A Sunset for Every Day!

I created a table runner and large hot pad for the Sunrise Sunset Challenge for Project Quilting.

I titled it: "A Sunset for Every Day!"  Because there isn't a beautiful sunset every day, but I can have a sunset on my table every day.

It looks great with all my colorful plates.

I quilted my name and year and PQS6Ch2 on both quilted pieces.

Yes it is a sunset for every day ...

I used a lot of thread.  I will explain why as I share how I created the table runner.

The sewing and the quilting and the binding ...

I cut strips in assorted widths from 1 1/4 inches to 2 3/4 inches.  I made sure all the strips were at least 18 inches in length.

I started to stitch them together in whatever way seemed eye pleasing.  I started with the yellowish orange strips and the reddish ones and then the pinkish into the purples and blues, ending with the darkest ones on one end.

I gave it a good press.  I need to rotary trim it to 17 inches and then it will be ready to quilt. Before quilting it measures 17" wide by 60" long.

OOO... I love the blue strips in there!

 My backing piece was not large enough. I stitched on some white strips to extend it, that way, I won't bump the clamps when quilting. 

I used six quilting threads:  Blue, Power Purple, Wild Violet, Artillery Red, Orange, and Fuchsia. 

I really had fun with the wavy lines of threads on all the colors.  I only quilt from left to right, so I had to stop at the end of each wavy line and then go back to the beginning -- lots of loose thread on the left.  I did not cut them yet as it looked cool in the photo. Love all the colors. 

As I clipped them I save them in a canning jar.

I love all the thread colors!

I flipped them over so you can see the backs of both of them.

I will share how I created the large hot pad on tomorrow's post. I had a blast creating both quilted pieces. 

Leftover scraps! I am going to make something cool with them! I hope to share that soon too. I have them all cut and ready to sew. 
Update:
Here is the link to the Post on how to make the Odd Shaped Hot Pad.

I love taking photos in the snow!

I will be linking up at Persimon Dreams for the Project Quilting Challenge -- Click here.

Thanks for following along!

Marcia

Selecting Sunrise and Sunset Fabrics for the Project Quilting Challenge

Laying out the fabrics helps me create the design of the quilt.

I move the fabrics around.

I take photos from different angles.

It makes me think... Should I use one fabric for a focus fabrics?

Should I do a circular design?

Should I cut strips of the orange fabric and alternate it in between some of the colors?

Like this?

 I am going to be creating with some beautiful batik fabrics scraps, but I only have small pieces. This means I will be creating my quilted project with strips of fabric.

Many ideas and so little time!  I need more time to think....

I am leaning towards creating a striped table runner like this one from my website:  Made to Order Table Runners

Can you imagine it with all the colors of a Sunset or Sunrise?

Kim shared a post on how she finds inspiration for the Projects. Click Here.

You can check out Project Quilting Season 6 Challenge 2 over at Persimon Dreams. Click Here.

Thanks for following along!
Marcia 



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I am Happy ... Happy ... Happy ... --- like the song!

Why am I so Happy?

I have struggled with a very very slow internet. It just kept getting slower and slower.  We live in the country and our options for internet service was limited to one source! Recently, we found out we could get internet from a different source.  It is more then 10 times faster!  

I am soooo Happy ... Happy ... Happy! 

I am not kidding, when I say it could take up to 10 minutes to upload a photo (we are talking about a photo, that I edited to make smaller in size, to help with uploading) to a post. Sometimes the internet would fail and I would have to start over.  I would upload photos, while I was making dinner and I would go back and forth and wait and wait and wait.  A post would take over an hour to complete and sometimes I would have to do it later, as the internet would stop working.  I finally just stopped posting, unless I really wanted to share something. 

I want to share! I love to share! I love to create!

Anyway, I am Happy!

I am also Happy ... Happy ... Happy ... with my Tree inspired quilt for the first Project Quilting Challenge.

I named it "Family Trees" --- Not Family Tree.  It is plural because it represents everyone's family trees, not just ours.

I used Kim's Drunken Flying Geese to make the trees and made them so free form, that I cut off the points too! See the previous posts about the creating process. 
Progress on my Trees Post.  and How I created the trees Post.

I added a free form house to the bottom of the quilt.  The house represents "a home".  A home is where you live with those you love.

On the edge, next to the binding, I quilted PQS6Ch1 --- Project Quilting Season Six Challenge One. This is something new I will be stitching on each of my challenge quilts.

I quilted/stitched the words: " Made with love by Mom - Marcia and Ritch 2015" 

I added a free form star using the scrap triangles from the flying geese. The star's points are meant to be uneven on purpose - free form.  The star is for my daughter.  I stitched/quilted the words:  
"You are one of the stars in our family tree!"

My daughter is a star!  She is receiving her Phd this spring. I will pack it in my suitcase and take it with me when we go for the ceremony, where she defends her Dissertation and officially receives her Phd. We are super proud of her.

Here are some up close photos of the quilting.  I really had fun with the Paisley Swirl Quilting. I quilted small paisleys and large ones and double ones and upside down paisleys. I shadowed around the trees and made some invisible trees.

What a blast!

And here is a photo of the back of the quilt.

I used a quilting thread color named Pearl.  I think it looks like a greyish white.  It was perfect for both sides of the quilt.  I used a washable wool batting.  I machine embroidery stitched the binding.

I love to create for family members, as I do the Project Quilting Challenges.  As I said, this one is for my daughter.  My Niece is having a baby this spring, so one of the challenges will be a baby quilt. Table Runners are made for my sister in laws and nieces too.

Thanks again for following along.

I am Happy ... Happy ...

Happy to be challenged!

Marcia