Tasting Table Tuesday - Playing Catch-up

Based on my lack of Tasting Table Tuesday posts in the past weeks, one might think that I've skipped town.   Not...  It's just that I've been busy working on "non-postable" projects lately.  Between making things for Christmas gifts, and gifts for the new grandchild due in a few short weeks, there just hasn't been much that I've been able to share with you.  I'll do my best to make up for that after the holidays, when nothing is secret anymore.

But here are a couple of things I can show you in the meantime.  First is actually a Christmas gift, but I don't think the recipient reads my blog very often, so I'll take a chance and share the pictures without giving away too much detail that might reveal who it's for.  This table runner was made with a piece of gradated blue fabric (from V & Co's Simply Color collection, I think...), mixed with some of Northcott's Stonehenge fabrics.  I love the way the colors drift from light to dark, and I added some stitch-in-the-ditch quilting in a copper metallic thread to give just a hint of glimmer to this runner.  It's really stunning when the sunlight hits at just the right angle.

The other completed project from recent weeks is the Friendship Braid quilt I shared a while back.  After returning from the longarm quilter (thanks Sue B!) I finished the binding and the label and passed it on to my customer.  She was so thrilled, and said it turned out just like she pictured in her mind.  :)

She especially likes hearts, so we selected a pantograph that mixed hearts and swirls together, and it was just perfect.

Now I'm rushing to get a few last-minute projects done, as well as preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving celebration here this week.  Between holidays and Grammie Duty when this next baby arrives, I'm sure I won't be doing much blogging in the coming weeks, but I'll pop in when I can.  Stay tuned in the new year when I hope catch up with all of you and play catch-up once again.  Happy Holidays!

Cheers!

Braid Quilt Update

The Friendship Braid quilt is all pieced and ready to deliver to the longarm quilter.  I love how this quilt has turned out and can't wait to share it with you after it's quilted!  It's such a happy, colorful quilt.  I put a narrow blue border around the outside edge, mainly to stabilize all those bias edges, but like the look as well.  It frames the braids nicely.

 My client selected this bright golden yellow polka dot fabric for the back.

Then, as an afterthought, she asked me if I could do two quilted pillow shams to go with her new bed quilt.  Lucky, because I had just enough leftover pieces to do just that!

I quilted these myself, with four rows of zig zag stitching down the center of each braid, then stitched some straight rows in the blue background fabric.

Cheers!

Braid Quilt Progress

Two braids done - Eight more to go... 

The scrappy colors in this quilt are so fun and cheery!  I'm glad I took the extra time to cut each piece precisely first, because my strips are coming out nice and straight with no trimming needed.  Instead of placing each strip going the same direction, as in a traditional friendship braid layout, I think I'll reverse every other strip like this.  I like the look of the extended zig zag, especially in a quilt as large as this queen-sized one will be.

Cheers!

Tasting Table Tuesday, Friendship Braid

I have a new project on my Tasting Table today.  A customer has asked me to make a Queen-Sized Friendship Braid quilt.  As you can see, I've been busy cutting, and cutting, and cutting some more...

Many of the fabrics were supplied by my customer, and I've supplemented them with many from my own stash as well.  There are 720 pieces in all - 360 lefts and 360 rights.  That's a lot of cutting!

I prefer to cut all my pieces to the exact size needed, including nipping off the little dog ear points, as opposed to trimming the strips down after each braided row is sewn.

That keeps my work more precise and hopefully my braids will be straight, not wonky.  It's my first Friendship Braid quilt, so we'll see how my theory works once I start sewing.

Cheers!