Here's My Heart....

Yeah!  I'm finally done.  I've never spent as long quilting a quilt as I have on this one and it's only 31" square!  However, I'm loving it and think it was worth all the hours I put into it.  (If it looks a little wonky in the picture, it's just because of my picture taking abilities!)

I tried so many new techniques on this quilt, including Diane-shiko, curved cross-hatching, echo quilting, micro stippling and a back and forth meander in the outer border (not sure what it's called).  You can see most of them here in this picture of the back of the quilt.

Here's a full picture of the back.  That's a hanging sleeve at the top.  I usually split my sleeve in the middle, so I can slide a wooden rod through and hang my quilts with a single nail from the center.  I usually make the pocket a bit bigger, but that was all the fabric I had left and it was just enough to finish it.

I quilted birds in each of the outer 4 corners of the quilt, echo quilted around them and then finally micro stippled the rest of the space.  I used Golden Threads quilting paper to mark the birds and then stitch them onto the quilt.

I wish I had kept track of how many hours it took me to quilt this.  I can only guesstimate at this point, but I'm figuring somewhere around 70 hours.  That's a lot of time, but I was learning a bunch of new techniques and I did get faster with practice and repetition.  Besides, this will be an heirloom, so I suppose the time spent doesn't really matter!

So, the stats for this quilt are:

• Size: 31" square
• Fabrics: A kit from Plain and Simple Quilt Shop, Backing is a Moda Marble
• Batting: 2 layers - Warm & White, Tuscany Wool Batting
• Thread - Aurifil to piece, YLI 100# Silk Thread for hand applique and all quilting
• Pattern - Here's My Heart by Bunny Hill Designs
• Quilting - Custom, A couple of the bird patterns came from Hari Walner's Continuous-Line Quilting Designs
• Completed - April 1, 2013
• Started - January 2011

I had to look back through old posts to see when I started this quilt and see it was over 2 years ago.  At that point, I had already had the kit for a couple of years as well.  Then it sat languishing, waiting for me to get around to quilting it.  I always new I wanted to do something special on it; I was just hesitant to get started it.  I'm so glad to finally have gotten over myself and just do it!  Now on to the next one...

Throughout the quilting process, I got lots of help.  So much so, that I kept a lint brush and tweezers beside my sewing machine so I could make sure I didn't sew any cat hair into this quilt.  I think I spent so much time on it, each of them came to visit me to get some attention.  Here, it's obviously Jack's turn...

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men. 

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

Quilting Progress...

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I'm making more progress on quilting the 'Here's My Heart' quilt.  Slowly, but surely, it's getting done.  I wish I'd kept track of how many hours I've worked on it.  I'll have to do that on my next one.  I know it's a great deal longer than I expected it to be.  When I last shared pictures, I had yet to finish the Diane-Shiko in the center.   It's done now.   That took a while, but was pretty mindless sewing.

Center of Here's My Heart

Then I moved on to the first border.  I'm using YLI 100 wt silk thread in various colors to quilt the entire piece.  I started quilting the border with a feather design and had all the spines quilted in place as well as some of the feathers when I decided the thread color was all wrong.  There just wasn't enough contrast and you couldn't see the quilting very well.  Why spend hours and hours on a design if it wasn't going to show up?  So I spent another couple of hours ripping it out before starting over with another color.  It wasn't a lot of fun to take it out, but I'm much happier with the design now.

Of course, it's much easier to see from the back...

And here are a few closeups of the feathers...

The next border is scalloped and I'm trying my hand at some curved cross-hatching in it.  Again, this is something new for me, but I'm liking the effect so far.  Then there's just one more border which is the simplest one and I should be finished with this little quilt.  All in good time I suppose!  I'm certainly learning a lot and trying a bunch of new techniques.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. 

Proverbs 12:15 (NLT)

A Sneak Peak...

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I've been busy quilting projects lately rather than piecing new ones.  It's slow going and so I don't have a lot to share right now.  However, I did take this picture of one of the projects I'm working on.  It's a wall hanging I'm custom quilting on my domestic machine.  This is actually the back of the quilt...

The back of a quilt 'in progress'

It's coming along slowly but surely.  I also have a quilt on the frame that I work on when I'm taking a break from this one, but I'm just doing a pantograph on it, so it's sort of mindless sewing.  I hope you're having a wonderful week!

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 

Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

Catching up...

Until I started this post, I had no idea it's been so long since I last blogged.  It's been crazy busy around here lately and I've also been out of town for a few days.  I don't see it slowing down much either in the near future.

