Olaf came off the frame Christmas Eve and I will be working to get Williamsburg Beauty on the frame and started. I am not in love with this top but it has been waiting in line to be quilted for 3 years and I keep putting others in front of it – time to get it done.
Melanie and I decided Olaf was too big for the space she has available in the library so it was cut down – there hadn’t been a lot of quilting in the borders – thank goodness – so it was no loss. The narrow white border and the light blue border – gone – and an inch or so of the dark blue – it is now 27”x34” and after I get the binding on we will figure out how it will hang. It took about 10 hours to quilt it so I’m glad I went ahead and hand quilting this one – it is not overly quilted by far but for a wall hanging I think it will be ok.
I had never done a panel before and although I thought it was straight when I first received it I quickly realized it wasn’t – so one side might look wider then the other but I do believe it is about as straight as it will be – I will check before I add the binding one more time. If you click on the photo it can be enlarged (all my photos are like that) to see the quilting.
It is time to link up to Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal -December Finish Link-up and I said I was going to try to finish Brimfield Awakening including getting it hung on the wall – and I did!! I will link up when it is available. Above the quilting frame is where I wanted it and it worked out perfectly. It took about 2 weeks to hand quilt this one and get the binding on it about 16 hours total.
It brightens the wall just as I hoped it would.
The next up is Williamsburg Beauty – the four center applique blocks are from the pattern The Casswell Quilt which I thought I wanted to make but decided I didn’t after I made about 6 to 7 blocks – the others have been turned into a table topper and maybe still one left in the UFO box to do something with? possibly will need to check some day. I tried to do this quilt in the medallion style without a pattern to go by and I wasn’t really happy with it- it is about 60 x 60” much smaller than some of mine. Not quite laying flat and I hope to quilt one area out where I find it noticeable when laying on the floor
This is the backing fabric for it – I will work on getting this on the quilting frame today. I might use the brown and beige thread – Aurifil #12 that I used on the flannel quilt Crossroads this fall – I have plenty left over I do I believe.
Melanie made a beautiful stitchery for us and we received a new bird feeder from Jessica I haven’t had time to hang it and get a photo but soon
And as so many in the Midwest had for Christmas day – higher than normal temperatures – we had a high of 66 degrees and instead of your normal holiday of being in the house we were outside a lot and I was doing yard work and walking, enjoying the sunshine and even a fire in the firepit and reading outside and knitting too!! By next week back to normal temperatures in the 40-50 range and high 20’s to 30’s at night – we always know it won’t last but it is so nice to have a warm Christmas I didn’t mind not having a white one which we rarely do anyhow here.
I guess I need to go back through a year of blog post and figure out what all I did this year in starts and finishes and do a post at the end of the year like I normally do – a good way to keep track of what you do.
You might want to start checking out some of the end of year clearance sales – Bluprint has 70% on clearance items right now and 50% off classes.
I don’t use panels much but I have found they are never square – very frustrating! Your Olaf turned out quite nice, though, and I am happy to see Williamsburg Beauty again. I like it! Glad you had a nice, peaceful Christmas – the firepit looks especially inviting.
Olaf turned out beautiful. So true, panels are never quite straight, it is just the nature of the beast. Maybe the company who manufacture them will fix the problem? Your frame is getting good use.
While the panel wall hanging I machine quilted recently was unusually straight and made right on the grainline appropriately .. I have previously only experienced similar to you.. misshapen fabric and a hazard truly to deal with… saying that I think Olaf looks AWESOME!!! What color binding do you plan to put around him? Why not hang with pushpins in the binding or sew little circles on the back for hanging on push pin heads…. just a couple ideas.. Will it hang year round or be seasonal since a new movie of it recently came out maybe he will stay for a while! lol
I just love Williamsburg Beauty.. I am sorry it doesn’t make your heart sing like it does mine… I adore your applique on this quilt center and your piecing is amazing too! Let me know if there becomes a rehoming charge in the future… lol!
Have a wonderful day after christmas… do you shop on this day? We don’t! lol I am done with 1st swoon and working on swoon #2 today and some secret sewing as well… so happy with the progress I am making here 🙂 Take care!
Kathi
Oh what a cherry, well designed quilt for your wall to keep your juices flowing! Colors are splendid. Not crazy about over-quilted items-they wind up looking like see-through hankies IMHO…that’s why I love your quilts. I think its a splendid idea to let your grands ‘choose’ their quilts-so special for them. Not sure I could do that LOL. Here’s to another year of your creativity-must shake a leg in Boston! Susan
Olaf is so goofy. He makes me smile every time you post about him. Brimfield Awakenings looks fantastic above your quilt rack. Williamsburg Beauty is really pretty! But I do understand how you can come not to like a quilt, and sometimes it’s unclear why.
Hah-guess I meant cheery!!! LOL (a little tired in Boston!) sbr
Brimfield Awakening looks wonderful on the wall above your frame! So perfect for that space! How did you hang it? I think Williamsburg Beauty is gorgeous – maybe you will fall in love with it when the quilting is added. I think that always makes a difference in the look of the quilt. Your Christmas Day weather sounds so nice! Glad you were able to be outside so much.
Oh my, that stitchery from Melanie is gorgeous! Brimfield looks lovely on your wall; what a nice finish! You are right, we have had unseasonably warm temps here, in the low 40s. However, there is talk of snow this weekend, so the heatwave may be near its end.
Your Brimfield wall hanging looks great above your frame! Great finish. I’m glad you’re enjoying warmer weather. Belated Merry Christmas!
I think you will like WB more after it’s quilted. But if not it will be a wonderful gift and, most importantly, it will be done!
Olaf is delightful! And Brimfield looks perfect in it’s new place. We enjoyed the weather, were able to be out with the dogs, of which there were 6, 2 huskies, 2 doodles, and 2 small dogs, in my parents’ small house, so pandemonium was not too bad. LOL
Love seeing Olaf and Brimfield Awakening is just perfect hanging there. So nice to enjoy the warm time outside while you can before that cold front settles in. I started keeping an album on FB of quilt finished through the year… it makes the wrap up post easier =)
Brimfield Awakening is gorgeous…just perfect in its spot. Always impressed with how much you hand quilt…a little everyday really adds up! The red stitched piece from your daughter is so beautiful. What funny weather you had for Christmas! All our snow had melted weeks ago and it was horribly dark and depressing…but it start snowing right before I went to bed on Christmas eve and we woke up to about 4 inches. Awesome! And it is snowing today. It makes such a difference to have everything covered in a white blanket!
Your Brimfield looks wonderful on the wall, adding that splash of colour that you wanted. How nice to get a hand made embroidery from your daughter, so precious! And a new bird feeder would be very welcome too, in your cold winters, I imagine.
I was really taken by the panel (it looks great) but hadn’t thought about it not being straight! Your quilt looks fantastic on the wall. It’s a perfect spot. Your daughters stitching is really beautiful!
karen me gustan los dos que has terminado. Brimfield Awakening tiene un lugar perfecto, Olaf en la biblioteca se vera maravilloso.
Saludos
What a pretty stitchery your daughter did! Love Brimfield on your wall looks awesome with the wood paneling. I bet Williamsburg will be more loved once it is quilted!
Olaf turned out nicely, congrats on getting him all quilted. it was kinda nice to have a warm Christmas for a change, but a bit strange. Hopefully you’ve gotten Williamsburg Beauty on the frame and made a start with the quilting.
Your quilt looks beautiful! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!