We Have A Finish Folks!

Yes, I know, this was last years BOM with Craftsy...it's been a busy year, what can I say.  But I have finally finished it, quilted and bound with a little help from my friends.

Sophie and Honey Bee, they are always there ready to help.  Bee is holding down my chair, keeping it warm and Sophie is holding down the quilt so it doesn't fly away, she is very good at that.

I am trying to reason with her, explaining the difficulty I will have manuvering the quilt with her on it...she's not going for it.

She is thinking, "I am in the sun, on the quilt, it smells like mommy and I am warm and happy, time to sleep now".  After much coaxing and some kitty cookies...both the girls retired to the livingroom to watch TV with dad.

Now I know what you are thinking...this is some wild fabric, and yes it is!  It's "Miami" by Philip Jacobs.  The colors are perfect and I am in love with the way it "reads" on the edge of my quilt.  Just stitching it on was a joy and finishing it by hand on the backside gave me the greatest pleasure.  I love the vibrancy of the colors.

This is my new "most favorite" piece of acrylic right this minute!  It is called "The Binding Tool".  You may already have one and if you do, why didn't you tell me about this?  It's amazing and makes that perfect ending to your binding experience.  If you don't have one, this is a MUST GET, MUST HAVE tool for your quilting pleasure.  I'm going to show you how to use it in the photos below and will include a video that is on youtube so you can see just how easy it is.

First thing, you have stitched your binding all the way around your quilt, leaving and opening of 12 inches and leaving long strips of at least 10 inches of binding on your start and finish ends.

Fold your binding strips back and place the tool on one side, printed directions are on the tool so you can't screw up.  Place your binding over the top of the tool as shown.

Mark with a removable marking pen, the line where it is indicated on your tool.  Then flip your tool and do the same on the otherside.  (TIP:  if you cannot read the writing on your tool, you have it wrong side up)

Again, make the mark where indicated on your tool.

Okay, don't get scared, here comes the fun part.  Fold out your binding and lay it flat on your board, for the left side, line the tip of your tool against the line you drew and make sure your edges line up with your binding strip.  Now cut.  Whew...I know, kind of scary...

Pay attention here.  Do the same for the otherside, BUT place the line of your tool, over the line on your fabric.  Remember to flip your ruler and make sure you can read the print.  Now cut.  

Take the cut edges and pin them together, right sides of fabric together, you will note that the flat tips when you cut will perfectly line up on the edge of the opposing binding strip!  Yeah!!!

Now stitch a 1/4 inch seam.  Open out your binding, press your seam open and whaaalaa!  Was that AWESOME?!!!  Look at that, it is perfection, not too lose, not too tight, why by golly Goldie Locks, it's JUST RIGHT!

Now just finish stitching down your binding and you are ready to turn and if you are like me, hand stitch the backside.  

Here is the video for this amazing tool!

You want one now don't you!  

Autumnal Flurries!

The oak and madrone leaves are drying on the trees now and it doesn't take much of a breeze for them to come swirling down.  The forest floor is carpeted in their gold and brown beauty, crackling as the deer wander through.  I think this is one of my most favorite seasons.  The sun is starting to drop down in the southern sky, the mornings are brisk and this past week we have been treated to a Hunter's Moon.  It has been so bright that even here in the forest, all the stars are dimmed behind it's blazing pale reflection.  

It calls for a moon glow table runner, something with lots of reflective bits, something that would express that Autumnal glow that lays below the pines right now.  Spider webs glistening in the last rays of the warm sun and pumpkins in the field, ready for their special night.

 The table runner is complete, batting and quilting done, now to pick out a suitable binding.  For me, binding is like framing a piece of art.  


















My friend Brenda Allen has just completed a beautiful Halloween Quilt!  Hand stitched center pannel with color crayon color on the fabrics, a fun technique!  Her fabric selections are always great.

I love the BOO surround!

Her backing is awesome!

Color applied to fabric with color crayons!

I always appreciate her beautiful creations.

We had our last quilt class for the year this past Friday.  Everyone was busy working on their individual projects.  Teri brought in her quilt top to pin and it is just so bright and wonderful!  She is really turning out to be a very talented quilter!

Teri pinning her quilt top.

In addition to her quilt top, she brought in a tree skirt that she made this past year.  Just cute as can be!!!

I am doodling along with my Sugar Block Quilt...here is my mess...LOL.

I am planning four corner blocks that will look like the one above, each block in the four corners will be different but will be framed with the flying geese and the white fabric.  More to be revealed there.  I have blocks from 3 other BOM's that I have yet to assemble.  Slacking off.  Lots of quilting in my future, lots and lots of quilting.

So, like the flurry of leaves that are falling to the ground now, I have a flurry of projects to complete.  A quilters work is never done.  Thankfully.