Saturday, March 20, 2010

Almost There

I got Cake (aka Hope is a Four Letter Word) back from the longarm machine quilter Natalie Carlton. I am so impressed with her quilting. She doodled in each block with thread the color of the background. There are amazing patterns but the letters and the words are still the star. I asked her to leave the threads hanging for me to pull to the back, knot, and bury.


I actually enjoyed the process of working with the threads. It gave me a chance to carefully look and admire each block.


Another peek:


and the final look:


I'm finishing the binding and should get the quilt into the washer this afternoon. I'm just the teensiest bit worried that one of these fabrics will run, but I'll add two boxes worth of Color Catchers and hope that does the trick.

I'm really happy with this quilt. The quilters who made blocks for it are all amazing - thank you. The next time you see it, fingers crossed, it will be in a book.

I'm thinking of the next book already. I'm slow, it could take me ages to get it done, especially if I do lots of quilts that I want to hand-quilt. The next one needs to be without letters (although a very few wordy quilts could be in the gallery). Without knowing the specifics of what would be in the book, which UnRuly topic immediately grabs your interest? Halloween or Houses (with Gwen's blessing)? I can see fun either way. If neither grabs you, what would? There's a poll over in the sidebar, please vote. I'd love to hear your comments, especially if you pick "other."

I gotta get back to work. Ya'all take care.

23 comments:

YankeeQuilter said...

Her quilting looks amazing! Can't wait to see the whole quilt!

Susan said...

Beautiful sneaky peeks, Tonya!

How about houses and trees with seasonal themes? Crookedy houses, spooky looking trees, spider webs, etc for the obvious Halloween. Christmas houses (Grandma's) pine trees, trees with lights, snowmen, etc for winter. Flowering mansions and trees in bloom for spring and beach houses for the summer.

Now I have TWO of your books to look forward to, yay!

AnnieO said...

Am looking forward to seeing the whole thing---I see part of my SOAR there :) How thrilling that it will be in a book!

Jill said...

How about family or seasons.

Helen in the UK said...

Love how you and Bonnie 'tease' us with glimpses of quilts destined for your books!!
Would love a book of house quilts. I love your Halloween quilts, but it really seems to be more of a US thing than in other countries, so it's not a theme I would purchase a book about :)

antique quilter said...

just LOVE the way she quilted your quilt
your right she did an awesome job
Kathie

Joyce said...

I like houses because it's more universal. Halloween is strictly a North American celebration. I have in mind an ethnic houses quilt...I saw some Alexander Henry fabric that had ethnic people on it that I thought would be perfect to put in the doors if they aren't too big.

Browndirtcottage said...

OH...OH....stop t-e-a-s-i-n-g us!!!
You know we just CAN NOT wait!! The quilting looks great!! Is this the first quilt you have had machine quilted...I can't remember if you told that in a previous post??? I'm guessing it is the first!!
I'm going to vote for 'HOUSES'

Browndirtcottage said...

...BUT....Halloween IS the 2nd biggest holiday next to Christmas and VERY popular....soooo...maybe you should be planning on TWO more books....one with houses and trees and another one with Halloween!!

Clare said...

Lovely quilt and beautifully quilted. Just think how many we could get done if we machine quilted LOL.

Houses Houses all the way!

Deborah said...

Other: If you go with "neighborhoods" you can include the different holidays like a Halloween neighborhood, a Christmas neighborhood, and all the trees, and cats that make houses, homes. Can't wait to see cake.

Quiltdivajulie said...

So happy to see your LA quilter understands what your quilts need!!! IT is awesome to have that kind of relationship with your quilter.

Enjoy the journey...

Kathy said...

HALLOWEEN!!! I am a Halloween junkie and I know other people who are the same way. I buy all the books I can afford with Halloween stuff in them.

laura said...

Why limit yourself (and us) to just two books? I say book series :)! OK so the first isn't published yet but why not do both? Honestly, I think you should do whatever inspires you. 'Cause really that's what is fabulous to see, what inspires a great quilter tends to light a flame in all of us. Look what just an article did for me.

Diane said...

Love the quilting patterns. What fun! I referenced you in my blog post today.

Kim said...

I think our Liberated Amish
get together would make a very interesting book........ don't you?

Happy Sewing

Sharon said...

What a tease you are! Cake looks wonderful....fabulous quilting! And what a thrill to see a little bit of the HOME block I made...can't wait to see the whole thing in your book!

I voted for Houses, but I love Halloween too. I agree...you should do a whole series of books! "Seasonal" would be interesting....then you could get in patriotic and teapots and Christmas and Halloween and and and....oh everything! (I know, easy for me to say!) Oh yeah, Liberated Amish too!

Sophie said...

This is my first time on your blog- I love it! Your creativity and use of color is beautiful and wonderfully unique. I can't wait to see this entire quilt. Keep up the good work!

www.americanquilter.com

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Fabulous quilt and loving my first visit to you blog...what a fine, fine trip!

Lynda said...

I love the quilting! It's always difficult to know how to quilt letters without obscuring them. Perfect result!

Anonymous said...

Voted for other because I am very curious of how you would liberately make cat figurines in quilts

'Groetjes' from Holland,

Madelief

Kristin L said...

Between Houses and Halloween, I definitely think Halloween when it comes to YOU!

Stephanie Hughes said...

What a great idea...to give a glimpse of the quilt but to keep us coming back. I love the colors of what I can see. Excited to see the final project. I guess I will have to buy the book! I found your blog from another blogger and I see you live in Florida. My dad is in Fort Meyers. I visit him twice a year and I love it there. Have a great spring, Steph