I had no intentions to join another Sew Along, but I'm telling myself it's more like an incentive to get an old UFO out of the bin.
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| Several years ago, I was so lucky to take a class from Lori Smith of My Heart to Your Hands. It was a folk-art applique class, and she taught us how to make folksy, primitive flowers by folding paper--kind of like paper snowflakes. This block is what I came up with in class and then it got tucked away--another stalled project--sigh. |
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| When I started to see all the fun basket blocks being posted at Humble Quilts for the Gwennie Inspired Medallion Quilt Along, I remembered my block and thought it would be perfect for an improvisational QAL since my flowers and leaves were all "improvised", so to speak. Unfortunately, my flowers were in an improvised vase, not a basket. Last night I picked off the vase and appliqued a shape that looks more like a basket. It's not quite as fanciful, but I guess it looks a little sturdier to hold those big flowers. The brown "sepals" hadn't been stitched yet either, but now all is complete and ready for the next round! |
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| In early May, I finally forced myself to get in for a cortisone injection in my right wrist--it had been way too long since the last one. Turns out the arthritis in my left wrist is actually more advanced than the right wrist, so I ended up with shots in both. I was feeling so good, I decided to could do a little hand quilting! Finally, my little Celebrate America quilt is complete--hip hip hooray! |
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I'm really not a hand quilter, so I did big stitch quilting using red pearl cotton. I think it adds a little spunk! The star is cut from a beautiful hand dyed piece of wool. This was one of my 2016 Finish-A-Long projects--so nice to check another one off the List!
Check out more fun medallion center baskets HERE
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Nice swap to a basket. I love your big stitching--it came out lovely...hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteyour hand quilting looks great! I avoid quilt alongs - I have enough going on as it with my own ideas - one last year only that I joined in on and then wished I hadn't but I do have a quilt top waiting in line to be quilted because of it
ReplyDeleteI love the shape of the blue flowers. Nice to see a UFO become a new fun project.
ReplyDeleteMust be so pleasing that you could recycle an old block - love how you modified it ! Will be fun to watch this progress in the next round. The red hand quilting is beautiful and adds a lot of character to the tiny quilt!
ReplyDeleteI like the bright blue in the first block. My favorite part of your block is the straight stem up the middle with the leaves straight out to the side.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are joining in! I love how you changed your vase to a basket, great fabric.
ReplyDeleteLoved the title of your post! Your recycled block is a perfect style for the center of the impov sew along. Look at all the time you saved! Glad you've been able to do some big stitching. It did add color and fun to your mini quilt.
ReplyDeleteLovely! I really do like the second basket better. Your little Americana quilt is adorable!
ReplyDeleteI like your updated basket more than the original! Great job in bringing new life to a UFO!
ReplyDeleteGreat block! I like the basket better than the vase also - it does "fit" the flowers a little better. And good job on using a UFO! Glad you've joined the QAL....it's going to be fun!
ReplyDeleteLove your repurposing of an old project. I'm loving all the difference centres that have been designed or adapted.
ReplyDeleteI love your center block for the medallion and the little quilt too.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to use an older project to start a new one... I like that! Love your little Americana quilt.... the stitching looks great! Christine x
ReplyDeleteYay....I'm so glad you joined in the fun. I love your block. Now I can't wait to see what everyone does with the next round. Hugs
ReplyDeleteYour updated basket block is beautiful! Glad the cortisone helps - I have issues with the thumb joints . . .
ReplyDeleteLove your Basket block. Isn't this fun?
ReplyDeleteYour flowers and leaves are wonderful, Karen. No one else will have any like them! And I like how you changed the vase to the basket. It looks great!
ReplyDelete--Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)
Great use of your flower block. Very smart to change it out.
ReplyDeleteAnd lovely to see your mini quilt finished and looking great, too.
Great repurposing of the applique block. Very nice fabric choice for the basket!
ReplyDeleteI really love the little Americana quilt--the red stitches are a wonderful touch!
Glad you are feeling better! LOVE this celebrate America mini quilt!
ReplyDeleteLove your little "Celebrate America." It's adorable!
ReplyDeletecute center - great idea to revive a ufo
ReplyDeletevery cute log cabin piece. the hand stitches look really great.
Love Lori's blocks and yours look much like she would make. Always for turning UROs into WIPs. Gwen would really like your block. I invite you to come on over and link to WIPs Be Gone at my blog. Your medallion fits right in. Love your Celebrate America mini. Beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteYour folky flowers are so sweet and I love that glowy blue. Glad you are joining in!
ReplyDeleteThese are both beautiful pieces! Thank you for participating in the FAL, on behalf of the 2016 global hosts.
ReplyDeletePretty blocks. The folksy flowers are gorgeous.
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