Friday, March 29, 2019

Sparkle On!

This quilt has been some time in the making. It has been on more than a couple FAL lists, and it was once again on my Q1FAL list. So I am super-happy that it is now off that list and in the 'check!' column.



I first cut all the pieces during a trip to Florida in November 2015:

It's a kit I bought that year from Connecting Threads (affiliate link, I think), using Amanda Jean Nyberg's 'Good Neighbors' line. It's such bright and cheery fabric, much like my niece Fawn's bubbly personality.


So from Florida to Ontario, I think it fitting that the finished quilt got part of its photo shoot by water.
Lake Erie, whose shores are a mere 2-minute walk from my house, though not quite as warm at this time of year as the Gulf of Mexico!

The flimsy finish post is here. There you'll see the beginning of the quilting too. I used Essential 100% 50 wt cotton thread to quilt it in a deep pink. Avril, my longarm, really likes this thread; well, she likes pretty much any thread, but I do love this one.

I did several kinds of flowers, loops, leaves and a few hearts.

It gives such lovely texture. And this is pre-washing!

Of course, Fawn gets her name quilted into her quilt, as all the recipients of my quilts do:
My initials are quilted in the bottom corner as per usual. However I didn't take a photo.

I had bought backing and a bit of coordinating yardage a few months before I spied this kit, so I nearly did use that backing, but then I realized I had a good chunk left of the fat quarters from the kit, so why not make a patchwork backing?

mmm! I'm glad I did!

I love the striped grey binding. I stitched it to the back and then top-stitched it to the front of the quilt. Speedy! It was good that the finished quilt sat for a week or so before binding as I worked on a couple of other ongoing projects. I saw a post about a quilt for Molli Sparkles on Lorna's blog (such a great read, such good inclusive thinking there within), and I thought sparkle binding!! This is Jeff's aka Molli Sparkles signature binding, and I just had to replicate it for this sparkly effervescent niece of mine, who I think will get a kick out of, especially when she learns the backstory.

The label(s):

A look at the coordinating sides, and that sparkle/bling binding - love!
I purposely placed it to start on the red, so it's subtle, and your eye will see the spark by the floral fabric and then see the second spark by the red. 💖 Easier shot in my back yard that day than by the lake where the north wind doth (dothed? dideth? well it did!) blow!
But you see again the two sides.

After washing it is so soft and snuggly. The thread sunk in beautifully.

Can't wait to hear what she thinks when she receives it!

Quilt Stats:
Pattern: Box A Lot by Connecting Threads
Size: pre-quilting 60.5 X 80.5; after quilting and washing 58.5 X 78.5"
Fabric: Good Neighbors by Amanda Jean Nyberg for Connecting Threads
Backing: as for front
Batting: 100% cotton, not sure on brand, maybe Nature's Touch
Quilted: on Avril my Avanté: 93 460 stitches
Threads: pieced on my Bernina and on my Featherweights; quilted with Essential 50 wt 21241, top and bobbin. Binding stitched down with Gütermann 100% cotton 50 wt grey.

A bluprint note
One little plug as I haven't given one in some time: bluprint. I haven't made dime one since December, and I'm thinking that a lot of people aren't as enthused with bluprint as they were with Craftsy. I also haven't been talking it up as much. However, something happened a week ago that made me think, 'ya know, this is kind of a cool subscription service to Online Quilting Classes.' (affiliate link) I got notification of Christina Cameli's newest class, Free Motion Quilted Gifts. (affiliate link, I think)

Well, I love her stuff, own two of her books, and two of her classes, so I thought oh! this sounds cool' and so I clicked on it to check it out. Oh WOW, is it ever. I can't wait until I get some time to make some of these ideas. As a member, you get 15% off supplies too, even sale items, so that's a nice perk, and free shipping within the US. You also get free patterns that are yours to keep forever, and members only deals like 60% off one item, that I currently have, and have not taken advantage of. Yet. Did you know you can give a gift subscription, even to someone who is a subscriber? Click here to learn more.

Please do come back on April 3 for the kickoff to my third annual QAL, Beothuk Star! See button on sidebar.

Linking up:
Dizzy Quilts for the Q1 FAL
Cooking Up Quilts
My Quilt Infatuation
TGIFF at Alycia Quilts - Quiltygirl
The Madd Quilter
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Busy Hands Quilts
Meadow Mist Designs for a new link party. This was my favourite March finish!

13 comments:

  1. Your quilting is amazing!
    I’m sure Fawn will love it!
    What a photoshoot, love that view!
    Beautiful quilt Sandra!
    Hugs,
    Barbara xx

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  2. Perfect way to welcome the flowers and all the beauty of Spring. Striped bindings are my favorite too. And you already know about our shared fondness for photoshoots by the water :-) Sparkle on is a beautiful finish and Fawn is one lucky gal.

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  3. This quilt does sparkle! Love the photo by the water too. I'm sure Fawn will love this quilt. Off to look at Blueprint :-)

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  4. Sparkle a lovely name for a beautiful quilt! I like the patchwork back and that binding.

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  5. Good for you for finishing that quilt. Fawn is a lucky girl. Thank you for the link to Blueprint. I'll have to check it out. So sad about Craftsy.

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  6. I love bright quilts and this one is gorgeous! I love your quilting on it too!

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  7. As her mother, I know Fawn will love this. It's beautiful!!

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  8. What a perfect finish - great quilting and a great binding to boot. Hooray for getting it done. It is nice to get them finally done when they have been on a FAL list too many times!

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  9. What a glorious and beautiful finish, Sandra. The extra bit of sparkle and blind in the binding is perfection!

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  10. What a great finish!! I really like how you did the backing too - it just makes it all such a happy quilt! and of course - by the water.... Love that photo!

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  11. Such a beautiful finish! I love the colors and the quilting. It is so special that the quilting has the recipient's name. Thanks for much for linking up!

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  12. What a great fabric collection. This is a wonderful finish. I've bookmarked this post, as I might "borrow" your quilting motif to try something new.

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  13. So many great details on this lovely quilt! I love that you chose the scrappy backing! Thank you for participating in the FAL, on behalf of the 2019 global FAL hosts.

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