Playing with the Longarm and Blogging Frustrations

I just realized that it has been quite awhile since my last post. I am still busy sewing but have been having some blogging difficulties lately. While I have no trouble posting it seems that my difficulties in leaving and receiving comments in my email is pretty much impossible. I get some of your comments in my email but not others and any comments I leave immediately bounce back saying they cannot be delivered! I miss my conversations with my blogging friends and the connection with everyone but am not sure how to fix it.

Anyway, I have been back on my longarm this month and finished up this fun winter quilt that was Quilt Doodles 2014 BOM. I made a few changes to the original pattern and love the finished result, a fun winter quilt in the guest room.

I even had some fun with the backing. I did not have enough of the backing fabric but did have a bunch of left over strips from the piano key border and one snowman face that I made the wrong size that I was able to incorporate into this pieced back.

And here are a few photos of the quilting detail. My longarm quilting still has a long way to go but I am learning to just have fun with it and try to come up with a few new pattern ideas here and there. This is the area I have the least confidence in but at least my tops are finally becoming quilts!

I also finished the 2014 Bonnie Hunter Mystery, Grand Illusion, just in time as this year's mystery begins on Friday.

You may have heard of the Moda Sampler Shuffle a block of the week available online through many different quilt stores. I am making my 6" blocks mostly from an old Moda fabric line Noteworthy by Sweetwater. These are fun little blocks and a great way to use up some fabric that I have had sitting around awhile. Perfect for those days when I just need some easy stitching. Here are the first 9 blocks, so cute and fun to make.

And ever so slowly I am assembling the blue and white Antique Wedding Sampler, sure hope I can show a photo soon.

 

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The last of the Antique Wedding Sampler blocks

My journey with the Antique Wedding Sampler is sadly nearing the end. Sad, because I have enjoyed this project so much that I hate to see it ending. But, of course, I am excited to be close to a finished top and have had to start thinking about putting it all together. But first the last of the blocks.

Here is Block 22. I was excited when I found the center fabric in my stash. I had not pulled it originally because there was a yellow background surrounding ovals of blue and white and I didn't really even consider using it. But I am happy I remembered the fabric and had a chance to add this little Chinese pagoda. Those corner broderie perse motifs also came from that collection and had a yellow background. Sometimes you just have to be brave and give it a try!

Block 24. Not my favorite block but I do love that fabric in the leaves. Wish I had noticed it in my stash a little earlier in the process.

And finally Block 25. The fish/carp is a popular Chinese motif and I was happy to get a final bit of Asian influence in the quilt. I really like how this block turned out, another favorite!

Before these blocks were completed, I began the process of arranging the blocks on my design wall. I can't show photos because I stupidly deleted them all before this post, but let's just say there was lots of rearranging. I am not sure it this will be the final placement but I think I am close. And I also cut my sashing and cornerstones and after much deliberation, my setting triangles. The original pattern has broderie perse in those setting triangles and I was planning to do that using this fan motif.

But as I started putting my sashing and cornerstones up I started thinking about just using the focus fabric as the setting triangles instead. I just love the print and had used it in several of the blocks as broderie perse but nowhere in the quilt could I see the actual fabric. I figured I would cut just a few triangles and see how it looked compared to the broderie perse and I loved the results. I prefer how it finishes the quilt and love that the print is now highlighted. I feel almost guilty for forgoing the broderie perse in those setting triangles but know this is a better choice for me!

Now if only I can figure out how to use my stripe fabric for the final border!

 

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