Binding time

Once again I can't believe how quickly the days have gone by since my last post! It feels like not a lot has been happening in The Palace, BUT something has happened, and that something is some quilting!

I recently came across a linky party for Free Motion Mavericks and WOW! that is exactly how I feel about the quilting I have done on the Bears quilt for my great-niece. Very maverick-ic, if that is a word!

When I was piecing the quilt I told myself (continually so that I would get the message) that I was going to do an all-over quilting design.

"Quicker and all that is necessary on a child's quilt."

When I was basting the quilt I told myself (continually so that I would get the message) that I was going to do an all-over quilting design.

However once I sat down, the bears told me they needed proper faces —

The Bear Paw blocks told me they wanted a bit of fanciness and to look like claws —

And then I decided a feather fill would be perfect for this quilt.

I think I've broken every feather rule in the quilting world. I have small feathers, large feathers, long feathers, short feathers, wonky feathers, beautiful feathers, all side-by-side.

And to add insult to injury, I have small spirals, large spirals, spikey spirals, loopy spirals —

And because the border fabric is busy, I just did a diagonal checkerboard there  - I did try to measure to get it all even but didn't get it quite right; however it's barely visible and a wee lass won't be bothered by it!

Binding will happen over the next few days and then I will have a long awaited finish!

Thank you to Andree at Quilting and Learning -What a combo! for encouraging me to join the linky. If you want to see other Maverick Free Motion Quilting, or join in just go *here*.

And binding of a different type. Over the weekend we attended the wedding of one of ED's best friends. ED was in the bridal party, and YD and  I travelled down south (to the Waikato) together for it.

It was a great 36 hours away; the wedding was held at an Alpaca Farm which added an extra bit of fun and personality to the proceedings! 

We were told by one official-type person that we were allowed in with the Alpacas, but were quickly shooed out by another!

The bride's family and ours (well, me and my girls) spent a lot of time together when they were teenagers. The girls attended a lot of horse competitions so we travelled together, camped together and the girls rode together. Here are the girls with their 'other mummies' —

(YD in the red and ED on the right.) (The bride in her Dancing Dress!)

Such a fun night. I'm slowly catching up on my sleep (!)

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Goals for July

I had a grand plan for July, which was to make a block a day and write a post a day with it; as I have done the other odd time when I wanted to focus on block-making and blogging.

So what happened —

July 1st - YES I finished a block (which only needed a few seams sewn to finish it off) —

(Tilda Memory Lane project which I will talk about another time)

But with kids, work, supermarket and so on, a blog post didn't happen!

July 2nd was surely going to be my catch up day and a chance to get started on my mission.

A block got completed —

Omigosh! block. For the quilt by Sue Garman. It's a while since I've made any of these but now that I have finished making my 36-patch scrappy blocks (see *here*) I have a pile of 1" strips that need attention.

But with kids, the farm and a power cut, a blog post didn't happen!

July 3rd was to be the day to properly start on this mission. We did have kids and more kids during the day but later on, the time was my own so I sewed up my block(s).

(More Tilda Memory Lane blocks)

Then the hills called and I spent the last hour of daylight walking!

Today is the 4th and I am determined today will be the day to properly start this mission.

Today's block(s) —

Some nice straightforward Sawtooth stars.

I'm also signing up to Patty's One Monthly Goal. I haven't joined in for a while but this month I'd really like to get my Bears and Bears Paw quilt finished. I don't believe I have shared a photo of the finished top. Here it is —

This pattern is by Sew Fresh Quilts. I'm excited to get it completed and into the post for its recipient!

I have had a slow start to the month but hopefully it's onwards and upwards now 😀

'til next time,

happy stitches,