Tuesday 25 August 2009

Wonders will never cease. . .

that's one of my mum's favourite sayings when something unexpected happens - lol !

All those squares are now a top. Took a bit of doing - starting off in one corner with one square and working my way to the other corner - strips getting bigger and bigger. I think the longest strip had 45 squares. There is probably some easy-peasy way of strip piecing this that takes about 2 hours from start to finish and if there is - I DON'T want to know about it !!! Such a lot of pressing in this and I even used PINS - something I don't often do. I worked out there are 1011 squares in this .


Here it is in it's just completed state




and here it is with borders.




I loved how it looked without borders and dithered for a while as to whether to leave it like that but in the end I added quite a bright pink inner border and used some scrappy bits for the outer and in the end I was glad I did. It's a better size now.
This photo has come out too bright - the earlier ones are truer.

I won't quilt it yet - it's on the pile.


But I am preparing a quilt at the moment ready for hand-quilting during the winter. I will show you that next time.


I bought a quilting magazine a couple of weeks back and there was a picture of a new range of fabric that I loved. I am trying hard not to buy much new fabric but I had to have this.



This features 2 things I love - owls and apples. Strange but true :-)



And lastly a bit more cross-stitch. I have signed up for a few swaps and this will end up in one of them I think.




There is so much inspiration out there on the net - we are very lucky - this little chart was a freebie although I can't put my finger on it at the moment to let you know where I got it. If I find it I will add it later.
Bye for now xx










31 comments:

Vicki W said...

Your quilt looks fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Very pretty!! So much work too, someone will love it!

loulee said...

It looks beautiful, well worth all the effort. The borders are perfect.

Elsie Montgomery said...

Oh, very nice! The borders are exceptional! Well done.

Deb A said...

The quilt came out wonderful. That is a very cute pillow too! I love bee's!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

It looks wonderful! I can't believe how you pieced each square and pinned too...I'm very impressed!

Gina said...

Love the quilt. the borders really make it zing.
that owl fabric is fabulous

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Mark said...

The pile? You have a pile of unquilted tops? Better get quilting, eh? LOL Just teasing, I know about your shoulder, so you're excused for now. Great top though! And love your pincushion - too cute!

Libby said...

I like the borders, too. Great quilt, and I can tell you with authority that there is absolutely no faster way to do it than what you did ;0) Love the new fabric, too - that should be fun to play with!

*karendianne. said...

Andrea, you totally made me laugh out loud when you were talking about an easier way to piece that quilt and "...if there is I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT." I can relate.

It's a great quilt and I love that inner border. Great choice.

Lovely to hear from you and oh wait, your cross stitch - tooooo cute! I don't cross stitch but if I did I'd be inspired to make that!

Warmest Hugs to you, *karendianne.

Gail said...

Andrea,
The quilt top is beautiful! The colors just look so lovely together and the bright pink border just makes if SING! Lovely work as usual. Hope all are well at your house.

black bear cabin said...

very cool...the border looks great on it too!
i agree with Karen...your comment about "not wanting to know about it", was hilarious!
so how big is this pile that it will sit upon before it gets quilted? :(

Gene Black said...

Okay, I won't tell you! LOL

it came out lovely

Zlaty said...

WoW, very pretty! It was worthed piecing more then a 1000 aqures!

I liked it without the borders, but with borderslooks more finished + you got even more squares to the total count! :)

I like your stichery project too!

Happy sewing!

Zlaty

Lori Young said...

The quilt is fabulous! You have a good eye for color. I love your new fabric too. What are you going to make with it?

Anonymous said...

Andrea wonders will never cease...
As to how much you amaze me with each new quilt top that you do. I love what you did with all those little squares. Well done. The stitchery looks great also.

A Time for Stitching said...

A beautiful quilt. So many squares!! - this would have taken me months to complete. The colours are lovely and the bright pink in the border lifts them beautifully.

Jackie Russell said...

Love the quilt top!

Ozjane said...

Fabulous....it is so great to be inspired by others when in a sewing drought.
Did you buy the owl fabric in a shop or online......have a friend who loves owls....they are starting to suck me in.

Latane Barton said...

That quilt turned out beautiful. little bitty squares made into something to cherish. That is what quilting is all about.

carole ann said...

You have inspired me to finally get out all of those little squares and do something with them. Now just to find the time.
That quilt is beautiful and I love the pink border. And I have that beehive pattern, someday, someday.
Cannot wait to see what you will do with that new fabric.

Unknown said...

The quilt is awesome. So many small pieces.

~Bren~ said...

Your quilt is beautiful! A non-quilter would have no idea how difficult that top is to piece...it looks like simple squares...not so simple at all, eh? The borders are perfect!
Your fabrics are so 70's retro...I love them!!! Reminds me of my teen years. The owls and apples look like wall paper from that time period. Ah, those were the good ol days!

Teresa said...

Your TATW quilt is very pretty. I have one that was started in 1920's by my husband's great aunt. She gave it to my mother-in-law who gave it to me. It was just a quilt top when I got it, but I mended the seams and my mom handquilted it for me. I did the binding and now it is mine - a 3 generational quilt. The fabrics look just like what we buy in the stores these days and call reproduciton fabrics. Its double bed size and she hand cut and hand pieced each and every block.

Anne Heidi said...

Oh what a pretty quilt top, WOW! Oh and those new fabrics are just yummy!

Rose Marie said...

Wow .... another great top and I love it!

Meggie said...

Gorgeous quilt!! I love owls!!

Quilter Kathy said...

What a beautiful quilt...so soft and pretty! Yum!

Kieny The Dutchlady said...

I love that pink inner border, your quilt turned out beautiful.

Liz said...

Love it all the quilt, the fabric and the pincushion. Wonders definitely will never cease with your ability to cre8te beautiful items.

bingo~bonnie said...

Seeing your Trip Around the World quilt reminds me of my oldest UFO. One that I started back before I knew what rotary cutter and rulers were...

Maybe I'll get it out this coming year and if nothing else finish it into a doll sized quilt! ;)

Your border is perfect for this beautiful and colorful quilt! Congrats on finishing it!

Love from Texas! ~bonnie