Best of the Valley Quilt Show

Today I went to Best of the Valley Quilt Show in Lindsay.  This is opening day and I'm always excited to see if I won a ribbon.

Yea!!  Three quilts entered, three ribbons!

"13 Days of Halloween" was awarded Best Machine Embroidery.

66 x 64 inches

All That Jazz (Ringo Lake Leftovers) received an Honorable Mention.
This is the raffle quilt for Seven Sisters Quilt Show in June.

41 x 41 inches

Twirly Balls received 3rd place in its category.
This is a Sue Garman design.  I took the class in 2015 but just finished it in February.

50 x 50 inches

The show continues this weekend.

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Guild Challenge / Worldwide Quilting Day

I spent the weekend of Worldwide Quilting Day working on a challenge for my guild.  The challenge is to use the "color of the year" tones (Pantone, Living Coral, and Kona, Splash) in the same quilt.

We had to use provided solid fabrics of both colors along with any other fabrics of our choice.  The quilt could be any size.

I have had mixed results with the Quick Curve Ruler so I set out to conquer the tool!!  I'm happy with the results.  I used the mini version and made one of the patterns from "Mini Wonderful Curves" by Jenny Pedigo and Helen Robinson.  I made "October Eves" last fall, but it's waiting to be quilted.  This one is first in line as it's due at guild in April.

I have the quilting ruler for both the regular and mini QCR - so that is the next challenge!

"Winter Jewels" Pattern
50 x 50 inches
I need a name!
The background is really navy blue.

Yes, the tool was a challenge, but the hardest part of the process was selecting colors and fabrics to make each block different.  This is not my usual form of piecing.  Most of the time I decide what I want, cut it all up, and start sewing.  I had a friend visiting.  Not only did she provide assistance in the selection process, but she kept me going.  I might have stopped at a table runner otherwise.

Just thought:  I could name the quilt "Konatone 2019"

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Two finishes!

I finished two quilts today!!

On Ringo Lake was the 2017 Bonnie Hunter Mystery.  I finished the quilting in January, but finally got the binding and label attached today.

78 x 78 inches

I practiced ruler work on the inside portion.
Feathers in the border.

This next quilt is a donation for a fundraiser in April.  I'm happy to have it completed a month in advance!  A friend suggested that Red, White, and Blue quilts do well at silent auctions.  Hopefully this will help.

49 x 64 inches
I've started adding a narrow border that matches the binding when
I have pieces that go to the edge.  It makes it easier to keep my points!
They always seemed to disappear when I attached the binding.

I quilted lines 1/4 inch from each side of the diagonal seams.
Very light quilting, I wanted it to stay soft.

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Delft Blue Week 9

I'm all caught up with my Delft Blue Block of the Week!!
(Piecing the Past Quilts)

Blocks 1 - 9.  Three more to go.

Block 1

Block 2.  There are supposed to be 3 circles between each
flower.  I don't really like them, so I'm hoping another block
will give me an inspiration for something different.

Block 3

Block 4.  The circles look OK here.  Maybe what I don't like
in block 2 are the heart shapes in the center.  Too late now!

Block 5.  This one is reversed because I forgot to reverse
the pattern when I started over and fused the pieces.

Block 6

Block 7.  Not sure if it's my favorite, but I do like it.

Block 8

Block 9.  There are supposed to be circles in the center similar
to block 4, but I think I like it without.

That's it.  It feels good to be caught up.
Now I'm headed to block 3 of Sizzle, The Quilt Show's BOM.
Thanks for checking in.

Delft Blue BOW

I decided to participate in the Delft Blue Block of the Week  program with Piecing the Past Quilts.  I've followed several of their BOW patterns, but this is the first time I decided to actually make the quilt.  (https://www.piecingthepastquilts.com/delft-blue-bow)  My sister is celebrating her 70th birthday and I thought this would be a great present.  She loves quilts!