I haven't been doing a lot of quilting lately (certainly not finishing any projects), but I have made some forward progress on a few things.  Mostly making backings and basting quilts.  I've been meaning to baste 45 and Life to Go for over a month now and I finally buckled down last week to do it.  I had to move most of the furniture in my quilt room out of the way in order to have enough floor space.  I pinned the backing easily enough, but when I laid out the batting I discovered a problem...

When I purchased the batting, I thought the package said it was 120" square.  Even though I prewashed it, I didn't think it was possible for it to shrink this much.  When I looked again, I saw that it was 102" x 120".  The quilt itself is 109" square, so this just wasn't going to work.  Fortunately I had another package of batting that was the right size that I could use.  After a couple of hours, I had it together...

45 and Life to Go Quilt - now basted

You'll notice there aren't any pins in it.  That's because I used 505 basting spray instead...

This stuff is great!  I was a little nervous to use it on such a large quilt because I've never tried it on such a big project.  It took a little more than a can to baste all the layers together.  I also felt like I'd been sniffing glue when I was done and my nostrils wanted to stick together.  However, by morning, everything was back to normal.

And speaking of basting quilts, I also used the spray to baste this little Valentine's Day quilt.  I used a layer of cotton batting and a layer of wool.  I'm hoping the extra layers will give it a lot of definition once it's quilted.  I still want to finish this one and have it on the wall before February 14th.  (Just under 4 weeks to get it done.)

Here's My Heart

This past weekend, I also managed to piece the backing for Winter Wonderland using the label I made for it earlier...

Backing for Winter Wonderland

I know that I won't get around to quilting this one for at least several months (although I want to do it this year), so I've layered the backing, batting and quilt on a hanger.  Whenever I find the time to quilt it, it's all ready for me to pull out of the closet and either load it on the frame or baste it for use with my regular sewing machine.

Backing, batting and quilt - ready to be quilted

I've also finally started on my Full House quilt for the Another Year of Schnibbles challenge.  (You can read more about it here and here.)  I'm using Pom Pom de Paris for mine and changing up the pattern a little bit.  The houses are going together pretty quickly, but the only picture I have to share right now are of the roofs.

Full House Roofs

This one has to be done by January 31st, so it's high up on my to-do list.

On a non-quilting front, I caught David on the scratching post the other day.  I think it's the first time in 2 years he's paid any attention to it.

David on the scratching post

I think Jack got a little jealous though and had to hone in on the action...

David and Jack

I do have a stash report I need to do and hope to be able to show some houses as well, so hopefully I won't be gone so long this time.  Although with everything going on around here, I'm really finding it a struggle to find time to blog.  Hopefully your days are a little quieter wherever you are!

Until later...

The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me. 

Psalm 138:8 (NLT)

A day ahead of schedule...

I'm actually a day ahead of schedule on something.  That doesn't happen very often.  Actually, I can't remember the last time.  My goal was to finish the hand applique on the scalloped borders for Here's My Heart by Friday night, but I managed to put the last stitch in them last night instead.

Scalloped Borders for Here's My Heart

Finishing them earlier than I anticipated let me put the top together today.  There really wasn't much to it at that point.  This quilt is 32.5" square.

Here's My Heart Completed Top

I'm already thinking about how I want to quilt it.  It's unlikely I'll finish that part before Valentine's Day, but hopefully before the end of the month.  Here's a close up of some of the hand applique.

Close Up of Hand Applique

I used the back-basting hand applique method for this quilt where you draw the reverse of your pattern on the back of your fabric.  I used a Sewline pencil for that step.

Pattern Lines on the Back of the Quilt

Then by basting the pieces in place from the backside, I can insure that my applique ends up right on the lines.  It's the most accurate way I've found to applique.  Your pieces end up in exactly the right place.  Of course, there are quicker ways to do it but I enjoy the results I get from this method.

I also wanted to show you just how much extra fabric came with this kit.  For the corner squares I only needed a 4.5" strip (which is under the ruler).  Everything to the right is extra fabric I can use for another project.  There was a lot of extra fabric from this quilt.  Too bad the quilt store where I bought it closed last year. 

Leftover Fabric from the Kit

I'm so happy to have this top together now and it only took me 2 years to get started on it!  I've got a couple of other things to finish before I can start quilting it though.

Until later...

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.  

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT )

Here's My Heart (update)...

Initially my goal was to finish this quilt by Valentine's Day.  I'm now thinking that might not happen, but I'm still hoping to have the top done by then.  I managed to finish the hand applique on the center of the quilt the other night.  I only have a little bit of embroidery still to do on the bird (add his eye and feet).

