Am I CRAZY?????

March 19th, 2009

Well, I have decided that the cross-hatching is what this quilt wants (even though that is not what I want to do). I had originally planned on doing a form of McTavishing on the border, but after doing a section it just didn’t feel right. I think this type of quilting enchances all the embroidery work on the borders of this quilt.

Here is the center of the glorified nine-patch block. I SID (stitched in the ditch) on the nine-patch blocks and added the center fill design. Now to figure out the finishing touch around the four nine-patch blocks. (NO – no more double hatching!)

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Looking for quilting suggestions?????

March 18th, 2009

The quilting is going very well, I like how my mom’s blocks are going, but I am stumped as how to quilt the borders, the 1″ space between the blocks and inside of the glorified nine-patch blocks. On the border I am planning on outlining the vine on both sides like I did on the blocks, but then what? I just don’t know.

On the glorified nine-patch blocks I have the same outside design as my mom’s embroidery blocks. Again I have outlined the vine on both sides, but have not been able to come up with the perfect design for the center.

Here is a peek at the “Other side” of this quilt.

This one was not lined up exactly, but pretty close.
I found it very hard pin basting this quilt and trying to get everything to line up exactly.
If you would rather not leave your suggestions in the comments, you can email me at:
Thanks for your help!

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Quilting finally!

March 17th, 2009

Pin basting took FOREVER!!!!! because I had to make sure that everything lined up with the other side of the quilt. It was pretty tedious work.

I am putting a hidden rod pocket on this quilt. On the top 7″ of the quilt each side will be quilted separately and sides of these sectons will be bound separately. The tops will be together in the same binding. This way this quilt can be entered into a show (or hung on a wall (if I had one large enough)) and the rod pocket won’t take away from the design on the “other side” of the quilt. I originally had batting in both the front section and back section of the rod pocket, but ended up taking the batting out on the back piece and will use flannel.

Here is the quilt on the table being pin basted.

Here are the two sides showed uniting together.

I started quilting today.
I started with one of my mother’s blocks.
I am sure she is looking down on this project and smiling!

Close-up

Here is the “other side” of the quilt of the same block.
(See why I had to make (or at least try) sure everything was all lined up.

close-up.

George and the Generations Unite together.
Makes my heart sing!!!!

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Almost ready to start pin basting

March 16th, 2009
Tom’s sharp eye for details amazes me when he is clueless to the big picture sometimes. I had the “other side” of this quilt hanging on the wall where the stairs are. Tom had gone up and down the stairs a few times on Saturday and finally I asked him what he thought of the quilt. He asked where it was (he probably had brushed against it each time it went up or down the stairs). When he was looking at the quilt he gets kind of quite and I ask him what is wrong – and he hesitates. He then asks if I really want to know. Well, YES I want to know. The hummingbirds are still giving me problems, the one on bottm left corner is flying in the wrong direction. I have looked and looked at this quilt and did not noticed that.
 So, I took the humming bird out and got it flying in the wrong direction.

On Friday I was talking to Emily and said that I was just going to leave alot of the stablier under the machine embroidery work because no one would ever know. She kept saying to me, but I would know. So, she got to me, and I also took the time (about 2 1/2 – 3 hours) to pull off all that blasted stablizer. One mishap while doing so, I made a small hole in the quilt with my blunt end tool (on Emly’s block) so now I have to do alittle fixing.

It also took a bunch of time to trim all the threads between the letters.
(This is before I did that.)

Here is a picture of the “Other Side” of this quilt.

The label with who actually worked on it.
Following are the blocks documentating the 6 generations and how they are represented on this quilt.




This morning I put the binding together. (I hate to have to prepare the binding after I finish quilting, so I try and do it before I start quilting.) I wanted white binding on the front of the quilt and green binding on the “other side” of the quilt.

Here I am pressing the binding in half. I had to tweak the instructions that I got on the interent on doing two-fabric binding because the front of the quilt is white and I had to insure that I didn’t see the other color shadowing through.

Ironing the binding in half.

