First 2015 Finish!

Indian Summer is finally finished!!!

This quilt was started in either 2007 or 2008, I can't remember which.  Either way, it is much too long.  The pattern is by Judy Niemeyer and was the perfect easy paper-piecing project for a newbie like me back then.

It is STILL one of my favorite quilts!

Which makes it even harder for me to understand why it took me so long to finish it.  I even quilted it last year - it's waited an entire year to have its binding applied!!!  Oh well.  I think the problem is that I really don't enjoy applying borders or bindings, so I avoid them.  I'm seeing a definite a pattern of putting these tasks off until the end of time unless something or someone lights a fire under me.

Can you believe I still had the binding fabric with the quilt???

The "fire" in this case was my Music City Guild UFO Challenge list.  I decided the only way to get some of these languishing projects off my To Do shelf was to assign them a number in the UFO Challenge - and sure enough, Karen called #10 for this month - binding Indian Summer!  And as much as it pains me to to admit it - if it weren't for that Challenge, this quilt would still be sitting on that shelf unbound ..... *hangs head in shame*.....  I could sure take some self-discipline lessons from some of you!

I suppose all's well that end's well, and thankfully this quilt's journey to completion has finally come to an end!

Yes, I sew most of my bindings on by machine!

As you can see, the front looks like a hand-sewn binding ....
but the back gives it away.  Still neat and tidy, but not hand sewn.
Which is perfectly fine with me!!!

I'm totally HAPPY with this quilt!  I've always planned for it to take up residence on the downstairs sofa in the great room.  I've been giving a little thought lately however to hanging it in the upstairs hallway to add some color.  Color is something it certainly has in abundance!!!

This is my first finish on my 2015 Finish-Along goals list for Q1!  You can see my list HERE if you like.  I had hoped to get at least one done in January, and I almost made it.

I'm also linking up with the following fun linky parties:
(You can check them out by clicking on their buttons in my sidebar to the right)

Tuesday Linky Party
WIP's Away
Binding Blitz

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Design Wall Monday - 2/10/14

Today, let me show you a few things that are NOT on my Design Wall ....   because they are FINISHED!!!!

The First Noel

29" X 29"

Gotta LOVE classic blue and white!!!  This was a Guild Mystery quilt a few years ago, designed by Melissa Gann of the Doodlehead Stitches blog.  She gave us instructions for both a large and small wall quilt - of course I chose the small :)  This has been a pieced flimsy for several years now, and I'm delighted to have it finished!!!

Our Guild started a new UFO Challenge this year.  We were to make a list of twelve UFO projects we wanted to accomplish this year.  Then the VP calls out a number each month, and we are to complete the item listed on that number.  The thing I really like about this challenge is that you don't have to list an entire quilt project.  We could list, "finish 5 blocks" on a UFO, or "apply borders" to another - which is much easier than "finish my Dear Jane!"  Getting The First Noel quilted was my #5 for February.

I did a lot of stitch-in-the-ditch around the blocks because I liked the design a lot!  Then I used a Lori Kennedy (Inbox Jaunt blog) snowflake motif around the tree in an iridescent metallic thread - I really liked that effect, although the thread gave me fits!!!

Below is a look at the back which gives a good view of the quilting.  It was draped over the back of a chair, so it's not laying flat :)

The next finish is probably one of my oldest Dinosaur UFO's.....

Indian Summer

Trimming it up for the binding :*)

This was one of the first quilts I ever lusted after LOL!!!  

In my first year of quilting - really in the first few months - one of the ladies in my sit-n-sew group who lived near me asked if I wanted to go with her to The Quilters Attic, a quilt shop in Goodlettsville.  Of course I said yes!!!   This quilt shop is located in an old building with a lovely upstairs display room.  Their Indian Summer was hung up really high, overlooking the room, and it simply took my breath away!  I just stood there, mouth agape, and stared at it!  I told myself if I ever made a quilt that beautiful, I would then consider myself a "real quilter"!!!

So, I suppose I am now a "real quilter" LOL!!!  Within the year I had purchased the Judy Niemeyer pattern and some lovely batiks to make it.  But I couldn't start right away because I had not yet learned how to paper-piece.  Soon after, a lady in my Guild offered to teach us how to paper-piece during one of our scheduled sit-n-sews.  Paper-piecing was love at first stitch for me!

This was my first true paper-piecing project, and it is still one of my favorite quilts!  However, the finished quilt top sat again - for years! - waiting for me to grow my FMQ skills.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Joanne let me know that I could have a day on her longarm if I wanted it - did I ever!!!!  I had this quilt and backing already in a bag, ready to go.....

And now it's a finished quilt!!!!

Well, okay..... it's all trimmed up and the binding strips are cut - I'll have it bound and done by the end of the week :*)  GOSH!!!  Isn't it nice to have FINISHES?  This Dinosaur UFO is now extinct and has been marked off my list.

What's on your Design Wall?  

Check out all the great projects at Judy's Patchwork Times!!!

Also linking up with:
Freemotion by the River - Tuesday Linky Party
Confessions of a Fabric Addict - Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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