Here's My Heart by Bunny Hill Designs

This was a kit I bought at a quilt store a couple of years ago.  Not only do I really like the fabrics in it, I'm also really impressed with the amount of it.  I'll have some nice sized pieces left over when this is done.  I would definitely buy another kit from them, but unfortunately the owner retired in December and the shop is now closed.

I've managed to get the inner border on this as well and am now prepping the outer border which has scallops appliqued on it.

Center with Inner Border

It looks a little wavy in the picture, but that's just because I didn't smooth it out.  I think if I can applique one side of the outer border each night, I might have the top together by the end of this week.  Of course that's only if life doesn't interfere - which it has a habit of doing!

Here's a picture of Gabriel I took during her afternoon nap.

Until later...

Many are the plans in a man's heart,

but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Fresh candy canes...

Last night I was able to put the last few stitches in the next Winter Wonderland block.  This was the 6th one completed, only 4 more to go before I can start putting the quilt together.

Winter Wonderland Block 6

It is also by far the largest one I've worked on, but I do know there's one remaining block that will be even larger.  All of the stitching is done with a simple backstitch using black size 12 perle cotton.

I'm going to stop working on these blocks long enough to finish the hand applique for Here's My Heart, a pattern by Bunny Hill Designs.  Between working on it last night and some tonight, I almost have the vines completed.

Here's My Heart

It really doesn't look like much now, but I'll start adding the leaves and flowers next.  I'm enjoying getting back to doing some hand applique.  I do all of mine using the back-basting method - meaning I baste each piece in place from the back before appliqueing it down.

I managed to get a surprise picture of David.  He looks rather grumpy here although he's really not.

Until later...

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. . . . Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." 

Romans 12:2 (MSG)

Irons in the fire...

I'm at a point now where the creative juices are flowing and there are lots of things I want to work on.  Last week, I was even hopeful of finishing a number of them in January.  However, my body is putting up a protest and slowing me down quite a bit.  I've been enjoying my time using the long-arm machine at my local quilt shop, but it's taking a toll on my neck and back.  Oh, to be 8 again and able to twist myself like a pretzel.  If I tried that now, things would pop.  And groan.  And probably break.  It wouldn't be pretty.

However, since I'm not able to work on as much as I would like, I thought I'd make a list for when I do feel better.  These are my more pressing goals...

• Finish block 6 of Winter Wonderland - Another night or two of hand embroidery and I should be done with this one.
• Applique the center of Here's My Heart by Bunny Hill Designs. - I bought this kit more than 2 years ago.  I pulled it out last January, but didn't think I could get it done for Valentine's Day.  I would love to actually finish it before another February 14th passes by.

Here's My Heart

•  Add the binding and label to Nestled in the Branches. - I managed to finish quilting this earlier in the week.  If I feel better tomorrow, I might try to finish this one.
• Finish quilting the Owl quilt. - I only have some stitch-in-the-ditch to do on this to finish the quilting.  I also need to come up with a name for it.  I used minkee on the back as I'll be donating it to a shelter and thought a child might like it to snuggle up with.  In order to load it on the frame, I first adhered the batting to the minkee using spray basting before trimming the batting and backing even with each other.  Although it was pretty thick quilting through, I didn't have any problems with it stretching.

 

• Quilt Twisted Rope. - I have an appointment scheduled for next Tuesday to quilt this.  Because it's 113" square, I expect it to take me a number of visits and I'll have to be careful to spread them out so I can handle them.

Twisted Rope

• Quilt Man Cave. - I just plan to do an allover pantograph so it shouldn't take too awfully long.  But again, I have to spread out the time I spend in front of the frame.  It sure would be nice if I finished this for Mr. Quilting Bug while it was still cold outside.  Although that doesn't look to be an issue any time soon.

Man Cave

• Test Kathy's pattern. - A friend is publishing a book and has asked people to try out the pattern.  I like the pattern and plan to make the quilt.  I'm just missing two fabrics before I can start.

So those are my goals for the near future.  Although at one point I really did think I could finish all of them in January, I now realize I was completely deluding myself and have now returned to reality.  But perhaps they might see a finish by the end of February?  Maybe?

I haven't posted a picture of Gabriel lately, so here she is in her current fat, happy and somnolent state of being.  I keep telling Mr. Quilting Bug that she needs to go on a diet, but he doesn't see it.  Go figure...

Gabriel

Until later...

According to your faith will it be done to you. 

Matthew 9:29 (NIV)