Decisions, decisions....

Two Christmases ago (or at least I hope that it wasn't longer ago) a friend gave me a charm pack of Luna Notte by 3 Sisters (Moda) and a packet of 1" hexagon Paper Pieces.

I started making up some of the hexagons and really  liked what I saw, so back at the AQS Paducah show of  2011 in the back room of Hancocks I found more and bought myself another four or five charm packs.  Well, you all know, nothing got done around here for some time because of the Cherry Tree quilt, but my hands were idle last night so I pulled the project out.

I had a couple of "what I will call" my red blocks (love them!).

and I had a couple of what I will call the beginnings of my black blocks.

 I like them as they are (meaning no borders).

Well, I tried this.

I really like this, but don't know if it will work in the big scheme of things.  Seems to me that the blocks need to be the same size.

So.....

I added another "light" border that matches the red block..

Then because there are pink fabrics in the charm pack, I tried a pink border.

I am thinking I just need to make up more blocks and see how it all works out.  I figure if I don't like the pink border (because that wasn't in my original plan), I could always make pink coasters or if there are enough, I could incorporate them into a baby quilt. ...hmmmm, pays to start thinking out loud I guess.  .  So, I guess instead of fretting about it now, I am just going to keep making hexagons.  If I do it that way,  I will need to order more templates from  Paper Piecers.  Darn, they were in Paducah last week.  I should have been thinking ahead. 

I would appreciate any opinions!

Ok, back to stitching more hexagons. 

Paducah box has arrived

Remember, I didn't want to carry the few things that I bought in Paducah on my carry-on luggage, so my dear friend, Sandy, said she would box it up and ship it to me.  It arrived today!

Here's a sneak peek. 

I know...you can't see anything, but there are some secret pal things in there AND some Christmas presents, too.

But I can show you my stuff.

.

I found a few more pieces for my Gathering Baskets.

Bought some more chalk for my mechanical pencil and a pattern that I had already been designing in my head to use for my mom's handkerchiefs. I may forgo the Spanish fans and give these ladies a bouquet of flower, but this pattern preserves the handkerchiefs so I don't have to cut them up.   

The perpetual knitting calendar was from Sandy as a roomie gift.  I am sure that is going to come in handy since after quilting, knitting is taking up a lot of my time. 

The rest of my fabric, I will be picking up in June when I go to my retreat. 

Ok....I am going to go fondle some fabric now. 

Have a great day. 

Bubbling over with inspiration

I am back from Paducah despite plane delays, major accident on the road holding us up for a couple hours  in a traffic jam and a funnel cloud in St. Louis (where I started and ended my trip).   

The quilts were gorgeous.  Lots of applique quilts.  There were an overwhelming amount of vendors to see and shop at.  I said I wasn't going to buy anything except red silk thread that I ran out while working on my Beyond the Cherry Trees quilt.  Well.....

I did get three different reds (now mind you...I am finished with my quilt), I bought a show pin, my name tag was on a blinged out lanyard, the little red tin is a needle holder that attaches to a key ring and the pattern is for all the scraps that I have left over from my  Cherry Tree quilt.  This is what I put in my carry on  luggage. 

Sandy, my friend is going to box up some stuff that I couldn't get into my suitcase and mail it to me.  It will be like Christmas when that comes in the mail.  Some of that I can't show you anyways because it is for a secret quilter for my retreat in June AND some Christmas gifts for some other friends, too. 

On the last day of the show, Rita, Jan and I headed over to Murray's where she has a big discounted day on her fabrics and I bought 9 yards total of these three fabrics.  Thought I could use these for baby quilt backings. 

Jan is hanging on to these until June when we meet up at our retreat.

I think next time I will have to drive so I can bring ALL  my things  home at once.

Oh....and I did test drive several long arm machines.  Ooooooh, that was so much fun....and I am still thinking .......

What am I going to do now?

I just finished the last stitch on my Beyond the Cherry Trees.  This was a 29-month BOM and though I had a wedding quilt that I did in between this time, I did keep up pretty well, I think.

No one is home to hold up this huge quilt, so this is the best I could do.

I had the last border on yesterday, but then realized I was short on applique on a couple corners, so had to stitch down a little more vine, three more leaves and one more cherry.  It's done and ready to be folded up for a couple weeks.

I will be leaving for the AQS quilt show in Paducah in a couple days, but when I get back, I will be piecing this beauty together for the backing.  

Besides being very "happy" to finally have this top done, I find myself at a loss as to what is going to keep my hands busy.  It's almost a let down.  There's hardly been a day I haven't stitched just a little on this quilt and if I wasn't stitching on it, it was most certainly on my mind. 

My patience isn't as good as some of the gals who will be hand quilting this very large quilt, so I have mine on my longarm quilter's schedule for June 1. 

For now, I would like to put up my feet and just enjoy the fact that I am done, but I have some packing to do.  I still have work the next couple of days, but then it is off to "quilt heaven" and hooking up with some great friends. 

See you when I get back. 



Wishing you all a happy Easter.

Beyond the Cherry Tree borders.....

Second border added to the first. (corners are going to be rounded) 

Third border was just added to the second, but first I left the vines loose so that I could get them to flow together.....or I thought.

They were way off.  So, I looked back at the original antique quilt and they do not meet up, so I stitched them down.  Mine seemed to leave a little bit much in the way of a void, so I added one more cherry to fill that spot.

I don't think anyone is going to hold me accountable for one extra cherry to this quilt.

I find is very strange that this vine does not flow all the way around the quilt, but since I am reproducing this quilt pattern as is, that is what I am going to go with. 

Wish I knew the story of this quilt.  I am thinking that more than one person worked on this quilt what with some very complex blocks and some very simple, some very rustic, some sophisticated and the log cabin style of putting on each  of the border sides with each vine just running off the edge.  It's certainly not something I would do today, but I have to keep in mind that I am reproducing this quilt and the only liberty I am taking is the fabric choices. 

I think it is going to be beautiful when done and people years from now are probably going to be wondering some of the same things I am wondering about the original.  Another reason I believe quilts should be labeled. 

Ok...on to #4 and then this will be finished....or at least the top will be. 

Down at the farm....

Spent the weekend at my friends home away from home (the farm) where there were five of us crafting and sewing.  My camera was at the bottom of my suitcase, so I didn't get pictures the first day when there were more quilts out for show'n'tell, but here are some of the things that were going on from Friday to Sunday.

Nancy was working on her tiny log cabins.

She was also working on her little baskets, too.

Sharon was comtemplating on how big to make her scrappy "bright" quilt.

Last I heard, it was still growing.

She, also, made the final decision on how to put her lady liberty blocks together.

Jess was scrapbooking and got well over 30 pages done.  In the background is another one of Sharon's creations in solids.  I  love it. 

Allison made earrings....130 pairs in fact!  They are going to be gifts for the bridal shower she is giving soon. 

As for  me.....what else?  I have been appliquing my little fingers off.

Side two is on the quilt (to be trimmed when I am done).

Side three is well on its way. 

Oh, did you notice the orangey "shirts" quilt that is, also, Sharon's? 

We all made lots of progress and had a very enjoyable weekend. 

Now it's back to appliquing leaves on border #3.  I'll be back soon.