Progress on the Red & Green

Throughout the last three days or so I have been working on the two quilts that I showed you a couple days ago.  Today I finished hand piecing the sashing on the blocks.  I still have some sashing that I will put all around the quilt before I start on the border.

This sashing is 1 1/2 inches (finished size 1 inch) around the outer edges I plan on (I think) 2 to 3 inches of sashing in the same color in the same fashion – strips.

Some have asked how long has it taken to do this quilt so far?  Well I made the first block back in January of 2010.  Then I put it aside while I was working on other things – then got busy on it a year ago in June 2010.  Total hours – I am mainly estimating here – I know several blocks took me about 25 hours each and one took me about 20 hours all combined on the 12 – 16 inch blocks I am estimating about 300 hours – the center block took me about 50 hours – so total 350 hours and I am counting the sashing in on that time as it is an estimation and I don’t think I am too far off.  The applique is needle turn applique – so yes it is all done by hand.

I picked out a border I like and as there is no pattern for it – I will be free style designing it as I go pretty much.  The border I like is in the “Red and Green –An Applique Tradition” by Jeana Kimball.  I believe she designed the border and the quilt.  I am not doing the zigzag part of it, but I am going to do the vine woven with flowers and leaves intermingled in it.  I am not doing the same flowers in this pattern – but a different flower and bud that I like that I used several times throughout the quilt to carry some of it through to the border.

A photo of the quilt with the border that I will be inspired from:

We had a great day yesterday with the family.  It was very nice to see Chris (37 yrs) and his wife Terri, I had not seen Chris in about 12 years or so!  Terri was just as I thought she would be, I have spent time over the last 8 years? “talking” to her on the computer and getting to know her through e mail and facebook.  Chris is one of my mother’s older grandchildren – his mom is the 2nd oldest of her 12 children.  The newly weds were there as well – John is much younger than Chris being only about 22 I believe.

Chris and Terri with grandma – Chris hadn’t seen her in 12 years(?) so really wanted to plan this trip with getting in a quick visit before he starts his new job.

The happy newlyweds home from their elopement – John and Kandi.  John is a real sweetheart and we all love him dearly – I don’t know about all that “art” on his body though I have never been into tattoos but I know they are very popular with a lot of people.

Too many people in the family to show more family photos – Mike took a zillion photos and I got them all on my computer now and haven’t even looked at all of them yet.