Hand Quilting Cherry Tree

I must be the slowest hand quilter in the world! This is one of my first posts about quilting Beyond the Cherry Tree- HERE.(in 2012!!)

I have cross hatches going one direction in the border complete, now working on the other direction. 

I use a Hera marker for that. 

And once it is complete these little oopsies will be harder to find. Thankfully the quilt in 100x100!

My friend Sharon sent hers away to be marked because she knew she'd experience these types of mishaps. 

I'm not sure I'll have this done this winter or not. It's been great to work on it in the evenings for a short while.

Love ya'll!

 

Revisiting My Cherry Tree Quilt

The weather turned cold and that means it was time to bring out the Cherry Tree Quilt to continue hand quilting this 100x100 quilt! The end is in site!  

I've cross hatched 1 1/2" apart and around each applique piece.

I've been working on the border, going one direction all the way around. It's time to start my alternate direction!! Whoop! Whoop!

I think I may have stopped outlining the applique at some point on the border so will need to complete that on my way around the quilt. 

I added the fun and unique motifs that were on the original quilt. 

Gay does an amazing job reproducing these wonderful quilts that she finds and patterns. It's possible she may have a sale this weekend. You can find Beyond the Cherry Tree HERE. 

We had our first snow! I recall quite a few Thanksgivings having to travel in snowy weather or saying goodbye to loved ones having to drive home on the snow. I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

I want to say thank you all for the joy you bring to me by continuing to read my blog and offer comments and encouragement. I appreciate each one of you!

Much Love, 

Handquilting BTCT

I've done a few Instagram posts lately on this quilt so I thought I was due for a blog post on my handquilting of Beyond the Cherry Tree quilt. 

This lovely quilt pattern was reproduced from a vintage quilt that Gay from Sentimental Stitches owns. The patterns are still available in her online shop. 

I started the quilt in 2010, not sure when I started hand quilting it.(probably 2013)

The quilt measures approx 100x100 so I am feeling pretty happy about having all the blocks quilted and on to the borders

 My cross hatch is 1 1/2" apart, unless I got off, then it just falls wonky. There is enough going on in this quilt for me to NOT worry about that!

 The quilt had many motifs quilted in and Gay stayed true to the pattern. I just love that part of the quilt so I had to add it as well.

I worked my way through each block (there are 25 of them!) outlining the applique, adding the motifs, then cross hatching. 

 I started hand appliqueing this quilt, but when I got to this block I wasn't having much fun appliqueing all those leaves so I switched to machine applique.

All the bias stems are still done by hand

As is the entire border stems, along with the berry embroidery. 

Now that I am getting close to the end it spurs me to keep moving!! I'm also outlining the border applique as I work one direction of the cross hatching. 

This was how Gay added the motifs to the pattern.

I made my templates old school way, but using spray baste on card stock or cereal boxes, then cutting them out. To some people's horror I used a frixion pen to outline then for quilting. I did my own testing, so feel perfectly fine using it.

Maybe, just maybe I'll finish the quilting this winter!!

Thank you all who donated quilts, supplies, visa cards and cash to the Camp Fire victims! Quilters are so generous and I feel thankful you all trust me to distribute the goods in the best manner. Love you all!

Have a fantastic weekend.

Parlez-Vouz Francais? And hand Quilting!

I speak very little French, but had a ball in Italy because it was very similar to Spanish. 

Most people in the city (Paris)  spoke English, but not in the countryside. My daughter and I went to the European Patchwork Meeting in Alsace and she did most of the translating if we needed it. 

So, it was a few years ago and I thought since AI made my little Sajou quilt I'd make a little one for her. 

Here's a little bit of a start. 

 I finished hand quilting this block and moved on the next....

I'm not a fan of hand quilting because I am slow, but I am enjoying working on this.

Friday is our Sajou link up!!

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

The Continuing Saga of Beyond the Cherry Tree Quilt

Like another large quilt that took me 10+ years to hand quilt, I'm right on track for this quilt! 

I'm decided to start only looking at one block at a time.

 I'm using my hera marker with lines 1 1/2" apart. I am not cross hatching through the motifs.

 This is the block I'm working on. It is still such a charming quilt with lots of personality. (check out the branch, not quite reaching the main stem- the original was this way) 

Here's a completed block. 

I'm glad I didn't put a date on this block! This quilt is 100"x100"! It's a doozy!

Make it an awesome week!

Friday Follies!

Happy December! Wow! I can't believe this year is almost over. 

I got the center star quilted and took some photos so I could have a chat with my friend about possible quilting ideas for the frame. My original thought was to go circular but I was pretty sure marking it accurately would be difficult and it wouldn't look humble, just poorly done. 

I took 2 photos hoping the quilting would show up in at least one photo.  Kathy helped me solidify a decision and you lovely quilters will have to wait to find out what I decided to do. I hope it goes fast so I can wrap up this project before the end of the year.

I basted my antique rose block which we are calling "Rose of Houston 2017" Just in case we decide to make this a yearly event. I love the backing and it will go splendidly with the front. You'll also have to wait to see this one too, since Laurie reads my blog.

Thank you Dotti for the adorable as ever dresses for me to bring to Colombia. They are as cute as ever! If you are wondering, the deadline was the end of November and I have plenty now. Thank you generous quilters! I love you to pieces!!

My Instagram feed for this week. 

Happy December 1st!

Susan R, I received your money for the book. Thank you for the extra- It will go to my mission trip. 

Love to you all! Have a wonderful weekend.

Vintage Quilt from Arkansas

 I showed a small section of this quilt the other day and a few asked to get a closer look. Today the weather was perfect for photo taking outdoors.
I purchased this humble quilt from a friend's sister because the style didn't really suit her decor. It came from Arkansas and it looks to be from 1890-1910's. That fan quilting is amazing and I even used it to make a fan quilting pattern for myself to use on another quilt.

The back has faint signs of feedsack writing. This is the clearest section. 

It appears to say B-R-I-C

the below it S-H-E-E

It's one of my favorite vintage quilts!

Thread, Thread, Who has the Thread?!

I had several comments about the thread I was using for handquilting on Monday's post, so I thought I'd talk a little about my thread choices. (I'm warning you, it's going to be Humble!)

 Here's a little coke container turned on its side and hanging in my sewing room. The cubbies are perfect for keeping little objects handy. The thread on the right is DMC machine embroidery thread- fairly light at 50 weight. I use this for machine and hand applique. When I took a class years ago with one of the Piece O Cake girls  this is what they used. at that time.

This is the photo from Monday's post with the spool I've been using this winter to quilt my Cherry Tree. It is 40 weight King Tut by Superior and says it is quilting thread.

This is how I choose my quilting thread. Is it cotton? Is it thicker than embroidery thread? Is it ecru? If I can answer yes to those three questions then I'm good to go! As you can see I use a wide variety. We have so many choices when it comes to thread. I'm not partial to one brand. 

 I also love these DONUTS by Superior for hand applique or whip stitch on wool. 

On another note, I've been digging into my homespuns that have been a major mess for longer than I care to admit.  I really couldn't see what I had at all. 

Much better! I'm using these for the ABC Sampler by Cheri and Fall Festival by Jan. 

These are homespuns that didn't fit any color so I tossed them aside. Comment if you'd like them and I'll draw a name on Friday.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

I hope you are having a wonderful week!