Quilting a plenty

The quilts pin basted.  I used a hera marker to mark the quilting lines for the red and white quilt.

The binding all sewn together.  I am using a single layer binding.

Designer: Cheri Payne (freebie)

 I finally tried free motion quilting.  It was really scary but interesting at the same time.  The stitches are not perfect and their some jagged edges too if you look closely.  But I hope with practice the meanders will truly meander :)

Designer: Ann Hermes

I used the same colour scheme in the magazine instead of those in the instructions.  Straight line machine quilting in the form of a chevron.

Broken dishes block, straight line machine quilted.

The X-Quisite blocks quilt and Little Star blocks quilt (both are challenges on SQT) are all hand quilted and now for the binding.

It looks like I'm trying to clear all the WIP quilt tops that I have before I embark on a new one.  I've not done any piecing for some days now :p  But I think I need to pull out some fabric for some test Jacob Ladder blocks as done by Lucy.  

Peahen's Valentine. Designer: Appleseed Prim (freebie)

Tutorial for zipper bag found here.

  It's Margaret W's birthday today.  She messaged me to say she has opened her package.  It's a needlecase similar to the one I made for a swap recently but in semi-prim fabric Beach House by Blackbird Designs.  The zipper bag was easy to tackle but the bulk caused by the fusible batting was a concern.  I think I shall use regular interface the next time.  I made another zipper bag for Jackie W too.  Quite fun really!

The curtain is finally up but I think I need to swap the panels, too much red side by side.  A little busy if I may say so but I hope to get used to it.

I'll leave you with some tin whistle music.  Still working on Silver Spear :(  This is a basic The Foggy Dew but I hope to learn the ornaments and incorporate it into this lovely melody.

Le Moyne Star quilt top

 I got the quilt top completed about a week ago.  It measures 41-1/2" x 52-1/2".  Blocks are 8" square finished.  The 9 patch setting squares are 3" square finished.  Fabrics are Beach House by Blackbird Designs for Moda with Kona Solid Snow.  I opted without a border because I got lazy and decided I had enough of this quilt!

Before I put all the fabrics away, I cut up the binding and sewed them together.  This will be a scrappy binding.

Designer: Primitive Bettys

The crow pincushions are all stuffed and sitting pretty on my desks.  Weighted it with walnut shells and did some elongated blanket stitch all around the pincushion with cotton a broder thread.  Just love the pairing.  Beneath the pincushions you will see the X-Quisite doll quilt which is currently being hand quilted.

Patchwork curtains still in progress, took more time than I anticipated :s

 Bought 2 more spools of YLI silk thread off eBay.  So I got the lights, mediums and darks covered for future applique!

About Crows

Designer: Primitive Bettys (Freebie)

When I was working on the applique portion of the bow-tie quilt, I was using a piece of felt to poke my needle and applique pins.  For someone who does needlework, it's a shame :)

So I looked for simple pin cushion patterns and loved those by Betty Dekat.  She's a generous soul with so many lovely freebies.

Her most recent freebie is Sunflowers & Crows.  It was stitched with DMC 928, 3011, 3820 and 782.  As for Crow it's stitched with DMC 3371.  The linen is 35ct Fagales by HDF.  I really love the pairing of these 2 designs, quite primitive I must say.  I will weigh it with crushed walnut shells and finish it with a blanket stitch variation all around using Anchor's coton a broder thread.  One for my stitching table and one for my sewing table!
 

 I've completed the 20 star blocks and the 12, 9 patch setting squares.  So now it's a matter of sewing up the sashing and the blocks together.  It's gonna be a good lap quilt size and I'm quite pleased that it is nearing completion. This has taken a while.

The layout will 4 by 5 blocks.

I'll leave you with an Irish folk tune!  This tune is recorded earlier before the lessons got to be more technical.  Learning very important ornamentations in Irish tin whistle playing ... it's tough ...