Under My Needle Lately

I feel like I have really been so far out of the quilting and blogging loop lately.  

We have been focused on other things: planning, preparing, family visiting, etc. for my father-in-law's funeral.  It was a beautiful service where both of my in-laws were finally buried together. It was so nice to have our family together since we all live so far from each other, while sad circumstances brought us together, it was really hard to see them leave.  

In between, I have been doing some stitching....

I decided it was time to work on some bindings for quilts that are almost done!

This is the binding going on the Liberated Log Cabin quilt. The machine quilter did a great job.  I love all the colors in this one!  It was a lot of fun to make.. but even better to git 'er done!

Since I had cleared off my work table to square up the Stacks quilt. I thought it was a good opportunity to do some more trimming and bindings.

This is the Cake Stand or Lil' Baskets quilt.  Another great job by the machine quilter. This quilt measures 70" x 70".  It will look great on our family room couch this winter!

Finally, this quilt, called French Roses, was started in... ummm.. almost embarrassed to say... 2008.  Don't you think it's time to get this one done!!??  It was machine quilted about a year ago. The flower shapes are all raw edges.  It should add a nice dimension when it is washed and those edges fray a bit. 

A bias cut pink and green stripe for the binding will look great.  It definitely needs to be finished and on a bed. 

I definitely have plenty of binding to sew down now...  I wonder how long it takes to hand stitch down 848 inches of binding? :-)

Happy Stitching,

Deb

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