Friday Finish - Coral Quilt

TGIF!!!!  Yeah it is Friday, ok for me it is more like Wednesday since I work Saturday and Sunday, but it is hard not to be happy on Friday.   And even more so when I have a fabulous finish to show everyone.  I will admit I'm so glad that this one is quilted so no one will see how badly it was sewn together.  I piece this top in 2008 and it was my first larger quilt top.  When I went to press it, I was shocked at how bad the seams were, they were crooked, not consistent at all and ohhh so ragged.  But now that it is quilted you will never see any of that.  Well if you look closely at the top not all my points meet, but I can live with that fact.  :)

When looking for tops to practice my long arm skills, I kept telling Sharla that I had a coral/green quilt some where from 2008.  We found her burgundy and dots quilt, but we couldn't find this one.  And then one day it was there, in a box I swear we had looked in previously.  Over all I'm very happy with this one, I used Signature Woodlands variegated thread. The colors were good because it ranged from a brown to peach to light green. I just did an all-over stipple and I really think I'm getting better at it.  Am I great, no, but much better with each one I do.

Right now my biggest issue is slowing down.  I did have a little tension issue with this quilt, but I found that I had the most issues when I went too fast.   I couldn't find the green that I used on the blocks so I just printed my label on printable fabric I got at JoAnn's.  I really don't like the texture of it as well, but it is very easy to use.  And I totally love doing the corner label with no hand sewing!!!!

So that is one more off the list.  I've already pieced the back for my Skipping Squares by Cluck Cluck Sew. I hope to get it loaded tonight or tomorrow.  Today I'm linking up with  . . . Confessions of a Fabric Addict,  Link a Finish Friday, TGIFF...at Quokka Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts and Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio.

ALYOF 2014 - February

I have so many plans for February, which normally means nothing will get done.  But I'm hoping that I can keep of my streak of quilting/binding/labeling one quilt a week.  I did that in January and hope to keep up my streak.  I plan on starting with the coral/green alternating 4 patch.  I actually pieced this in 2008, and last night I pressed it, pressed the back and trimmed it, so it is ready to load onto the frame today.

I noticed when pressing it my seams were very wonky, and I'm happy to say that my newer quilts look better, not perfect but better. I counted and I think we have 20+ tops pieced that need to be quilted and that many more projects where we have fabric but have to piece the top.  

I do have a second goal for February, besides getting 4 quilts finished, I would like to complete at least one top, and I've picked my Trail's End.  I completed the blocks before we had the floors re-done, but never got the top pieced.  I plan on putting it up on the design wall today or tomorrow to get the block placement. Here are the blocks just hanging out waiting to be finished...poor babies they feel neglected...hehehe.

I am doing DaGMT this month, which means I do 20 minutes of sewing/quilting related activity every day this month.  So I hope to make lots of progress on several different project, including getting the shirts de-bone for some memory quilts.  

So that is my goals for A Lovely Year of Finishes 2014.  The button below and on my side bar are linked to the site if you would like to play along with us.

Friday Finish - Blue & Green Quilt

The last day of January, this month has flown by, but I've gotten lots accomplished.  Today I'm showing you a quilt that Sharla pieced and I quilted.  It is another one we make specifically to practice long arm quilting. The fabrics are bright and cheery, so you know it is a Sharla quilt...although it doesn't have pink, but it does have green. It is a simply a 6 1/2 in block sewn in an alternating patten with a couple of borders.  We did learn that cheaper fabrics ravel more, and that small outer border was a real gritch!!!

I just did an all over meander when quilting it using Signature cotton thread called Dreamy Blues.  I had to be careful in the blue squares because the color matched the fabric so well that sometimes I had a hard time seeing it. I think this is my best quilting piece so far, it looks good even close.

I went back to the 2 1/2" binding because the outer border had some issues and I wanted to have plenty of binding to cover any issues.  I will say when sewing the corners it was much easier with the larger binding. And I didn't struggle nearly as much.  I also have to say I am loving my Clover Clips, and I found the best price on the at Amazon.  I got two packs of 50, but think I need one more for when I do a queen size quilt.

Overall, it was a great week for quilting for me.  I put on some oldies as I quilted and that made the time pass quickly.  Sharla is very happy with the quilt, it is large enough to really snuggle under and after washing it was really soft. She even posed for a picture with it.  We were hoping that she would be out of the wheelchair by now, but the doctor wants to do some surgery on her foot, and until that is done and healed she is still in that big black boot.  :(

Today I'm linking up with  . . . Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Link a Finish Friday, TGIFF...at Riddle and Whimsy, Crazy Mom Quilts and Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio.