Silver Lining

Slightly too long for my curtain rod to hold up

I have a big finish this week.

I managed to actually start working towards Christmas early this year, instead of just saying I would (Finally!), and I've been doing really well at crushing out my crafty Christmas list.  It's nice to be almost finished.

This quilt was pieced in one weekend back in May.  I was away on retreat and my long arm quilter was near by, so I wanted to drop it off before the weekend ended.  Talk about motivation!

The blue fabric is somewhat directional and looks like rain (at least I think so), so the blue rail fence pieces were cut in two directions to keep the rain falling in the right direction.

With the fabric looking like rain, and the quilt headed for desert country, I wanted the name to be related to rain.  When I started auditioning names, it ended up not being about the rain itself, but what comes with it.  So, without further ado, I give you...

Blue binding to finish off the edges

Silver Lining.
Finished Size: 85 x 94.
Machine Quilted.

Quilting Pattern

When I was taking pictures, I realized that I like my quilt backs to be more interesting.  The back on Silver Lining is all blue, and it seems to go on forever!

Linking up with Finish it up Friday.

Pillowcases and a Sneak Peek

I've been working on a couple more pillowcases.  I had about 9 that I wanted to make before Christmas, and I now have 5 finished.

The one on the right is a second one for my crazy color loving sister.  This one was a special request, she picked out the fabric and asked me to make her a pillowcase.  In the course of making it I found that despite the fabric having a large selvage, the label was printed on usable fabric above the edging!  That cost me a little bit in width.  Not enough that it should be a problem, but enough that it was annoying.

And I'll leave you with a sneak peak of something I'll be posting all finished in a few days...

 Linking up to Fabric Tuesday.

Crazy Chevrons

I have been busily working on pillowcases.  I have nine that I want to make for the holidays this year, four of which will be for charity.  With these first two pillowcases I'm halfway there!

Next up is one of two pillowcases for my sister.  This one I have been planning for a while.

Hint: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13...

I was originally going to make this pattern in more subdued colors, but then realized that wasn't my sister's style.  My sister likes bright and loud.  The one time I brought her into a fabric store she thought all the brightly colored chevrons were awesome and should be made into a single quilt.

I didn't quite manage a quilt, but I think I think I covered lots of chevrons and bright fairly well.

It's a little long for a pillowcase in order to accommodate the pattern I was going for.  I usually make pillowcases about 20x30 inches, and this one is 33 inches long.  (Bonus points to anyone who knows what the pattern is.)

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday and Finish it up Friday.

Sunday Stash

I promised myself a little treat this week.  And of course we all know what that means... new fabric!


First up is some "Lil-Ducky".  I've already used the blue in three baby quilts a couple of years ago and I didn't think it would still be around.  I liked it so much then that, when I saw it was still out, I had to grab some more.  One yard each of yellow and blue.  I love that little duck in galoshes!


Next up is some Michael Miller: "Lab Animals" and "Atoms".  I liked these so much that they were picked up on my first pass around the store.  Does anyone else do a first lap just to see what's in the shop before picking out bolts?  They are going to be used for a pillowcase for charity, but they were so cute that there might be a little extra for the stash!

Last up I acquired some warm and cool chevrons.  These two are going to be made into a pillow case.  Yes, together.  No, there won't be any other fabric involved to calm them down.  My sister likes bright, and this is sure to fit the bill.  It will be a pillowcase only she will be able to sleep on.

Linking up with Sunday Stash.

A Black Tie Affair

Well this is it, I have finally finished the quilt that debuted in my first blog post!  It's only been sitting for four months quilted and waiting for binding.  Not that I procrastinate or anything...

The civil war reproduction type fabric used for the sashing is definitely out of my normal range so I went with a more modern looking fabric for the binding to liven it up a little.

I call it Black Tie Affair for two reasons...  One: because of the penguins wearing their little suits and two: because most people who saw it commented that they had never seen an elegant penguin quilt before.

I sent it out to be long arm quilted and, to be completely honest, I was a little disappointed in how it came out.  Partly I think it's just more densely quilted than I like and partly I think the quilter and I weren't in sync when I dropped it off.  I came away feeling like the quilter was a bit uncomfortable doing what I asked for and wondering if I made a mistake.  I think that interaction colored my opinion of the result.  Everyone else really likes it, so I'm working on letting it grow on me.

As of right now this quilt is without a home.  Its intended recipients are no longer engaged, so it has to wait until I find someone else who will appreciate all the penguins.  I'm not sure I've met them yet!

Linking up with Finish it up Friday.