Friends & Companions

I've been pretty behind on my blogging lately...so many projects, not enough time to blog about them, LOL!  Well, today, I have a finish to share!

This is the finished setting for Friends & Companions (a 10 week sew along from Marcus Brothers).  It came out so much better than I had hoped...I just love it!  For the blocks, themselves, I use all scrap basket fabrics and of course, that didn't even make a dent.  For the setting, I did cut into a couple of FQs for the black irish chains and used yardage for the remaining setting fabrics (I even had to go purchase a new black fabric for the first border and binding because I always run out of black fabric).

The backing used up the remainder of the neutral setting square fabric as well as a couple of other fabrics I'm not really fond of.  I'm especially happy to use up the last of that green...it's a blended fabric (not really sure where I got it from to begin with) and its is a real pain to work with.  Why did I use it in the first place?  Well, I just can't stand to toss out fabric, so I used it up!

This is where Friends & Companions currently lives...it fits nicely on my kitchen table!  And looks pretty good next to the quilt ladder of Prairie Women Sewing Circle quilts in the corner!

Bailey claims Friends & Companions!

Friends & Companions  

59x59"

Pattern Designer:  Marcus Brothers Designer Sew Along

Quilting Design (Panto):  Hearts Plus (Keryn Emerson, designer)

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Link A Finish Friday, & Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?!

WIPs Today...

What works in progress do I have going on today?  Well...

1.  Blocks #10&11 are finished for the Women of the Bible Quilt Along.

2.  The top is all finished for Friends & Companions Quilt Along and ready to be quilted (after I get the backing pieced together).  I've already made the binding in anticipation of getting it done!

3.  No real progress had been made on the Thai quilt, but that's my piecing station project for the next couple of weeks.  I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of the month...fingers crossed!  It still needs 8 more blocks to be pieced...

4.  Charming Stars is now quilted and I'm currently stitching down the binding in the evenings while DH has the TV turned on.  It even has it's label and hanging sleeve on!  Am I the only person that puts a hanging sleeve onto everything just in case I ever want to hang it (BTW, I rarely ever hang anything - and I use the flat sleeve method instead of the folded quilt show variety).

Linking up to WIP Wednesday and BOMs Away!

Beginning of Charming Stars

Have you heard about the Charming Stars Sew Along that is currently being hosted by Terry's Treasures?  Each year, for the past couple of years, Terry has chosen a new pattern and a bunch of us just sew along!  As for me, I use them as leaders & enders to other projects that I've got in the works!

This time around, Terry chose "Charming Stars," a super cute, free pattern from the Moda Bakeshop.  The pattern calls for 3 charm packs and some additional yardage for sashings, borders and of course backing and binding.

For my version, I've chosen to begin with Moda's Odds & Ends (by Cosmo Cricket) charm packs.  I'm using a warm chocolate brown blender for the stars and sashing.  I cut a couple or extra 5" squares from a green fabric from Marcus Fabrics' Visual Effects line that will also be used for the outer border.  Finally, I'll be binding and making cornerstones with that pretty turquoise from the Raindrops Collection by Coral Tree Fabrics.  I had a backing fabric picked out a while ago, but I'm currently rethinking that.  Hmmm...

Charming Stars (as of 1 Oct 2014)

Linking up with the Charming Stars Sew Along & WIP Wednesday.