Beautiful Fall Bouquets.

I just found this beauty of a bouquet at the Treasured Petal blog. I just love the vivid combination of colours an especially the anenomes....beautiful!

Here is a bouquet I did last weekend for a beautiful bride, Amanda, last weekend. I love the fall colours she chose, and the great mix of different flowers she chose.
She was lucky to have a beautifully sunny Saturday to have her outdoor wedding just outside Awenda Provincial Park in Penetanguishene. I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures!

Verna Quilt

The inside was quilted in random circles, various sizes, all linking one to another. The outside 6" was quilted in straight lines.

The border and backing are both the same. I used a flat bed sheet! It was affordable and coordinated again with all the fabrics I was already using.

I'm really happy with how Verna turned out!  I love the mix of colours...I love the white lattice....and I'm really loving the quilting too.

I used a Verna charm pack for all the 5"squares. These charm packs are great for getting a nice variety in colour and pattern, yet they all coordinate without too much thought.

Finished just in time...

It's finished!
I've been working fast on this one...it's due for a wedding this Saturday. I just made it with enough time to wrap it up pretty.
It's kind of hard to let it go. I've spent so much time looking at it, I think I'm kind of liking it. Hopefully it will be enjoyed by a very special bride!

Trying something new...

I have been wanting to try the "quilt as you go" technique. I have seen beautiful large quilts done this way. It saves you trying to fit a large quilt into your machine...you just quilt as you go and attach them at the end.

It is essentially the long cabin technique, sewn right onto your square of batting. After you add each piece, you take the time to go over each strip. Then you add the next piece and do the same thing again, working your way around the block. It is another great way to use up all your scraps.

 

When you're finished, cut a square for your backing, trim up the edges and bind as you would a quilt.  Mine became hot pads...with matching tea towels for an upcoming shower gift!

Frolic Quilt

This quilt was simply pieced using Moda's FROLIC charm pack! I loved all the colours. In some of the squares I appliqued smaller squares just for fun.

I quilted it just with my walking foot in one way wavy stripes.

The back side.

A couple of close ups.

Scrappy Lap Quilt.....done!

My first quilt....done!  I think it took about 2 hours to stipple quilt the entire thing. I can see why everyone says to practice, practice,practice! It takes some time to get the feel of the machine and the fabric. Even with a lap size quilt it is easy to get hung up on just about anything, and with the feed dogs dropped, your needle can move anywhere, anytime. I think another time I may try doing a smaller stippling. But over all I'm happy with my first run.

The back side. Using a pattern allowed some forgiveness if my stitches weren't quite right. It also gave me a chance to use up the few scrap blocks I had leftover.

 

It is all bound with a my favourite blue and white striped fabric. I love the effect of striped fabric on binding!

Finished size: 42"x48"

Scrappy Lap Patchwork Quilt

I finished sewing together my scrappy lap quilt top! It was made from all scraps....bits and pieces I've had forever. Many were scraps from recycled mens shirts.

The patchwork squares were made using strip paper piecing. It's the first time I've tried it, and I'm sure I'll do more. It was easy and fun, and a great way to use up scrap.

I've been reading a book "Quilt As Desired" which is all about machine quilting. She had some great advice about sandwiching the layers. She recommended using masking tape to tape down the back side, stretching it taut. Then layer the batting, and then the top. It worked wonderfully, keeping everything nice and tight. Well, I guess I shouldn't confirm this until I've actually quilted it, but it appears to work nicely!

So...next step...quilting! Stay tuned...