Much Joy in 2011!

It seems to me when a year ends, there should be soft music playing, or at least a bell ringing. This is a milestone. We made it. Ahead lies more challenges, joys, and geometry and colors... and all things quilters experience.

Speaking of experiences, my DH and I started our year 3000 km from home --- in balmy Arizona. At least that is what it is supposed to be. These first two photos are from the road between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, one in St. George. The last one is on Highway 93 in Arizona on the way to Phoenix. At times, it dropped to -9 C. For most of our trip the temperature was at freezing, and finally reached at a mere 6 C (about 42 F) when we arrived in Scottsdale. We just giggle --- what else can we do? At least we have warm clothes and a windshield scraper.

While DH golfs (it has to warm up) I brought my sewing machine and two projects. One is a UFO that is as old as dirt. Photo below. It is not going to look much like this layout, but at least it will be finished by the end of the month. I've already put the pieces together and plan to micro-quilt it.

The other project is a secret, TBA. It will be for my house-sitter back home, a gem of a friend.


There are some nice shops here, so may do some of that, but also plan to tour a few art galleries and take lots of pictures. We also might be drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate!

Until next time, joy for all 365 days of 2011!

Works in Progress

It isn't the posting that gets me... it is taking pictures, downloading and resizing for the web... I'm so lazy. Anyway, this is what I'm working on.

Stack of parts & one completed

More parts to sew

Quilt of Valor, using purples and greens from my stash and the odd and interesting block from Anita Grossman Solomon's book, Rotary Cutting Revolution that was published in Nov / Dec Quiltmaker. I have 35 blocks in various stages of completion and will be using sashing between them. The greens/purples blend much better in real life than in this photo???

Parts basted, pinned, sewn, & some just in my head!

This big one is called Mariner's Sunset. My design wall will not hold it so it is pinned to a rather floppy rod so lots of wrinkles. This one is 100 inches wide by 75 high. The paper pattern along the top is my sketch for the tree leaves that are in the next picture, which is my computer sketch. I wanted to do something different with this 35" Mariner's compass. Someone suggested a sunset, and this is the result. I hope to heavily quilt it. 

My computer sketch for the above quilt

Working on this one is time-consuming and doesn't make my UFO pile much smaller, but getting this big one out of the way will take care of a huge mental block!

On December 10, my quilt "No Star Shines Alone" was chosen as The Quilt Show's Quilt of the Day! I was strolling through facebook and nearly fell off my chair when I saw it. If you have quilts on their site, check it often. They never told me they picked it, so I'd have missed that thrill otherwise.

 

Church Quilt officially finished

I put the label on yesterday, so here is the finished quilt. It is nearly 7 feet each way, and will be hung in our church foyer on Saturday. We called it, "God so loved the world..." and are glad it is done, but really pleased too. Would we make another? I doubt that I would, but maybe something smaller using the same technique. It is mostly batik pieces fused to the black background using Steam a Seam II.

Now I've started another Quilt of Valor using purples and greens. I found a fast and funky way of sewing the blocks that only look complicated. I'll post some photos... but have to take them first! Life is really far too busy. 

NOTE: Those who inquire about this pattern need to include their email address in their inquiry, otherwise if it comes as a "no reply" comment, I cannot get back to you. Better yet, go to my Etsy page and order the pattern! LINK to PURCHASE PATTERN

Odd problem

My problem is odd... I'm too busy quilting to blog! I AM faithfully reading the posts of my blogging friends, but everyone inspires me... so I'm sewing instead of writing. Our small group finished the Christmas panels for our church. I just finished the bindings and still need to add hanging sleeves top and bottom. It has been quite the challenge. Here is a small picture of the three panels on a table, hanging over the sides, but you can see what it looks like. Hopefully, a full photo of the hanging will be available soon. 

But I will be glad when this is done. The fusible makes it stiff and the size also makes it difficult to maneuver. Good for a hanging but hard on the arms.

No Greater Love

Greater love has no one than this, 

than to lay down one's life for his friends. 

John 15:13

Noah Rides the Waves

This one is for our fourth great grand-baby. His name is Ethan and he was born April 28 this year. I had a small panel with Noah and wife, and the other fabrics from that line, a few in my stash for more borders, and it is really colorful. Feels good to have it finished. All it needs is the label (just printed it) and a trip through the washing machine. I always do that with baby quilts. 

... instead of putting the binding on a baby quilt...

