Pass the Mint Julep please!

One of the tops I was commissioned to quilt is this one called Mint Julep. The blocks are large and have a modern look so I decided to quilt it MODERN with straight line ruler work! I drew inspiration from the book "Quilting Modern" by Jacquie Gering & Katie Pederson 2012.

I used FilTec's Glide Thread in Tidewater color, 70/30 batting in black and a 108" wide backing in navy.

This was free-form, easy quilting; no marking necessary so it went relatively quickly.

It looks great on both sides. The binding was included with the purchase of the top; I put it away for safe keeping while our contractor was finishing my sewing room. After the renovation, I couldn't find it! :(  I had to resort to using the left-over backing to make a new binding; there was plenty of that.

When we arrived in California, I had a little more than half of the binding hand sewn. All the other quilts we brought were completely finished. 

Here it is... done and delivered!

Ready for cuddles!

Toodles,

Lorette

January Circles

When I first bought Lolah, I attended the Lupin Quilt Fair and Sale during our summer vacation for the purpose of purchasing quilt tops to use as longarm practice pieces. I never got the chance to quilt them until we moved back to NB and obviously until this year. This one was called Dresden Circles and I loved the color and piecing of the stripes. 

Our DIL Ming's mother commissioned me to make 4 quilts, so at Christmas, I had her chose 3 tops and I promised to make the 4th one from scratch. 

I decided this one would look pretty with some ruler work and freehand designs. FilTec's Glide in Cream was used for both top and bottom threads; it has a 100% cotton batting and a 108" wide backing

The blocks weren't all precisely pieced, the centers didn't all match but besides that, the top was easy to quilt.

The backing shows the quilting better...

Here's a tip when you're applying binding if you have 2 spool pins or if you're like me and have a multiple spool holder sitting at the back of the machine. I don't like to have the roll of binding all over the floor picking up dust and loose threads. It stays clean and does not twist saving time.

We've delivered the quilts to California and they will soon make their way to Indonesia. This is Ming (DIL) and our son Jonathan. Over the next few posts, I'll show you the rest of the quilts.

Toodles,

Lorette

Anatomy of a Tied Quilt!

Do you tie quilts to give as gifts? I have done so a few times and I hope the quilts have survived. I have even tied a quilt I kept for us to use as an every day quilt on our bed. However, that quilt has a cotton batting, the ties are close together and I am careful when I wash/dry it.

This is Allison's quilt... our mother made this with my sister Jocelyn's help (Allison's mother). You can tell it's been well-loved. The fabrics have faded over the last 14 yrs.

The binding has frayed and is coming apart.

The poly batting has not fared well either...

In places it has completely given way!

The backing is riddled with holes from the ties.

The ties are still white!

 I'm now in the process of cutting all the loose threads and knots on the back of the top. The backing is too frail to use and won't be saved for the binding.

Next time you want to tie a quilt, consider using a cotton batting... I bet it would withstand a little more love!

Remember Jason's quilt? I worked on it last week and finished it on Sunday morning.

Here it is minus the binding. I think I'll use the same backing fabric for the binding... as I was working on Allison's quilt, it came to me that the backing of this duvet cover would be too frail also. Bindings take a beating and should last longer with newer fabric.

I designed the chess pieces on paper first then raw-edge machine applique'ed them and in the process ruined the zigzag on my 1975 Singer Diana 560 sewing machine. It still works but cannot perform the stitches as well as it used to and definitely not zigzag! It's been quiet ever since! I loved sewing on that machine... it was money well spent although it was an expensive purchase at the time.

I'm happy though that the chess pieces are still looking good, the zigzag is holding.

Meanwhile, the postman delivered some beauties! A few weeks ago, I posted a comment on Jacqueline's blog at www.quilt-sewhappy.blogspot.ca and won these! Isn't this lovely?? This is my first win!! I'm thrilled with the Aurifil thread and the smaller spool of Aurifil wool #12; that zippered pouch in small hexies will come in handy when I travel with my applique! Plus I know just where I'll use the unicorn and castle fabric! The John James needles are my favorite too and these are applique needles! I'm sew happy!!

Thank you so much Jacqueline!!

Hope you're all enjoying the summer... the shop has been quite busy so I know lots of you don't stop quilting in the heat... it may slow us down but does nothing to deter the thrill of sewing!

Toodles,

Lorette

PS: You'll want to keep your eyes open for announcements regarding new fabrics due to arrive any day... we'll need new shelves to hold all that was ordered! YIKES!! Might have to have a sale...

Pause for Paws!

A pause from the sewing machine today... but not from the needle!

The bindings are done!

Remember the Rotaplast quilts? The quilts have been washed and they're on the clothesline drying! I'll be bringing them to the guild meeting next month.

These dry really fast in our desert climate!

And Smokey River (blogged here and here)? Smokey is ONE LARGE SQUARE QUILT!! Had to wrap it around the corner to get it hung all the way across! Its binding is also finished.

Now I'll be able to concentrate on other evening projects... Peppermint Place block 2 awaits appliqueing and embroidery. Notice the judicious use of tape to hold the skate blades aka tiny paperclips in place until they are sewn down. 

I picked up Block no 3 from Quilty Pleasures for July last week but haven't had the chance to work on it. August arrives this week and that means Block no 4 will be ready too. Will have to get ahead someday soon... 

Toodles!

Lorette