It's still Christmas

By most Christian traditions, the Wise Men appear on January 6, the Day of the Epiphany, the day when we recognize Christ as a gift to all of the world.

So I am finishing gifts and mailing just as if I were trying to make a Dec 25th deadline.

This is a Cat in the Hat quilt bound for great grand-daughters in Maryland.  They already have a Berenstain Bears quilt in the same primary colors.  This one will create a set for their twin beds.

Another great kit from Nancy's Notions
and quilted by the talented long arm of
Heather Spence Designs.

Here's the Berenstains Bears Quilt so we can see the set. I hope the bears and the cats get along!

Now that I think about it, I reckon I didn't photograph
this one after quilting and binding.  I've been told it
looks great on the bed in Maryland.

Close-ups of the Cat in the Hat quilt.  I really enjoy these kits from Nancy's Notions.  The directions are clear, the fabrics wonderfully coordinated, and the colors are bright and true.  It's a great way to create a kid's quilt -- especially with the specialty fabrics.

The backing is the striped fabric that
also appears as the final border on the front
Binding is a collection of scrap squares
sewed together to make a long strip.

In progress -- two more cross stitch crib blankets.  Two more babies arriving in 2013.

#AugustCompletionMarathon

Making my way through the UFO's in all crafting areas.  This one is *finally* finished. {insert sighs of self-frustration here}.

It's from the Spring (if you can believe it) Mystery Quilt from Heather Spence Designs.  I didn't spend adequate time selecting the fabrics and though they work well with the pattern, I am wishing I'd been a bit more discerning.

Here's a variety of pix -- the green is very olive and avocado-y and no matter the camera setting I can't seem to get it right.

Now everyone (thank you) will chime in and tell me it's grand.  And yes, tis grand.  I can see that -- but I am making the same mistake other quilters/knitters/crafters make:  By comparison mine seems to miss the mark.  

Why do we do this to ourselves?  I've executed a complete queen size quilt in a collection of well-coordinated fabrics using a pattern especially designed for the 100+ women who shared in the mystery.  What's not to like?

And I can report that it's done, except for a final border and the long arm skills of Ms. Heather Spence.  So I'm gonna count it as a #FinishedObject during the #AugustCompletionMarathon.

Free to Quilt

Finished cutting and piecing a fun quilt top on the morning of the 4th.  It was a kit, from Nancy's Notions.   It has a date on August 10 with the talented Heather Spence for a pantograph quilting design.

Very colorful and shows off all the wonderful characters from the memorable stories.  Hope your own reading is as wonderful as the Berenstain Bears.

Where is the Butler when we need him?

The butlers of this world must be overworked.  So many mystery something-alongs.  And when I can't seem to finish mine I sure wish the proverbial "Butler did it" would appear and whisk away my unfinished odds and ends.

By this point you surely have realized I've embarked on YAM (Yet Another Mystery.)  This one is a second verse sorta thang.  Last fall I was one of over 100 quilters participating in a mystery quilt along brought to us by Heather Spence Designs.  Each QAL raises funds to help augment the medical expenses of cancer patients.  You can read more at Heather's site.

We're doing it again, making one of Heather's wonderful originals and sharing our enthusiasm and struggles via Facebook group.  I hope you'll join us.  We're already a group of 125!  From all over the world.

First clue is tomorrow, April 27, 2012.  Direct link to Mystery Quilt FAQ's.

Here are my fabrics.

The quilt patterns are each originals by Heather Spence, a talented and enthusiastic quilting professional.  We're all gathered on a FaceBook group page.  Most fun I've had on FB -- ever.

Here's last Fall's quilt.

Design by Heather Spence Designs.  Fabric collection and
assembly by me.  Quilting by HSD.

So invite the Butler.  Maybe he likes to quilt.  And maybe, if you don't like what shows up at the end of the mystery you can always say, "The Butler did it."

Detour -- quilt under construction

Decided to take time from the knitting to finish the binding on a quilt.  The design, Dan's Climb, is by Heather Spence of Heather Spence Designs.  Heather set up a group on FB and 65+ quilters paid a nominal amount to receive weekly clues via email.  Proceeds were given to cancer patients, to help them with extra expenses due to treatments, etc.

Great idea and great pattern.  Heather is revealing another Mystery Quilt for early Spring 2012.  If you want to participate, go to her website or FB page and follow the links.  Heather Spence Designs

If you are a quilter, you know that binding a quilt is no easy task.  It takes a long time.  Sometimes it feels as if the binding is taking longer than the cutting and piecing.  I didn't want to leave this one sit for too long; it will look nicer on the bed (and I will feel much better about the time already invested if I look at it there instead of in the UFO pile.)

This view shows the collection of fabrics and colors.
Also, you can clearly see the wonderful
pantograph that Heather used when she machine-
quilted it for me.

When a quilt is removed from Heather's magical machine and loving hands, it's almost ready to bind.  There's still some cutting and pressing and sewing.  Thanks to her wonderful PDF download I was able to make my way thru the precise steps to create a wonderful and professional binding.   I've been quilting longer than I've been knitting, but some steps are learned at a much later date.

The pins are holding the binding strip to the wrong
side of the quilt.  The fabric to the left of the binding is
the backing; on the right side is a close up of
one of the fabrics in the quilt top.

Heather stitches together "creativity and love" -- really.  She's a master at her work and you can count on her service and quality.

One more picture shows the combination of front fabrics, backing, and binding.  I'm going to enjoy seeing this one on the bed for Spring.

Heather and I decided on green for the color of the
quilting thread.  Not sure you can see it, but the addition
of the green makes the flowers and pattern bloom.

I'll be taking another detour during the Spring of 2012 to watch Heather's next design unfold.