All my plans to quilt have been interrupted or sidetracked this week. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'm trying to look on the bright side. Last night gave me something to smile about. 

Our youngest son (who is nearly 40 and does not own a sewing machine) came over with a costume he bought for the weekend. He didn't let me take a picture so I found one that is similar. The costume was size large, but DS is a big boy. The chest was too tight and the elbow 'armor' kept popping off. His girl friend had already carefully opened the seam in back. I used an old sheet to make a pattern for a large almond-shaped addition. Amazingly, he'd gone to a fabric store and found the necessary silver lame that matched the fabric covering the heavily padded armor. I also extended the tabs with Velcro on the elbow patches. He was delighted. All this took over an hour... and while I sewed, he was in my kitchen making himself some supper and having a nice visit with his dad. Cool.

Good start on the bigger version

This is the center panel of a large quilt our church ladies are making for the foyer stairwell. If you check my last post, you can see the completed small version that I made for myself. Mine is only about 3 feet wide. This middle panel is about that size. It is not sandwiched or quilted yet. We are making good progress as we work most Saturday mornings and Monday evenings. Notice that we picked different colors for this one.

I've also finished a top for a great grandson born earlier this year. (I know, I'm too young for great grand kids) and I'm still working on the Mariner's Sunset and our granddaughter's quilt - or should say quilts.

Life is good, just too busy!

Finally, a post and a finish (well, close)

Life has been too complicated lately. Company, unexpected assignments, everyone knows what that is like. However, in the flurry of it, I kept wandering toward my sewing machine and am finally finished this Christmas quilt. I call it, "And God became a man..." 

After making the pattern (see below) I put it together by tracing each piece to what some quilters call "lick and stick" but it is actually Steam A Seam II. Fabric selections were made as I worked (from the top down) using mostly batiks. After they were all in pressed in place, I sandwiched it using fusible batting, then stitched around each piece using invisible thread. That sounds like a chore, but by thinking ahead, I could stitch entire sections without having to break the thread. Who likes trying to thread a needle with that stuff! That secured the pieces (some of them are really small) and quilted it at the same time.

I put facings on the edges yesterday, but still have to hand-stitch them in place. The label and sleeve are done also. I am happy with it!

This one I made for me, but it was a trial run. Our little quilting group at church was asked to make a 7-foot wide quilt to hang in the church foyer. We found an old Christmas card, tried to track the designer (impossible), and decided this was not for profit anyway. It was my job to create the pattern.


I scanned it to my computer and used CorelDraw to outline each piece. I had to make changes in the design. For one thing, the architecture was wrong for the date of Christ's birth. Also, we decided to make it in three panels, so I had to do that to it too. The pieces were scaled to life size and printed in sections, as many together as would fit on a sheet of paper. We purchased fabrics and donated some of our own for the big one, plus I found our "lick and stick" on sale at Joanne's during a recent trip to Idaho. We are nearly finished the middle panel.

I've never seen a quilt constructed like this... but we are having fun! 

I'm still quilting

I've been working on three quilts. One is the giant Mariner's Sunset that covers our pool table. The second is a small "lick and stick" Christmas quilt with a zillion pieces and a stained glass look. The third is GD's Japanese Cherry tree... although I've been showing it off more than working on it --- which when translated means I'd not yet figured out how to quilt it! However, doing some sketching yesterday, I 've come up with a plan, so more sketching until I'm confident, and that one will go under the needle! No pictures today. Most of what I've done so far is not a significant change from what is below, except the Christmas quilt. Since it is taped to a table, I will wait until I can get it in a more photo-graphical position.

We have lift-off

Well, that is how I felt today after my lovely 19-year old GD came over and had a look at her cherry tree. (See previous post and I can't believe that it was posted that long ago!) 

She is thrilled, decided it should be a wall quilt, likely mounted on a studio canvas, and "I'll keep it forever." She agreed that her bed quilt could then have a kimono in the place she originally wanted the tree. She loved my selection of Japanese fabrics for it, and we are both happy.

The best part is this: she asked me to 1) make baby quilts in advance for the four kids she plans to have some day, and 2) make larger quilts in advance for them when they grow up. Don't you love the optimism! She made me feel at least ten years younger. Now I have to live long enough...

Btw, the picture is a pattern from Jukebox called "Shear Bliss." I have it, but haven't made it yet. After today, it might get pulled out of the drawer!

