Saturday, February 28, 2015

4 X 7 -- Week 4 -- A Big Finish!!

The last day of February, 2015!!
I hope it's also the end of the brutal cold spell we've been enduring here in Northeast Ohio!
And the wrap-up of a productive month of stitching!!
 
I'm sure the extra cold weather has been a positive factor in the amount of stitching I've accomplished this month.  There were quite a few days I didn't budge out of the house.  And we've had lots of sunshine -- which is a positive impact of the fact that Lake Erie is completely frozen over. 
Hard to comprehend but it's the shallowest of the Great Lakes and so during a very cold spell, the ice grows quickly. 
 
This week I began to set together the "sunflower" blocks from Nathalie's "not a mystery" sew-along.
You can get to all her posts about the quilt HERE.  Nat's blog is in French so you'll have to learn how to translate it via Google or Bing, but several of my American students have been making it also and had no trouble following along.
 
  It's a charming block, cut with Marti Michell's new 2" Kite and Crown template set.  There are two more rows to add but I'm using the blocks as part of my piecing demos at the Farmpark Quilt Show Vendors Weekend today and tomorrow.  I've started to search my stash for a border fabric, but might need to go shopping on this one!
The BIG finish for the week has been the quilting of my fun, fun, fun fruit and veggie Tessellated Windmill quilt top.  I spread it out on my double bed to get some pics -- Willie refused to move at first.  I used 7" blocks, set 8 by 10, and the quilt measures 55" by 70".
But he finally emerged for a closer look at the ants.
And it has his official seal of approval!! 
I think this is the 9th quilt I've made using this tool since Marti Michell introduced it a couple years ago.  If you can't find the tool locally, I usually have some in stock -- e-mail me at maryhueyquilts@hotmail.com
 Because it can be done in block sizes from 2" to 9" and is easy to cut, easy to piece, and I've found a simple quilting strategy that I use over and over with variations to the border, it's become one of my "go-to" quilts for gifts and donations. 
This one is not a donation or a gift! 
This one is for me. 
My fruit and veggie pile is so much fun to play with and this is the third big project I've made from it.  I was able to come up with enough names of fruits and veggies that I didn't repeat any as I worked my way around the border.  
Finishing this quilt also gives me another "gold star" on my 2015 UFO Challenge list over at http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/finishing/2015-ufo-challenge  So I'm two for two and looking forward to the "number" for March. 
 
Wahoo, wahoo, wahoo!!
Hope the momentum I have going carries me through March!!
A big THANKS and a hug to Sarah over at http://www.berrybarndesigns.com/ 
for the motivation of the 4 X 7 Sewing Challenge.
 
Hope you are able to stitch away your weekend!!
 
Mary Huey
 

20 comments:

  1. I love your fruit and veggie quilt! Crazy that Lake Erie actually freezes over. Whoa. :) www.quiltartbymegan.com

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    1. Thanks for the visit, Megan!! I should go take some pictures from the lake this week to share with all of you -- it will be a while before it thaws, too!!

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  2. Your Sunflower quilt is very beautiful !

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    1. Thanks, Bea -- I hope I can find a border print I like with it!!

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  3. The sunflower quilt looks so old fashioned - love it! The fruit & veggie quilt is such a fun and happy quilt. Handsome Willie has very good taste!

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    1. Thanks, Karen! I also have fruit and veggie valances that I use in my office during the summer -- six different colors -- really cheers the place up!!

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  4. The fruit and veggie quilt is such an unusual block pattern. I must investigate that MM tool. I love the fabric you chose; a real riot of colour.

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  5. Wow, that quilting around the border is a fantastic idea! I have got to make a tesselated windmill quilt. I keep seeing them and they are fantastic. I just need to get over my fear of cutting sewing blocks!

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    1. Thanks, Sparkling!! With Marti's tool, you cut all the pieces before you do any stitching so there is no wasted fabric -- and no fear!!

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  6. that quilt is just too cute. I love the words in the border, great job

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    1. Thanks, Shauna -- usually I "hide" words in my meander quilting but this is the first time, I've strung so many together -- I pleased with the results!

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  7. What a clever way to add words to your border and get it quilted. Genius! Congrats on your finish.

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  8. I love your sunflower quilt--so charming! The green setting triangles are perfect to show off the blocks!

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    1. Thanks, Karen -- it took a lot of auditioning to settle on that green polka dot!!

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  9. Really like the setting you used for your dresdens

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    1. Thanks, Sandra -- they aren't "dresdens" though they do resemble them and the setting is Nathalie's idea -- you can read about her process at http://www.lesouvragesdenat.com/archives/2015/02/06/31474741.html -- in French, so you need to use Google translate or some such app.

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  10. Those colours are farm-fresh and right out of a summer orchard!!!! Love, love, love your quilt! Congrats on a great finish...

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  11. Mary, I love that use of the fruit and veggie fabric! My daughter is always asking for those prints at the quilt store, but I never know what to make with them. Maybe she needs an "eat your greens" quilt ; ) Glad you had a wonderful month working on the challenge - thank you so much for joining in!

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