Today over on YouTube I'm walking you through my process of custom machine quilting a fun little border.
Still looking for more border inspiration? Well, look no further.
The last time this project was worked on was April 2011. A long time ago! It was probably pinned on the wall for me to think about the borders and what to do and then promptly shelved.
Fast forward to February 2021 and out came the bin. It was time! Up on the design wall it went. What to do with borders?
When it was pinned onto the design wall last week, I could see there were a few areas on the outside sides that needed completion before working on borders. So, rummaging through my scraps, fabric was found and ...
read more
![]() |
Lick Mill Observatory seen from Joseph Grant Park. |
![]() |
Joseph Grant Park trail meanders around historical buildings. |
![]() |
Oak tree in the park, a thing of wonder. |
![]() |
Red and Blue 4 Medallion quilt top finished, 60" x 60". |
![]() |
My Amaryllis, still blooming, a beautiful example of the color white. |
![]() |
Closer view of 4 Medallion top, the solid blues are Kona Cotton solids. |
![]() |
Yet another view, The black and white striped border by Cotton & Steel sets it off great. |
![]() |
January color of the month white! |
![]() |
My latest thread catcher finish, pieced with scraps/leftovers. |
Quilt News! and Happy New Year!
My color calendar ...
read moreIt's been a LONG time since I posted about this project -- last year in fact! The construction directions were released in January, I printed them out, and only now finally managed to finish the quilt top.
Because my burgundy fabrics were cut from three different fabrics and not from one fabric, I arranged the units so that a single fabric was used for an entire star. I ended up needing to make a few extra units as I put the rows together, but I had plenty of extra fabric. I didn't end up doing that with the pink ...
read more
Another successful Zoom presentation last night. It was all about finishing off quilts, and one of the things I wanted to showcase was the Binding Attachment. Do I actually do a live demo? Why not - let's do it.
![]() |
The binding attachment on the PFAFF creative icon |
Actually, the demo went very well. It's hard to do a live demo. Not only do you want to do it reasonably quickly when you might take a little more time if you're on your own. You have the pressure of people watching you. Let's not forget the camera in ...
read moreWhen my sister is feeling better after her chemo IV treatment, we go to the cottage. Fresh air, no stress, limited connection to the outside world .... what better place to be than at the cottage during our hot sunny days, especially when there is a lovely breeze off the lake! That is where I've been a lot lately. Total bliss.
Yesterday was a much better day, mentally. I think my mental health is in a good place, but I felt out of sorts on the weekend. Bored perhaps? So I vowed to shake things up a bit. Well - that happened - more than I would like! Just give me a minute and I'll tell you what happened.
We had our Zoom meeting for the Monday sewing group. One of the ladies wasn't on the call as she was trying to get in touch with a dentist who could prescribe her some antibiotics for an abscess on her gums. What ...
Today I'm excited to show off my finished quilt for our April Island Batik Ambassador challenge! Our theme was "creative borders and bindings".
As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am provided with samples of various lines of Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread, Accuquilt products, and Hobbs Batting to use and share with you!
I've taken my cut squares for my April Island Batik Ambassador project from squares...
One of my goals for this year is to finish my basket quilt. I really don't like borders, so I avoided this part longer than I would like.
The inner border choice was easy. I knew I wanted to continue the sashing fabric. I had a rough time choosing the outer border.
My quilt top is finished!! And I love it.
I always knew that I wanted to include my inspiration fabric somewhere in my Ballet with Kaffe quilt.
![]() |
Moncarapacho ... |
For April, our project theme for our Island Batik Ambassador projects is "Creative Borders and Binding!"
For my project this month, I am planning a quilt with simple piecing that will be framed by a fanciful border. As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am provided with samples of various lines of Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread, Accuquilt products, and Hobbs Batting to use and share with you!
I pulled ten different 5" stash builder strips for my piecing. One stash builder set I got in my most recent Island Batik Ambassador box was nearly entirely shades of teal, aqua, and ...
First of all, I want to thank those of you who reached out to me with words of encouragement, commiseration, empathy, and scripture after my last dispirited post. As burdensome as this forced isolation is, it would be so much worse without technology and the Internet as a lifeline of connection. I love all of you so much!
![]() |
Spirit Song Quilt Top on Wall, Backing Fabric on Ironing Board |
![]() |
Borders, Binding, and Backing Fabrics for Spirit Song Quilt |
Look, you guys -- all of my Spirit Song Birds In the Air blocks are sewn together! The top row of three 16" blocks are connected, and the remaining three rows have two blocks connected and one more block needing to be attached. This phase is going MUCH more smoothly now that all of my seams are nestling nicely again, but alas -- my studio is not at all puppy-proofed, so I'm not getting in much machine sewing time these days!
![]() |
Spirit Song Quilt Coming Along |
It is possible to go through your entire life without ever having gone through a universal palindrome.......but we did it yesterday! For number geeks like me who get excited about things like this, it was a special day. The date 02/02/2020 is an eight digit number that can be read forward and backward and be the same. So, if you didn't feel special yet today, just know that yesterday you
read more