So excited...

Today the tree is blooming --- finally, at least the piecing. Counting the week-long class I took to learn how to do this, plus time at home to get it done, fifty hours. This goes to my granddaughter. I'll tell her that she can repay me later, like push my wheelchair.

This one is all pieced, never counted the pieces but lots of them. No applique and a bit of hand-piecing to replace a few pieces that didn't look right when it was done. Changed them out for another fabric. (Oh, just noticed my flash put a funny glare in a couple of places. Ignore.)

The pattern and piecing were done using Ruth McDowell's method, which I like. Drawing the pattern was difficult, but selecting fabrics and fussy cutting them was worse. I'm very pleased with the results even though it took so long and was a big challenge. I suppose the bigger challenge now will be figuring out how to quilt it! I might be calling my instructor and yelling help -- again. LOL!

This is what I've done so far on the Christmas mini. Our church gets one that will be more than twice this size (it will be about 84" square). Mine is about 32" wide. So far all the little pieces are just stuck on with Steam-a-Seam II Lite, not even ironed. Now that the tree is finished (sort of), I can get back to this one... and the Mariner's Sunset monster spread over my pool table.

Progress report day 6

The five-day class ended Friday. I did a bit of filing in on Saturday. This is still in pieces pinned to the wall. There are two copies of the pattern; one on the design wall, and one made of freezer paper that is cut up. Those pieces are pressed to the back of carefully selected fabrics (some need to be changed - not so carefully selected) and pinned to the pattern.

It still looks pretty messy, but the tree shows nicely. The second photo is a close up. I will be taking a few pieces off and dividing them so I can add something in the middle to break it up. (Like drooping branches going into the grass in the detail photo below, just to the right of center.)

This one has been a huge amount of work, but also tremendously satisfying. I didn't have a clue Monday how to draw it, Tuesday how to make the drawing into a pattern, Wednesday what it would even look like. But by Thursday the vision crept into the back of my head. Now I'm excited to sew it together... but first some rogue pieces need to be replaced, and I don't like the sky in the upper right. This will be 35" x 48" or thereabouts.
 

Progress report

This picture is the progress on the Christmas quilt, my smaller version. The one my group will do for the church is 84" wide. This one is about 35" wide. It is on hold this week while I am in classes.

This next picture might look like a dog's breakfast. It is the progress after four days in the class taught by Margo Fiddes using the Ruth McDowell method for creating a design, a pattern and then the quilt. (See previous post.)

This has been challenging. I am a detail person and this requires thinking big picture first then working toward detail. The process goes something like this: 
1. Select a picture and draw it at least 11" x 17"
2. Divide it into logical sections
3. Enlarge it to the desired size. In my case, it is 35" x 48"
4. Trace the drawing to the shiny side of freezer paper.
5. Put registration marks and ID numbers, etc. on the dull side so the pieces can be sewn together.
6. Select fabric for each section and piece.
7. Cut apart the sections, one by one. 
8. Press each freezer paper pattern piece to the wrong side of the fabric selected for that piece. 
9. Pin the fabric/paper section just created to its place on the enlarged drawing.
10. Repeat 6-9 when you goof up, as often as necessary.
11. When all is done, sew it together, section by section.

As you can see, I've several more sections that need fabric ironed on to the freezer paper patterns. Those are the white parts. Also, look at the bottom: some parts of the foreground grass have fabrics rolled up and pinned there. This is part of the selection process. I've left them there so I don't forget my choices. 

Also, when I ironed fabric to some sections, it didn't work. Repeat 6-9. OR, it needed a softer edge, so had to make one piece into two, OR it needed a bit of another color, so had to add another section. 

I'm excited today, finally. In the beginning, I had no clue what I was doing and no vision of what this should look like. Today, I can now envision what the final quilt will look like. Stress and many decisions. This is why quilters who do work like this earn the big bucks when they sell their pieces!

Design classes

This week is full. I'm taking classes from 9 am to 4 pm each day where I'm hoping to learn how to draft patterns like those of Ruth McDowell. The instructor, Margo Fiddes, took classes from RM and now teaches her method. (Be sure to look at this one.)

There are only four of us in the class. Two are doing floral designs. The third is doing a person, and mine is a Japanese Cherry tree, modified photo on the left. Drawing a pattern is more difficult that I'd anticipated. I'd taken classes on constructing McDowell's straight-line piecing and curved piecing, and loved them, but designing your own pattern is different and very challenging. Now that I've had a little bit of instruction, I wish I were doing cherry blossoms. They would be easier! My GD wants a tree though, so by the end of the week I'll know if she gets one. Right now I'm thinking that it isn't going to happen!

