Showing posts with label sherbet pips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sherbet pips. Show all posts

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Back to Back...

I just finished the backing for the filmstrip quilt...YAY!  (more on it later).  While working on it, I thought about the backings I've put together for my other quilts.  Some quilters prefer to use a single fabric on the back...nothing fancy.  Why?  I suppose because it's meant to be 'the back'.  Ya know?  Who looks at the back when all the gorgeous piecework and fabrics are on the front!  I get that.  I really do.  

However.  I must say, I actually prefer pieced backings.  I almost always opt to put together my backing with fabrics left from piecing the front of the quilt .  I think it's just more interesting to have a fun back.  As I gazed with love and admiration upon the quilt backing I finished this morning {grin}, I thought that it might just be easier for me to make backings.  Only backings.  And, then, ya know...use them for fronts!  {grin} 

Here are some of my fave backings...with links to the original post so that you can see what the fronts look like, for more information on the quilt and, perhaps, additional photos of the backs.

Whirlygig - I love this big floral fabric!  I pieced two pieces together almost perfectly...follow the link to see a photo of that. 

Carole's Quilt  - This is a single fabric backing, too.  I made this quilt in a hurry, so opted for simple.  This is one of my all-time fave quilts.
 



Postage Stamp Quilt - Another single fabric quilt backing...so many fabrics used in the squares (1296), that simple seemed better.  Plus, I suppose the hours and hours put into making the front did me in.  Well, probably not, but it could have been that I just wanted to be done with it, couldn't it have? 

Okay, so that's enough of that!  Now on to the pieced backings...the ones that are more fun to look at...more interesting...

 My First Quilt - Piecing my backings started with my very first quilt.  I'm not sure how much reading of quilter blogs I had read by that point...probably not many.  But, apparently, pieced vs single fabric was an early decision.  Actually, though, for this one, I think I only had a small bit of fabric left.  I know I don't have scraps of it anywhere.  (And, by the way, this is the only quilt with the brown dog label...I really should do something with that idea.)


Iced Mocha - This blue, chocolate and cream colored quilt was made for me Mum's birthday.  I used to get a bit perturbed because she liked this back so much.  I kept asking her if she knew how much time was put into making the front...but she didn't care.  She thought this looked awesome.  Or something.  {grin}

Ashley's Blush Quilt - This backing is so simple...just 4 rectangles put together.  What makes this one special to me is how the rectangular spiral done with brown thread looks on these solid colored pieces. 
  

Ashley's doll quilt - Usually, the smaller quilts are backed very simply.  But, I couldn't resist playing around with this one (and a few others done at the same time). 

Tag's Blanket - Joanne of Snippets & Scraps of My Mind sent fabrics for this little quilt for Tag.  I couldn't resist fancying up the back (a piece of muslin) with the little blocks in the center.  Case you're wondering...yes, he does lay on this blanket.

Sherbet Pips Wonky Charms Quilt - I think this backing is quite fun! 

Summer Sampler Quilt -  This, though.  One of my very most favorite backings.  I wanted to keep some of the Hope Valley fabric for another quilt, so had only so much that I was willing to use for the backing...but it worked out perfectly!  I love it.  LOVE.  

Kashmir Filmstrip (no link...first time shown) - I think that this may become my all-time fave of the faves.  I cannot wait...can. not. wait. to put this quilt together!  To quilt, bind, and finish it!

So.  What about you?  Which do you prefer...single fabric backings or pieced backings?  Do you have a fave?  Of mine...or of yours?  


Inquiring mind and all that.







"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Borders...


bor·der

[bawr-der] 
noun
 
1.  the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary.

I am not always quite sure what type of border I want to put on each quilt I make.  It depends on the quilt...I treat them all as individuals.  Do I want to use just one big, wide piece of fabric?  Or, do I want to make it scrappy, using several different fabrics?  Do I want to make floating squares?  Perhaps alternating squares?  Do I want more than one border?  Crazy idea...what about no border?  Endless possibilities, really.

So much to think about.  And, that's not all.

How large I want the finished quilt to be plays a major role in determining the type  and size of the border(s). 

As I wrote in my last post, I decided to make only 9 of the 12 blocks of the Summer Sampler Series Quiltalong.  But, even with 3" sashing around each block, the quilt measured just 48 inches square.  I wanted it to be at least 60 inches square.  So, I gave quite a bit of thought to what type and size of border I wanted on this quilt.  I didn't want it to be too elaborate, as the focus should be on the blocks, not the border.  It took me a few days, but I finally hit upon an idea that I really liked.  And, that I thought would work well with this quilt.  

Half-square triangles (aka hst's)!  I had almost decided upon a floating squares border when I started thinking about all of the hst's I've made lately.  Between this quilt and the Aqua and Red Bee Block Swap that I am in....LOTS of them around here!   HEY!  I KNOW!  Why not a border of hst's??  So, that's what I did.  It's simple and frames the blocks nicely...I think it looks great!

I'm hoping to get that one basted/quilted/finished by the end of this weekend.  EXCEPT, I am not sure how I'll want to quilt it!
  
OH!  And, I finished the wonky charms quilt that I first mentioned here.  I am in love with it (big surprise, hey?).  I quilted it with simple meandering.  After laundering, and in all its crinkly softness, it measures 46 x 54.5 inches.  Thanks, Erin, for allowing me to rip off this great idea!
 



I used a charm pack of Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey for Moda and Kona solid in White.  I purchased a bundle of Collection Coordinates from Pink Chalk Fabrics for the other solids used.  The backing is yardage of Sherbet Pips fabrics with 5 more of the charm squares.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Catching Up...

Still getting fatigued way too easily. 

Still taking my daily nap.

I've been working on some easy things, though.
Things that don't require too much energy.

I'm stitching on block 7 of the 'snow days' quilt.
(no photo)

I finished piecing this quilt top today.
Right now, it measures ~48 x 57.
I'm not sure if I'll add a border.
This took me all week to put together...
working in small increments of time.
If you'll go visit my friend, Erin
you'll see that she is working on something similar.
Actually, I totally ripped off the idea from her.
The big difference is that
I used a charm pack (5" squares)...
she is using a layer cake (10" squares).

She knows I did this.
(Thanks, Erin!)


And.
I've been reading.
A lot!
Way more than usual.
I'll for sure hit my goal
of 80 books read this year.
I'm at 51 right now.

 Hope the weekend goes well for you.

Those on the east coast...
I'm thinking of you.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Other Things...

A few things that I thought 
I should catch you all up on.

I have actually gotten a few things done...besides
moving all my stuff so Julie has room for her stuff.
We're a long way from being done, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Be sure to click on all the photos to enlarge them.*


I finished block two of the Snow Days quilt.
Kinda wrinkled, I know.  Sorry.
oops!...I missed a spot on the right side of the roof.
Best get that done tonight!!!
Done...but no new photo!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vicki, over on Sew Inspired  blog,
celebrated the 5 year birthday
of her blog by having 5 days of giveaways!

The giveaway was for two charm packs...
Sherbet Pips and Modern Workshop!
I won!
YAY!
How fun will these be to work with?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I mailed the DQS10 package...
Tami received it today.

Here's what I sent...
the doll quilt,
the mini-bargello quilt,
the cairn terrier fabric block
(found it on eBay...
Tami has a cairn named Fearghus!)
and two teal fat-eighths.
I know you saw some of these,
but I never showed everything together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One last thing.
Here's the fabric for the next tote...



I think that's all I have for now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


American Idol is on tonight!


Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10