Sleeping With George Washington

Sweet Dreams is on my bed.  Hooray! 

I just have to say, this quilt has been a delight to make from start to finish.  I love how old fashioned it is.

I'm not usually a quilt counter, but there are about 1,200 square knots holding my layers together

 I don't think I'll get tired of sliding my hand across them.  I really like the feel and texture of them.

I also don't think I'll tire of looking all the conversation prints.

The binding - Breaking News - There isn't any!  Call the Quilt Police!

I decided to bring the back to front and machine stitch it.  Here is how I did it:

I trimmed the backing to 3/4" of inch.

I rolled up the edge once

 twice - to the edge of the top

 Thrice 1/4" over the top

Finger pressed it and pinned it.

Carefully stitched it to the front about 1/8" from the edge.

I just love how simple it was and how I didn't have to cut, press and add a separate piece.  View from the back.

The Backing.  Here's where I had a little trouble.

I used this large GW print.  I had to piece it.  I'm not saying this is perfect but its really really close. 

I've developed a way to achieve this and will be teaching it as a bonus in my workshops. 

I had to make a long match too, which worked okay.  The repeat drop was very big and I didn't want to waste anymore of my limited fabric.

 you see how the background is print is "off"

I added this great NYC fabric (a nod to the Revolutionary War and George's Army)  He really slept around in New England.

I had planned it so that I would have the pretty yellow birds over me on my side of the quilt as you see here.

 Oooops.  My brain forgot I'd be flipping the quilt.  Rich has the pretty birds on his side and I'm sleeping under George Washington.

Thats how it goes.  Right?  Do you ever do things like this?
Please help a sister out and say yes.
xo

Sweet Dreams!

My Summer Spread is a top - Sweet Dreams 99" x 99"

Here are my guys trying to hold it.  These are guys who can sail a boat 333 miles in horrible conditions, but complain about holding a quilt up.  ha ha  Bless their hearts.

The tiniest toad hopped into the shoot.

For the plain blocks I arranged them to coincide with me and Mr. Funs' interests or life experiences.  

 Some of the bottom row which were a mix.

My side.  It was fun to have a plan for which to include.

 I also liked that it added some color to the outside border.

I used 11 different toiles' for the top row.  Believe it or not I did arrange them in a color order.

I think Mr. Starbuck and Coco are really going to miss this project.

They spent a lot of time helping me in the sewing room.

I am in the process of piecing the backing for this quilt, then I plan to tie it and machine bind it.

My Goal:  to have it done this time next week....

If you are in the Sewing Along - happy stitching!  Post your progress on FB or IG.

Happy August Everyone
xo

What's Up Buttercup?

Hope you're having a great summer!  Here's my Summer Spread as of this morning.

here are some of my favorite blocks.

 in this one I have some pre-pieced logs

 I will surround the top with 11" fabric blocks.  I'll be using larger scale and pieces with a little more color.   This is going to be scrap-tastic....I hope.

Isn't this a wonderful piece of fabric?  I just love it.  It will probably look better when it's pressed.

I'm determined to finish it before the end of August.  One great thing is when the top it done you are close to finishing as there is not batting and no quilting.

I made a little video yesterday to kick off a 2-day sew-a-thon.  

Yay - My husband and son safely raced from Chicago to Mackinac Island.  They were crewing aboard Slap Shot II and they raced with 2 of my husbands' childhood buddies.

I tracked the race and reported heavily on Face Book.

 they had a wild race - very stormy, wet and windy.

My husband is now a member of "The Old Goat" club which means he has finished 25 Chicago-Mackinac Races!  He's kind of a big deal, especially to me.

In other news: chocolate cupcakes.

 the cactus papers and picks are from TJ Maxx.

TJ Maxx has really great cards, gift wrap and stationery.  Here are some cute notes that I picked up for under $10.  Almost too cute to use.

Well this girl will be happy to see the boys come home tonight, but we have enjoyed our sleep overs.

What are you up to this summer?  

Fun I hope

xo

Quilter in the Garden

Balipop Garden - My new Workshop Quilt.   

**Take a workshop not for what you make....but for what you learn then make what you want**

 In the workshop I teach finished edge machine applique', how to make circles, stems and scrap string piecing.

I used this bright fun print on the back.

This is my favorite modern quilting design.  Can you tell how what I'm doing here?  It is so simple, it is easy to miss.

Pubic Service Announcement - Don't forget to label your quilt.  I attached this "B" circle on back because it just didn't work on the front.

This little quilt made the smallest rag ball.

Sumer Spread Sew Along Update:
My first 16 blocks.  I've decided not to use more of the darker fabrics and will use those blocks on the outer edge.

 I'm at the stage where I am using strip trimings for the first 2 rounds and saving new strips for the last round...did that even make sense?

 I press and starch after each strip addition.  I love how neat it makes the blocks and how accurately I can trim them.

 I don't have a special Log Cabin ruler, so I use use my Creative Grids square.  These are my Favorite Rulers!

 It is so easy to swivel and trim on this cutting board.

 Remember this old fabric?  Can't believe its been 18 years!

I had coffee with this handsome fellow this morning. 

One of the benefits of living in country - you can garden in your nightie :)

Have a Fun Week - Happy Sewing!
xo
p.s. It's not too late to join the Sumer Spread Sew Along.  Jump in anytime.