October Finish!

We had 20 mph winds on Wednesday Oct. 8. Guess who was golfing. It managed to get up to 50 degrees by noon, with this wind. Am I crazy, or what?? Wait, don't answer that. (If you do say I'm crazy, that only proves you know me.)

Things were blowing around. More naked trees now. Poor trees. They get to glory in their lovely colors for such a short time, and they get robbed early of their prettiness. So unfair.

That's a plant stand that is on our deck. Must have made a tremendous crash when it came down. I was out golfing. Guess it's way past time to get this cleaned up anyway. Just a gentle nudge from Mother Nature.

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Now I'll talk about my finish. Melons and Creamsicles is finished! Taa Daa!

These are after washing and drying. I had a good time making swirls thru out the creamy white background. I wanted the pin wheels to pop. Check out the back, where you can really see the quilting.

You can see my circles in a couple of the pics. I used a spool as a template. My wonderful Mr. LQ got me a template of all sizes of circles. It came today. So next time, I won't have to use a spool.

My "feathers" are a somewhat different species than I usually use. I borrowed them from LuAnn Kessi's blog. She calls them Big Leaves. I'm calling them Molar Petals. I think they are the shape of molars.

Statistics:

Melons and Creamsicles

Pieced in Florida, starting winter 2013-2014

Mirabelle Fabric 

Warm and Natural Batting

Size: 58" x 64.5"

Was 62" x 70" before quilting and washing.

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OK, now I'm asking for help. Does anyone know how to clear the thin applicator for Roxanne's Glue Baste It? I thought I washed it out completely last time, but one (you get two in a package, thank goodness) is sealed with glue. It is soaking in water, even as we speak. Does anything dissolve it once it is completely dried? The applicator is so skinny, I can't fit anything down it to work at the glue. 

Thanks,

Lin

Quilting Today

I've been quilting on Melons and Creamsicles. I got all the ditching done easily. I'm using my Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen for the quilting and Superior's Bottom Line thread in off white for all the quilting on it.

Now I'm making swirls in all the negative space. I practiced in my sketch book first to see what kind of scale I like best and how to continue to the next swirl. Then I just moved into the game with the quilt.

I can tell I'm new at swirling. I'm using my Tru Stitch regulator and it whirs at me when I move at different speeds going thru the curves and straighter parts. I think it sounds like an angry chipmunk. But the beauty of the regulator is that even when it's angry, it is making my stitches all the same size. I know from experience doing curves, that I would be having bigger stitches in the curves because I move faster then. So I think the Tru Stitch is a good addition.

 Some of the swirls look too much like they're marching along the seam allowance. Amazing how much more you can see in a picture than looking straight at it. Have to remember that. I guess that's why "they" tell you to take a picture to see if the colors are placed where you want them to be.

Well, some areas look cooler than others. Too bad I didn't take a pic of the really cool areas.

I can really tell when I'm more relaxed. The swirls flow better, the points turn out better.  Some of the areas look sort of lacy. By the end of this quilt, I should be an expert. I guess this is the way to learn, eh?

Thanks,

Lin

Next Item on the Agenda

Next up for me is to quilt this baby. It has been sitting in the queue for a few months. It's time!

The pattern is called Dilly Dally from Thimble Blossoms by Camille Roskelley. Due to my color choices (this is Mirabelle), I've named it Melons and Creamsicles. It measures approx 64" x 72", before quilting. I'll have to measure again after quilting for binding, so it will be interesting to see how much it shrinks. I'm planning on quilting the ditches, then allover swirls in the cream. No idea now what I'll do in borders.

How much do you think it will shrink?

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Yesterday we went to a Renaissance Festival here in Michigan. First time we've done that. Lots of people, of all ages dress for the festival. We didn't. It seems to be requisite that the women have low-cut tops with lots of jiggle. I felt so overdressed...

Lots of crazy get ups! People carrying weapons--swords, hatchets, etc. Pirates, dancing girls. Very crowded! We didn't stay too long.

Thought we'd go to Frankenmuth, Michigan for a wonderful chicken dinner, but couldn't find parking. Lots of other people out enjoying the beautiful weather. So, OK, we'll head for home and find something along the way. After 2 detours, we decided we'd eat at a steak house about 1/2 hour from the house. It's closed. Ended up at Ruby Tuesdays.

It was fun being together, but not the kind of day we expected.

Thanks,
Lin