Amber's quilt progress- Plan B

Okay, actually, I think I got SHOVED into plan B, but I'm loving it! After staying up until 1:30AM Sunday, I finished the backing to my 3-D Fish Fins. I had a reason to go to work (I'm on layoff for April, so not to work, just to have lunch-Crockpot Monday!) and brought the quilt 'flimsies-front and back' with me as a co-worker wanted to see the 'finished' quilt. I knew I wouldn't get a chance to show her again, before Sunday. In showing the top and back to her, it started to draw a few others in to 'check out' what all the ooohing and aahhhing was all about. A couple of women said, "You shouldn't use the back on the same quilt! It's too gorgeous! Make a second quilt, that way each side has it's own uniqueness. I laughed, rolled my eyes, "That's true! LOL" and left with my quilt to head to the LQS and seek advice on the 'quilting/sandwiching' of the two pieces--together. When I got to the LQS, the owner agreed that they should be separated and then suggested I put the Backing in a quilt show! Wow, what a compliment!! (Of course, now that I think of it, she was probably thinking I would then be in the market for TWO fabrics for backing!!) .....Without sounding too conceited, I SO love the backing. It is one of my greatest creative designs! I even impressed myself!! Well, I found the perfect backing for the top - bubbles (I'll still do some original piecing/designing- just not as fancy) along with bindings for the two front and back. I've since cut the bindings (yea, they're done) and I hope to put the backing together for the 'shower present' (remember, I have to have this DONE by Sunday).

Progress on Amber's baby quilt!

Okay, maybe that's premature... the Amber part. I was all set to put the 'fish' blocks together, and I realized that amount of blocks that I got from the fabric piece I bought didn't make a very big top, ... even with borders. And of course, I can't find it in the local qs. Well, that's what happens when you buy a small piece (under 2 yds), because you don't know what you'll do with it...yet. So, solution is to add sashing and a couple of borders. Now, as much as I'm not on No-Buy (on Stashbusters group), I've been really good about not buying any fabric unless it's the "b's" (borders, backing, binding, basting thread, and batting). I suppose that this falls into the 'b' catagory, so off I went to my favorite quilt shop http://quiltingbytheyard.com/ and got there just as they were ready to close up for the day. Thankfully, Pat, helped me pick out a GREAT sashing that makes the blocks "POP" off the fabric. We found a border fabric that matches the fish fabric exactly (same designer-- and it goes horizontally and vertically!!) and threw in a bright yellow for a flange piece between the sashing and the outer border. YEA! It's washed (don't usually wash fabric first unless it's a deep color) and ready to iron. I hope to get enough done on it this weekend to make it a top. Off to sew!....

Progress on the Fish quilt

I had a great discussion with my DIL Diana regarding a baby shower (when, who was giving it) for my step-daughter, Amber and realized that I needed to put some time into the baby quilt I'm making for her. (See I always tend to do this thing called 'wait until the last possible moment to move on a project'-- was still sewing my prom dress the night before the prom, was still sewing my bridesmaid dresses the night before I got married, etc)

Well, I'm getting better with age.... Here I have some pictures of Amber's quilt in progress.

The fabrics,

the fish fabrics cut into '4-patch' blocks, making fins,

cutting the 4-patch apart and inserting the 'fins'

...Well, I've decided to short-cut it, by sewing the 'fins' to the complete block with an eighth inch seam, instead of cutting it into quarters, first.

Then I fold it in half and sew my 1/4" seam

Cut the thick fold just to cut the bulk,

then fold it the other way and sew my 1/4" seam, unfold and Voila!

Okay, it is a bit thick with the 'fold' there, so I may slip my tiny scissors in to split the fold in half. Now it will look as if I never folded and sewed, rather cut and sewed. It looks like the fish are 'hiding' under their fins.

I have them all tagged (row and block numbers), so when I get the seams all split, I'll start putting the rows together. I have lots of leftover 'fins', so I'll eventually put them as prairie points in the border. Stashbusters has taught me a thing or two!