Madrigal Is Finally Quilted!!!

Hello Everyone,

I'm so glad that Madrigal is quilted and off of the quilting machine. I've been walking by the machine for days staring at it and wondering when I would ever get this done! I would work on it for a few hours at a time and only finish a couple of rows. I thought I would never see the end. I tackled this center section this morning along with the side borders. First I quilted around all of the applique pieces then added the feathery fill. I was a bit nervous to try this at first. I keep learning with each and every quilt I quilt. It's a dynamic process that never ceases to amaze me.

I'm very happy with the scallops. It adds a nice, classy touch to the quilt. Now to the binding.....I love to work on bindings. I think it is the feeling of completion that appeals to me. But this quilt is far from being done......I still have to write up the pattern. I've blocked off all of next week to get the pattern written and printed.

I'm just about "feathered" out. I'm quilting feathers in my dreams lately. I'm in the process of auditioning fabric for the binding. I've narrowed the field down to two choices. I'll probably end up flipping a coin.......or I'll ask for Joe's input.

I used an acrylic circle to create this pattern on the pieced blocks. The tips of my fingers are a bit tender from holding the ruler steady.

I'll be seeing some of you at the Party in the Garden drop-in class tonight.....6 o'clock sharp. Rootbeer floats for everyone tonight since it is just to warm to even think about baking and turning on the oven. We are finally get some summer weather the first week of Autumn!

As always,

Lynn

Machine Quilting Madrigal

Hello Everyone,


Yesterday I decided to scallop the border on Madrigal. Several years ago I purchased the EASY SCALLOP by Darlene Zimmerman. This product lives up to the name of Easy. It was so simple to follow the enclosed directions and mark the scallops on the quilt with a white Sewline marking pencil.

I do not have a deep "V" between my scallops which will make the binding easier to apply.
Marking the corners was a breeze.

After I put the quilt on the machine, I made a running stitch along the drawn scallop line in a light thread. Next I stitched my "spine" for my feathers mirroring the scalloped line and stitched in some free motion feathers.

Here is pass number two and three down the top of the quilt. For now, I'm planning on leaving the open area free of quilting in the setting triangles to see if I like it once the rest of the quilt in finished. It just may create a very interesting effect on the overall design. I always take digital photos while my quilt is on the machine so that I can refer back to the top. Because once I get to the bottom, I've forgotten just exactly what I did on the top! How many loops in the feathers? How many loops in the setting triangles?.....you get the picture! I'll roll up the quilt and start working on the individual squares today. No pantographs for me on this quilt! I'm pantograph challenged and each block deserves individual attention. All that individual attention will take me days and days....but it will be worth it. Theoretically I'm still recuperating and really shouldn't stand at the quilt machine for hours at a time....so I won't. I'm still taking my naps and trying to take it somewhat easy.

I will quilt my way to the bottom border then I'll take the quilt off the machine, turn it and quilt the side borders. It is so much fun to take the quilt off the machine and look at the fruit of your labor. Then I will decide whether or not to fill in the open space in the setting triangles.

Busy weekend ahead with the grand kids soccer games, Altamont Cruiers Car Show on Sunday (our 1956 Ford Crown Victoria will be there along with my 1942 Model Husband....good body style that year!), our grandson's 3rd birthday is also on Sunday and don't forget Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane Nursery this weekend. It's a visual feast for the eyes. I'll take pictures and post them for those of you that can't be there. The quilts hang up in the hundred-year-old oak trees and it's eye candy without any calories! You just stroll through the nursery "looking up" at the quilts. It's great exercise for my double chin!

On that note, have a great weekend everyone!

As always,

Lynn

I've Got Your Back......

Hello Everyone,

I'm finally ready to put Madrigal on the quilting machine! I just have to wrestle with a roll of wool batting tomorrow and then on the quilting machine it will go.....and will probably stay there for several days. This quilt is going to take me forever to quilt. I added the little tendrils to add interest and break up the quilting in the center section.

Here's the whole quilt with just a hint of a red border. Depending on how I quilt the border, I may end up with scallops. I'll make my final decision tomorrow. I've been pouring through machine quilting book after machine quilting book trying to find something different for this quilt. Looking through all of my books has given me a good excuse to procrastinate while resting at the same time!

Here's the backing that I made this morning. I originally purchased a "tower" of Luna Notte fabric when it first arrived at the shop. I love to get the towers because I love to make scrappy quilts. But I always have a few leftover fat quarters that never make it into the finished quilt. So I cut them into 18" x 20-1/2" rectangles and sew them together. I cut a couple of the fat quarters in half so that the seams are staggered. I press the seams open so I don't have much bulk and my back is ready. Yes it takes more time....but I have the time and save money since I don't have to buy 4 or 5 additional yards of fabric.

Stay tuned. I'll be posting more pictures throughout the quilting process.

As always,

Lynn

Update on Madrigal Quilt

Hello Quilters Everywhere,

I'm slowly getting back in the swing of life and getting back to my quilting and designing. I was inspired to work on the center section for Madrigal. I had two ideas but finally settled on a basket full of flowers. I still have many more flowers to make and of course there will be ribbons and some embroidery. The Luna Notte fabric by 3 Sisters for Moda has a wonderful large print with gigantic flowers. I've been using the large print to cut out individual petals to create new flowers.

It looks a little bare here in the center, but there are a lot more flowers to be added....after I make them. I love any fabric with paisley almost as much as I love plaids. The basket and handle are a Jo Morton - Andover fabric. Whenever I see great fabrics like these, I buy at least two yards. My stash is huge, but I feel that I have a whole "store" full of fabric at my fingertips...and I go to my stash first before I buy something new.

The whole time I'm creating, I'm thinking about the machine quilting. This is going to be a fun one to work on. My goal is to have this finished and the patterns ready for sale by Pacific International Quilt Festival in October. Wish me luck!

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday and an enjoyable weekend.

As always,

Lynn

Luna Notte Fabric by Moda

Hello Everyone,

One of the hazards of working one day a week in a quilt shop, is being exposed to all of the beautiful, wonderful, fabulous new fabric. I was really behaving my budget and pocketbook.....until I saw Luna Notte fabric by 3 Sisters for Moda.

If I see something that I like, I try to wait at least a week before I get out the checkbook. Well that theory lasted about two seconds when I saw Luna Notte. My mind is in a constant flutter just thinking about what I can make.

I took the fat quarter tower apart today just so I could really see the different designs. This was a remarkable show of self restraint on my part, since I've had this tower for a couple of weeks now. I was so afraid that if I unwrapped the tower, I would get out the rotary cutter and start in on another new project.

The yardage will be arriving at the shop very, very soon. I can't wait for the UPS delivery truck to arrive.

This fabric line is ME. It is my house, my cabin, my style down to the finest detail. You will be seeing more of this on the blogsite!

It's a wonderful blend of florals and paisleys. No plaid.....but I'm sure I can find something in my fabric closet that will fit in rather nicely. Doesn't plaid go with everything?

My pictures just aren't doing justice to this fabric....trust me......you are going to love it!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend and have a wonderful week planned...or unplanned. Just enjoy life and all it has to offer.

As always,

Lynn