It all started with finishing Firefly Fairies by Lavender and Lace. These ladies had been languishing for years. I started them in 2002 or 2004 or something like that, they moved from California, to Colorado to Maine and back to Colorado with me, never being completed. And the real sorrow - all that was left was the sparkly threads and beading... I'm not sure what took so long to finish them but here they are in all their framed glory.
We took a quick trip up to the Lyons Quilt store to get fabrics for a few finishes - since its getting close to pulling the Christmas decorations out, I decided I should finish this one to hang it up. I stitched this in the car on the drive to Louisiana for my dad's 70th birthday - that was 10 years ago, about time it was hanging on the wall.
I'm not usually a fan of gold or silver frames, I think in this case, the mats and the frame really set off the piece nicely.
And the finishing train hasn't stopped! Since May (when the fairies were completed), I have finished:
A baby quilt top - that I am now quilting - the request was numbers and planets, I didn't have a pattern so I punted - and I think it came out well. I have backed it with a warm orange flannel and will bind it with the flannel too.
At the quilt show in Loveland - best one around in my opinion, I took a class to make these trivets, I would love to have the time to make a bunch of these for Christmas as they were quick and easy but I really need to finish the quilt top first.
These little mug rugs are quick and easy and, the best darn coasters to put under your glass in the summer. They are fabric wrapped clothesline and absorb the condensation really well. I'm still working on how to end it a bit smoother tho.
Second coaster, love the colors but not thrilled with the ending - must make the time to practice more and hand the test ones out like business cards to friends :-)
Lizzie Kate's 2013 Christmas Mystery Sampler - finished while we were up at camp so that our fabulous framer could take it home to frame for me. I'm not a huge fan of the 'girly' colors but I think it turned out well. Even tho it is a Christmas sampler, the colors don't pigeon hole it and it could actually be left up year round - it won't be but, it could be. I'm one of those people who likes to have options - if I want to, I can and don't tell me otherwise :-)
The Lizzie Kate 2013 Halloween Mystery sampler, sitting at the framer now. I'm really looking forward to getting this one back, we chose a great frame along with a triple mat set of purple, orange and yellow to set this off.
Another recent finish - this is a Just Nan Round Robin ( I will post about Round Robins another day). This piece was started when I lived in Colorado, traveled to Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Spain and Australia and found me in Maine (we had moved there by that point). I started the top part and marked each person's section and asked that they sign their part with their name and where they live. It makes for a great conversation piece.
And last but not least 'B My Valentine' by The Drawn Thread, I love the specialty stitches in this piece. I think they are one of my favorite things to do. You really have to focus and think to get them right and for me, are great fun.
I'm working on another piece that I would like to see finished before the end of the year. I'm just not sure how possible that will be because the quilt takes precedence. Altho, with help like this, it may take longer!
