I am looking forward to my slow stitches today, as I will hopefully finish stitching the binding down on Baltimore Garden. It has been a long week and my anxiety levels were high, as I thought about trimming and squaring up a quilt that I have so much time vested in. So much can go wrong with a rotary cutter in my hand ! But, I decided to just take a deep breath and measure carefully. I guess the care I took squaring up blocks and the border while assembling the quilt paid off. I had very little to trim off of the top and loved how it looked once I gave it that much needed haircut. Over the hump, now to just enjoy the binding process. I know many quilters don't like binding but I love doing the math to figure out what size square I need to make the binding. Cutting the bias binding, pressing the seams open, pressing it in half and then stitching it to the quilt top. It makes such a difference to finally see your quilt bound. What's not to like?
Moving along, I have been wanting a table topper to go on the kitchen table since we moved this summer. I finally decided after seeing Cathy over Sane, Crazy,Crumby Quilting working on her triangle star blocks that I thought that block would be perfect for my table. I think the vibrant colors Cathy is using in her blocks are probably better suited to showing off this block, but the fabrics I chose really look nice in my kitchen. The plaid and muted cream fabric don't have as much contrast as I usually use, but they really worked well in my kitchen. I pulled out some black solid for the background as I believe that every room needs a touch of black. Ok the truth is I am obsessed with black painted furniture. I am still trying to figure out how to break the news to my husband I plan on painting our oak chairs. Anyway back to the table topper, I was really surprised at how well it went together. Of course my seams are not all perfect, I say they are just right. I have it layered and basted and started hand quilting it. Maybe, I can sneak in a few more stitches today.
While I was downloading these photos for the blog, I kind of chuckled at the difference of these two projects. The possibilities are endless and I guess that keeps us moving from one project to the next!
While I was downloading these photos for the blog, I kind of chuckled at the difference of these two projects. The possibilities are endless and I guess that keeps us moving from one project to the next!
I think black painted furniture is great - so many ways that you can accent your house with it. Love the quilt have fun with the binding
ReplyDeleteI repainted my dark pine bedroom furniture about ten years ago and have never looked back. I painted the two bar stools we use a few weeks ago. Finished up the binding this afternoon my fingers got a good workout. Can't believe I got is done in two days. LOL Now to work on the trapunto and trailing vines. If I don't prep some leaves this week they will never get sewn on those bare branches
DeleteYou do beautiful work, Carla. Congrats on the finish.
ReplyDeleteI say, paint those chairs! :-)
Thanks Sandy! Oh I am pretty sure they will get painted!
DeleteSO true Carla!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting to the binding stage... enjoy!
Hope we have some fall weather soon so I can at least sit on the patio and quilt or applique
DeleteLove your quilt---gorgeous colors and great applique!! You have done a great job. I know what you mean about trimming at the end. Rotary cutters are the bomb, though. I remember only having scissors to trim with and that took forever. I also love the binding part. It makes the quilt!!
ReplyDeleteOh I agree they making trimming a dream. I guess after working on this quilt so long and being so close to finishing I was a bit apprehensive. Yeah can't imagine cutting out a whole quilt with just a pair of scissors! Yikes!
DeleteThey are different indeed but both lovely ! :) What a masterpiece your Baltimore Garden is...
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb! I must say I have come a long way since I first started quilting. Who would have thought! I love everything about quilting cause it's so diverse. It keeps me going.
DeleteYour quilt is absolutely stunning! Wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzanne! I ran my hand over it again today as I stitched down the binding and I am still in disbelief that I made it. The applique was really really challenging. I love to hand quilt and quilting an appliqued quilt is the best!
DeleteMy slow stitching today is binding too, but I've got a small project to bind. I love binding; never mind doing it. I love that knowledge that this is the final loving stitches. Your table topper is amazing. Lots of piecing!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I too love those final stitches and it gives me time to reflect all the time spent on that particular quilt.
DeleteI love the plaids with black. That is just the right touch.
ReplyDeleteThanks me too
DeleteYou are so close to a finish on your applique quilt. Do you wash your quilts after the finish?
ReplyDeleteYes I do wash my quilts after they are finished. I find heavily hand stitched quilts are quite durable.
DeleteThere is quite a contrast between projects here--one is an heirloom and the other is more cozy/homey looking to me. Love both--and yes, that does keep it interesting! ; )
ReplyDeleteI love the variety of things you can do with quilting. From fabric choices and projects There is something for everyone
DeleteI love binding as well! I find it relaxing and rewarding to see the final step. Your quilt is SO beautiful. It makes me want to start one! Love that star for your table as well. I really like the black, grey, taupe, tan, cream thing. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I have a rock wall between my kitchen and living room and this topper will play off the natural stone well
DeleteI love binding, too -- your Baltimore Garden quilt is gorgeous!! I bet you're very excited to get to this part of the quilt process!! Enjoy the stitching!! :)
ReplyDeleteYes its very exciting to get this close to a finish. I still need to do all the trapunto. I think all in all the time spent on this one will be worth it.
DeleteBaltimore Garden is, of course, gorgeous but I am also really excited about your table topper. I love the neutrals with black; it looks fantastic. I have often painted furniture but had never thought of black - what a cool idea. My kitchen may just need a makeover!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I had fun doing this quick little table topper. So much different from an album quilt. Glad to hear others like painted furniture also. By removing a hutch from a dresser and repainting the dark pine black I revitalized my bedroom furniture into something I could love again. It has been with us for 39 years. I love using flat paint and then once it drys I use Johnson's Paste wax over the paint. It does something spectacular to the paint, can't really explain it but it has a nice glow. I haven't tried it with a light paint yet but I think I might have to.
DeleteI love binding too!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that table topper in plaid. What a great idea for a table topper. It is surprising how easily those stars go together, isn't it. Painted black furniture???? That must have been a thing with some people in the past too. My husband bought an old antique desk for me years ago and refinished it for me as a surprise. He said the darned oak desk had been painted black!
Yeah I do love me some painted black furniture. Just think if someone hadn't painted that desk your husband wouldn't have had all that fun finding the oak underneath. LOL I was surprised at how easily the star block went together. It looks so much more difficult than it is.
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