Reindeer Quilt

Very pretty reindeer applique quilt on the frame today!

Here's a close up of the design behind the applique. Can you believe that the thread color is Sand! Looks just like the shimmery gold that's in all the reindeer fabrics.

Glide thread and a red on the bottom to match the poinsettia fabric.

I'm working my way down the quilt, so back to it.

Baltimore Christmas

Baltimore Christmas

This quilt was appliqued by a good customer who does just phenomenal work! It was a joy to quilt, each block was so much fun. When I get a quilt like this it really stretches me to do my best and come up with new and unique quilting. This is not a quilt that you can put the same quilting on each block, as they are all so different. I know that a lot of the Baltimore style quilts have crosshatching in each block, but looking at the blocks I thought it might look very uneven. So each block has a  free flow design  with feathers and swirls and in several of the blocks the centers have different fills.

With this kind of background quilting, I  just doodle my way around the motifs , making the design fit each block. Adding feathers, swirls,or curls . Having fun as I go. I do use similar elements to tie it together across the quilt.

The big Santa needed more detail on the applique. Not only to secure the applique from poofing out, but , as he is the focal point, he needed to be special.

Some outlining, curved lines and swirly fill on his pants. I had fun with the beard too !

Do you see that cute jingle bell border in the red inner border? it is perfect for this quilt! I just love how this design stitched out.

These are awesome blocks! Well executed  by Mary O'Driscoll. She has a great talent for using the right fabric and her embroidery just finishes it so perfectly. There is ultra suede, and glitter fabric as well as a thermore type for the beard. And her applique is exquisite!
All designs were done freehand or with my Ronda Beyer cross hatch ruler. The only computerized designs were the feathers underneath the holly leaf border and the holly swirl in the corners of the Santa . So Fine thread in a soft cream  and some clear thread in some of the applique.
 The designer of this pattern is Pearl Pereira www.p3designs.com Please stop over and see all her beautiful patterns. She has some brand new ones, just loaded on her site.

Ooops, almost forgot,. the Jingle Bell border is a  digitized design by Anne Bright

Do I need another BOM? Duh...of course I do !

Hop on over to Lyn Browns blog http://lynbrown.com and look at her new quilt-a-long starting this month.

Logs by Lyn Brown

It also has some applique coming later around the inside white setting triangles. You can do scrappy or controlled. Hmmmn. I probably have enough to do this in my stash . I might have to get the backgrounds as I never have enough cream/white /eggshell fabrics. I like the thought of doing a few blocks at a time. Since I'm usually at the longarm  all day, a few blocks is fine.
Uh oh, the new Hancock's catalog just arrived and I am drooling over the new Jinny Beyer Kashmir line.
http://www.jinnybeyer.com/ax_commerce/browse_fabrics.cfm?collectionID=3849F06A-BAD8-2456-4C81A18ECF59011A
 I may have to buy more fabric!! It would look so good in this quilt!

 On the frame is a great Christmas quilt, but until I get the owners OK, I will just show you a peek.

Isn't that jingle bell border cute? Just fits perfectly. I am doing all the background fills free handing and just took a break to grab a coffee! Back to work.

Goodbye 2010

I hate to see Christmas end and put away all the cheer. But maybe the clean up will spur me on to new goals! Things I need to finish, UFO's!!! I do have a few of those.

•  #1 on my list is the Fig Tree Baskets quilt that just needs to be put together and borders added.  The fun part of piecing  the blocks and seeing how each looks is over. I always have to force myself to do borders. Funny, I love quilting them, just not adding them.
•  #2..let's see, oh yes, the BOM Christmas that I'm doing through Fat Quarter Shop. I will take my blocks to the quilt retreat in Temecula and get them done. Unless, I find something that catches my eye!
•  I am all caught up on the Layer Cake Mystery at Moose on the Porch Quilts so no problemo there.

I'm  sure I can find a few more undones in my stash. Do you know we once asked the question, "How many UFO's do you have" at Guild and the most was 71. This was one of our most prolific quilters and I bet she has them all done now!  How many do you have? I like to look ahead..how many new things am I going to start!! More fun.

I think my Christmas stuffed Gingerbread people are going to hang around a couple more days!

Happy New Year and here's to new projects, and fun in the sewing room!