Sherry's Black and White Beauty

I have finally finished Sherry's  beautiful black and white quilt.  Well, not really finished as I still have the binding to attach, but finally finished enough to share pictures.

What an ordeal this quilt has been through.  I started it back in the beginning of August.  During the two weeks it was originally scheduled, we had intense storms.  Normally we have a daily storm which lasts 1-2 hours but, these storms were sporadic, and beyond intense -- crazy lightning.  For those that don't know, out property has been hit by lightning three times -- I absolutely do not quilt during storms.  Anway, the quilt was way past my schedule deadline.  But then... I got sick.  Suffering from a severe cold turned sinus infection I continued to stitch (slowly) on the quilt.  Hindsight being 20/20 I should have never touched the machine.  During my sick/medicated inertness I was stitching what I thought were okay stitches.  Fast forward a week... yes, starting to feel better.  Oh dear, what I thought looked okay was awful.  Yes, I have since made my husband and best friend promise to never allow me to stitch while sick again.  So... rip... rip... rip... and more ripping.  But I'm now so far behind schedule and have some serious deadlines to keep so I rip in all my off hours and stitch during my regular working hours.  So for the past two weeks I have pretty much worked every hour of every day, including weekends.  It's been rough, and I'm almost back on schedule... almost.

Enough of the back story -- here are a bunch of pics of this beautiful quilt - Midnight Gardens.  It consists of some of Sherry's original blocks as well as some from Aunt Millie's Garden (Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins/Piece O'Cake) and measured in (before quilting) at 81" square, I used two layers of batting (80/20 topped with wool).

Isn't it a beauty?!!  Here are some detail pics:

And, of course, the backside (my absolute favorite):

I'll be spending the rest of today (and probably tomorrow) binding until my fingers are numb so that I can make Sherry's deadline.

Vintage Rose - a new Quiltworx Pattern

Vintage Rose is a new Technique of the Month by Quiltworx to be released in January 2017.  I once again was delighted when Judel asked if I would quilt one of their new cover samples.  This is the wall version, there is no border, it just floats on the background.  The piecing was done by Cindy Haddick a CI for Quiltworx and she did a wonderful job.  It is constructed of Anthology Fabrics, I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and Glide thread.  Quiltworx will be offering some of my quilting designs for all the computerized peeps out there.  I'll be sure to let you know when they become available.

And here are some detail pics:

And, of course, the beautiful backside:

After I was more than halfway through quilting I thought of a really cool awesome design that I should have put in the blue (center) and black (outer arcs) geese areas.  Well, it was too late to change the design and after ripping out stitches on another quilt all of last week, what was already stitched was staying.  I'm hoping to get my design idea sketches to Quiltworx before the digitizing starts  Make sure to check out the Quiltworx website or follow them on Facebook to see info on the Technique of the Month, as well as many digitized designs for their patterns - some by me!

Bonnie's Log Cabin

Here is Bonnie's log cabin with a super cute freehand edge-to-edge. And you all thought I only do customs, right?!!  Nope, I do edge-to-edges as well!  And I've got to admit, as much as I love custom and heirloom work, sometimes it's really nice to do an all-over freehand -- it's kind of mind-clearing. 

The pattern is Love Blooms by Heather Mulder Peterson. 

Teddie's Table Topper

Tonight I finished Teddie's table topper (had several days with rumble delays).  Didn't it turn out super cute?!!  And see the little hummingbird -- Teddie had requested that I put a hummingbird at one of the flowers.  At first I wasn't sure it would fit as there isn't a lot of room around those flowers but, sure enough I made it work

And here's the back - yes, there are still a couple of threads to clean up and the backing fabric needs to be cut away but, aren't solid backs awesome?  They really show off those stitches!

So while posting the picks of Teddie's topper, I came across these two quilts I stitched for Donna.  I had rushed these before my teaching gig at Quilt Odyssey and just realize that I never shared them with you, so here they are:

Next up is an amazing black and white quilt for Sherry - that one is going to take me a while so don't fret if you don't hear from me for a week or so....

Build-A-Stitch 2 is done!

