Friday, July 17, 2015

2015 MQG Finish for Riley Blake Designs & Pet Project Show #29


"The Aviary"


Ta-da! There was a sigh of relief on Sunday when I unpinned this from my longarm. It was a fabric challenge, and in some ways a personal challenge for not only me, but many of you, too. While I don't believe we should unveil our work to immediately critique it, it's good to evaluate both the positive and negative aspects. That's how we learn. Even if we don't do it publicly, we take mental notes on what we might change the next time.


I'll let you in on my thoughts about the project that started with this hand-written drawing. Click through each title link below to see the process and progress.












Choosing the design and ordering additional fabric took the longest, but once I started the project, it was done in little over a week.

I started the quilting by using my Janome domestic, and pebbling the middle with Aurifil thread. I felt more confident doing my small detail work there than the Avante. I've only done 2 other practice quilts on the longarm, and will have my dealer in-home demo next week! This has all been winging it so far, but so far, so good.


I used a just off-white thread to match the pale aqua and white areas, and worked outward. I used matchstick quilting in the first border, and straight stiches in the first corners.


 The inner corners got fanned leaves and curved lines. I left the coral Econmy blocks without quilting. I was stumped what to do with them at the time, but intend to go back and both outline the outer edge, and stitch in the ditch. It was easier to leave it than rip it, I guessed.


I saved the final border for last when I changed to a matching thread. This looping helped take up fabric that seemed slightly loose after all the dense inner quilting.

My quilt back shows the detail better than the front. 



One thing I learned is when you are squaring off to reverse your line of stitching, go over into the light area to do the direction change. You can see the difference between here...


...and here. 


And while I was freaking out (just a little bit at the time) about how lousy my swooping was inside these little squares, it doesn't really show like I though it would. Quilting is forgiving.

This is officially a finish for Q3 Finishes on the Windy Side, and I am working on the rest in the near future. Stay tuned, and hopefully you're watching your own list whittle down. 


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Thank you to everyone for the kind birthday wishes. I enjoyed my day thoroughly this year!


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I'm opening the Pet Project Show early this week so link up anytime from now through next Monday. It's a multi-project linky, so feel free to add all your posts from "the last week."


Come on, Doxie Girls.

It's time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 


Pet Project Show. 

Pet Project Show


Add your links here every Saturday-Monday. 

Rules


Do we have to have rules? 


No worries! It's EASIER than EVER. You may link up any or all posts you've created in the past week.



1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left) to upload something you've created in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--share it now! It can be a work in progress, finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. Whatever it is that inspired you to create this week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Link to a specific post, and not just your blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in your post, and pick up our Pet Project Show button in the sidebar, if you'd like. Copy the code, then create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram feed will be your link. Please hashtag  #pinkdoxiespetproject



Either way you link up, remember it's a party here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others who've linked up, and leave a comment so they know what you like about their work. 


The Linky Party starts now, and runs until Monday, July 20th at midnight. Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.
*The first Saturday party of each month will feature several of the Doxie's and my favorite link ups. By linking up, you are giving permission for me to post your picture with a backlink to your blog or Instagram account. 




15 comments:

  1. Yep! You did it! I love your piece and while it was a challenge for me using this fabric, it was so fun to see that others nailed it! Great quilting! Fantastic job Julie!

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  2. You did a great job in the challenge. I think I'd have to give up quilting if I didn't learn something new with each project. That's part of the fun.

    And it's always great to be able to check something off our finish along lists. I'm in the process of quilting one that has been on the list for the past two quarters and another that's been rolling over for the last three. It will be great to have those done!

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  3. Looks great to me - very fast in the making in the end!

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  4. Congratulations on getting your challenge quilt completed! I really love getting to see the quilting pop on the backing. :)

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  5. Wonderful finish Julie! and you are so right about quilting being forgiving: in my aunt's quilt Blue Ribbon Stars, I was feeling SO much angst about the swooping I was doing too, but washed up, and hanging on the stair rail, it looks just great! As does yours!

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  6. Wow Julie! I'm amazed....AND inspired!!!! Your quilt is beautiful! :)

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  7. The colors and design of the quilt are amazing. And the texture of the back--wow!

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  8. Oh the quilting looks amazing!! It must be so much fun to use your new toy!

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  9. Great job with the challenge! I love the fabrics you added. Thanks for the quilting tip for changing direction -- it makes quite a difference, doesn't it? Good luck in the challenge! So glad you linked up to TGIFF!

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  10. It was great watching you design and put this quilt together to get it to completion. Well done. It is not called a 'challenge' for no reason. Great to see how we can all learn from projects.

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  11. Wonderful quilting. Love all the different designs you used. Beautiful!

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  12. Congrats for making such a beautiful quilt with your design. I love the quilting and the back.
    Have a nice weekend.

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  13. A wonderful finish! and thanx for the tip re changing directions in the light area, very useful to know! Good luck in the challenge.

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  14. Hello Julie,

    It is nice seeing the whole process, including the initial drawing. The finished quilt has so many different quilting designs, and it is interesting to see how the same designs can look so different depending on the fabric.

    Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks.

    Love, Muv

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  15. Your quilt is beautiful and the quilting is stunning! Thanks for sharing and playing along with the FAL. Visiting as a member of the official 2015 Finish-Along cheerleading squad.

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Thoughtful comments are Honey to My Heart! Thank you for taking time to leave such words. Feel free to email me directly with any specific questions at julie@pinkdoxies.com
Julie
Pink Doxie Mama