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Thursday, December 24, 2020

Yes to the Borders!


Three rounds of borders happened yesterday to complete my Easy Breezy quilt top.

Isn't it amazing what borders can do for a quilt?  I tend to want the borders to add something to the quilt, to tie what's going on in the inside together with what's at the outside.  To add a needed something to the whole, not just "slap something on there to make it bigger."  Are you the same way?

Some of you asked yesterday what I meant by "finishing the nine-patches at the edge of the quilt" so I took this photo just for you.

Where the sashings and cornerstones meet the blocks in the center of the quilt, you can see what looks like nine-patches.  (That really aren't, but have the appearance of being)  Do you see them?

If I left the quilt center the way it was, there would only be "partial" nine-patches at the edge of the quilt center.  It just didn't look "finished" to me.

I was also asked if this whole quilt was made piece-by-piece or if there was any strip set sewing done in the construction.

While you could strip piece some of this - I didn't.  It was made block by block, piece by piece, in between the lines of sewing other things.  That's what Leaders & Enders are.

So for that "completer" border that finishes the nine-patches - I just got out my scrap box of 1 1/2'' squares and sewed sets of 3.  And then I laid out the rectangles in between them to build my border.


Adding that "completer" border to the quilt center.

Oh, I just have to laugh here and let you in on a little secret!  I set up to take this photo - so that I could share how much fun I had putting half a typewriter in as sashing just above a block that had Grumpy Cat as background.

I shot the photo, continued to sew all the way to the end - and found out I had sewn more than 3/4 of that seam WITH NO BOBBIN THREAD! LOL!

If you look behind the machine on the fabric that has just been "sewn" you will see there is no seam line there.  What a dork.  LOL.


Lola says - don't let it phase you!

Just find the sunny spot!


Thank you, sweet girl!

Keep your eye on the simple pleasures.


There now - doesn't that look more "complete"?

To me it was worth the effort.

(And it didn't make a dent in the squares box!)

Another reason why I didn't "strip sew" anything - VARIETY.  it's hard to get enough variety when sewing from long strip sets.  All of the units cut from that strip set are identical.  That's great when you are making a quilt out of just a few pieces of yardage - but it doesn't often work with the kinds of scrappy quilts I like to do.


Last border going on -

And YES!  There is bobbin thread!


And this is where I left it yesterday afternoon about 3pm.


The green and electric blue pieces I have had for some while.

Not sure who the green is by - but the blue is a Gerald Roy piece.

I could have mitered the corners.  Mitered stripes are GREAT in corners.  But with this quilt - I didn't feel that a fancy corner treatment was needed.


I will use the blue crackle as binding -

It picks up the lighter blue stripe in the outer border.

Of all of the things to be grateful for this Christmas season - I smile every time I walk over to my stash cabinets and search for just the right piece that will make that quilt shine.

I am grateful for the time to work on the projects I have in front of me - as well as the ones swimming in my head.

We've presented 2 mysteries, a Leader & Ender Challenge, and numerous other fun things that wouldn't have come about as easily if life were "normal." 

I've finished some long term UFOs in ways that make me really happy with the finishes - not just "get it done and off the list." it was worth it.

I have some other projects creeping up on the design wall - things to be released in the coming year.

In so many ways, this really odd horrible year, has been a blessing.

Perhaps you are feeling some of this too?


Zoey says "Good Morning! Where's my treat?!"

She had the cutest expression on her face - until I pulled out the camera - and her ears instantly go back, and she turns her face away.  Silly girl!

But that tail is a blur under the table - and I am counting Zoey and Ivy as our best gifts of 2020.

Ivy was completely unsure of this cat activity:


Today's plan?  Pull together a backing and start in on some machine quilting for the Easy Breezy quilt!

How about your own Christmas Eve?


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Happy Christmas Eve, quilty friends! ⁣

May your dreams be merry and bright!


 

41 comments:

  1. 2020 has allowed me to realize that a slower lifestyle is just what I needed. More time for my own sewing and quilting while still quilting for others. I have committed to continuing this on into 2021 and more.

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  2. Merry Little Christmas to you and yours!!

