One Last Look

Well, Fly Away Home is now complete and I have to say that it's difficult taking my eyes off it. It is just such a happy quilt and I'm thrilled to have it moved into the 'finished' column so that we can start enjoying it every day.

The last of the binding was sewn down last night and finishes it off beautifully (thanks again, Jane, for spotting that fabric!).

Here's a close-up of the quilting pattern so that you get a sense of the swirls that run throughout - just a little bit feathered but not overdone.

And another.

At times when I was sewing these flying geese I was thinking that it was just going to look like a dog's breakfast because I'm a tad anal and was having trouble getting them all trimmed to suit. When I see them all together it is hard to believe that I fretted so much - I should learn from this, shouldn't I? Anyway, as I've said a few hundred times before, luv, luv, luv it!....M

Holiday Stitching

Despite my best efforts, the closest my Fly Away Home got to being bound by Christmas was having it land just outside my sewing room door. Close, but no cigar. I put my back out about a week ago and that  messed up my plans just enough that this wasn't going to happen by December 24, despite having lists coming out my ears. No biggie.

With all the hustle and bustle of the last few days now behind us, this afternoon I pulled it out to see if I'd have enough for a sewn binding or if it was going to have to be self-bound. Eureka! There was at least three inches of backing all round so it was going to be my Christmas miracle - a sewn binding.

It is beautifully quilted - I think I've mentioned before how talented Roberta is. The swirls are reminiscent of snow on the breeze, a nice complement to the pattern.

I wasted no time in trimming the quilt and getting the binding made and attached. Now it's ready for a few lovely hours of relaxing hand stitching by the tree, a perfect gift to me....M

Merry Christmas!

A very merry Christmas to you and yours. May you keep the spirit of Christmas in your heart all the year through.....M

His 'n Hers

In addition to her beautiful star quilt, Betty continues to work on this one, the name of which I don't even know. From this strip it looks like a bowtie pattern but it's more random than that. Made from repurposed wool shirts and blouses that once belonged to mom and dad, it will not only be extremely toasty, it will be a lovely memory quilt.

I'd forgotten some of the plaids but it's fun to see them all again mixed in with the solids.

It is predominantly hand sewn except when she adds the little black floral triangle pieces. Because those seams are on the bias she's putting them together by machine to avoid unnecessary stretching and fraying.

The photos don't do the floral fabric justice at all. It is a rich, almost Jacobean print and was once a lovely skirt and I think maybe a scarf as well. It sets off the solids and prints of the other fabric beautifully. Love that turquoise plaid.

Mom was incredibly good with stretching a dollar and loved to see things get well used so she would be thrilled to know that all of these shirts will have a beautiful second life, thanks to Betty's creative hands....M