Beyond the Cherry Trees: a finish!

I still have to mark, baste, and quilt this but the top is complete. 

I cleared the table and chairs out of the dining room for the picture but the piece in the corner was too heavy to move so the top isn't completely flat.  Still, you get the idea.  I wish I had a clothes line, a very tall clothes line, and sun for the picture but don't so this was the next best thing today.  

I called a semi-local shop that does long-arm quilting about basting but I don't really want to wait another month.  I'd like to start the quilting before the weather is too warm.  The top is a bit over eight feet square and I have a work table that's eight feet wide, so I'm going to try it myself.  If it doesn't work easily enough, I'll just wait and have her do it.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The original quilt has motifs quilted into it just about everywhere but that's not me even though this is a fairly 'folky' quilt.  My plan now is to do diagonals in a chevron.  The points should come together right about the blue bird in the center.

If you'd like a closer look at each of the blocks, they're listed in 'older posts' look at the end of my sidebar (under the blogroll)  under btct,  beyond the cherry trees, and by block (fill in a number).  I'd post the links but there are 20 or so of them.

Cherry Tree block 25

block 25 - last one

This is the last of the individual blocks.  I'll trim them to size and stitch them together tomorrow.  Last night, I cut out the freezer paper for the leaves on the three borders we've gotten so far.  The last border will be posted Feb. 10th.  Tonight, I'll work on berries.    Lots and lots of berries.  I have them all cut out but need to stitch the gathering threads and pull them up over the templates, then press them.

Nearly Insane and Beyone the Cherry Trees - 18

I've been making blocks for my Nearly Insane quilt like I'm, well, nearly insane.  Rather than one at a time, here's what I've finished so far. I think I have 51 blocks in this stack but there may be a few more.  This seems like an obvious scrap quilt to me.  Some of the pieces finish at 1/4" and some blocks look like leftovers that were cut down to finish at 6" - an example is a Lone Star that has the star tips lopped off.

Nearly Insane blocks

I also finished block 18 of Beyond the Cherry Trees  ---

Block 18

This block has been up on the design board for over a week waiting for me to get the camera out.  Sometimes that's the slowest part of blogging.  


I've also been working on clothing for my granddaughter's 3rd birthday.  That girl loves new dresses more than toys and since I also love to make them for her, well, we're a perfect fit!  Pictures to follow . . . .