Making slow progress...

Hello :) I'm still here.  Exams started at school and suddenly my quilting ground to a halt.  I've had this top done for a couple weeks but haven't gotten the backing sewn together yet.  I first started on these red blocks months ago.  I initially planned to set them with Kona Coal.  I'd gotten about 3 of them set and then it sat and I stared at it on my design wall all summer...

Finally I admitted that I just didn't like the grey and cut it off.  I think the brown turned out great and now I'm sure I made the right choice cutting the grey. Since I was trying not to buy any new fabric I had to use two different browns and merged them with some red stripes.  Hopefully one day soon I'll get this backed and basted so I can start on quilting it.

An improv finish

I finished the improv pieced quilt for my friend over the weekend, and here it is! I really like the colors in this quilt. It is so rich, in color and texture.  The dense quilting, along with the corduroy, flannel, and linen make it extra nice to pet.

This print with the words is one of my favorites. Everywhere it appeared I quilted with these tight straight lines to make the writing stand out. It krinkled up beautifully after a wash and dry.

It's bound in a demin-like fabric I found on sale. It is only tiny bit heavier than normal quilting fabric but has a great look and feel.

I backed it with the Numbers fabric from IKEA that I've been saving for use in this quilt.  It looks great with all the texture from the quilting. I think I might like the back as well as the front.

Back in the saddle(?) again!

Love that fabric with the handwriting on it.

 This is the scene on my desk today; back to business as usual!  This quilt is for a friend of mine from college.  I've owed it to him for quite a few years, but you know how it is when something gets on your to-do list.

 Here it is all spread out to pin.  It's semi improv piecing.  I drew out my layout first but chose color and altered the design as I pieced.  Its future owner is very color- and design-inclined, so I hope it is up to his standards. It is a bit intimidating!

This really is a quilt that is as much about texture as visual effect. There are flannels, courdroy, linen, and super-soft shot cottons all mixed together.

I repaired (re-made) my first pillow cover yesterday.  Our dogs got ahold of my aunt's special pillow that her sister gave her.  I wish I had a "before" picture of this to show you, but just picture large piles of fluff and shreds of fabric spread across the pasture.  It was one of those straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back kind of moments.  Thinking (foolishly) "how hard can it be?" I offered to repair it for her.

In the end I stabilized what was left of the front with iron-on stabilizer, trimmed off the ruined bits, and made a new back.  I found everything I needed in the remnants bin at WalMart and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the envelope-back turned out.  I even sewed some piping around the edge.

New pillow, only slightly smaller than the original.

 Off to quilt, I can't wait to get this one done!  Hope you week is going well!