Thread Tales From A Scrappy Quilter

Lou Ann creating this beautiful quilt using one of the colorways debuted last year from Quiltworx  Red and Black campaign.   I named this quilt "Red Hot Diva Rose" while quilting her this past summer because that pale gray on gray demands so much attention to create each segment of the quilt.  And yeah, I made mine white on white so I have had that issue 2xs now.   Tossed over bed with pillows for a quick photo     I was once again challenged by not being able to mark designs.  I took a Qtip dampened with water and rubbed on a red fabric on the outside edge.  My Qtip turned red.  She would not be soaking or washing and we could not take a chance on any of the reds bleeding due to the removal of blue markers.   Of course in Texas high humidity, it is impossible to mark all your spines prior to loading with an air eraseable marker.   Plus I generally don't trust those, ...

This is a wonderful assortment of 5" blocks made in reproduction fabrics.   The pattern is Centennial Sampler  by Judie Rothermel.    Some of the prints were sooo  cute! Simflex expanding tool used for marking equal spaces in a shape.   Picture overload, they all sort of look the same as a thumbnail so I just went ahead a put them all in here.  I was trying to get a photo of all the blocks.  Double sashings, a fantastic swag applique border.   But a daunting task to quilt!   I have a hard time minimizing quilting plans, my style leans toward filling up the space!   This was my attempt at lighter custom (ie less hours invested in the quilting).  I chose to frame each piece with a quick crosshatch  that would also showcase the cornerstone "star" at each intersection and could be quilted continuously across the frame....

Nancy Rink has designed 3 versions with the same name for 1, 2 and 3.   I loved #1... never got around to making it.   I  really really loved #2.   Had the good fortune to quilt #2 for a client.   You can see photos of that gorgeous quilt HERE .   Then, I started seeing photos online of #3 and while attending a local show, The Quilt Room nearby was offering this kitted as a BOM.   I signed up. for them to mail to me each month.  I was not going to go for strike 3 on this one.   I made the quilt during my annual August retreat, put it on my schedule to quilt in December... but that didn't happen.   Slid it into March of this year and it was a scramble getting that 108" done... but I got it done and mostly stayed on schedule.   I had entered it in St Mary's non-judged show for April and was sewing the last 3' of binding while my husband drove me to the drop off location....