Piecing Ethan's Ducks Unlimited Quilt

 I've begun piecing grandson Ethan's Ducks Unlimited quilt.  Three borders are on the panel now -- the gold, the borders with the blocks, including the duck prints, and the green border.  Four more borders to go, including two borders with blocks.

Emma's Flower Garden Quilt

 Here's granddaughter Emma's Flower Garden quilt.  I finished the pearls Wednesday, and machine-embroidered the label and sewed it on yesterday.

The quilt measures 101" x 101".  The cross-stitched blocks were found at a secondhand store by my daughter-in-law Amy, Emma's mother.  I designed the quilt in EQ8, adding Triple Irish Chain blocks to the cross-stitched blocks.  The fabric is from Robert Kaufman's 'Softly' line.

The pantograph is 'Lollipop Rose' by Keryn Emmerson, quilted on a hand-guided 18" Handi Quilter Avanté.  I used pale yellow 40-wt. Omni thread on top, and cream 60-wt. Bottom Line in the bobbin.  The batting is Quilters' Dream wool.

Each block has 96 pearls, making a total of 1,728 pearls.  The label was machine-embroidered on my Bernina Artista 730.  The backing is a Riley Blake tie-dye.

The quilt is hanging from my new frame, which was designed for a photography backdrop.  It is not nearly heavy enough for hanging quilts on, and the only way it stayed upright was because, for once, the constant Nebraska wind has died down to a 10-mph 'gentle breeze', as they call it hereabouts.  I had to catch it before it tumbled over three or four times, and took pictures as fast as I could between tips.  If anyone has any suggestions for how to make this thing sturdy, I'd be glad to hear them!  I do want it to be portable, of course.

Label for Emma's Flower Garden Quilt

 

Pearls on Two More Blocks

 

Binding Done, Pearls Started

 The binding is on Emma's Flower Garden quilt, and I've started sewing on the pearls. Is it worth the effort, do you think? I have pearls sewn on about 1⅓ blocks, which means I have about 16⅔ blocks to go. Here are a couple of pictures of the backing, too.

Quilting Done, Emma's Embroidered Flower Garden

 The quilting is done on granddaughter Emma's Embroidered Flower Garden Quilt.  The binding is ready to be sewn on, and then... pearls!

Quilting Emma's Embroidered Flower Garden Quilt

 I've quilted three rows of Emma's Embroidered Flower Garden quilt today.  The pantograph is called 'Lollipop Roses', designed by Keryn Emmerson.

Emma's Flower Garden Quilt Top

Granddaughter Emma's Flower Garden quilt top is done.  I have the backing and the batting sewn together; everything is ready to load on the quilting frame.

Triple Irish Chain Blocks Done

 The eighteen 18" Triple Irish Chain blocks are done.  They'd make a pretty quilt by themselves, wouldn't they?  But it'll be even better with the eighteen 18" cross-stitched blocks.

There are 97 patches in each block.  That makes a total of 1,746 patches.  The squares are 1½", finished.  No wonder it took so long to make these blocks! -- 34½ hours, counting cutting, to be exact.

Now to sew them into rows!

Triple Irish Chain Block

 The first Triple Irish Chain block for Emma's Embroidered Flowers quilt is done.  The rest are partially put together and won't take long.  There are 97 patches in each block, and there are 18 blocks.  That makes a total of 1,746 patches.

Fabric Has Arrived

The fabric for Emma's quilt, along with the duck-scene panel for Ethan's quilt, has arrived! Robert Kaufman fabric is always so nice. I placed this order with Marshall Dry Goods Sunday night. Pretty good shipping times!

 

Joanna's Jardin de Fleurs

 This piece of fabric was found in granddaughter Joanna's other late grandmother Bethany Wright's stash of fabrics.  I am using it as the central panel for Joanna's quilt.  It now measures 46" x 48".

Fabric for Emma, & Ethan's Ducks

 Having decided I really did want the fabric I originally liked best for granddaughter Emma's quilt, I accordingly ordered it, and am now waiting on it.  It's Robert Kaufman's 'Softly' line, purchased from Marshall Dry Goods.

I did get all the cream fabric cut -- 216 pieces.

While I'm waiting, I've started on Ethan's quilt.  Ethan is Emma's older brother, the oldest of Teddy and Amy's nine.  Ethan likes ducks.  This vintage piece of fabric that Amy found at a secondhand store is by VIP Cranston Print Works, and it's better quality fabric than most printed panels.  There are 40 squares, with six different duck prints.  I will cut them apart, and put them into a king- or queen-sized quilt.  The squares will measure 8", finished.

Now to import my pictures into EQ8, and start playing!

Sherri's Farm Animals Quilt

 All done quilting my friend's Farm Animals quilt. She made it for her new granddaughter, who just happens to be my great-great-niece. The pantograph is called 'Cottontails.'