And the winner is...

My neighbor picked a random number and the winner of the 200 post giveaway is "Momhooten" - whose email address I cannot find. I did a bit of detective work and think that this name belongs to Debi Hooten. Debi, please contact me (my email is on my blogger profile, click link on the right) and let me know your mailing address. I have a prize for you.

On another note, remember the big Christmas quilt in the works for my church? Well it is so pretty that I decided to make a smaller version for myself. This is a diversion from the Mariner's Sunset that sometimes (aka most of the time) makes me feel overwhelmed. Here is the progress so far on the little Christmas quilt... it is about 36" wide.

Above is the full-size pattern pinned to rich blackish fabric.

These are a few sky pieces (top left corner) that I put down last night using Steam a Seam 2 Lite. Tracing them took longer than putting them in place. This batik is lovely. I'm going to put some jewel "stars" in a few spots later. This is too much fun!

This is it — number 200!

GIVEAWAY • 200 POST. If I posted every day, this would be more than 1100 - yet I'm glad to have made it this far, even if this happens only in fits and starts. For this occasion, I have a giveaway that includes books, fabric, and a few surprises. 

TO ENTER: Post a comment sharing your favorite quilt color combination. Omit seasonal/themed/children's/ quilts, which have their own color requirements. POST your comment on today's entry. I'll pick someone randomly. Try to include your email or a link to your blog or website.

Also, I am celebrating the start on my Mariner's Sunset (for want of a better name). In roughly this order, I have:

1) the backing/batting fused and basted loosely, not being sure if fusible batting will hold on this size of a quilt. Here it is folded in thirds.

2) the fabrics selected, mostly. I just toss them in a pile to see if they work together.

3) the fabric strips sewn for the background water, horizon, and lower sky.

4) and those strips laid out along with the other fabrics on top of the batting/backing on our pool table (ping pong top over it) in roughly the right places. Tulle is included, but I'm not sure if it should go just over the "sun" or all across the water as here. It really dulls the bottom of the quilt, but would it look odd if it was just on the compass?

 
I am doing other things today, but will get back to this. I have to go two floors from the table to my sewing machine. The joy of exercise! 

Also, all tips, suggestions, advice, is welcome. I'm making this one up as I go.

Setting Sun is under way!

A few posts/months ago I posted a sketch of a quilt idea for my 36" Mariner's Compass quilt block. Since the block is so large, the quilt is huge, well, not exactly. It is about a queen size (about 70" x 100") but big for a wall hanging. I'm laid it out on a ping pong table because my design wall is too small. Some of the colors are changed, and I managed to get my computer to put "tulle" over the bottom half of the circle~

So far: the horizon of the sea is sewn to a thin line of very pale gold. I've two colors of tulle, navy and a dove gray. Right now, the navy looks the best, but it will be near the last to go on. Don't know if I should cover all the water with it or not, but the price is low so I bought 3 meters of each color. I have lots of fabrics to work into this piece. Several watery looking ones for the water and lots of variety for the sky. I'm just wondering if I will still be sane when it is finished. Or am I even sane to start it?!  One positive. The table is in our walkout and my sewing machine is on the second floor. I will let you know how many pounds I lose running up and down the stairs.

Also, this is post #199. Next one will give details for a draw, just to celebrate #200. 

"With Gratitude" finished

This quilt was started in a class called "Shaded Four Patch" on April 13, with Margie Davidson. I finished it today. The quilt, label, page in my book, photo, all done. The colors show a bit richer in real life.

After that class, I took another about selecting quilting designs. The instructor, Margo Fiddes, challenged me to think of something distinctive for quilting each piece. I didn't have this one in class, but began to imagine a subtle cross representing sacrifice, a heart to represent valor, and lines that speak of tension and yet peace. Of course the program "Quilts of Valor" was on my mind too. The cross is at an angle with the top in the upper left. Sorry, this does not show better, even when you double-click the photo. 

I've contacted Quilts of Valor so this one will go to a wounded soldier. A local woman spearheaded this program in Canada. This year, she received "Woman of Distinction" Award from our city or her efforts. See more about QoV at this link.

