Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A finished block

I think I satisfied the need to stitch up one of these blocks now. I chose the same fabric as Kim for the center, it was the need to have orange in there, it was all the chatter about orange I think.
This was my first option for the center but I changed my mind.
I better get back to the other quilt now. You may not have realised unless you followed my blog from way back that I have two of Kim's other patterns in various stages. This is where Princess Feathers is up to. I ran out of omph at border two. I also have twelve of the big Lollypop Tree blocks and some smaller ones sitting around somewhere. I'll have to see if I can find some photos.
I'll slink back to my corner now.

18 comments:

  1. Not that I am counting Janet!!! I too have the Princess Feathers pattern and adore those birds in the border. I am sure that you will finish it one day when your omph returns. Love the new block. Have a few more things to do this week and then I can start Hearts and Flowers ( keep calling it Romance for some reason). Hurrah!
    Love Shirley.x

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  2. I love your first block. I think it's darker than your other quilts, I like it this way. Not surprised you have other of Kim's patterns they are all gorgeous - Enjoy Nat

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  3. I love the centre you chose. The orange is lovely as does the whole block.
    Your Princess Feathers is wonderful too. Why do we tire of a border to just go and sew another?
    I know how you feel.

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  4. Love the Fussy Cutting of your Orange Centre it is Awesome...can see now how the spot background is working with your fabrics...
    cheers

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  5. The orange flower in the center is just right, and your background looks great! Borders are hard--you have to do four of them afterall. Too bad we can't just run one of them through a copy machine, adjust the colors, and get three more...

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  6. Your block looks fabulous Janet, love the teal circle too. The amount of applique you do leaves me breathless. I adore the Princess Feathers quilt, it's the only Kim pattern I don't have (yet!). Yours is stunning, maybe this blog will give you the oomph to finish those incredible borders.

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  7. Yummy Janet, love the first Roseville!! Which block is next? could those scissors go walk about again?
    Repeating borders get a bit tedious for me too. That's one of the reason I do four differnet ones so we all don't run out of steam.
    I tend to cut all the pieces for the quilt in the one go then baste them on to the background also in the one hit. Except when I know there are NEW fabrics coming, then I hang about with the last border pieces not cut. I know that is boring, but like doing the ironing, better get the tedious bits out of the way!
    You'll get through it though - put your blinkers back on? And here we are edging you on!! Cheers, Kim McL

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  8. Bravo, Janet!!! The center of your first RA block is beautifully colored and bright! It makes me : )!!! I REALLY like the orange-yellow-aqua combination.

    As far as borders...I KNOW this is going to sound a bit ridiculous, but I TRY and work with borders once I get the body of a quilt underway. So, I stitch up a couple blocks, and once I see how it's coming along, I begin cutting out fabrics for the borders and begin stitiching bits of it while I'm working on the blocks. That way, when the blocks are completed I already have a good start on the borders and feel rather pleased with myself and that encourages me to keep stitching. Otherwise, I'd be overwhelmed and defeated by the time I got to the those darn borders. No, I haven't yet begun my RA borders! But, I'll let you know when I do...

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  9. I like both choices for the center but the orange does have more punch. A beautiful block Janet....now get back to Stars and Sprigs LOL.

    Crispy

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  10. I love to do applique, and I am infatuated with Kim McLean, but I have never in my entire life been tempted by the intricacies of Princess Feather. Until I saw Janet's! There's something about this blog that is making many of us throw caution to the winds and do very impetuous things, don't you think? Thanks, Pam, for creating this. I think...

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  11. I gasped at the gorgeousness. Need I say more?

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  12. I love this pattern-I have been tempted to order it several times and have stopped myself-I will sucome someday!

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  13. I love your first block!
    Keep that Princess Feathers near the top of the stack? Maybe you'll get inspired and get those other borders done in no time? I don't seem to mind the first border, but then I get bored and force myself to keep going on the others.
    I've seen quite a few antique green and red quilts with different borders. I guess quilters have "hit the wall" when it comes to borders for ages? ;)

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  14. Thanks, Pam, for the idea to begin the borders while you are still doing the blocks. The borders of Princess Feather are pretty overwhelming, to be sure. I am also amazed that Kim is cutting out all the pieces (except a few) before she begins. How can you wait to get started, Kim? If I had a design wall big enough, I might be tempted to try Kim's method, but for now I am just treating each block or panel as a whole quilt, which is about all my mind can handle at once!

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  15. Go Go Go... love it all and I'm in awe you have several going at once.. and I NEED to see your lollipops!

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  16. Marion, I am boring! I just find it easier to do the quilt this way. I don't have a design wall as my walls aren't that big and the rest is glass. I lay out the pattern sheet, then I cut the applique pieces with the freezer paper on top and put the shapes on the pattern sheet. I bag these shapes then move onto the next one. After this, there is the tedious job of tracing around all the shapes and then basting the pieces onto the background. I find the actual applique sewing is lovely, you can then half watch the TV! I usually don't have anything to show for about 3 weeks. I think I cut all at once because I like to put away fabrics as soon as I finish cutting for the whole quilt. Usually, there is a mountain on the floor and it sort of gives me a headache looking at it! Kim

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  17. oh janet seeing the princess feather makes me want to take that quilt out again and start working on it.
    maybe I need to start over and make it in repros!
    Kathie

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  18. Hi Janet, Well at least you've started, not like me who buys the patterns and then pats them for many years! You have done all the hard work just getting started!! Love them all. No slinking allowed, I reckon the more the merrier!
    Belinda

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