The Teacup Quilt is FINISHED!!

BIG finish this week!!  The Teacup Quilt is bound and done, done, done!! 

It's a reflection of my devotion to a "proper cuppa" and my fascination with English bone china teacups.  My son helped me covert this vintage glass door bookcase to display my collection.

It's filled to capacity so these days if I find an irresistible set, I have to give up a set -- that self-imposed rule always slows me down!!  There are special pieces like the sugar and creamer set at the center of this shelf which came to me from my husband's grandmother's collection.

These little crystal glasses were brought back from Germany by my father after WWII and the little candle holder was a Mother's Day gift from my 30-something son. 

I found these spectacles in my parent's things and I surmise they are from one of my great-grandparents out in Spokane. 

These little glass dishes came from a dear friend who passed last year and I'm sure they were originally pieces from her mother or an aunt. 

I have tea parties every now and then and get out the entire menagerie and let friends enjoy them.  I've collected orphan dessert forks, butter spreaders and tiny spoons to dress up the occasions.

There have been lots of starts and stops on this project over the years.  The blocks were pieced by a friendship swap group in the 90's.  I think the original block pattern came from the classic book, Quilts, Quilts, Quilts.

The setting was inspired by Karla Alexander in her first book, Stack the Deck.  I substituted my tea cup blocks where she used preprinted panels.  The configuration of the blue border is a wonderful idea!

The backing is the last bit of a lovely sweet pea floral design in my stash.  When I can't bear to cut up a beautiful print I use it for a backing.  I certainly don't want it to be in the "BIG" yard sale and leave it for someone else to get to use!!

The quilting doesn't show up a great deal.  There are wreaths of "tea leaves" in the crazy pieced blocks that begin as a spiral at the center.  Each tea cup has a bouquet of three leaves and interestingly the simple straight line quilting on the border shows up the most.  I need to remember that!!

I had quite a time making the binding decision -- the ideal would have been the blue in the border, but that piece is long gone.  I finally settled uneasily on this soft green which looked perfect with the backing, but was just okay with the front.

In the end, it looks fine and it means another 5/8 yard out of the stash!!  Plus I can cross it off the list of goals for the second quarter -- one down, seven to go!?!

(My list is HERE.)

 

Take time to stitch today -- it's important!!

 

Mary Huey 

 

Linking up today over at FRESHLY PIECED WIP.

 

Linking up with all the other finishers at the

2015 Finish-along over at On the Windy Side!