It’s already, just wanting for George to get done with his part.
The few of the humming birds are a another reminder of my Grandma’s quilt. I had made 8 humming bird blocks and then decided that was alot of work to do without being able to see the detail. I need to change the contract on some of the parts of the hummingbird. But, I decided that Grandma probably would had used the blocks anyway, so that is what I did. You can see the two different humming birds in the picture above.

Here is the quilt my Grandma made me with the two different fabrics used.

I thought I was already to start pin basting and then I remembered that I needed to do the french knot on each bird to give them an eye. So, that is what I am working on now. Should be able to start pin basting pretty soon.

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Progress continues

March 13th, 2009
Here is the title banner being embroidered.
Layout of back with the title banner.

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Multi taksing

March 12th, 2009
With a BIG fire I need to get twice am much done today – so
I am multi-tasking. I have the embroidery modual attached to one of my Bernina’s and I am piecing on another one. I actually have seven machines set-up in my studio right now. (Now if I could just figure out how to get each one to do a step on its’ own.) Anyone want to come and sew with me?
 Here are some of the hummingbird blocks attached to the sashings.

Pressing the seams

and all lined up ready for flight.

Test layout of the quilt back with one of the verb age blocks.

I missed figured on the spacing, so back to the drawning board. I have it figured out what I need to do, now to get that sewing machine going again.
I have decided to add small pictures to each of the generation blocks so that anyone will know exactly what element of the quilt that quilter is responsible for.
Well, back to work!!!!!!

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Bitter Sweet

March 10th, 2009
Tonight I completed the last section of the embroidery work on the top of the quilt.This picture shows my last stitch uniting with my mother’s stitches.
The completed unit.

I also finished the hummingbird blocks today. Jennie and I have made 52 of these blocks for the “Other Side” of the quilt.

The 112 Easy Piece blocks are also completed. It was a great help to have Emily make 100 of these blocks.

Here is the layout for the back of the quilt.
Now I need to work on the blocks with the verb age on it.

I am going to include some fo the folded hexagon flowers on the Title section. These are turning out pretty small. I think they should be pretty cute.

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The next fire to put out!

March 8th, 2009
I am on to my next deadline. Our Stake Relief Society is having a Stake Enrichment program on March 21. The theme of the activity is “Living Waters”. Sisters in our stake have been asked to share artwork and some sisters are going to discuss their artwork. I have been asked to share one of my quilts. I want to share “The Generations Unite”, which means I need to finish it by March 21. The clock is ticking. Here are the four hummingbird blocks that Jennie made.
Emily made 50 of the Easy Pieces blocks for my birthday and then she made the remaing 50 before my trip to Utah.

I completed 4 of the hummingbird block last night so I have 32 left to make. These babies take a LONG time! I wouldn’t be as worried about finishing this quilt on time, but I also need to spend a decent amount of time on my Tax Time Repentance for 2009. I hope one of these years I learn and keep the paperwork done throughout the year!

Back to humming!

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It’s Done!!!!!

March 7th, 2009
Grandma’s Hexagarden is completed!!!!!!1 I finished attaching the crystals and………..
 sewing on the label last night. Now this quilt is off to see what the judges will have to say about it. I have it hanging in my studio right now and I love seeing the dimension the folded hexagons give and the occasional sparkle from the crystals. I am pretty happy with this wallhanging. To bad it is about 1″ to wide hang between the windows above our bed. Oh well, I am sure I can find somewhere to hang it!

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It’s good I have a deadline

March 6th, 2009

I have entered Grandma’s Hexagarden into the Empire Quilters quilt show which will be held the weekend of Saturday, March 21. I was thinking that is when I needed to have this quilt completed by, but then I realized that the juding is this Saturday, March 7. Wow, I need to get the finishing touches completed THIS WEEK!!!!! Yesterday I played around attaching a few of the Swarovski Crystals (3mm). I like them, but they are kind of time consuming to put on.

Last night I attached the rod pocket.

Today I set-up for real down in my studio to attach the rest of the crystals.

3mm is pretty small, but I want just a hint of the shine and not to be able to see the crystal that much. I bought some variety packs and now I am trying to determine which color to use on which folded hexagon.

I have blacks one on the way to use in the center of each of the back folded hexagons.

Most of today I will spend attaching crystals and listening to “The Surgen” by Tess Gerritsen.

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