RSC Saturday

A quick post, I'm busy volunteering but did make some yellow blocks this week--

I am now caught up with all my RSC projects!  Please see what everyone is doing at SoScrappy. 

~LORI--in Nebraska~

Block Update

Some more of my blocks.  I have eleven done now.  Enjoying selecting the fabrics for the blocks and stitching.

Karen Log Cabin Quilter

The Journey Begins

I have followed this blog for a good while and so admired the quilts created from the "Beyond the Cherry Tree" pattern.  Now after saving the patterns for so long, I have begun my journey in making the quilt blocks.  I have five blocks done and working on the sixth.

Since posting the block pictures on my blog, I have discovered that there are others still intending to make the quilt.  So the interest is still out there.  Maybe seeing my blocks will stir one of them into action.

Karen

Just had to let you know.....

I have had my BTCT quilt done for awhile, but my local quilt guild had their quilt show this weekend and I figured I would put my BTCT quilt in just for the heck of it.  

WELL......

this is what I got for it. 

Best Applique'.

But that's not all....

Best of Show, too!!!

I love this quilt, but it sure was nice knowing that there were a lot of other people out there who loved it as well.  

So, keep plugging away at your quilts.  You will be so happy that you did.  

cherry tree update

These are my 23 completed blocks.  I thought I had only 20 done, but I surprised myself.  I am in love with it all over again.

I had to do lots of jiggling about with the blocks to get them all in the photos.  My camera stopped working, so have to use the phone, and I am getting better at that!

The block in the centre, the ring, is my favourite

My next favourite is the one with the swirling flowers

I love the baskets

and the rings 

 

 

 

I am working on getting a quilt completed to enter into an exo in June, and once the hand quilting is finished on it, I can get back the Cherry Tree blocks.

I have 23 blocks made

It turns out that I did not stop at 20, but have 23 blocks made.  I must have got really confused, and forgetful.  There are two blocks in this quilt, that are almost identical ----but not quite....blocks 23 and 25.  Would you agree?  Looking back over my blocks, and the saved copies of patterns, it looks like I have block 23 but not 25.  Seeing how I have only 2 to go (plus the border!) I figured i might as well keep going. 

Would anyone be prepared to share their saved copy of block 25 with me?  Or is this really bad manners?

My other option is to choose the 20 that I like the best, and use the 3 extras as cushion covers.

Wendy

Two Years and Still Quilting

I started the hand quilting on my BTCT Jan 1, 2013.  There was a hiatus of about 6 months while some changes were going on and then I got back to it.  There was a bit of stitching during the summer, but not a lot.  The Fall and Winter seem to be the best times to make progress and I'm looking forward to a lot of hand quilting in Jan and Feb.
The center with the most cross hatching done.

 A block I created and put into my quilt

Part of my bottom border.  I changed up the top and bottom borders and added a lot more to them. I wanted to pull some of the colors and elements from the quilt into the border so I added small grape clusters, some birds and flowers.

The top border is different from the bottom.  I added my initials and different flowers.  I didn't put any birds in this one, but there are small grape clusters and flowers to pull in the purples.

 The appliques have all been outline quilted, about 1/16" away from the pieces.  Cross hatching is 3/4" and I had it marked by Bellwether Quilting due to the size of my piece.

If I've repeated things in this post, sorry about that.  Just thought I'd give a view of my piece.  I know Lori from Humble Quilts is still stitching on hers this winter, along with Pat at Taylor's Outback.  Who else is still working on theirs.  I'd love to see where you are at.  Even after 2 years of quilting this mammoth of a quilt, I still LOVE it and I cannot wait to have it quilted, bound, washed and on my bed.  Maybe in 2016???

Sharon

Resurrection!

Hello Cherry Tree friends.  I have not posted for ages, and I have finally decided to resurrect this project.  I stopped at 20 blocks, as they were starting to look much the same.  I am now starting to trace off the borders and will start with the RHS border.  The top and bottom will be adjusted to suit the less number of blocks I have.

Does anyone have any special tips for the borders?  Did you do the bits of embroidered stems?

Wendy

Are you up for another one???

Lori from Humble Quilts has posted an update to her BTCT (see below)and also is going down the slippery slope of another 25 BOM applique from Sentimental Stitches. Are you game for another one? Do you want to carry on with this blog and add in the Benjamin Briggs quilt? Or do we start another blog specifically for it and leave this one for BTCT? Please see post below as Lori has the links all there to see the new crazy that we are about to embark on! So what do you think? Are you quilter enough to take on this next 25 block applique? Just go look at how beautiful your BTCT blocks are and imagine having another quilt to keep it company! For now, I'll be blogging about it on my grassrootsquilting blog and Lori will be posting on HumbleQuilts. Please comment and we will go with the majority! Sharon

Quilting Update & New Applique Quilt in Januaury!!

 I've finished quilting around the applique shapes in all the locks (not the border) and started cross hatching the background.

This is going to take me a long time!! I love this quilt!

Gaye and Brenda are starting another 25 block, once a month applique quilt called Benjamin Biggs. I plan on doing that one. For now, you can follow my progress on my blog, Humble Quilts.

I loved the encouragement I got from this blog. Thank you all so much!!

Making Headway

I'm still poking along with the hand quilting. I'm trying to do some outlining on the applique and then finish up my stitching session with a few lines of the cross hatching.

