Monday, October 29, 2018

October Mission Accomplished

My October One Monthly Goal was to get the final borders on my Mrs. Billings top.
 I got one border done at home and the final three were finished at the first retreat I attended this month. I'm thrilled to finally have this one done!!!


I have to admit that instead of cutting my background into pieces, I used it as an applique background so I didn't have to make a bazillion more hexies. Also, it's a stripe, so there's that issue--lol!  I've been so ready to be done with this project and couldn't face making all those background hexies. Instead, I made a template from hexagon papers to use for placement of the wedges. 

Confession:
Can you tell I machine appliqued the shapes?
I left the papers in the shapes, glued them in place with basting glue (avoiding the papers), and after sewing down, cut away the back and removed the papers. I used Medeira Monofil thread (it's wonderful!) and a very tiny zigzag.

It's a huge quilt--wish I could get a better picture. This is Mrs. Billing on the floor of the retreat center. Now to decide how to quilt her!

Linking with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal HERE 

OMG October Finish Link-Up is OPEN!

21 comments:

  1. Absolutely stunning quilt..so beautiful great work hugs, Julierose

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  2. Wow, Mrs. Billings is impressive! I really like how you did the border. It's so clean looking.

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  3. It looks great and what a great way to cheat alittle! Ha Ha Beautiful!

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  4. This pretty amazing, Karen. The colors are so cheerful and inviting. I think it was very clever of you to finish up without the background hexies.

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  5. Hurray! Mrs. Billings is amazing. I wonder how many individual pieces there are in it. At least a million.

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  6. It looks amazing, Karen! What a long haul, but totally worth it. Congratulations!

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  7. I have admired your work on Mrs. billings all along. It's fabulous. Machine appliqueing those pieces on a whole background was brillant. The types of threads available now makes machine appliqueing a positive alternative. I laughed when I read Mrs. billings was on the floor. I hoped she hadn't fallen and couldn't get up. (Weird humor). I've considered making this, but I have to admit I don't think I could persever like you. Congratulations on an extraordinary accomplishments!

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  8. Stunning! And I think you were very wise to finish the border the way you did. :)

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  9. Oh goodness, gorgeous quilt. I think any quilting design you choose will look great.

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  10. Your grand old lady alias Mrs.Billings is wonderful. I like your choise of colours, so brightful and full of happiness. Great way of making the last border.
    Thank you so much for your kind words on my blogg.

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  11. Fantastic result. Love the way you sorted out those last borders. Your quilt looks wonderful.

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  12. Wowza - an amazing quilt! Thanks for linking up to Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!

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  13. I am extremely impressed!!!!!!!!!! That quilt is not one for the light hearted quilter! I certainly understand when you get so close to the end of this type of quilt that anything to cut out the hand work is the way to go. I do not do machine applique well, so I am stuck with a lot of UFO projects that I am working on to complete and it is like pulling my hair out, but I will finish! Beautiful and well done job!

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  14. Wow! What a wonderful project! I don't think that you cheated on that last border...I think you were very clever in making the project your own! Well done!

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  15. What an amazing job. Well done. I would not be able to finish the way you have.

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  16. Wow, this is a stunning medallion quilt! You were wise to finish it in a way that kept you on track to complete it and still looks marvelous.

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  17. Beautiful finish! Yay for coming up with a shortcut for finishing the borders...and for machine applique! You rocked it!

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  18. Wow! That is quite an amazing accomplishment!! Congrats on the finish of the top!! Hugs, H

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  19. Oh wow! What a fantastic achievement Karen!! I love how you have created the borders..... and the machine applique is fabulous... I never would have guessed! Can't wait to see how you quilt it! Enjoy the rest of your week! Christine xx

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  20. Simply gorgeous. Wow, so many tiny stitches. Bravo and thank you for sharing this beauty!

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  21. This quilt is amazing, Karen. It's bright and beautiful and there's so much detail to look at. I love how you mitered the corners to frame the quilt, especially your precision in cutting the fabric to have the lines meet and circle the quilt. Fabulous work!

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