Finally, after squeezing in every possible moment to work on it, Build-A-Stitch 2 is finished!  I am so excited to share it with you:

Build-A-Stitch 2 contains 60 new stitches!  Part 2 is set up more as a sourcebook, it is full of stitches -- some of which are a little more complex than the first 20 (Build-A-Stitch). If you haven't tried the Build-A-Stitch technique, you'll probably want to start with Book 1.  For those of you that have already conquered the first twenty stitches, watch out, this book is full of fun (and info too)!  You will have a stockpile of go-to stitches when you're done with Book 2!!

If you want to order, click here or the photo above to be taken to the website store. You can also use the Buy Now option in the right sidebar as well.

Thank you all for wanting more stitches - none of this would be possible without all of you!  Now, on to Book #3!!!

Quilty Catch-up

So last week I finished two quilts for Jan.  I know I'm late in sharing them, and yes, they've already been shipped back.  It's been busy over here - working on the second Build-A-Stitch book, prepping for my next teaching event at Quilt Odyssey, celebrating an anniversary, and doing that dreaded yard work.  The hubby and I have been spending every weekend pulling out giant palms around our pool enclosure.  What a mess - these palms are like bamboo -- just a massive growth - the more we trimmed them the more they grew - and the root system is like an entire universe!  Anyway, it's been lots of work, and no, we're not finished.  So you can understand why I haven't posted these quilts... when we're done work for the day I tend to just collapse.  Okay enough domestic-type stuff - back to quilty wonderfulness.

First is Jan's Harley T's from around the world - I had to share some of the shirts, they were awesome, and such an appropriate backing fabric:

Then was Jan's wool wildlife quilt.  She always does amazing wool applique quilts.  This one is super cute, and a peek at the backing, too!

Super cuteness, huh?  Now to try and squeeze in two light customs before I have to leave for Quilt Odyssey... fingers crossed!

Betty's Blue & White Chain quilt

This afternoon I finished Betty's quilt (sorry, I don't know the pattern).  I had to wait until early this evening for the late sunlight coming through the front door - isn't it absolutely stunning!

And a peek at the back:

Next up, I'm working on two quilts for Jan -- trying to get ahead of schedule... trying!

Ginny's Italia quilt

Well, it is really Ginny's Mom's quilt. Ginny is my client, but her Mom pieced this beauty. It is going to be a wedding gift for a very lucky couple. The pattern is Italia, designed by Sarah Maxwell & Dolores Smith, and it was published in the McCalls Quilting Jan/February 2014 issue. I absolutely love the colors she chose (totally matches my decor, too).

I finished this beauty up early this evening and right as I was taking it off the frame... BOOM! I'd call that perfect timing! During the rainy season it is hit or miss on my working hours.


Okay, now for some detail pics, I had some fun with this one:

And, of course, a peek at the back:

JoAnn's Midnight Garden

Finally, after an almost week-long rain delay I finished JoAnn's quilt - it's a beauty too!  The pattern can be found in Twilight Garden Quilts by Deborah Kemball.  Sorry, some of the lighter colors are washed out - the sun was directly above me and, of course, today's storm is rolling in.

And a few detail pics:

And the back:

This was a fun one (aren't they all).  Now to start on the next one, before the storm!

Betty's Argyll Quilt

Betty's Argyll Quilt (pattern by Jinny Beyer) is finished and I absolutely love it!  This afternoon's weather was perfect and I managed to get some beautiful pics.

And a couple of close-ups:

And a peek at the back (sorry about the lighting, I forgot to get a back photo outside):

Jan's Fish Quilt

I've been so quiet over here because the last two quilts I worked on we're hush-hush (for now) not to be shared.  I guess that's one of the downfalls of custom quilting -- you often quilt competition quilts for others that they prefer not be shared. Well, that along with publication quilts. Either way, I'm super excited to finally be able to share a quilt with you!

Here is Jan's fish quilt.

She made this cutie for her husband -- isn't it great?!!  Oh, and it is entirely hand pieced!

As an extreme ADD I think I prefer sampler style quilts. Never the same thing twice really helps with attention issues!

Here's a few detail pics: