TREASURED TIME, TIME REMEMBERED

I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to show you this quilt.  It is still a top.  I completed the top last night while we were watching the specials about 9/11.  The hours spent on it I did not keep track of, which made me decide I am going to keep a diary with the one I began last night.  Yes I began another one, but before I reveal the other one I will show you this one.  The pictures aren't great but I couldn't wait (I will replace them with better ones when the camera battery is charged.)

The quilt top grew to be very large.  I was unable to hang it on the wall because it was so heavy and being hand pieced I was worried  the weight would pull out the stitches.

Here is "Treasured Time"

The top spread over a queen size bed. 

The right side of the bed.  The border is Jenny Beyer Eyelash (Navy) from her "Moonglow" pattern about 10 years ago (I used all but a couple of inches X 6 inches).  It is 4 inches when finished.  The squares are 4 inches finished.  The drop on the side is about 24 inches.

The left side of the bed.  You can't see it in the photos the navy border is on all 4 sides. 

I haven't decided how I will quilt it yet.  I was wanting to hand quilt it, but when I realized how large it had grown I am contemplating machine quilting it.  I don't have a long arm but I do have a short arm, but I am not sold on the idea of pantographs on it.  I do know I will not be using my home machine to quilt it!

I forgot, there is a very nice memory attached to this quilt.  When I was getting close to finishing ...the first time, I decided I wanted to make it several rows larger.  I only had 4 blues left in the stash which I hadn't used in sashing.  I queried my internet friends for blue rectangles 2 1/2" X 4 1/2".  I needed 80 more.  I didn't want to repeat any of the blue fabrics in the quilt.  By the end of the week I had 90 rectangles in my mail box.  In all of those there was only 2 doubles with the ones I had already used.  When I look at the quilt I think about how people I have never met came to my rescue.

There are no repeats in the colored squares either.

Other blogs by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Blogs about our pair of pitbulls.

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission 

WEDDING GIFT COMPLETED

14" X 37"

 For the beginnings of this project see:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/08/wedding-gift-season.html

This project was an eye opener (lesson) for me.  I've never embroidered a table runner before and when it came time to add borders, I added and ripped 3 versions.  I should have taken pictures to show you, but at the time I was upset my ideas didn't work (on paper they looked good but when applied they looked tacky).  It was the same when I planned the embroidery.  I had planned four design sections (see the blog "Wedding Gift Season"), and was glad I completed one section on each corner first.  The extra sections would have made it too cluttered.  I didn't want to compete with the platters or the vase she might be using on it.

I have only Quilted on my regular sewing machine once and never quilted by hand.  I did both here.

These pictures are of the two embroidered units on the quilt:

 

                          LEFT UNIT                  RIGHT UNIT

I don't know if you can see it but I tried my hand at hand quilting.  I outlined the two units.  I started with a hoop and two thimbles.  I used the plastic ones that are fitted to the fingers.  I used one on the under finger and one on the right middle finger.  I moved them around to other fingers during the experimental stage.  I was very interested in learning to do this because I want to hand quilt the huge "Treasured Time" quilt.  It can be seen in the following blog.  I have attached all but one border which is pinned on awaiting me to sew it on.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/06/treasured-time-not-time-lost.html 

New pics will be available as soon as the border is attached.  I don't know if I will be up to the task of hand quilting it but I know it is too fragile to put on the quilt machine.  I know from doing this little bit I need a teacher or a good book.   Another lesson I learned from the small project is I will have to have the quilt on rails.  It is too much to handle in my lap. 

I had to discard the hoop when I was half way through one of the units.  It was very uncomfortable for me to use.  and then I discarded the right hand thimble.  I was more comfortable using my finger nails to push and control the needle.  I did give it the "ole college try".  but I do need help. 

I marked the runner with the blue pencil and quilted on the machine.  I didn't mention I thread basted the runner every four inches both ways.  I wish I had done it every two inches.  It seemed there was too much play in the fabrics and batting.  I used the even feed quilting foot which came with my Janome machine.  I had tried  to use the quilting bar once and was very disappointed in my consistency with it.  I knew if I measured and marked it would be even.

I was very glad I had not pre-washed the fabric before I embroidered on it.  I didn't pre-wash the backing or the batting either (the backing is the same fabric as the front).   I used Hobbs 20/80.  They did shrink up giving the runner an old item, with a soft feel and look.

On the back I didn't put a lable.  I just embroidered my name into the backing.  I did not want to personalize the runner till I find out if they like it and want to keep it.  If they do then I will take it home and put their names and date on it.

Every gift needs a card to accompany it.   I used the embroidery pattern to design the card.  It is printed on card stock and colored in with colored pencils.  The size is 6 X 9 inches.

For the inside I printed a piece of onion skin with design and line drew the colors.  Inside I wrote care instructions with the fabric contents of the runner.

For more blogs by me:

              http://www.organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

                                          This is a garden blog, but it occasionally has recipes on it.

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Not a garden blog.  There are articles which have nothing to do with creating or gardening. 

There are blogs on the new born baby kittens we found and are mothering.  It is a blog where I will sometimes voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly



Thank you for visiting.  I love sharing my projects.  All writings, patterns, and pictures shown here are mine.  Please ask permission before using.  (Credit is given for items not my own)