My MSBHQAL Friday Finish

This is my second post today. I was in a blog hop with Madam Samm and all the creative ladies that hop on Sew We Quilt this morning, but I couldn't not post my Friday finish and link up with Crazy Mom Quilts. So here we go...and let me tell you these pictures are not the best. I had no one here to hold up the quilt and this is the only non rainy day I am going to get.

 She's a beauty! Thirty blocks and enough sashing and borders to make her fit my queen size bed.  I put one green block in each corner. There are some Pearl Bracelets in there and some Bonnie and Camille Vintage Modern.

 Since it is such a linear quilt, I wanted the quilting to have some curve to it. I chose an edge to edge pattern of flowers, leaves and berries.  It took me awhile to be able to afford to have this quilted, but it was worth the wait. I dropped it off on a Monday and it was ready by Thursday afternoon. I had to wait to pick it up on Monday, but I came right home and made the binding which I machine stitched.

I had this beauty on the bed for us to use that very night. My hubby loves it too. The top thread used is a shimmery celery green and a medium grey is on the back.

 I bound the edges in the same Kona Medium Grey that I used for the sashing and borders. I didn't want anything to drag your eye to the edge. This is already one busy quilt.

 I used a piece of Kona Ash to extend the back and appliqued 5 blocks made from scraps onto it.

Now all I have to do  is get my bedroom repainted to the pale grey I want so this quilt looks right at home. It really doesn't go with the blue walls.

 I have to say, this is one of my all time favorite quilts and I really want to make another, although smaller, one of these. Each block is a masterpiece.

So thank you, thank you, thank you to Molli Sparkles for the brilliant sparkly idea of the QAL and Anne at Play Crafts for the wonderful pattern she let us use. I am thrilled with the outcome. Linking up to Finish it up Friday.

MSBHQAL is over!

We started in early September. I quickly became crazy and decided to go big or go home. I made a quilt top for my queen size bed. I loved every minute of the QAL and I loved seeing everyone's interpretation of the pattern. But one thing I know for sure, I ain't quilting that beast. I don't do large quilts on my Bernina any more. So I am saving up to have a long arm quilter that I know and love her work, quilt it for me. I want an all over curved design...maybe flowers or something swirly.  I hope to have it to her by the end of November at the latest. But until then, here is my beauty:

Thirty blocks, two inch sashing and 6 inch borders and it fits my bed like it was made for it. Oh, wait, it was. This was a great experience and I'm glad I jumped in. Thank you to Molli Sparkles for the great job you did in running this QAL. I would sew along with you any time.

So Apparently You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

So I needed a 12.5 inch square ruler to square up my MSBHQAL blocks, but didn't have one. I thought that, like always, I would make do and try to square up using what I had. I even asked Molli how to do it, if it was possible, without the square ruler. He was so sweet and sent me a tutorial that he worked out. But then I started to worry about it. A lot. So I caved. I checked around and priced them in lots of different places. And I ended up buying one at my LQS.  And this is what I learned:

 This is one of my "squares" before trimming. I tried to line it up within the 13 inch lines. It was very wonky. I had thought it looked square, but it was an illusion.

 See how it goes off the edge here?

 ...and here?

 ...and not very straight here either.

 Then, I apply the 12.5 inch square ruler. One of the things it does is to flatten out the block so you can see it in its true form.

 Look at all that wonky overhang! It's certainly not even on any side.

 This side looks kinda even doesn't it? But not really so. Check out the next picture.

 I hope you can see how much skinnier the bottom of this string is than the top. Many of my trimmings ended up that way.

 And here it is, all crisp and trimmed up.  All 30 of them are now done. They look awesome, even if I do say so myself. I guess I should have gotten the ruler long ago. I have struggled for so long with this issue. Some things are definitely worth having. I know I will get lots of use out of this.

 Here are the first three sewn together. I am loving the way they look!!

 Here is the layout for the whole thing. Each corner has a completely green block in it. This is going to be a great quilt.

Here is inspector O'Malley, making sure everything is okay. He approves. He will be happier when it is quilted and he can curl up on it.

Molli Sparkles QAL Squares...DONE!

When I first thought to join the MSBHQAL, I thought I would do a lap size quilt. Then, I pulled fabrics and thought about bed sized quilts. Then I pulled more fabrics because I didn't have enough for a bed sized quilt. Now the blocks are done.  All 30 of them using 18 different fabrics. Whew...

 This is the entire stack of 30 blocks. I love the look and feel of it in my hands. I took them off the design wall and took them outside on the deck to photograph. What a difference it makes in natural light. The colors pop, just like in real life!

 There are 4 green blocks; one will go in each corner. That way, things stay a bit balanced.

 Each block is a bit different. Each has 6 different fabrics in it. There is some Sweetwater's Reunion, some Squared Elements (so soft) Pearl Bracelets (so versatile), Bonnie and Camille's Vintage Modern. Picking the fabrics for this was so much fun!

 This is one of my favorite blocks. I can't really pick just one, though. Each one has lots to offer the eyes. I am really excited to see them all together.

But that process won't begin until next week.   So until then, happy quilting. Have a great week.