fabric lovers may enjoy seeing the entire line, one source listed below.

Prairie Dry Goods



............................

I enjoyed using Hourglass squares on my Antique Block Quilt [ABQ, as I call it], so I'm making a few red and cream squares at the end of each sewing session. To surround the redwork Giraffe in Egypt block. (Head start on next year's challenge?)


And last, inspired by blog friend Nancy who always sets a monthly goal in her quilt projects, I have been setting a goal for my Winter Marsh project each month, kind of like a solo quiltalong. April plan was to make ''a stack'' of scrappy Flying Geese, 2" x 4" sewed, for spacers and sashing/ borders.



These are untrimmed!

I made about 30+; suddenly stopped because I realized I need large pieces of fabrics for the Stars. The Geese need a 5 1/2" square for the method I use, really consumes a lot of fabric quickly.

So for May I will try to make the 8 smaller stars. Then probably set the project aside til next winter? I always write myself notes when I stop sewing for the summer, and by next January I know I ll have NO IDEA what to do next. Below is a copy I made of the basic design, for notes.

Laid out on my bed, not sure I love it anyway. Maybe a long summer nap will improve things?


..........

Here is Mo my little boss, wondering why our deck sewing circle is not happening yet. [A sewing bee comprised of just Mo and me.]  Mo loves cold weather, he'd sit outside for sewing hour in January if I would do it.


                                                 patiently waiting


Have a great weekend!



love 

lizzy

gone to the beach.......

too windy, joints too painful, but we did some garden peeping instead.







www.quiltersimagination.com    here 





8 comments:

  1. Love that Baptist Fan quilting--just beautifully done. Good for you including notes for that simmering project; I so often find things i've begun and have no idea what the project was...way too many in fact...
    I love the Prairie Dry Goods stacker--really pretty fabrics...Hoping for a warm up this weekend hugs, Julierose

    ReplyDelete
  2. The indigo bunting is beautiful with blues to love. I've never seen one in person.
    It must be so exciting to get quilts back from the long-arm quilter--like Christmas morning, wondering how they will look with the quilting!
    You have a good selection of fabrics for bindings but I don't have a guess which ones you chose. I'm looking forward to seeing your antique block challenge quilt. I'm sure it will be stunning.
    I think "eye popping" is a great description of the quilt with antique quilt. Putting the double pink next to the orange is a fun choice. I definitely like it better than the green.
    Lori C. was so generous a stack of 10" fabrics. Love the gold tan with brown sprigs and red berries.
    Great idea to surround that giraffe with hourglass blocks. They remind me of the pyramid in the background.
    I'm glad you like the idea of a monthly goal. I hope you fall in love with your Winter Marsh quilt when you pull it out again. I think it looks great. I adore those crows!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always love seeing your quilts coming home all quilted. I seldom guess which binding you'll pick, though! I kind of liked the tan 'matchsticks' one, but the little mushrooms are almost too cute not to use!

    And sneak peeks! I like the red and white, the giraffe and the blocks around it. I'll have to wait and see on the moon and stars one - it's interesting already but I don't know what else you have planned.

    I'm jealous about the little indigo bunting! I've never seen one in person and they look so pretty!

    Garden peeking is so much fun, too! Took me a couple minutes to figure out that one picture is the young unfurling leaves of a Japanese maple!

    I know Mo is in a hurry for you to sew outside, lol. It has been pretty warm here the last little bit but I still seem to feel chilly. My body needs a new thermostat!

    Looking forward to seeing the finished quilts, and hope you get nicer weather soon!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The fan quilting on your streak of lightning quilt is just beautiful and the pink binding is perfect. As for what you will choose for binding the next one, I have a favorite in mind and will let you know after the fact - don't want to influence your decision in any way, lol! We have occasionally seen an indigo bunting for a day or so as they migrate north, though not this year so far. They are so gorgeous and I wish they would stay and raise their young here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The more one looks at your binding options, the more one sees, which sounds obvious, but that quilt could handle quite a daring binding or a surprisingly calm contrast. It's such an exciting quilt.
    How special to have the little indigo bunting as a visiting neighbour.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh no I accidentally deleted Cynthia's comment after I replied, repost here:Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts has left a new comment on your post

    Nice array of choices for your binding. I like the mushroom sprigs. I would have gone with pink too for your antique quilt, although it is amazing how well that green matched. Enjoy your freshly quilted quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  7. How special is that little blue birdie! How lucky that your friend got a photo.

    Well, I thought the red for the binding, too. After seeing the mushroom fabric though, hmmmm. It's interesting to see how much the binding choice changes the whole look.

    I hope your weather has improved in the days since you posted. Tell Mo to hold tight :)

    Kel

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your quilts are amazing! The antique pink and green- wow!

    ReplyDelete

Hi! I'm allowing comments from everyone, even anonymous for awhile, to see what happens. With comments moderation. Hopefully the awful porn spammer has gone elsewhere. Or you can always email me! I love to hear from everyone.