Tomatoes & Sunshine

...that's what I named my latest finish! A perfect match to a perfect summer day! I kept telling myself that I needed to post, but I kept saying when I finish just one more project - so this morning during the cool, Gracen and I sat outside on the porch and she played on the utility quilt (white one the porch) that was stitched by her great grandmother and I finished up the binding! It was a pleasant time - so relaxing and refreshing before the heat of the day runs inside under the AC.

I had fun (most of the time - except when it got late and I was a little tired - added those "character" stitches!! LOL) "practicing" my FMQ. I quilted "Snail Tails", "Whirlygigs" and "Wonky Echoes Diamonds"! and what better summer fabric, but red gingham for the backing!!

I've had several other finishes: two wee care quilts for our guild benevolence. One I forgot to get a photo before I took it to guild meeting, but here is the other. The guild received several big tubs of donated fabric and Marcella handed me a pile of fabric and said, "Here, doing something with this!" It was  panel fabrics with coordinated prints and I cut out the panels and added sashing and cornerstones.

I practiced (again) some more new designs that I found on Lori's blog! Every Tuesday she does a FMQ tutorial and she has a tab with many of her designs for you to reference!! I LOVE her methods and designs, so added some to my quilting!!

In the sashing is what she calls "the twist". Of course mine are NOT as "perfect" as hers - but they turned out pretty cute!! I did "A string of hearts in the outer border and then practiced my straight line FMQ around each block and then on the cross hatches on some of the motifs like the star. The lines were pre-printed, so it gave me an opportunity to practice following lines. The other wee care quilt has similar blocks but is blue and yellow. I quilted loop de loops and stipples on it.

In that stack of fabric there was also a panel of a Mary Englebreit design from which I had made a wee care quilt several months ago, but there were two little 8" x 11" panels left over, so I made two little quilts from them. One I sent to a friend in Colorado and the other I'm going to give to Marcella! She has a collection of teapots and one is a Mary E. so I thought this would make a cute little mat for that tea pot!

I also have another finish. This one was for a client (a co-worker of Mandie's) and it was my first bed-sized quilt to quilt on my DSM. Adrianna had bought the top at a garage sale for $1!! (where was I when this garage sale was going on!! LOL) I added the border (her choice) and quilted it for her. She chose poly batting and much to my surprise it quilted up very nicely! There must have been over 100 different fabrics, and it was so fun to stitch along and see every one!! From what I hear, Adrianna's mother (who had suffered a stroke) was trying to keep it for herself!! So, I guess they were happy customers! As you can see in the photo, I just cross hatched the center and did a double cable in the border. I also did something new - I rounded the corners to match the rounded cable corners and I think it gave it a unique look.

Last, but not least, Karin and I met up again as she made a pass through town!! We always have such a sweet time together and this time was no different even though she could only stop for a few minutes to "stretch her legs" and "hug my neck"!! Of course we met up at the fabric shop and she helped me pick out binding for a baby quilt. AND this time I remembered my camera so you can see that we really do meet up!!

Aren't those fabrics just wonderful!!!! LOL!!

She had been shopping at another quilt shop in another town and she so very, very, very generously gifted me with some 1/2 yard cuts of some CW repros she had picked up! Aren't they wonderful!! She just blessed my socks off!!

Well, I've tarried long enough here! I do want each of you to know that your kind words of concern over my loss of Tate touched me deeply. He is still sorely missed, but my two young dogs Pete and Bess have stepped up and are attempting to fill his "paws"! Blessings to each of you!