January has come in with lots of cold, wind, rain, and snow on the hills out the window...a proper beginning to this new year it is!I have been feverishly working on my H quilt over the holidays, trying my best to reach my goal of its completion by today....I came very, very close, as you shall see, but not quite.
Between that consuming goal and holiday happenings and visitors, I have been incommunicado with my friends, not emailing or reading too many blogs either. But I plan on easing back into my beloved online life over the next few days.
Here is a detail of the binding. Imagine four separate "passes" going around the whole quilt: first the black silk binding was hand appliqued on; next the orange rick rack was attached with those #8 cherry colored beads; then came approximately 32 yards' worth of red 4mm silk ribbon in those lazy daisies (involving one repeat trip to the store, as 20 yards was nowhere near enough); finally, the sandalwood beads went on.I was really starting to feel hostage to this quilt!
You can get an idea of the overall effect. I still need to fold the black binding to the back and and sew it down...and add the hanging sleeve. But then this puppy is done.Which is a good thing, because I got some books for Christmas that have me all inspired and wanting to try new things!
Quilt Savvy is a collection of stitch diagrams, rather like Carole Sample's book, A Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches. The ones in here have a nice clean look to them which I like, and don't use a whole lot of esoteric stitches...just the basic ones combined in some fresh (to me) ways.A-Z Thread Painting is just that. I would like to try my hand at this for sure.
The two volume Margaret Fuller bio, recommended by JoWynn, is more for broadening my inner perspective--as biographies are meant to do. But I am hoping that will be conveyed in more fearless choices in my needlework.
I bagged some big game in the book department this Christmas, too....
Yes, the Holy Grail of the crazy quilt world, long out of print and hard to come by...I am now the proud owner of a mint condition copy of Crazy Quilts, by Penny McMorris.YES!!!!!
(Powell's Books, as of last week, has another copy, only it is in hardback and is selling for $150.)
May the new year bring us all lots of adventures in stitching....I can't wait to share mine with you all.
And from my family to yours, Happy New Year!!!
13 comments :
What wonderful pictures! It's hard to believe that the H quilt actually keeps getting better and better. Break out the champagne and celebrate. Happy New Year
That's a nice looking family of men you've got there, Allie. And you are right, the years are ZOOMING by.
Ditto what Kay said, the H quilt just gets better and better. Just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any better...
Welcome back to Blogland! It's lonesome with both you and Rian gone for the holidays!
One of those books would be enough to keep anyone inspired all year but lucky you to have a few. Plus, all those goodies from QM this past year too. We are expecting some good work coming out of that studio of yours!
Hoo, boy, I like the border you've put together! Ditto on the better and better comments from above. It's beautiful but I'll bet you will be glad to move on to the next project.
You really do have a great looking bunch of guys there, Allie... but then you're not so shabby yourself, lady! You really did make out in the book department, especially that Penny McMorris book. I've been looking for that one at a decent price myself for awhile, now.
I love the smile in your new profile picture, by the way.
Allie, I really like the binding/border at the end. Perfect frame, even if it was a pain in the hands to do. The whole thing is just fabulous.
Happy New Year to you as well Allie. That is such a gorgeous quilt - and even if you weren't finished "on time", you did take the time to make it beautiful, with all those finishing steps, which is certainly much more impressive than just calling it done.
Allison, I'm sooooo glad to see you back at your blog! It sounds like had a lovely holiday season. Your quilt is of course, gorgeous as are all of your quilts!
You have me laughing myself right out of my chair here! So glad you now have a copy of the "Holy Grail Of The Crazy Quilt World"! I felt the same way when my husband bought my copy for me. (I'm still grossed out by the chipmunk quilt!) Ha, ha, ha!
Your other books look soooo interesting!
I'm looking forward to seeing your 2008 projects. I know they'll be amazing with your incredible and fearless use of color!
I am green with envy over the out of print crazy quilt book - that is the one I lost when I moved to Austin - went to the Quilt Shop trying to find a replacement, and they handed me a Judith Baker Montano book, which did set me off on a fine new adventure. I did a blog (first installment) of my wonderful week in the piney woods of north Florida - will update later.
Welcome back Allie. That rick rack border treatment is fabulous: a fitting border for this is a gorgeous quilt. You really poured yourself into this one.
What a fantastic border! Better & better!!! I like the new photo of you, also. I got my copy of "Luscious Landscapes" and loved seeing your two, especially the New Mexico one. I may have to try a landscape quilt, if I can fit it in to my long list of quilts to finish and start.
The hills and trees there are so beautiful.
Your family looks great - mine is all boys too, even the 2 grandsons.
The H quilt is just awesome!
Happy New Year, Cat
Happy New Year Allie-what a view, both inside and outside your windows. Can't wait to see what you will be up to after the glorious H quilt.
I love your attention to detail -- even in the border of the quilt. I would have never thought of doing something like that.
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