2005 -2022

One has to question why we start a project and then put it away way before it is done.    I know I am not alone in this.  

I recently pulled several quilts out of my stash for a trunk show for my guild. These quilts spanned over 20 years when my mini group and I first met and started out group.  

One of my projects that was not completed were the four  blocks made from a Karen Stone retreat that I attended in 2005.  My intention was to get back to this New York Beauty because over the years I kept adding to my batik stash and adding some brights to the bin, too.   

I took this to a 2020 Fall retreat (end of October 2021) and got a few more blocks made and working on them made me determined to finish this top.  

I am NOT putting this one away until it is done.  

My idea was to make 72 blocks in total.  (8 blocks for 9 rows).

Once I got to this point, I sewed my 5 rows together since I liked the layout.  

At this point, I have another row made.

This project is on hold for a day or two until I can get out and get some more copies for the paper pieced spires, but the finish is near.

In the meantime, I gathered 29 sets of five fabrics for my remaining blocks from these fabrics that I had laid out on the floor so that I could see all that I had. 

Once my sets were all pulled and I have now cut out my pattern pieces for the remaining blocks, I can finally put my fabrics away.

They packed up nicely in my Rubbermaid, but it doesn't look like I made a dent in this bit of stash.   Hmmmm.....how does that happen?  Of course the bin was jammed packed before I started but still....you'd think it would be a little less full.  

Here's the last (#72) block for this quilt.....yeah!!!

As of February12, I can say I have finally loaded this quilt onto the longarm.  Wait until you see the wild backing I have chosen for this quilt.  I mean.....what do you put with a wild colored, crazy prints quilt?  Something tame?  My first thought was black and white.  

:D

Well, I finished quilting this one.  

I used the Cha Cha pantograph to quilt this one.  

So fine thread #530 (a reddish brick color ) on top and #451 white in the bobbin.

Here it is in all its glory!

But the bac k!!!!!  I love the back.  I figure I needed to tone it down with a black and white print.  How can you go wrong with Tula Pinks' fabrics.  Each of the zebras have a "colored" stripe on their bodies that ties it into the bright front of the quilt.  

Binding has been cut out and ready for awhile with a variegated batik that I had plenty of.   Just need to get it sewn on and then handstitched down.  

Done!

Now, I am celebrating with a margarita!

What was I waiting for?  I am so happy it is done

Hmmm....now what to work on next?