WIP {Basting & Quilting the Rainbow Quilt}

Well, I got around to picking the backing for the scrappy rainbow quilt and ended up using a colorful flower sheet from my childhood.  My Mom had saved it for me and we talked about how it would make a nice quilt back.  And I think she was totally right.  The white in the sheet also helps balance out the intense amount of color on the front.  As a bonus it's so very soft from all the washing and use!

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 9
New Projects: 0

Finished Projects: 0 (almost done with bottled rainbows)

Total WiP's: 9

I decided to finish this quilt a little different than normal.  A little easier even.  I put the right sides of the quilt and the backing together and then stitched around the edge leaving a portion unsewn. 

The unsewn part is then used as a hole to turn the quilt right sides out.  I sttiched a 1/4 seam all the way around and closed up that hole.  For the life of me I can't think of the name for this!  But, it means that the quilt edge is finished now and I will not be adding binding which is perfect because my lack of ability to settle on a binding color/fabric was keeping me from finishing this one.

Then, I was off to add a bit of quilting.  Since the front is so busy I was also experiencing paralysis in deciding how to quilt this one.  Then it struck me.  Turn the quilt over and trace the flowers in the quilting.  The organic shape of the flowers and wide spacing should help soften the harsh square lines of the front.  Sometimes I really surprise myself!

I settled on an off white thread for the front and put that in the bobbin since the quilt is upside down and I am using a bright turquoise on the back.

I'm a little more than half way now and head over heels for the result.  Here is a closer look at the blue outlining I am doing on the daisies; cool, right?  And yes, I have snuck a few looks at the front and it's pretty cool too.  My last touch may be to add a quote or happy saying around the edge of the quilt, but I'm still deciding on that one.  Any ideas on a quote you would capture on a bright quilt like this?

...and I still can't wait to throw this one in the wash and see how the edges of the scraps on the front soften up. 

Don't you just love it when a quilt can excite you this much?  Sew on!

Quick Rest

A quick dusk flower shoot always puts a smile on my face.

The flowers were starting to tuck themselves in for the night and I couldn't resist a quick garden stroll.  It's so easy to adore how their colors really stand out against the on coming darkness!

I have also noticed that with my point-and-click I get a little graininess or texture in my photos with the fading light.  Makes them look a bit nostalgic, right?

This is the last of the daffodils or daffies that are hanging around.  Cracks me up to see how this ant snuck into the shot!

These are the cutest little bell like flowers.  I don't know their name and they were certainly one of the fun surprises I got as things have started to come up.

I still don't know the flowers from the weeds in my new garden, but I am enjoying watching as things bloom and turn into beauties like this!

Do you know what these are called?

These are african daisies.  A gift from a certain special Mr. Happy.  They have added so much color, plus I like seeing them all folded up almost as much as I like seeing them reach for the sun.

I am going to enjoy seeing how these do over the next few weeks!

And this lady in red is the last of the tulips.

I really enjoyed the tulips this year!  The garden was filled with so many colors and varieties.  I also enjoyed how they were staggered.  I planted some early and some mid spring tulips to make the show last longer and it really worked!

I am going to miss these beauties, but I know we will meet again next spring.

Hope your weekend was filled with beauty and rest!

"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes." - Etty Hillesum