Winterberries Quilt Top Done!

I did it! I finished my Winterberries quilt top in one week!

Now just to quilt it! :) Don't you just love that border fabric! I have to go back to the store and get more of that fabric!

A couple of people asked if I hand applique'd it or machine appliqued it. This one I did my version of invisible machine applique. You didn't think I really could hand applique that fast did you! This particular one I did with a product called Stable Magic for Applique. It is this paper you trace the designs on, glue stick onto the back of your fabric, cut out around the shape with the seam allowance. Then glue stick the seam allowance onto the back of the paper, glue on the background and then I do a small zig-zag stitch (1 length, 1 width) around it in matching thread. You don't need to cut the back out and pull the paper out. Once the quilt is quilted, you agitate it in the washing machine and the fibers in the paper float away! it just leave this fine soft cotton layer inside. I heard about this in Paducah so had to try it!

I love invisible machine applique because it looks like needle turn (well unless you are up close really looking at it), but I hate pulling the freezer paper out the back. So this solves it all! It is great for quick fun pieces like this that I just want to make but don't need heirloom quality - projects I just want to have fun with!

I got it sandwiched last night and grid work marked in the background last night at my small quilt group, so next week I will quilt it. Why not quilt it this week and weekend? My yearly Rockford retreat is this weekend! I can't wait for a few days away to sew, sew, sew! So I need to get busy and cut my pre-cutting and pre-sewing done before Friday morning! This year I took the mystery quilt, so I can't show you what I'm making yet! But I'll try and snap a picture of the thousands of pieces I have to cut!

Speaking of mysteries, remember I"m doing that mystery quilt for our guild? Well we are on month 3 of 5 months. I don't think I shared my pieces so far with you. I got to see one members blocks/pieces so far last night and I love what she has done! I can't wait to see it done! Anyway, here are pics of months 2 and 3.

Top Quilts

A few of you asked about the top quilt below. It is a Fig Tree Quilts pattern called Harvest Fruit and Winterberries. Here are some past posts about it.

As time flies by...

Yes time is flying by. Only one more week before child #2 leaves for his first year of college. I did the shopping thing with him yesterday to prepare. We did shoes, clothes, bedding, bathroom stuff, banking, etc. I was exhausted by the time I got home! And it was cool at 90 degrees. I'm still waiting for a cool spell! At least with all the problems he has given us this past year, he actually was socialable and seemed a bit exited about going. He chatted with me - without the ipod buds in his ears! And he actually shopped - which he never has been fond of! Of course the whole day was about him! But for me it felt good to have my little boy back if even for a day!

My main thing I did when not working tremendous long days or getting ready for school was quilted the Winterberries quilt! It is done, finished, finito! Sleeve sewn, binding sewn and washed! It turned out pretty darn good!

I also wanted to share some progress of some blocks from some ladies in my guild on my mystery quilt. The dark color ones are mine for this month and the others are last months done by 3 members - aren't they all fun and different! I can't wait to see the finished tops! Not long now!

OK, just had to say hi so you didn't think I fell off the earth! Actually I feel like I might have gotten sucked in - deep in!

Weekend Project

Wanted to share what I've been working on this week and weekend. The pattern is Harvest Fruit and Winterberries from Fig Tree Quilts. I love their stuff! This is going to be a shop sample and class I"m going to teach at the LQS so I"m busy trying to get it done. Yes always waiting till the last moment! I should have the top done by tonight and then it is quilt it, quilt it, quilt it time!
And I found the picture of Finn's Santas straight on! See how much mine look like hers, but mine have way less funny angled seams and no curves!