A Duo of Finishes...

Last night, not only did I get my table runner fully bound and the hand quilting done, but I finished another small project on my Winter Stitching list too!!

First here is my finish for the Duo Quiltalong...

Now it's pretty difficult to see my magnificent stitchery, as I went 'subtle' on my first attempt at hand quilting, but if you look closely, you might be able to see!

Boring or brilliant?  I love it!

I used natural Klona for the backing and binding, off-white for the FMQ and hand-stitching.  The perle cotton I pictured yesterday was just too thick and bright, so after a quick attempt with that, it got pulled and replaced with some old Finca that I have had forever!

I am surprised how good it all looks together; I think the scrutinising of every FMQ curve (or otherwise) and concentrating on the length of each individual stitch (some too big, others too small), convinced me it would look like a disaster.  But one step back, taking a look from a more natural distance, and it actually works. 

Thank you Rachel and Rhonda for pointing me in the right direction - as ever, I took a few short cuts/liberties, but ended up with a lovely little runner that I would not have made without them.

Finish number two, was one of Ayumi's Christmas Baskets.  This is a great pattern, one of those featured in Jennifer's brilliant 12 Gifts of Christmas Tutorial series. 

I made this with more 1001 Peeps to match the runner.  Maybe it will get filled with cutlery, but more likely chocolates!

I love to have finishes, and I love to have ticks, but I especially love to have things that we are going to keep and use...

Now back to the felt parliament!

I have plans...

...for this evening, oh yes!

Too much time spent cutting up teeny wings and beaks over the last couple of nights, meant I was really desperate to do some actual sewing today.

So I got my act together and pulled out my too-long neglected Duo Quiltalong table runner.

I practised my FMQ, and bit the bullet - there was some unpicking, but I will happily live with the less-than-perfect end results...

I have attached the binding ready for all the stitchery required this evening; finishing off the binding and the hand-quilting - I know it isn't the right order, but it will make me happy!

Talking of happy...

Today's Bee mail; lovely Ceri even enclosed these, including a Brit Bee badge - how cool is that!!?

So I have a date with a needle and thread, hope you have a rock'n'roll Saturday night too xxx

09.10.11

I like that in a date - it seems to have made me happy again.

I woke up on the right side of bed, unlike yesterday, and I have managed to get some things ticked off my To Do list.  The sun shone, we ate lunch outside, and everything felt way better than 24 hours ago; and by all accounts it wasn't just me feeling the blues, so I hope everyone else has had a better day too.

My Bee month fabric is finally all cut and divided into neat piles, prints and solids all counted...

I feel like a human GO!  Over 400 squares all cut by hand, but satisfying to Bee prepared!  I also finished a block already - I had to make sure my calculations were correct, as sometimes, somehow, I really lose the plot, and this really would not be the time!  No spoiler pics today, though I definitely made the most of the sunshine and can't wait to show you.

Then this evening, with a weight lifted, I dove right in and got my Duo QAL runner top cut and pieced...

Please excuse the terrible photo - I will get some better ones tomorrow.  I have tried to go with the spirit of what Rhonda and Rachel have suggested, a simple log cabin, making the most of the 1001 Peeps panto print, like 3 different scenes.  It measures at 12.5" by 36", I think, as we have plenty of 'surfaces' that kind of size that will benefit from a little dressing up for Christmas. 

I am holding out a little hope for the hand quilting, the FMQ part, after last friday, not so much!

So I better go and see what stage we are meant to be at, as I fear I am running late, again - I've only just added the button!