So Close...

I admit it.  I was hoping to get snowed it during this last winter storm.  I liked the idea of being unable to go anywhere for days on end.  However, I'm grateful that God is infinitely wiser than I am and we received less snow than forecast.  I say that because we had to make an emergency visit to the vet first thing Wednesday morning and the roads were in much better shape than they had predicted.  And after spending the morning there, I came home to find myself coming down with a bug.  This is all a rather long explanation for why I didn't quite manage my goal of completely finishing my Schnibbles quilt for the parade Sherri and Sinta will be hosting on February 1st.  As a reminder the pattern for this month is Jersey Girl by Carrie Nelson.

I used Meadow by Blackbird Designs for my fabric.  Before I added the sashing and border, I wasn't sure if I would like the quilt, but it has definitely grown on me.  It's busy, but that doesn't bother me as much now.  My quilt is the same as the pattern except for one change.  I added red cornerstones in the sashing between the 9 blocks.  This wasn't really a design decision as much as I misread the directions and cut all of my sashing strips to 10" instead of just the 6.  This was my way of salvaging the fabric!

I finished piecing the quilt last weekend and have been working on quilting it since then.    I started off with an ambitious quilting plan and then just kept adding to it.  Here's where I'm at now.  I think another couple of hours could see the quilting finished (maybe).

All of the blocks should look more or less like the one in the lower right corner when I'm done.  Although I'm still debating whether or not to echo quilt each of the flowers and add a filler in the background.  Any opinions?

I've really enjoyed working on this quilt, although I'm eager to finish it now and get it hanging up.  It was a fun quilt to put together and I like trying out new quilting designs.  It gives me a chance to practice my quilting and that's the only way to improve.

Be sure to check out all the quilts they'll have in the parade on February 1st.  I'm amazed at how different the quilts look based on the fabric choices.  I always see a couple that make me wish I had picked that same fabric!  In the meantime, I'm going to keep working on mine and see if I can't finish it soon.  Of course, the binding will takes me days longer.  I must be the slowest at hand sewing a binding of anyone I know.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)