Sunday, November 30, 2014

Bumper Crop

This UFO has come together very quickly in the last few months.  Why ever did I wait so long????   Oh well, at least it has finally come to this stage and that is a good thing.

Now that the vines have been drawn on, I will be spending some time with embroidery thread and needle to finish this top.  While looking at this photo, I just realized that the grooves on the pumpkins need to be drawn on and embroidered as well.
Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

That's better!

All the triangles are now basted onto the borders of my Kaleidoscope and the borders have been sewn back on.  I'm so much happier with the final look.   All I can say is "wow"!  What a huge difference.  :o)

So, now all those triangles need to be appliqued onto the border and the top will be finished. 
Have a great day!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Just can't leave it alone ...

When I took my Kaleidoscope top to my day guild meeting this week for show and tell, I looked at all the other Kaleidoscope tops and quilts and my border was really, really plain.

Once home, the top went back up on my design wall and I started playing with ideas for the border.

My first thought didn't go over well with DH.  He simply didn't like it.  No photo was taken as it was no longer a contender.

So, playing around again, the triangles was another idea that we both liked:
 Once the triangles were more refined, they were placed around the border.
This will be the final look.  More triangles need to be added to complete the border.  What a huge difference bits of scrap leftover strips can make!
 I do love playing the "what if" game.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Kaleidoscope

After a couple of days of sewing, pinning, sewing, pinning, etc. ..... this is now a top!

I do have to say that while it was a tedious task, the reward was worth all my sweat and tears. 
 This top will go so nicely with my other red/white/blue and red/white tops and quilts. 
So, there are now 22 tops and 35 UFO's. 

Have a great day!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Starry blades

A bit of progress has been made on my Lone Star.  All the blades are now done and the star is all sewn together.  Just the corners and triangles to sort out.
During this process, my seam ripper and I became very well acquainted ... even though the seams were matched up and pinned very carefully!    Grrrr   It was a bit tedious, but I simply hung in there and the results show well.

The above photo is a mock-up of what I want to do.  A border of cream background fabric will need to go all around the star blades. If the cream border is not there, my blades and points will just fade away into the striped fabric instead of standing out.

My brain will need to do the math for figuring out the measurements for the corners and triangles.  Math is not my strongest subject .... so, this will have to take its' time to be worked on.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Gallery of Lone Stars

This past weekend, Debra Anger (Patchwork Sanity) came up to North Bay to teach a two-day workshop on Lone Stars.  We used Eleanor Burns book and her method is very well explained and very easy to follow.  Debra is a wonderful teacher and had us sewing up a storm for the two days.

By the end of Sunday, this is what the participants achieved:












Then on Monday night, our night guild had their monthly meeting and Debra got to see finished Radiant Lone Star tops:

Debra then presented her trunk show and she showed us her Lone Star and inspired us to step out of the box and see what can be made using Eleanor Burn's method.  Now, this is a huge Radiant Lone Star and what a beauty!
Debra's trunk show was amazing.  She is not afraid of colour and she encouraged us to have fun with our backings and borders and to participate in quilting swaps!



While Debra and I were so busy at the workshops and guild meeting, DH babysat her dog and I do think Buddy made himself quite comfortable in our home:
It was a great weekend .... a great visit .... it is so nice when friends come for a visit to our great white north!

Have a great day!