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

Quilting in the Garden

Hello Everyone,

As promised, here is a mini quilt show for your enjoyment. No commentary, the pictures speak for themselves.

So much inspiration hanging from the centuries-old oak trees.

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

Autumn In The Air

Hello Everyone,

There is a hint of Autumn in the air up here at the cabin. So much of a hint that I felt like decorating the cabin for the season. Last year the Scrappy Leaves quilt was hanging in the shop for several months. This year, it is hanging at the cabin for the enjoyment of the squirrels, raccoons, and bears!

Our friends and fellow quilter Glenda and her husband Ken joined us for dinner last night. This was their first visit to the cabin so the welcome sign and mat were rolled out for them.

Quilting in the ditch is my least favorite stitch to quilt, but sometimes you just can't escape it.

The swirls represent the wind tossing the leaves about.

The borders took a fair bit of time to complete. But overall, it was a fun quilt to make and I love working with batiks.

During my incarceration, I mean recuperation, I've been working on the setting triangles for Summer's Blush. I only have five more hexagons flowers to make and I'm DONE! This has been rather "mindless" work....but at this point in time, "mindless" is a good thing for me.

I've been whip stitching the flowers together in groups of three, then I applique them on the setting and corner triangles.

I love, love, love all of the little checked fabric.

I actually sat down at the sewing machine today, for the first time in a couple of weeks, and sewed some rows together. It feels so good to feel so good!!

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope to see some of my "quilty" friends at the quilt show in Sonora this weekend.

As always,

Lynn

Month #5 - The Window Box

Hello Everyone,

Those of you that are in the Party in the Garden block of the month will soon be getting all of the fabric to make your window box. I apologize for the small image, but it was the only one I have on my laptop here at the cabin.

There are many small pieces to this block.....just take your time. Don't forget to do the embroidery too!

For those who are working on the block of the month and check the blogsite on a regular basis....here's a hint. On the left-hand side of the blog you will see the Label category. Just click on the Party in the Garden label and all posts for the BOM will pop up from newest to oldest posts. This way you don't have to go searching through post after post looking for what you want. Hope this helps.

It is hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the program. My monthly drop-in group has been so much fun. What a delightful, and creative group you are! We'll be meeting again on September 28th at the shop so mark your calendars. If by some chance any of you out-of-towners are in the area, we would love to have you join us for an evening of laughter, lots of talking, and a bit of quilting will be taking place too!

My friend Glenda and I are headed to the quilt show in Sonora this weekend at the Fairgrounds. It's a good show featuring lots of quilts and vendors. My House on Edgewood Lane quilt will be at the Bearly Quilting booth.....kits will be available for sale!

Have a wonderful day everyone.

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