I started off OK, got behind, almost got caught up AND then a friend showed me some of the quilts on social media.  Why didn't I think to change colors?  I do it with Bonnie Hunter's mystery every year.  I kept working, but my spirit wasn't in the blue quilt anymore.

Why torture myself just to say I finished?!  I stopped the blue version at 4 blocks and started another.  I thought I would do red (!) but didn't have the right values in my stash, but I do have pink.  So I'm making  pink tulips.  

The blue blocks are machine appliqued with the edges turned back and glued.  I really didn't want to do that again, so this time I'm fusing the pieces.  I scanned all the pattern pieces into my Silhouette Cameo cutter, reformatted the shapes and cut them out.  (Again a learning process)  I have all six blocks cut and ready. (We get block 7 tomorrow morning)  I'm blanket stitching around all the edges.

There are some difficulties.  Some of the pieces are so small, there is not much fabric left after I cut them out.  I should have used a fabric with a tighter weave so there was less fraying.  Another learning experience.  I may redesign some of the smaller pieces just to make it easier.  I'll decide as I get further into the process.  

Thank you to all the people who shared their blocks on Facebook.  You gave me the inspiration and  motivation to change what I was doing.

Oh yes, I took three of the blue blocks and made a table runner for my sister.

Table Runner.  18 x 49 inches

Extra block.  It didn't seem to go with the other three.  
Maybe a pillow? I actually have 5 circles that need
to be sewn down.  They are glued and ready.

If you know the pattern you'll see this block moves the
wrong direction.  It was the first re-do and I forgot to reverse
the pieces.  Direction doesn't matter here though.

I need to stitch down the leaves and sew on 12 circles.
This quilt is going to be very Springy.

Long story, but I'm happy.

Thanks for checking in.

Twirly Balls Finished!

My first finish for 2019.  Twirly Balls is complete.  (To be honest, I still have to attach a sleeve.)

I started this quilt in June 2015 during a guild workshop with Sue Garman.  Sue was teaching hand applique, but I contacted her and she graciously allowed a machine appliquer into her class.  Since the prep work is mainly the same, I learned a lot.  Watching her hand applique tiny circles was amazing - just not for me.

Sadly, Sue passed in January 2016.  Friends and I did the 2017 BOM for The Quilt Show as a tribute to Sue since it was her pattern.  Mine is not completed, but it's on my list for this year.

Twirly Balls
Pattern by Sue Garman
50 x 50 inches

The background fill came from "Fill Harmonics" by Sue Heinz
I used a ruler for the piano keys border.  I'm not giving up on ruler work!

 Thanks for checking in.

TQS Sizzle 2019 BOM

FACT:  I really don't like paper piecing.   (add some extra really's to this statement)

FACT:  I really like The Quilt Show 2019 Block of the Month - Sizzle by Becky Goldsmith
https://thequiltshow.com/

FACT:  It's paper pieced!  I decided I'd bite the bullet and participate anyway.  It's only 9 blocks (large - 20 inches) that I need to complete then the border is applique.

Here are my first two blocks.

The colors are really off in this photo.  My efforts to correct them were 

unsuccessful. The inner section is light green, the diamonds are really

 Teal. The outside points are green and yellow-gold. The yellow looking

 fabric is pretty close. This fabric appears in all of the blocks except one.

There are three shades of purple around the circles.  All of the background

for the circles is black.

I'm excited that the directions for block 2 were just released today and I already have the block done.

I recently quilted with a friend for several days.  I got a lot done; I just need to take photos to include.

Bonnie Hunter's 2017 Mystery "On Ringo Lake" is ready to bind.  The 2018 Mystery "Good Fortune" needs the borders quilted.

I'm also doing a Block of the Week, Delft Blue, with Piecing the Past Quilts.  It's appliqued, but I'm choosing to do the applique by machine.  The prep work takes just as long as hand applique, but working on the machine means I actually get it done.  I have 1 3/4 of four released blocks complete.

https://www.piecingthepastquilts.com/

Thanks for checking in.