Also, I made a recent decision is to work on one UFO at a time until it is done. More and more I'm noticing how much easier it is to focus when my sewing space is relatively tidy without too much stuff in it! So this means slowly, slowly.  It is a stretch for me. I'm so easily distracted or bored.

Notice also that my posts are nearing 200. I'm planning some kind of contest or giveaway. Do drop back!

Blue Collection

A few years ago, I finally finished this needle-turned, complicated challenge, and gave it to my sister. I'd not seen what she did with it until last weekend. Her dining room feature wall is dark blue, and this quilt really pops on that background. It is called, "Blue Collection" and was designed by Maggie Walker. I bought the block of the month kit online, but cannot remember where (too long ago!) I switched some of the fabrics and added more leaves to the middle tree. It was quilted on my Baby Lock, rather heavily. I'd forgotten how much I liked it until I saw it again on her wall.

Christmas Wall Hanging

I've been busy and my computer arm aches! Our church has commissioned our small group of quilters to do a huge wall hanging that will be displayed during the Christmas season. We found an old design, altered it to suit our size and space, and I've been drafting the pieces and printing them. This hanging will have three panels, 22" and 38" and 19" wide, and will be 78" long. It will have a stained glass look. We are hoping to use batiks. 

In this picture, some of the colors didn't get 'added' so where you see black, think greens, dark blue, etc. and the "leading" will not be white as it shows here.

Anyway, the plan is to make the sandwiched panels using a light-weight batting. Then we will pin all the paper patterns on each panel where they go. The patterns are all number coded and there is a printed "key" in case we get confused. Make that "when we get confused."

Then we will cut out the fabrics, one area at a time, and replace the paper patterns with fabric pieces.  We are going to sew them on through all layers, so attach them and quilt it in the same step. We also plan to put sleeves on top and bottom, to put a weight in the bottom to help it hang well and not flap about.

My question: has anyone done anything this large? If so, what are the challenges that we should be aware of? We love the look of it so far, and keep telling ourselves it will be like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. 
 

"It's A Boy!"

Confession: the middle of this quilt is a panel. Another confession: I no longer call them "cheater" quilts! At least not this one, because it was a lot of work. I added borders and used it for practice quilting on my HQ Sixteen. I went around all the toys, filled spaces, did some in the ditch, and must say that a baby quilt isn't the best for all the stops/starts that this one wound up with. There were oodles of thread ends to bury, but it turned out better than I hoped. I still need oodles of practice. Panels are a quick way to try new stitches.

I've no particular newborn in mind but several women in our church are pregnant. It will eventually find a home. It just needs a label — and a baby boy.

Playing

With Blogger's new design options, I might play forever... but there are too many quilts in my head. I'm hoping they soon allow the option of this design but using my own photo. Maybe they do already, but I didn't see it.

Name suggestions, anyone?

These days are so filled with "responsibilities" that quilting gets shoved on the back burner. I'm in a room full of fabric, sewing machines and equipment, needles and pins, thread and patterns, and they seem to be sticking their tongues out at me.

However, I have a top done. The blocks are called shadowed squares and no triangles were cut before sewing; a rather ingenious way of making them.  The border is going to be about as wide as a block with parts of the design jutting out into it. It is designed on paper and the pieces cut. Maybe this will get finished before the end of the year... at least at the rate I'm going, it could take that long.

Oh, the quilt in the photo doesn't have a name either. Any ideas? It will likely go to a project called "Quilts of Valor" for a wounded Canadian soldier. 

I'm being pushed a bit though. My granddaughter is coming over this weekend to finalize her fabric choices for a Japanese quilt that she helped me design. So I need to get this one off the wall and into the "finished" pile so I can start hers!

Blessed by friends!

This is embarrassing. In March (yes, March) Julie celebrated her 300th post and offered a couple of books. I was a winner and so surprised. The parcel arrived a few weeks ago, but not just the book. She send more goodies, such a sweetie. While I thanked her privately, I wanted to do it publicly. I guess late is better than not at all. Thank you, Julie.

However, I've messed up again. Karol-Ann and I swapped some fabrics, quite a feat since she is in England and I am in Canada. And I am certain I got the better end of the deal. For my reds, she sent this lovely bundle of nine African fabrics. The day before it arrived, I was on her blog and saw the little change purse and thought, "I should have ordered one..." and there it was too! We have emailed, but I wanted to say "Thank you Karol-Ann" publicly too.