So far I have 13 blocks completely outlined and I have a jump on two more. This is definitely a slow and steady process. The hard part is getting a callous built up on my under finger after I take time away from hand quilting. I also ended up taking off my acrylic nail I had on my thumb, it kept splitting and lifting, so I thought I'd take the summer to give my thumbnail a rest and give it another go in the fall. Sharon

Apologies for error in posting

Hi all - not sure if Blogsy (what I use to post on blog from iPad) or if Blogger itself is acting up.  But at any rate do not know how a posting for my own blog showed up here which I hope has now been deleted.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

Pat

Two more blocks!

Hello

I have finally finished two more blocks, although one of them needs a rethink...

This block has taken me since last August to complete(!), but it is now done and I am very happy with the end result.

This block I am not so happy about - in fact I am very unhappy with it, but decided to post it all the same. It's the one I started over Easter. I angst over the fabric choice for the bowl and it wasn't until I photographed it that I realised that the foot of the bowl a. requires reshaping and b. needs to be straight! I was in too much of a hurry. I am also unhappy with the teal bud - it's the wrong shade. Dear Janers say - "finished is better than perfect", but the bowl needs further thought. I love the fabric, it's a Moda, but it is just not right - the teal background is "muddy" whereas the rest of the quilt is quite bright. I will leave well alone for the time being and then come back to it near the end.

Eight more blocks to go!

Fiona in a sunny Engalnd (for a change!)

I am still here!

Hello

I haven't been around for a good 5 months and have had little time to pick up a needle and sew - blame it on my work! But over Easter I got going again and there has been much progress with three blocks.

I am working on the wreath with all the little fingers and oak leaves (top left hand corner on the original quilt) - have about six more oak leaves to add and it will be finally done.

Over Easter I started the flower bowl with the little loops across the top - its all stitched bar the bowl, I just cannot make up my mind which fabric to use? I keep prevaricating between two fabrics

The fruit bowl in the centre of the quilt is also on the go, but its all those grapes that's really slowing me up. I am using Karen Kay Buckley's mylar circles for the grapes and there are only 4 circles in the set that are the right size, so I am finding it difficult to make a run of them...

So my goal is to get at least two blocks finished by the end of the month or sooner and quite possibly three and then I'll have 8 more blocks and of course the borders to do. I am getting there :-)

I have been admiring everyone's work over recent months -  it has been very inspirational.

Best wishes

Fiona in England - where the daffodils are now finally in bloom after a long, very cold winter.

#11 and #16 finished

Two more blocks finished--

#11

#16

I'll do all the embroidery details last.  Half the blocks done--I'm on the downhill side!! 

I'd like to hear from everyone--I know some are done, some are quilting, and some are stitching. 

Semi-finalist

 

Here I am in Lancaster just two days after surgery on my broken wing.  No ribbons or money, but because you are judged into the quilt show, you are considered a semi-finalist.

 

 

 

This is the best I have for pictures as dear husband was my right hand, my credit card and my chauffeur so I am not going to complain.  He was a trooper throughout the whole trip.

 

I am thinking you gals who are hand quilting your quilts will have a good shot at a prize, so keep up the good work.

 



Slow progress

Thought I would share my "progress" - the only time allowed for hand quilting is a few hours of an evening and I am a slow quilter at best. Working on block #7. Have to say though - I am really developing some genuine love for this quilt - knowing each of its little glitches aside - and it knows all my thoughts and emotions. Like Aunt Jane - "oh Lordy - if this quilt could only talk"

Happy stitching everyone - is it Spring yet??

Pat in snow covered northern Wisconsin

 

Posted with Blogsy

Update on Hand Quilting

Well, Feb was a short month, but I did get more hand stitching done on my BTCT. I was sidetracked with piecing two other projects, but they are now finished. I'm not sure if I posted this info so if I'm repeating myself, sorry. Quilt was marked by Bellwether Drygoods in MD, they did an amazing job. 3/4" cross hatch and I'm outlining all the applique.

Progress to report: 8 blocks are completely outlined. Huge accomplishment as this is where most of my time and energy is being focused.

Once the blocks are outlined, the grid work is what shines.  I've tried to stitch a line or two at the end of my sessions, so it's a slow process. Now that it's got some quilting on it, the tank is getting easier to handle.  It still weighs the same, it's just denser and easier to handle.  I am committed to staying focused on this project, What are you staying focused on? Sharon

Block 17 & 18

Finished two more blocks--

#17

#18

 I'm not doing the blocks in order--now I'm back to #11.  Still enjoying the project--today I read back through the blog, learned a few tips on some upcoming blocks--thanks everyone!  

Still plugging along

Remember the fable about the tortoise and the hare?  Well, I am a very slow tortoise racing with a whole bunch of faster tortoises!

Block 8

Winter is a good time to work on my applique.  Block 8 is done,  and I have two blocks ready to work on.  This is a long term project--seeing the finished quilts has kept it from becoming a PIGS.  Cleaned my scrap box and pulled some bits for the next blocks.  I'm doing them in the order I feel like--I  have 10 blocks done. 

Hmm--I thought the above picture/post had already been done--but if you've seen it, here it is again.

I did finish another block--

Block 9

I almost did #9 twice--I may have to pull out my finished blocks and label them--I haven't been doing them in order and I'd rather not make any extra!  Lori