3quilts to long armer

Last week I took 3 quilt tops to Maria, my long-armer, so I'm hopeful to have completed projects before Christmas! 1 for me, one as a gift for a family member, and one a gift for a pay-it-forward pledge!

completed I-spy quilt back

I've attached the photo of the completed quilting backing. The nephew lives in Manhattan and the Hamptons, so is around the shore a lot, so I thought the ships and flags would be fun for him, and the reverse will give the quilt a longer life when the guy "outgrows" the I spy front.

I actually ordered this fabric (center panel, flags, and the border print), on line before I had assembled the front or knew the size, but luckily, for once in my life, I ordered "just enough" for the backing. I have one length about 14 " wide of the border print extra.

I'm still debating whether to quilt this myself or send it out; I'm pretty busy, so will probably send it to the long armer.

finished I-spy quilt top

here it is finished with the border. Now I just need to do the backing and decide whether to quilt it or send it out. I'm a little concerned the borders may be a bit wavy. I hope the 3-year old won't notice.

These are photos of the work in progress of the second I-spy quilt for one of my husband's grand-nephews. Last night I actually completed the borders, which are auditioned below. For the first time I did mitered corners on the borders, and I'll post photos of the results tomorrow (I have a concert tonight). My quilting time may go down (sad) because I just accepted a job offer for a general counsel position, so I will be very much busier with learning the ropes and the people, plus some travel. (that handpieced grandmother's flower garden might just get finished though).

I Spy quilt for my nephew

Here is the finished quilt (except for the label, in process). This is the first quilt that I quilted myself - nothing fancy, just stitch in the ditch. I used the high loft batting since it is a kid's quilt and he lives in the north, so I think he will like the extra poofiness. He likes cars, so the back is a roadway print that I hope will be fun with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. The backing fabric wasn't quite wide enough, so I used some train fabric from the same line as two borders, and it blended in nicely (although the lines weren't totally straight...)

I Spy quilt - Disappearing 9-patch

This is the almost finished quilt top for my great-nephew Van who lives in Virginia. I was in a couple of novelty fabric swaps with Flynn n Fabric, (4-inch squares), so still have makings for 2 more quilts for the other great nephews. The disappearing 9-patch cuts down the tedium of creating the sashing and cornerstones. I still need to add the sashing on the right and bottom.

I'm debating with self about a border; the photo looks pretty good without it. The backing will be a fabric with cars and roads, as this little guy likes cars, so I think he can use it with his Hot Wheels.

a ufo completed - quilt #6

I started this quilt in 2009 at a class at Quilter's connection, with Sharon Wilhelm. It's from a book called Nickel Quilts, and the title of the pattern is "Woodland Clover." There were so many triangles, this one really discouraged me; I think I need a new sewing machine that sews diagonals better. Many things delayed getting this finished, but I finally had it quilted by Mindy Washburn last fall, and finally got it bound last week. She did a nice job with variegated thread on top and beige on back. I still need to get a label on it.

(I have lots of red and blue charms left over from this quilt!)