March's UFO is Done!

This month's UFO project began with these signature blocks gifted to me when I left my guild in Missouri (I tell you all about them in this post at the beginning of the month):

I took those blocks with me to Missouri when I went for our annual Ozark Hills Shop Hop.  While staying with my friend, Debbie, we pondered how to piece a quilt top.  The problem was that there was no true seam allowance allowed in the original block design.

What we decided to do was to trim each block to 6" and then frame then with a 1" strip in keeping with the scrappy feel of the blocks.  Debbie suggested we try a few to see how it would look.  Before long, she had framed every block and assembled the whole top right before my very eyes!

After a lot of auditioning, we finally settled on this adorable brown print with multi colored dots for the border.  We went with a small border in hopes that we could keep the backing to a single 44" panel of fabric and we did!  Sneaky Debbie even tucked the remainder of the binding fabric into my bags when I packed to come home...I was pleasantly surprised when I unpacked everything and got ready to prep this top for quilting!

After quilting it up with a simple freehand meander, I attached a label using one of  the leftover unsigned blocks.  I also added a hanging sleeve and binding in this crazy bright yellow-green stripe.  If you look closely, you can see I added a this strip of it to the top of my backing fabric as well (I was about 6" shy of the needed backing fabric to get the quilt on the longarm...grrr...hate when that happens!)!

Finally, I took the quilt outside for a couple of quick pictures in the beautiful sunshine!  See that wagon wheel?  Debbie was so sweet to send it home with me, too!  I had to promise to plant a pink clematis with it when it finds its permanent home in the garden!  THANKS DEB!!!

Friendship Quilt  

42x42"

Pattern Designer:  Debbie Wilson & myself

Quilting Design:  Freehand Meander

Okay, so that's my March UFO...check!  My "Friendship Quilt" has now found a home hanging on he wall in my quilt studio!  Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes, Scrap Basket Sunday, 12 Finishes in 2014, and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?  Wheeeew...FUN!!!!