President's Day Progress

Today, since a group of us quilting friends all had the day off work, we put together an impromptu sewing day at the quilt shop. I decided to take a couple smaller UFO projects and get the tops finished and ready for quilting.

My first project was a french braid table runner I made last fall with some Chelsea Boutique charms and another pack of coordinating charms that I can't remember the name of. This is not my usual color palette to work with, but the browns and blues were soft and pretty and I like the end result. I had a glitch in one of my borders resulting in a really nice wave at the end of the runner. So I took it off and re-sewed it on, being more careful to ease everything in. Now it's done and tomorrow, I'll get a backing together and quilt it. Then I can dig up the trusty Magic Marker and cross one more UFO off The List.

Next I moved on to this scrappy black and tan Hunter Star quilt. I saw this quilt as a model in the quilt shop in Whitehorse, YT several years ago. Being the ADD quilter that I am, I immediately dug out my scraps and started one of my own. Then the next new pretty thing came around and this poor little quilt was shoved aside. So far aside, in fact, that I lost four of the HST's for the final block. So I dug out scraps to make those final squares, sewed them up into rows and slapped some borders on. The outer border is actually a Christmas print with brown holly leaves and deep brick red berries on black. I don't know who decides that's suitable for a Christmas fabric, but someone did, and it worked out well for my border. I pulled the red out from the berries for a small inner border, which is a nice change from all the black and tan. And unless you look closely, you'd never know it was a Christmas print. I have some black with small brown buttons the size of split peas that I'm going to use on the back. I'm hoping to get this quilted this weekend so I can mark one more off The List and then celebrate by starting something new.

Oh, and speaking of starting something new, I worked on my February Schnibbles today also. I chose two charm packs from my stash - Woot! - from Moda's Renewal line, but had to shop for a suitable off-white background. Everything in my stash was either too yellow or too grey.

I loved working with these colors and once I got all the pieces cut out, blocks went together very quickly. I'm hoping to get the top finished tomorrow.

 

And lastly, but not leastly (is that a word? It is now), I worked on the final quilt in our long-distance game of Round Robins. This is Peggie's quilt. Peggie lives in Arizona, where it is sunny and warm, and the desert blooms with color as said warm sun gracefully sets each night. You can see all this in her quilt. Jane did the first round, adding the orange, red and yellow arcs around the original blue center square. You can't see it in this picture (because award-winning photog I'm not) but the yellow portions of the arcs are PLEATED! It's awesome. It looks so cool and I would like to learn how to do this myself someday. Janie added the red and orange wave borders and the embroidered coins in the four corners. Now, at this point, the quilt came to me and I found it rather small. So I immediately wanted to make it big. But out of fear of the quilt being out of proportion, I stuck to something medium-ish. I think this quilt is warm and sunny and altogether very smile-inducing.

Peggie, this little gem is off and running in the mail to you this afternoon!

  

 

Comments

[Lisa D.]

WOW - you got so much done! Do your days have more than 24 hours? You have some amazing and beautiful projects to show for your sewing day - congratulations!

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

Love your french braid table runner.

[Julie in the Barn]

Wow, you've been busy. Lots of pretty stuff here.

[Ariane]

You have been busy. I love all the tops. My favorite is the hunter Star quilt. It is wonderful. I also love the fabric you chose for your Schnibbles quilt. Can`t wait to see it done.

[Nicole]

Busy girl! Wish I could have joined you sewing over the weekend! Gosh I miss that.
I need to start making more table toppers. I keep saying that, don't I?

[YTS Mom]

Wow, you got a lot done. Love the B&T. Now that it is done, you will find the missing blocks!

[Christine Thomas]

I love the French braid one. I really like how soothing the colors are. The round robin quilt is stunning and PLEATS? That lady needs to post a tutorial...seriously. What an amazing effect that would be.
Nice work, Allyson.

[Peggie T.]

I love it, I love it, I love it! I can definitely see the beautiful blue sky and hot sun of Arizona. I am so impressed with what you are able to pack into one day. I thought summer was the time of the midnight sun but I definitely think you have at least 36 hours in your Skagway winter day. Hmm...maybe some scientists interested in time travel would like to study the Allyson phenomenon! Let's get Jane to pose a tutorial on those pleats too. Thank you sooooo much!

[Karen Beigh]

I think you need some more days off from work. You certainly got a lot done. I am retired now but I well remember the joy of those days off from work and getting to do whatever you wanted to.

[Angela Neff]

I love your quilts...I am now inspired to make the Hunter Star...I have had it on my list to do and yours is awesome and inspiring! Also, my Schnibbles is cut and I need to get to it! Thanks for the sneak peek there!

[Zannah]

Well doen on getting so many WIPS crossed off your list (here's to starting many more!!!)

[Holly]

Wow, that's a lot to accomplish in one day! I love the Round Robin quilt - it looks like a heat wave!

[Mary Flynn]

Wow have you ever been busy! The braided quilt is wonderful but I must say that your Hunter's Star is AWESOME! Love that one for sure! It is a keeper!!!

[Nan S.]

Beautiful quilts!!! I especially love the "Arizona" quilt - you can definitely feel that warm sun - and the black and tan. They're both gorgeous!!