Finishing things and another road trip

 I have ten minutes to get this written and posted, so I think I will just show a load of pictures and run out the door. I am off to Chattanooga today with friends to take in a Bernina and look at a Handi-quilter. I'll catch you up on that later.

First finish

I can't remember the name of the panto...it's a new one

I love the chickens!!

Panto: Small Splat

More chickens, in homespuns

Panto: Texas Fan

The quilt is soft and cuddly with wool batting and a flannel back

Custom finish!

Oops, the picture is sideways!

The back is really exciting and pretty.

There was a table runner, too!

Penny's new coiffure.

I think she knows she looks good! I'm out the door with one minute to spare!!

Not much to show for a long day of quilting

 I follow some wonderful quilters 'blogs and I am so jealous of all the sewing they get done! Going to Texas next month will have one perk...I can sew!! I'm working my way through the quilts here and getting more excited about the kits I'm making for the trip. With some of my new fabrics in the mix, the quilts should be pretty!

Meanwhile, I finished the tee shirt quilt and a couple of identical table runners.

The tee shirts are a collection of the maker's son, who is an Alabama fan.

My go to panto for tee shirt quilts: Rounded Squares

Cool purple backing

The customer started hand embroidering a bedspread many years ago and just found the project in a box. She had no desire to keep going with the hand work, so wanted the rows cut down to 80 inches and made into quilted table runners. I soaked them in Dawn dishwashing liquid and some liquid Oxyclean for two days to remove the blue dots from the manufacturer to delineate quilting lines.

After hanging to dry, I starched and ironed them for quilting. I used my rounded squares pattern because she said her two daughters like really modern stuff. No swirls or leaves...just a very simple geometric pattern.

I chose this neutral batik for the backing.

I worked on there purple parts of the custom quilt, and I finished the center part. I have to do the same patterns in the green, then  I take on the checkered border.

I'm using King Tut variegated thread for the quilting.

I rolled the quilt back to the top to start the green quilting.

I have almost finished the cutting of another kit for Texas! 

How do you like the bottle cozy I got at the fabric shop?

This will be a blue and white quilt I found in a magazine. 

I hope it turns out pretty.

Half a row to go and 6:00. I left the machine right where you see it because the pattern is dense and I would have been there another ten minutes. I'll do it first thing, then move on to today's projects.

The applique quilt is going upstairs for there hand sewing. It will take two or three nights to do.

Hitting on all cylinders!

 I have been sequestered in the studio for a couple of days and have made headway on the waiting stack of quilts. First, I finished the custom quilting on the appliqué quilt, and just need to assemble and add the binding!

Here is the border I added. It made the quilt a generous Queen size.

At 100" long, there is plenty of quilt to drop over the bed end.

Most of the blocks have thick trapunto and I was unable to quilt over them. My hopping foot wouldn't clear the bulk. It is an Eleanor Burns pattern.

Every block has quilting around the appliqué elements as well as a feathered border around the inside.

The sashing have a dogwood flower and leaf design

The backing is a satin finish white cotton. Very soft and smooth.

Another look

I made the label and cut the binding. Tomorrow I will sew it on and get ready for an evening of hand sewing!

Next up... a tee shirt quilt. The backing was too small, so I added another six inches. One day I will have all the quilts be flat, well made and have generous size backings. 

This quilt was nicely constructed, so I'll forgive the small backing.

Panto: Rounded Square using light gray thread.

The muslin back shows the quilting well.

The next customer made a mountain worthy sofa quilt out of buttery soft flannels.

The customer prefers to trim the quilt herself, so ignore the messy look around the edges. 

The quilt features bears, moose and other assorted woodland beasts.

The panto is Moose and Bears. Squint and you'll find the moose here.

Oooh! This one shows up better.

Here is the bear (with a buffalo in his tummy)

A pack of wolves on the back, also a soft flannel.

What a change of gears for the next quilt! This large quilt features Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink and Amy Butler bright sherbet colors. The medallion style worked well with all the patterns together.

This is a really big quilt! It is so much more lively and bright in person.

The panto is Big Splat. Why do they choose such weird names?

Kaffe lotus leaves on the back.

Lots of color on today's menu, including this pretty lilac and brights quilt.

This the third quilt in a series by this customer. She is making them for grandkids.

This one has lilac grunge for the background and backing.

Panto: African Samba in lilac thread

I love this panto.

On the Gammill, I loaded up the next customer job and got to work. The stitch in the ditch in the checkered border is done, and I have started the cranberry colored bits. I have one row done! I made this pattern in these colors in 2010, but added an appliqué border. Hers is larger, and even brighter than mine. Wonderful selection of fabrics, too.

When I finish the quilt, I'll show it along with mine! We're good friends, so I don't think she would object. 

(aside from that...her quilts are perfect. I mean totally perfect...mine are more 'Bohemian', you might say.)

 

Today I also quilted a small wall hanging. I love the 'blocky' look of the sunflowers and crows. Really cute and quirky.

                                        

I like everything about this quilt.

Panto: Pineapple slice (another head scratcher name...)

I used a very light camel color thread.

I just don't see pineapples...

Tomorrow, I'll finish the last row on another tee shirt quilt. My signature move should be the 'last row left at six o'clock' shuffle!

Spring is coming, even though it was cool and blustery all day. Some of the rock garden flowering ground covers are starting to show some color. Too bad I will miss the best show of Spring flowers while we're in Texas. Maybe the peonies will bloom early...

Somebody's ready for Spring!