Here we are with one border pinned and ready to stitch.

 




 

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Ah!  First border in place.  Looking a little unbalanced now but I'm hoping the next border (sawtooth) will help that.








Quilt Challenge, 2011

Here is a strip of the on-point square border...

Discovery!

I was creating a challenge quilt and only had one 5-inch square to use.  So, I made copies of it on my color printer/copier and viola!  I had lots of 5-inch squares with which to design.  I am surprised at the accuracy of the color of fabric when I copy it.  Try it!

Where in the world have I been?

Gee -- it's been a while, huh?  Life has its reasons...

Over the next few days I'll post pictures of my current projects.  I've got three going: 1. Michael Miller Clubhouse quilt -- gorgeous! 2. A lattice-work-type quilt which is the first quilt I've ever made from a purchased pattern; and 3. A completely original challenge quilt for my favorite quilt store's challenge.  My favorite quilt store?  Why, it's Wish Upon a Quilt in Raleigh, NC.   

See you all soon!
JudieBee

Megan's Quilt, c. 1983, 74" x 100"

Here are some pictures of Megan's Quilt, circa 1983, and still just a top in 2011.  It measures 74" wide by 100" long.  The broad outer border of cocoa brown is intended for fancy feather-garland hand quilting.  This quilt top is a combination of patchwork and small amounts of applique.

The green fabric with the darker green vine running through it was a Jinny Beyer fabric -- I think.  But whoever the manufacturer was, we soon found out (back in the 80s) that this fabric faded badly.  These patches have not faded but it's probably because this top has been folded in a pillow case for 28 years.  Before I baste and quilt this top I need to remove those green patches and replace them with something of the same color and value.  Yuck!  I hate mending! 
 
 

The whole enchilada...

 

How interesting when one crops out the brown border, huh?  It gives the entire quilt top a much lighter value.



  





Detail of the center panel.  The little hearts are hand-appliqued.



The hand-appliqued hearts in the corners.  (Beware that lovely green print with the dark green vines... drat!!)










One of the 5 inch blocks in one of the inner borders




One of the blocks in the corner where the flying geese borders intersect




 



Another 5 inch block

 


The pencil tracing for hand quilting -- someday!







One of the pine trees in the center panel.  The blue patch represents the sky.  Note all of the soon-to-fade green patches -- aarrgghh!



Mary Ellen's Quilt, c. 1989, approximately 74" x 74"

I began to dig out some quilt tops today.  This is one that I designed and made while living with my Mom, Mary Ellen.  OK, so the only appropriate name for this quilt is Mary Ellen's Quilt, right? 



This is a detail of the center of the top



I've always machine-pieced so imagine my surprise and delight when I found some hand-pieced patches in this quilt.  The only explanation could be that Mom, as if she were still here and was pushing me to get back into quilting, left me her legacy when she hand-pieced some of this top.  What a touching discovery this was for me!  Thanks Mom for everything you did for me!  Oh, and you'll be seeing some of her work in this blog in the near future.     



One corner of the center panel.  These are just two different blocks selected by "eyeing" where they intersect and bleed into one another.



That's all for now.  I've got the day off so I wanted to spend some of it in my sewing room.  I joined the Michael Miller Clubhouse at the Raleigh Wish Upon a Quilt Shop (www.wishuponaquilt.com) and am making the Bonnes Amies "Marseille" quilt.  The design is by Swirly Girls.  You may link to this quilt here:  http://www.michaelmillerclubhouse.com/index.php


Until next time, keep quilting! 


Love,
Judie