I am so so happy to say that I finally forced myself to put everything up and get out my Orca Bay (Bonnie Hunter mystery from last winter) and sew down the binding.
Because I have fallen out of love with this quilt, I had the binding sewn on and just decided to sew it down on my machine rather than by hand. I want it over and put up.
I'm hoping I will love it more one of these days. That's what happened with this quilt -- it was also a mystery and I got weary of it, didn't like my color choices, and put it up. I later needed a quilt for a friend, pulled it out, and decided it wasn't half bad. I'm hoping for the same thing with Orca. Time will tell -- literally.
In addition to finishing this, I finally started the MacQuilt challenge with fabric that was gifted in honor of Mom22SmartChix's birthday challenge. We are to have our tops done by October (next month!). I have 56 blocks made, on the floor for final adjusting, and should be able to meet the deadline if I keep paying attention.
Details about the challenge fabrics was in
this post -- there are 9.5 yards (I miscounted originally) -- and I hope to make two lap sized quilts with different patterns. Interestingly, this is a fabric line that reads as solids but is a directional print! That means I would be itchy if I tried to do triangles. Would have made me nuts to have lines going different directions -- I had enough problem keeping the directions straight with squares.
I also finished two charity quilts and they are quilted, bound and ready to be delivered next week. That is always a relief as I try to make two each month (other than a one month sabbatical in August). I did free motion stippling on these which makes me tense beyond words. I kept having a bit of drag on my lucite/plastic quilting table that fits my machine. I was hesitant to wax or polish it -- any advice from anyone out there on what to put on there to give me as much 'glide' as possible? I'm happy the backs (flannel) don't show the herky-jerky stitching in a few places. I know these are the perfect size to practice on in order to improve my free motion quilting. You can only do so much on a practice sandwich.
The icing on the cake is we have four men working diligently digging up our back yard for a new patio. This will be great eventually. It is not great now.
I hope you are loving whatever project you are working on! Jan
36 comments:
That Orca Bay is just gorgeous and well worth the effort. I've had mine out two different times trying to get the top put together. Seeing yours has made me want to work on it again. Your new patio is going to be just great for relaxing and doing a bit of stitching.
Your Orca Bay is lovely. I get sick of things I work on too, but they always seem to look better in time (or to the people I give them to--since they are new to them!) Hope yours ages well for you. About the directional print and triangles. Think of them going different ways as adding "movement" to the quilt--it really does (I purposely cut some plaids off grain for some stars I made, and it kind of made them spin), so you might experiment a bit and see! :)
Congratulations! What a HUGE accomplishment. It looks terrific.
Your quilt is just gorgeous!!! I love it!!!!
I love the use of floral fabrics in the charity quilt. Simple quilt - but the florals work well for that...looks like a stroll in a flower garden. :)
Judy
I think your Ocra Bay is awesome. The colours are perfect, very eye catching
Pauline
I think your orca bay is fantastic. And you'll probably think so too eventually!
Ha! I hear you. I have to really concentrate on not clenching my teeth when I FMQ.
Love your Orca Bay.
Congrats on finishing the Orca Bay quilt. Love all your scrappy work.
I have no doubt there'll come a day when you'll love that quilt -- it looks great from here!
finished is the best, I was lucky I guess on Orca Bay, my neice saw the black and white ohio star blocks on the wall and said that needs to be my graduation quilt. that put a time limit on me to get it done and I am so glad.
Hi!
Your Orca Bay quilt does look AWESOME!
It is all those little pieces and endless piecing which makes us tired of it!
It happens to me too, I guess that is why I didn't start one too!
Make yourself a deal, if you get the binding done, then you can go shopping for new patio furniture! LOL!
Take care, Leslie
Wow, I saw the thumbnail and thought look at that stain glass quilt - and it was your Orca. I love it. All you other projects are fab too!
I'm sorry you "fell out of love" with your Orca Bay but I think I would have felt the same about mine had I not selected my own colors (purple, pink and green). I finished my top right on schedule but there it has sat, the top, ever since. Since I plan to do another Bonnie mystery should she provide one this year, I'm determined to finish Orca Bay before then! LOVE that rainbow of fabric you have!
I think your Orca Bay is lovely, but I don't think it's unusual for the maker to fall out of love with a project. Maybe it will age well.
Many great finishes. Love that you got your Orca bay done. I like the new fabric. looks good.
Nope I'm thinking you'll never like that Orca Bay may as well cut your losses and send it my way :) Goodness that is beautiful!! I do hope it falls back in your good graces. I felt the same way about Roll Roll Cotton Boll and now, it's one of my favorites. But it took a good year for it to be one of my favorites.
This is why I only sew small wall hanging sized quilts. I grow weary if they are taking too long ... which they still sometimes do.
But you should NOT be weary of that stunning beauty!
Thanks for the peek ~
Mary
Wow, you've been super busy! I fall out of love with my sewing projects all the time. Sometimes, about halfway through, they just don't live up to my vision. I've got about 3 projects waiting to be finished right now. Hopefully you've inspired me to just get it done already! Thanks for sharing at Etcetorize this week!
wow, your quilt is beautiful. all that piecing!!!
That Orca Bay Quilt is just fabulous! And I can imagine how brilliant it's going to he to have your new patio in!!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Your Orca Bay Quilt is fantasitic!! You've done a great job! Thanks for sharing your project! I'm a new follower from Craft-O-Maniac. It would be great if you'd follow me back at http://parklandparish.blogspot.com/
Your quilts look great! I bet you cant wait for the outside work to get done either! It will be worth the mess though when it is done.
Great quilt! You will enjoy the patio when it is done.
Bunny
Your Orca Bay is stunning! And you'll love your patio...all the building work will be forgotten once you're enjoying it
Your Orca bay is stunning, give it some time, i,m sure you will fall in love with it again.
Cheers Jenny
Sew beautiful!
Inspiring....
Crystelle
http://www.crystelleboutique.com
Your Orca Bay quilt is amazing :)
Both quilts are just stunning!!! Way to finish up that binding :)
When I started free motion quilting years ago, I started with a supreme slider. It is a smooth piece of material that you put on you machine bed. This is step one. Practice Until you can just sit down and do it without much thought. When you are thoroughly comfortable with this you will be able to remove the slider and then wax the area so it is slick. More questions please ask.
My goodness you've been busy. I too, just finished a quilt that seemed like it would never get done. I went to many smaller quilts in between working on it. Sometimes we just have to realize we're not always in love with every project from beginning to end. But when it's finished we seem to fall in love all over again. Hope you feel that "love" for Orca Bay. It's photo is lovely.
Your Orca Bay quilt is beautiful! I just finally finished mine too and everyone in my family wants it but....I'm keeping this. Enjoy your new patio, it will be wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion at the River Linky Party Tuesday
Your Ocra Bay looks like it has great movement. I'm sure it will find someone who just loves it.
I love your Orca Bay - congratulations on getting the binding finished. Hopefully you will fall back in love with it or find the perfect home for it! And good luck on that patio - some WIPs will just drive you nuts! Whoop whoop!!
Your quilting is beautiful. I really dislike it when I have something that I don't love when it is done. I have a partially finished sweater, that I feel that way about. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/09/reeses-smore-brownies-and-wednesdays.html
from Wednesday until Sunday.
Hope to see you there.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
www.adornedfromabove.com
Do we get to see a photo of the finished patio?
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