Last week I worked on quilting my ivory/red quilt.
I really need a better name, don't I?
How about Stars over the Cabin?
OK, I only gave that about two seconds of thought
but we'll just go with that for now.
Knowing this big quilt was going to be difficult to control,
I chose a simple design of leaves and vines.
Not only did I stick to the diagonal design with my quilting,
I also used a darker tan thread on the red diagonals.
I'm not sure that either effort really shows up to the average
eye but I just felt like I needed to work with the quilt's design
rather than just a complete random pattern all over.
While I was busy knotting up my shoulders, quilting,
Chloe was kind enough to keep me company.
Oh, alright--she didn't even know I was there.
I recently splurged on some quilting t-shirts.
(on clearance, of course!)
It is important to dress for the occasion.
Back to my quilt--what to put in these center squares...
Long story short, I realized that with the
vines and leaves, pumpkins would work well.
Besides, they're my favorite thing to quilt.
Which may or may not have something to do with the fact that
I love pumpkins and gourds in general.
So much that
I have to grow them in large numbers.
And decorate with them in wild abandon...
Sorry, getting carried away there.
Back to quilting pumpkins.
I wish I had pics of the process but it's simple:
Starting at the top, I make an outline of the pumpkin.
Then begin making 2 curved lines on each side,
down and then back up on one side; repeat on the other.
Add a stem, curly vines if you want and ba-bing.
A pumpkin.
There's no messing it up.
They come in all shapes and sizes!
I tried to avoid making this quilt especially seasonal, but
then I decided to date it "Thanksgiving '16" and then add
something on the label about being thankful for good friends.
(Did I mention this is a surprise for some good friends?)
Pumpkins are a win/win with all that in mind.
I really wanted this finished before the weekend was up
but I'm still hand-sewing the binding.
I enjoy it--I just have to take some breaks.
It's a big quilt!
I'll be finishing up this afternoon while I do some
baking on the side.
Update: Finished quilt pic here.
My son's class needs cookies for their retreat tomorrow so
I want to also get 4 or 5 batches of dough in the freezer
(depending on how my molting ladies are doing out in the coop;
eggs have been slim pickings these days!)
to have on hand for the upcoming holiday, visitors, etc.
I've also been making some duplicate dinners, getting
meals put away here and there. The count is only
at three meals but that's three days of non-stop
quilting ahead. All of this takes very little time now
but saves a ton of time (and dishes) in the future.
(traced picture back to Home Sweet Home's Facebook page,
not sure where the credit belongs?)
Speaking of retreats, this might be the prettiest house ever.
Just the right size, just the right (quiet!) setting!
I'm a sucker for trees, especially in the fall.
It would make the perfect retirement home.
Or, if we're being really frivolous, how about a
quilt retreat/get-away house?
This weekend finally brought some fall weather to Kansas
(along with another earthquake but that's another story).
Today we even have some occasional light rain; it's 59 degrees
and barely a breeze with leaves laying all around.
Perfect.
Every glance out every window just warms my quilter's heart...
even if I'm having some trouble adjusting physically.
May your week be full of quilting!
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