Quilters are thoughtful and generous. I'm so thankful to know Julie and Karol-Ann. You are both favorites. I'm hoping some of your good qualities rub off on me.

Facing a Large Quilt

I've done facings before, but tried a combination of two new methods (new to me) this time for My Mountain. Because this quilt is large and heavy, I wanted something strong to hold it. This was easy and I really like the results. The steps are as follows. I hope the pictures correspond, but if not, they will be in the right order.

1. Cut four 2-3" squares. Fold in half diagonally and press.

2. Cut four strips of fabric 4-5" wide and the length of the sides and ends of the quilt, less 2". Fold in half lengthwise and press.

3. Cut 4 strips the same length of fusible web. I used Stitch Witchery.

4. Sandwich and quilt the quilt. Do not trim the edges. Instead, using rulers, mark where they will be trimmed with a pencil, fabric marker, etc. where you will be trimming off the excess batting and fabric.

5. Lay the triangles on the right or top side of your quilt, matching the corners. Pin.

6. Lay the strips on the edges with the folded side toward the center of the quilt and the ends just overlapping the triangle. Try to have them meet just at the triangle's fold line. Also, line the raw edges with your marked trimming line. Pin in place.

7. Use walking foot, sew 1/4 inch seam all around, through all layers and pivoting at the corners.

8. Turn the facing pieces out, and press them open. Stitch around through the facing and the seam allowances under it, going as close as you can to the corners. (The triangles will prevent you from going right to the corners.) This is a dressmakers tip to make facings stay inside and not show on the outside.

9. Turn the facings to the back. Press and make sure the edges are straight, then slide a piece of fusible under each facing and press again, fusing the facing to the back of the quilt.

10. Hand stitch. This might not be necessary on a small quilt but it was on this big one - that has a lot of quilting and is heavy!

Enjoy!

My Mountain -- just needs a label

This one is finally finished. It is pieced and raw edge applique, first done on a piece of pellon and then quilted. I bound it with a facing (will post the steps next time) and am very happy with it. It is 36.25" wide and 41.25" high. 

I called it My Mountain because I didn't do much of what the instructor in a landscape class said. For instance, dryer lint for clouds would have not been the right thing on this piece.

The close-ups are a tad blurred (will I ever conquer this camera?), but they show how that floral fabric was cut into bits and combined with batiks and quilting to get the effect of a rock garden. 

I'm really happy that it is done - almost. I'm not saying done until the label is made and on it. The following photo shows why I could not take my photos outside today. In AB we say, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute. This is the fence and some bushes in our back yard. The grass IS GREEN under all that!

Do you EQ?

Some days I just want to play and not cut, sew, stir up my stash, or make another UFO! So I open up Electric Quilt and make a quilt, or two, or ten. 

I bought EQ way back when and upgrade to each new version. EQ6 is really a great program, but now EQ7 is about to be released with even more great features. Their website says: "EQ7 helps develop your creativity. Combine blocks, borders and virtual fabrics, turning your computer screen into a design wall. Print quilt labels, draw original block designs, even import scanned fabric and photos. And no math needed – EQ7 calculates yardage and all pattern sizes & seam allowances." See more here.

The cool news is that Electric Quilt is also offering to sponsor a giveaway on 10 blogs, starting May 3. Whoever is chosen as one of the bloggers can give away a copy of the new software and get a copy for him/herself. I've added my name, and hope to be one of the ten. Have a look at the EQ blog for details and keep coming back in case my blog is picked and you want a free copy too.

Candle Mat finally finished, except for the candle

Why does it take two weeks to get at a simple last step? This paper-pieced mat was finished --- except it needed more quilting on the outside border. I decided holly leaves then procrastinated. 

Finally, after less than 15 minutes, they are on there. I used freezer paper and drew one freehand. Then I cut four, turning a few upside down for variety, ironed the results around the edge, quilted around the templates, added a few 'berries' between the ends of the leaves, then moved the templates to the next spot. So simple. 

The finished mat is 15" and has a label with a binding. It was a class exercise, so I had to write on it by hand, but at least it is legible.

My other project, the large mountain scene, has lots of quilting and is nearly done. I've a few bushes to draw into it, and then will be putting on a facing so it looks more like a painting than a quilt. I found a great method by combining a few online discoveries. I'll post the steps next time. Please don't hold your breath. Life has gotten too hectic to make any promises when that will be!