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  3. Looks like lots of fun for Ivy to be under the tree as your gift tomorrow morning! YOU are one of the best gifts in my life! I love reading your blog every morning with coffee and see what you're sewing and what the fur babies are up to! Sending you piles of wishes for a Merry Christmas!

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  4. Your Easy Breezy quilt is gorgeous Bonnie. Thank you for sharing your ideas, your thoughts on life and your wonderful furry friends with us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours from Ontario, Canada.

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  5. We went into 2020 grieving the loss of my husband and mom. Then the whole world was also grieving the loss of the life they'd known. For me, having my second job shut down was a chance to remember what just working 40 hours a week was like. I thought is get a lot of quilts done but instead I made many scrub caps for the nurses that work with my daughter in the ICU. 2021 is my year to start conquering the UFOs. Thank you for all you do! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  6. Love love the electric blue! And who would have thought it would look so right next to the green! Happy Holidays to you and yours. Violet

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  7. Your quilt is stunning! Love all the scraps! And I was glad to hear that I'm not the only one who sews without bobbin thread :-) Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

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  8. Just my opinion but I think most of our world needed to slow down a bit. It is sad that with it came isolation. I am so grateful for technology that allows us to face-time and zoom with family tomorrow and grateful for my husband. There are time when I need too remind myself to be grateful as we have had a lot of togetherness! :) Have a Blessed Christmas, Bonnie, and thank you again for all you do. I am looking forward to those secret projects that are whirling around in your creative mind!
    Susan

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  9. Bonnie, Merry Christmas! How fun it will be for a “Quiltville Retreater” to study the fabrics on this quilt as it lays on her bed! Your choice of blue border is gorgeous! I sure hate that we will all miss your annual teaching visit to 35th Ave Quilt Store here in Phoenix, AZ. this Jan. 2021. See you in Jan 2022!!

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  10. After finishing Unity in May, I decided no more "new" projects. I started finishing a lot of UFO's which gave me an inner peace. I still have lots to do but I'm going to persevere into the next year. Of course, Easy Breezy and Grassy Creek were exceptions but I am using scraps for both of them. (I can't sew without a leader/ender project!) Merry Christmas to you Bonnie, and may 2021 be your best year yet!!

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  11. Yea for finishing Easy Breasy! It's fantastic.

    Question: would you consider posting a montage of all your 2020 finishes for us on one blog post?

    Merry Christmas Bonnie :-)

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  12. Happy Christmas Eve to you, too, Bonnie. I've been working on Easy Breezy as leaders and enders for a blue and white Irish Chain quilt and this year's mystery quilt. These little blocks are so much fun to make. I love how you are putting yours together, which is the way I had planned to put mine together, too, but maybe with a constant color for the sashing. I like the way you've done your borders. Merry Christmas!

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  13. It's interesting to observe how differently people have reacted to the pandemic, shutdown, re-openings and re-closings, etc., etc. I tend to be optimistic so I've felt, "We can't do things the way we used to, but the things still need to get done, so we can figure out different ways to do them." Online access may be draining for many but I am retired so I don't have to cope with work-from-home or remote learning. We are fortunate to live in a county with an extensive forest preserve system AND that the lakefront -- a mile away -- is a state park. Meanwhile, in my studio: I'm working on the Civil War Stash Stash Reduction Project -- and succeeding! Merry Christmas to you and those you love, Bonnie.

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  14. Thank you for an amazing year of blog posts and quilting. The insight and inspiration you present are much appreciated more this year than ever. 2020 was a year of possibilities and you displayed that attitude over and over. Whatever you look for is what you find and you proved that over and over with the completion of each brilliant project. Merry Christmas to you

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  15. Oh, my cow! That woman wrapping her cat as a Christmas present! Maybe she had him drunk on catnip and at that point he was feeling fine and didn't care. So funny :) Thanks for all you do for us Quiltvillians all year long! Hope you get to see Miss Mona!

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    1. He looked pretty darned grumpy by the time she slapped that bow on his head! LOL

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    2. Although one of my two cats is very mellow, trying to wrap either of them would not work, Pink would just leave and Mouse, my rescue cat would probably inflict an accidental injury or two as she tore out of there, climbing over me in the process. It took me about two years before she would lay on me or let me pick her up. Now after nine years she sits on me while I check on what's on my computer. If I didn't have my keyboard up off the desktop, she would probably send her own messages on Instagram.

