Almost There!

At long last, the finish line is in sight! My "Games We Play" quilt in the Calypso fabric by Ro Gregg is complete - just needs a label on the back which will go on later today!

My "Wreath For All Seasons" quilt, made from Ro's gorgeous "Marblehead" fabrics, will be quilted and bound on Wednesday and the label sewn on.

Thursday both quilts will be on their way to CA. They have to be there by the 10th, so it will be close. Wish me luck! They will be shown at the Road To California quilt show in southern CA and in trunk shows featuring Ro's new fabric lines at a couple of quilt shops in the area. It will be a few months before they return home.

Above are a couple of close-up photos of the quilting on the Calypso quilt. My good friend and professional Long Arm Quilter, Nancy Tatro (Finely Done Quilting, Candia, NH), did the fantastic quilting. I specifically chose the dragonfly pattern because it is a playful design and also because the Calypso fabrics are full of dragonflies! SO cute!

Let me know what you think.

"A Wreath For All Seasons" pattern is currently available from www.quiltwoman.com and "Games We Play" will be available in a few weeks.

A Wreath For All Seasons - using the new fabrics!

This past Tuesday I cut out all the parts of the Wreath For All Seasons quilt, (with the exception of the blocks). I am so curious to see how all these different "Marblehead" fabrics (by Ro Gregg, Paintbrush Studio - scroll down a couple of posts) will work together. I chose all of these fabrics without seeing any of them "in the flesh" (only small thumb nails on my computer). They are gorgeous but I might have made a few different choices had I seen the actual fabrics first. I am a bit nervous!

Today I spent the afternoon with my friend and frequent collaborator, Cathy Bowen (Night Owl Quilting Studio) Cathy has been great at helping me "test" my patterns and helping me with making samples. She also is a long arm quilter and has quilted many of my projects. One of the best things Cathy does for me is that she has a different way of seeing and thinking about things than I do and is really good at asking questions I might not have thought of. I really value her input and her help in testing and editing my patterns.

Anyhow, we got all my cut sections up on her design wall and made some final decisions about fabric choices for the blocks. The end result will be a bit different from the full color "virtual quilt" (scroll down a ways), but I think will be better than what I originally envisioned and is a great solution of how to design with fabrics you have never seen before "in the flesh".

Each of us is going to make half the blocks and we will get together again next Friday eve. to begin putting the quilt top together. Cathy is ten times busier than I am so this is going to be a fun challenge! Nothing like working with a deadline!

I will post photos of the quilt as we go along. A photo of the final quilt will replace the "virtual" quilt on the cover of the pattern when it is finally done.

I finally received the fabrics I need from Ro Gregg! They are gorgeous! Above are some photos of the Marblehead fabrics that I will be using to make my Wreath For All Seasons lap quilt (scroll down a little ways to see the "photo" of the "virtual" quilt). As you can see, these fabrics really have the feel of real marble, granite or sandstone. I almost thought they would be hard to the touch, like stone, instead of really soft. Yummy! I can't wait to get started! (The entire Marblehad line contains more than 20 different colors and textures - a really wonderful range for any project. To purchase these fabrics check with you local quilt shop or search on-line - they should be available very soon.)

I also received several pieces of the Calypso that I need to finish the top of my toddler quilt. I just have borders to do now (there are three). I have to get it done and off my design wall so I can get it to my long arm quilter and THEN I can start working on the Wreath For All Seasons.

Never a dull moment!

P.S. If you have not already heard - www.quiltwoman.com, my publisher/distributor, is offering FREE shipping on any orders for the remainder of this weekend (ends Sunday pm). Please take advantage of this generous offer to gift yourself or a quilting friend with one or more quilt patterns or books out of hundreds of great choices (including mine, of course!)