Borders On

I did get the other borders on this miniature but not sure about the outside one yet. I do want to quilt a pretty design (I think) in the cream color so that is why I made it this wide but am going to think about it a while before I layer it for quilting. May trim it down some to get better proportions.

The next photos are what I am thinking of doing for the binding and another flange of either the bright pink or the burgundy just inside. Have a photo of each with two different green fabrics. What is your opinion on all - border size and binding choices?

I will not be posting for about a week as I am going to Paducah with my two sisters and a friend. Same as last year we are staying with the friend's mother in law, a sweet, sweet lady. You can read about my trip last year on this blog. Have heard that the dogwoods may not be still blooming like last year - boo, hoo, hoo. They were so beautiful and wonderful to see. We don't have dogwood trees here in Nebraska as it is too cold for them. Will have lots of beautiful quilts to see and shopping to do though.

Have my shopping list and my camera ready but don't have my suitcase packed so guess I had better get that done as today seems to be slipping by and I leave here in the morning.

Until later,
Lynn

Mini Light Box

Have you ever needed a quick light box? I have come up with what works for me and is no trouble to set up.

First I purchased a cheap florescent light and took the plastic cover off and threw it away. This light measures 18" long and I think it was originally made to attach under counters as there are holes for screws but that is not how I use it.

I place it under the Plexiglas surround on the shelf that holds my sewing machine. I only have a 7 1/2" width to work with but that is more than enough for the miniature I am working on or other smaller things that I need a light box for.

The next photo shows the light turned on and the quilt I am working on laid on top of the design. I know you can't see the design under the quilt top but I can see it really well. Works for placement of appliques and marking quilting lines. When I am done using it I just slide it out and set it on the floor under my sewing table - easy to reach when I need it again.

I use this same light for a larger light box also using my sewing machine table. Check out how in this blog entry.

Enough time away from the machine for this computer break so back to sewing. We have our quilt guild meeting tonight and if possible I want to get the top all pieced and appliqued so I can show it at the meeting.

Happy Quilting,
Lynn

Second Borders Attached

I just finished stitching the second border and tiny flange (folded strip on the inside of this border). I figured out I needed to attach this border before I pressed my flowers to the corners of the quilt. Will be much easier to get them placed into the correct position this way.

I did get the flowers and leaves ready to go and this morning will get them pressed on so I can stitch the buttonhole around them later today if possible. To keep the petals in position I lay the pattern under the pressing sheet so I can see the pattern through it. I place the petals down with tweezers then press to keep them all together. I can peel them off the pressing sheet and apply them to the fabric. This pressing sheet is really handy to pre-construct sections before attaching them to the fabric.

You can see one of the large flowers getting the center added in the photo below. If I use my fingers I seem to have trouble placing them exactly where they should go. Also use the stiletto to maneuver them into place.

Don't think I will be keeping the green border that wide but will trim it down after I stitch the next border to it. I know it is kind of backwards but have been using Elmer's School Glue and the method I describe in this tutorial to get my borders placed exactly where I want them and keep the width very even and when working with borders and flanges this small stitching them on in the traditional way is so much harder to do. A variance of just a few threads on a seam line can seem large when looking at miniatures.

Happy Quilting,
Lynn

Updated Quilt Plan

This is the plan for the corners - disregard the pieced oval as that part got changed. I have been doing the drawing for this quilt on EQ6 and printed out the oval and rectangle the size it will be but didn't want to take the time to remove all the lines of the block to make it just the appliqued ovals. I am better at drawing the flower and leaf shapes by hand so printed out the quilt plan then did corner drawings.

I will be appliqueing the corners like I did on the basket block and am starting on it today. Don't know if I can get all four corners done today or not since it is noon already.

No cooking this noon as we are still eating Easter left overs - Yay!

Back to work....
Lynn