BLOGGERS QUILT FESTIVAL

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I've decided to enter this quilt in the Bloggers Quilt Festival because it was probably the first quilt that I quilted with some degree of confidence.

I took a sampler class and we made the block and quilted it with just the batting...no backing.  I found it so much easier to do that way...one block at a time.

We did several types of blocks...a ring of machine appliqued hearts ...stuffed, a ring of grape leaves with couched tendrils, a fancy Celtic knot created by machine appliqueing bias strips around the edges, and a fancy Celtic design in trapunto.

I made 3 of each block (except I made 2 grape leaves and 1 just the grapes).  When I put the blocks together I had trouble because of the plain white Celtic blocks...so I 'experimented' with crayons, coloring in the 3 blocks and then setting with an iron and washing.  Not THAT happy with the result...I wish I would have done something different with that block...or made 4 and put them in the corners.

The best thing about the class was that with the teacher guiding me...I had more confidence to 'quilt'.  I made this quilt in 2005 and haven't had it out since...I just noticed that I didn't quilt the border...will have to remedy that soon.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.  Have a great weekend!

AROUND THE WORLD QUILT FINISHED

My ATWQ is finally finished!

Click once, then again to enlarge for detail.

The quilt measures 48"x72".  Since 12" blocks would make a really BIG quilt if they were all on the same side, I decided to put the blocks on both sides.

Here are the additional blocks I made to represent the different states and countries.

I sewed a running stitch from state to state to show the route the blocks took. 

This background fabric was so fitting for Texas.

Originally I was planning on making the whole back of the quilt a Map of the World. 

I printed out all the names on photo fabric...but when I washed the quilt all the printing came out.  Not sure why exactly...I've made up labels with pictures and the ink never washed out???

Anyway, I had to write out the Loop order, but since it was already quilted...it was not easy and the lines ran vertical.  It's ok though, the names and origins are what I wanted documented.

I added Glaucia's name, even though she dropped out, because my starter block had Brazil in it.

I ran out of room, so I placed this over a large orange snowball block!

The quilt took exactly one year to make it AROUND THE WORLD!!

Have a wonderful day!

THIS IS MY STASH

      Kelly, over at Charming Girls and Guys Club,

 http://cottoncharmquilts.typepad.com/charmingchatter/

and Polly, at Aunt Polly's Porch,  

http://auntpollysporch.blogspot.com/2010/05/kellys-embarrassed.html 

      want us all to share our embarrassing amount of fabric we call our 'STASH' and how we store/organize it.  

Well, here's mine...be warned though...don't expect a glamorous tour...just a mess...but MY mess!!!

Click once or twice to enlarge pics.

Looking in from doorway.  There's my Viking D1 embroidery machine.  The pile of fabric in the center of the picture is mostly from the Star  and Pinwheel quilts that I am working on. 

These wire bins are great...the first 2 hold my fat quarters and smaller pieces.  The one on the right holds my batik scraps, flannel scraps and pieces and in the bottom drawer Christmas fabric.

This is my Brother PQ1500.  It is just a straight stitch machine.  I do all my piecing and FM quilting on it.  The first two drawers in the corner hold my batik yardage...I LOVE BATIKS!!  The bottom drawer has some more flannel and all my 'orphan' blocks.  The right empty drawer...is only empty because all the fabric is scattered around.  The bottom drawer has more Christmas fabric.

Moving on...this is my major STASH.   Actually doesn't look too bad right now.  Pretty neat.  In the lower right hand corner is Margret...she keeps me company while I'm sewing or on the computer.

On this side of the room is my cutting table, shelves and plastic storage drawers.  Yes...somehow I manage to cut on this table...although a challenge at times.  The shelves on the left are for books, magazines, my selvedge collection and current blocks that I'm working on (paper pieced stars, pinwheels, BOMs).

Here's a close up of those plastic drawers.  The ones on the left hold all my jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs...I hardly ever use them...because they are just too pretty to cut into.  The drawers on the right hold fabrics I use to make scenic playmats for embroidered paper dolls.  There are fabrics used for sky, water, grass, mountains. construction, etc.

Under the cutting table is more STUFF.  There's felt for the paper dolls, my light box and fabric that I've collected for a 'crazy quilt' in the lower left.  See that empty space on the lower right.....that's where my rug hooking frame was, before I sold it at Kelly's Swap/Sale.   Hmmm, now what can I fill it with?

Now we move on to another area of the house.  This armoire holds my batting on the top shelf, completed scrapbooks on the second shelf...along with a dollhouse book I made last year.  The third shelf holds my completed quilts...really COMPLETELY done!!!  On the bottom shelf right side are Block of the Month WIP's...there's 2 or 3.  On the left are some fleece quickie quilts for donations.

Finally...this is my DESIGN FLOOR...wish it were on the wall somewhere...but...  It probably looks dangerous in front of the door to the pool but actually not even Margret steps on it.  The quilt on the floor right now is the Around The World Quilt, I'm trying out different borders.  I wanted to make a lap sized quilt, so I split the blocks and the quilt will be 'reversible'.  BTW...the upper right corner is where I keep the Beyond The Color Purple Quilt...in progress.

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So there you have it...thanks for taking the time to look.........and how about taking a few pics of YOUR stash and how you store it!!!

Have a wonderful day!