"The Retreat" ~~ Finished!!

Way back in July of 2019, I attended a quilt retreat in Baton Rouge with other members of the BRMQG. After I got home, I finished up the top and added it to the bin. A couple of weeks ago I dug through the bin and chose this top to quilt. 

A little blue thread, feathers in the border, and some improv quilting.

I don't know what I did unless I really look at the individual motifs. In other words, I just had fun.

The back of the quilt is this solid blue linen and, because it was too small for the top, a plaid flannel. They look good together but I'm not real sure what's going to happen when it gets washed. 

I took lots of photos of the back so that I can go back and look at those motifs because some are new-to-me ideas. 

		Quilt Stats
	Name:	The Retreat
	Size:	48" X 60"
	Fabrics:	fabric from stash
	Pattern:	my design
	Backing:	from stash
	Batting:	100% Cotton
	Binding:	fabric from stash
	Quilting:	improv with various motifs
	Completed:	2020

"All About the Boxes" ~~ Finished!

  I don't like to call any of my quilt UFOs. That implies that I have no intention of getting back to them. This quilt, however, was at the very bottom of the bin. And has been there for a while. Okay. Years. I don't know how many years, okay. Just a long while.

 But take note, it is out of the bin and complete! Yes, all the way complete. 

• Quilted ✔ 
• Bound ✔
• Labeled ✔ 
• Washed ✔ 
• Photographed ✔

It looks pretty good next to my orange Adirondack chair, doesn't it? I have another confession: everything was neatly folded up together, top, backing, and...these large blocks. They didn't match the blocks on the top. I'd have liked to use them to make the top longer. 

I have no idea what the devil I was thinking, so I decided to make a new plan. I stuck them on the back of the quilt. Now, there was enough of this green stripe fabric for the whole back, but I added the kooky blocks, which gave me extra of the green. So I did what any self-respecting quilter would do, I planned it so that I could use the wider stripe as binding. Cut on the 45 degree, it gives an interesting look to edge of the quilt. 

 And just like that, a UFO has all its boxes checked! 

		Quilt Stats
	Name:	All About the Boxes
	Size:	48" X 48"
	Fabrics:	fabric from stash
	Pattern:	my design
	Backing:	from stash
	Batting:	100% Cotton
	Binding:	fabric from stash
	Quilting:	improv with various motifs
	Completed:	2020

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Words and Phrases

In September of 2015 I wrote this SQI about using text in quilts. At the time I was collecting fabric with words, which was becoming an easier goal anytime I walked into a quilt shop. Today at least one piece in a line of fabric has some kind of lettering or words. And I have enough text fabric to make several quilts. 

Nevertheless, words and how we use them still fascinate me. There are always words in my head. And I analyze sentences, usage, mechanics at the drop of a hat. Ask me if I've seen a sign (or a million) that needed correcting. These quilts don't need a red pen; they just want an audience.

Like the other 13,000+ quilts, these pins can be found in my "heart, quilts" board. In fact, they are in a new board called, "words and texts." Have you made a quilt with words? What about using fabric with text? 

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Red and Black

 Four years ago I wrote this SQI post because, as I mentioned, I was deep into making these red and black headbands for students at our school. The end of football season is generally a couple of weeks of miserably cold, damp wind. Ear coverings are especially nice if you're sitting on a metal bleacher.

Uniforms are khaki pants with either red or white polo shirts, so the girls are looking forward to having something that matches their uniforms but still can add a little contrasting color.  These headbands are reversible, which makes them especially useful for that purpose. 

It's interesting that this particular SQI is still especially popular and that the red/black colors are even more popular in buffalo checks and winter cabin colors.

Red and black quilts? Well, of course!

Here's wishing you a wonderful week and lots of quilting!