Neutral Prisms

 I am so excited!!!  I just finished sewing the binding on this quilt, taking pictures of it and entering it into the QuiltCon Quilt Show!!!  It has been a whirlwind of sewing around here this week, but I made the deadline!

 Let me tell you about this quilt.  I was inspired to start it quilt as part of the Patchwork Prism Quilt Along hosted by Bianca of Sweet Diesel Designs . The pattern is Anna Marie Horner's Patchwork Prism. A free download of the pattern can be found here.  AMH's quilt features a rainbow of colors, but I decided to see what I could do with neutrals.  Here is the stack I started with in April.  There were a variety of fabric types and weaves so I decided to both prewash (a rarity with me) and use a 1/2 inch seam allowance to allow for any possible fraying.

The  official entry picture!  The quilt measures 53x45 inches.

I was going to start with a dark center and fade to light, but it just didn't look right so I switched it out and went with a light center.

Once the top was finished I decided to experiment with hand quilting - I had never hand quilted a quilt before.  I outlined quilted the shapes with perle cotton.  I wasn't sure about quilting though lots of layers, so I used a layer of muslin as batting.  My husband says it isn't very warm, but I told him that it is a summer quilt finished very early -- not very late.  ;)  I quite enjoyed my very primitive quilting.

Love the tree shadow!

I learned about facing bindings at a Modern Quilt Guild meeting a few months ago and decided to use one on this quilt. A facing binding folds completely to the back of the quilt and is often used in art-type quilts.  Here is a tutorial describing the technique.  I like how it allows the pattern to extend to the very edge of the quilt.

Can I just say, "Yea!!!" one more time?!  :)
Did you entered a quilt in the QuiltCon Show?  Neutral Prisms was entry #539 and Orange Trails was #545, so I know there are a bunch of you out there -- not to mention all of those who are madly sewing bindings and typing up entries before the midnight deadline tonight.  But more importantly are you going?  I am 99% sure that I am and I would love to see bloggy friends for real there.  :)

I am linking up with Finish It Up Friday and At the End of the Hallway.

Orange Trails

 I finished this up awhile ago, but hadn't posted it because...well, real life is busy.

 It finishes at approx. 24x18 inches.  I think this side is up, but I am still not sure.  The squiggles were improvisationally pieced with various shaped wedges.  Then I turned under the edges and appliqued them with a zigzag stitch to the white background.

I added a flange before sewing on the binding.  I love the look it gives - like a mini double border.
Baby is crying...time to go!  :)

Work In Progress

This is what I was working on last night as we flipped between watching the latest episode of Castle and election results.  It will be my first hand quilted quilt!  More pictures later.

Linking up with WIP Wednesday!

Undecided?

I don't know how anyone could still be undecided about who they will vote for for president - will the campaign ever end?!?  But here is a hilarious skit about the undecided voter to lighten your ad heavy days.  :)  Enjoy!   And remember to vote!