I'm finishing up the 3rd block of my Whig Rose. Woop Woop
It is almost one year since I started this project. I'm still loving it.
A rough (okay very rough) sketch of a border idea.
Here is another idea
And another sketch (I did these while waiting for a appointment.)
I'm still doing lots of visual research with my books.
Mona, an Instagram friend has offered to share more of her chrome yellow but I need to figure out how much I need. Do you have any of the background chrome that you'd be willing to to sell, share or trade? How much I can have will dictate how I end up finishing this quilt.
I usually prefer needle turn, but when faced with so many leaves and a in need a of TV watching work I starch prepped all the leaves for this block.
The kitchen counter is a great height for sew basting a block.
It makes appliqueing such a pleasure! no missing the stem or forcing the outer corner point. love it.
Okay, so this isn't quilting, but it was time well spent. I reorganized and cleaned out my entire pantry. Whew. It feels great to know what I have and have it all in order.
Recent Reads:
I read a lot of nonfiction, but I also love a good memoir. I really yearn for old timey TV and not the shlock we see today.
An easy and interesting read with beautiful descriptions of nature.
Educated is Disturbing and fascinating. Hard to believe people choose to live this way in the modern world.
Winter Woes?
Take a page from coco's book..... Relax Darling
Don't like winter and cold weather? take more naps.
Treat yourself to a pretty little plant next time you pick up milk and bread. I got three pretty primrose for $6.00.
My Modern Mini for January~ Little liberated ice fishing shanties. I had fun piecing it and quilting it.
I did a facing on this one instead of a binding. It just didn't seem right to hold those winter winds in.
I wrote right on the backing behind the blue shanty.
I finished marking my medallion quilt. Here is the outer frame.
Tip: to make sure I lined it up correctly on the quilt, I taped off the area on the bottom of the stencil.
Now it lines up right to fit in the space leaving room for the binding.
I basted about 3/4 of it when I noticed.......
the backing was all wrinkled, even though I was being very careful! waaaa
Many of my IG friends were with me through the ordeal - thank you so much.
Here is my time lapse video of re-basting the center. Note I had to pause to let out coco, and then again to let her in a different door, lol.
I used big clips to hold it the second. I use old olfa mats underneath to protect my table.
Here is the smooth backing - yay!
So I am finally hand quilting. A little late, but I'm so happy to have started.
I treated myself and the boys to a Tater Tot Casserole. I like a nice hot casserole on a cold night. This was a lightened up version and we liked it and it makes good leftovers.
See full recipe below.
Have a Fun Week
xo
**I used all beef, all the FF onions and substituted cheddar cheese soup for the celery.** Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1/2 pound extra-lean ground turkey
1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained
3/4 cup french-fried onions
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) reduced-fat reduced-sodium condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) reduced-fat reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1/2 cup fat-free milk
4 cups frozen Tater Tots, thawed
Directions
1. In a large skillet, cook beef and turkey over medium heat until no longer pink. In a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray, layer the meat mixture, vegetables and french-fried onions.
2. In a small bowl, combine soups and milk; spread over onions. Top with Tater Tots. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until golden brown.
I had a little snag after attaching the last border frame. It left a little awkward background area.
So I quick starch prepped a clamshell, unstitched the borders,
then appliqued it in the corners. I would do it differently if I were starting over, but in the meantime I think it's okay. What do you think?
Aaahh, that moment when you finish a top and say Whew! now I can start hand quilting it....
then you remember you have to find a backing, which means going to the quilt shop because all of yours are wrong. I found this which will work well behind my light top - I really don't like shadowing through a quilt but I didn't want to use muslin this time.
Then you have to wash the backing, press it and piece it. Then you remember oh yeah, I have to mark it too!
My goal is to have it marked and basted by Friday!
I received this delightful dolly quilt from Sheila in Elmhurst. I just LOVE it. Thank you, Sheila!
Their embroidered expressions are so charming.
I love the hair bow on this one.
Here is one that I made. Sadly it has a lot of sun fading.
I'm hoping to get some information from Sheila about the pattern. Can you believe this was dark navy fabric? It is purple now and someday it might be grey.
Dotti sent me a photo of her finished Bow Tie Swap Quilt. What a great setting!
It is sunset season here on Buck Hill. I try to pause everyday to notice it.
I love the blue, white and lavender in the clouds.
**I used all beef, all the FF onions and substituted cheddar cheese soup for the celery.**
