Tuesday, June 28, 2011

borders and bags

All done!
I auditioned several options for borders on this quilt.  Nothing was quite right.  Dark overpowered the soft fabrics in the pattern, see here?
and lights just washed away and didn't effectively break the pattern.
 I finally came up with this one, I was thinking little girl with this sample so rick rack jumped into my head
 I was going to do a wider yellow border with the rick rack showing completely but everyone I showed it to layed out that way preferred this arrangement with the rick rack just peeking out half way.
I used a curved ruler to quilt the arcs in the kaleidoscope blocks and then a 90 degree ruler to do the  slanted lines on the outer border. 
I held my breath as I free handed the yellow in the kaleidoscope blocks.  I did them last- working up my courage I guess. They came out pretty good so I think I am improving.
Shot of the back- three blocks that didn't make the cut on the front
( too strong or too weak)

My favorite block
but it was too strong for the front so I jazzed it up and added it to the back.
Over the weekend I made myself a Birdie Sling bag in the colors of my daughters Irish dance school so I can carry a purse to competitions with team spirit!  Alright....That wasn't my original intention but I wanted to use up some of my stash and that sort of fell into place and it is McTeggart colors so I went for it.
I also whipped my mother up a Frenchy shoulder bag
-- another Amy Butler pattern.  
I like this pattern even more than Birdie sling because it doesn't use fusible interfacing or fusible fleece. (I really dislike ironing a lot so the sew in interfacing for Frenchy bag suited me perfectly) 
My mother, as always, was impossible to surprise and walked into my sewing room as I was working on it though I was trying to keep a lookout for her arrival! Darn it!
I added three inches to her straps since she is a little taller than average and prefers longer straps on her purses. 
 Happy Birthday Mom!

3 comments:

  1. Cute quilt and I love the bags. One of these days I'll get to sew again.

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  2. Love the quilt, it looks great! The Amy Butler bags you made also look fantastic! I love her patterns. I'm addicted to them now.
    I'll see you and your Mom Saturday. I can't wait to sign up for classes and go shopping, it's been to long!

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  3. Thank you ladies!
    We are pretty jazzed about the sale too. It is going to be a fun day. How is your new job going Christine?

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