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    3. yes, my cats don't like being picked up at all but are lap kitties :)

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  16. The completer border is perfection. I am always impressed at how the borders you design elevate your quilts. Truly a gift.

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  17. In a hurry to complete a bridal shower quilt (I only had a few weeks notice) I zipped through the final 15 blocks, breathed a sigh of relief, only to realize I had run out of bobbin thread way back! Maybe it's the way the quilting gods tell us to slow down. Have the very best Christmas and a healthy new year.

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  18. Merry Christmas to you and all that share your blog

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  19. My cats would never allow me to wrap them up in paper. I think that poor cat was plotting his revenge for later. Enjoy your time off from work, Bonnie. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

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  20. Love how Ezy Brzy turned out - your scrap quilts are amazing. I found something to be grateful for every day of this crazy year, most days more than one thing. Quilting, quilting friends (real life & online) are always in my top ten. Thank you Merry Christmas

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  21. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  22. I received the ruler I ordered very quickly and wanted to let you know - I enjoy your fur babies as much as my two dogs! Merry Christmas to you and yours this holiday season and thank you for all that you do for us

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  23. Bonnie, I love following your progress and thoughts as you "build" your quilts. I do the same thing, rarely following a pattern. A friend who has made 100's of masks saved her scraps and gave me the whole bag full last night. I can't wait to dig in and see what I can create! Merry Christmas.

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  24. Bonnie, I saw a few of your quilts in Lancaster, Pa a few years back, before I really became a quilter. I fell in love with your work. Using up scraps makes me feel like a pioneer woman. I love it. Thanks for all you do and have a very Merry, Holy Spirit filled Christmas!

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  25. Merry Christmas to you and your family! You have definitely given us so much to look forward to this year. Enjoy your day

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  26. Thank you for sharing your slowed down life with us in this very unusual year. We all shared in less exotic exciting times and our memories will probably be more rewarding than we can now imagine.

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  27. Merry Christmas Bonnie! Thank you for all you have given us with your talent.

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  28. Merry Christmas to you and your family Bonnie. Thanks for the laugh on wrapping the cat!!Here's hoping next year will be a little bit less chaotic but who knows what the future will bring. Thank you for all the quotes and inspiration for us all.

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  29. Merry Christmas Bonnie and your family. I read all your blogs. but did you find your missing cat? I sure hope you did. Also that’s for all you do for us. Your are a very special person.🎄🎄🎄🎄

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  30. Have a Very Merry Christmas Bonnie and Thank You for all you give through the year!!

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  31. It feels like 2020 has been your most "creative" year. You've developed some wonderful new projects. Thank you!!

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  32. I was sewing my final row on Pine Tree Point and about two-thirds of the way across realized my bobbin had run out about three inches from the edge. Oh well - at least it was a short seam. Inner section is all together now and I love it! It went together in record time! Still need to add borders but gotta make a few more string pieces. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hugs and pets to all!

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  33. I love seeing your productivity I work at a non-profit that manages housing for those who have struggled with homelessness and my work hours increased in March and time to quilt decreased. I'm now off work through to January 4th and looking forward to spending time working on a quilt and planning projects for 2021

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  34. That cat video is hilarious! The very patient cat has such a long suffering look on its face that you just know it has been wrapped many times before. LOL

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  35. I ordered a book on Monday it shipped on Tuesday and I received it today the 24th. Just wanted to let you know. Thank you. Can’t wait to get in bed and read it. 😊. Merry Christmas.

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  36. Merry Christmas Bonnie! thanks for all the fun you have given us over the year!

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  37. In 2020 I made several easy breezy quilts for donation and a garlic knot for myself. Such fun scrappy patterns. Thank you for bringing them to us!

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  38. I like the green and blue borders. Funny thing though - in you first picture where they aren't sewn on yet, I really liked the brown. Then I realized it was the floor! But I still really liked it. :-) Merry Christmas!!

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