Happy New Year and a Wonderful Way to End 2014!

What a wonderful way to end 2014!  My post a year ago today was the final heart in my Sweet Hearts quilt.  Now a year has passed and I finally have it quilted.  A couple of weeks ago I got my Sweet Hearts quilt back from my machine quilter, Janice Jamison.  As usual, she did a great job on the quilting.  She meandered around each heart and then quilted a fabulous feathered border.  So I have been anxiously waiting to put the binding on this quilt by the end of the year.  Today is that final day! :-)

Ready to be trimmed - I used a black and white print called Shadow Flower by French Bull on the back.  I think it looks great with the black and white border.

 Meandering around the hearts

Feather border.

I had made my binding a few days ago, using the same fabric I used for the border.

Next was to start trimming the edges.  That first cut is always the hardiest isn't it??  <deep breath>

Soon I was at the machine sewing on the binding.  What a sense of accomplishment!

And folding that last corner as I came into the home stretch!

Not sure what most of you use to finish your ends of your binding, but I found a great tool this past year - Brilliant Bindings by Debbie Wendt.  It is easy to use and makes short work of making perfect end seams.  I met Debbie at the AQS Lancaster show this year and saw her demonstration. I had been looking for a binding tool and knew I had to try this!

Here is a link to her web site if you are interested in learning more about this tool (no commission here! LOL)  Just love to share when I find a great quilting tool!

I just love this and it makes perfectly flat end seams for your binding.  And I was done!  YAY!

So tonight when that beautiful Waterford crystal ball drops in Times Square (expected temperature to be in the mid-20'sF, -4C!), I will be nice an cozy on the couch stitching down my binding.  ... with a little help from my friend in the background in the photo above.  Abby can't wait to get under this quilt....and neither can I !

New Year's Eve numerals arrive in Times Square prior to installation atop One Times Square, at Times Square on Dec. 16, 2014 in New York City.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

 

Happy New Year to everyone... some are already celebrating!  Thank you to all my blog friends and followers.  I appreciate each and everyone of you!

 

May 2015 be filled with some new projects, perfect stitches, and wonderful finishes!

 

Deb