The Aunts’ Quilt – Thimbleanna

The Aunts Are Done!

36 Comments / September 25, 2016 September 25, 2016 / Quilting, The Aunts' Quilt

Well…How was your weekend? Mine was great — I finished the Aunts’ Quilt!

Ta-Dah!!!

Oh, how I loooove this quilt! It was SO fun to make! This quilt took a year to piece the top (it’s been almost two years since we started the Aunts’ Quilt Quilt-a-long) and then I sent the top to a hand-quilter (because I think a quilt with that much work deserves hand-quilting ;-D )and it took her almost a year to finish the quilting. As always, she did a beautiful job! My very favorite part is the cross-hatching on the applique blocks.

The pieced blocks aren’t as heavily quilted, but that’s ok — the applique blocks are really the stars of the quilt. We basically did 1/4″ quilting around the flying geese and large cross-hatching in the corners. We debated making the cross-hatching smaller on those corners, but I like the contrast between the larger cross-hatching and the smaller cross-hatching.

For the backing, I used the same Japanese honeycomb dot fabric that I used in the border — just in a different colorway. You can also see how the border was quilted in the picture below. The clamshells were quilted both in the ditch and 1/4″ in from the edge. I know some of you don’t like that clamshell border but I love it. I love looking at all the different fabrics that were used in the interior of the quilt. And for the binding I used a Bonnie and Camille diagonal stripe from their April Showers line. It’s funny, when I bought the stripes in that line, the teal was my least favorite color and I thought I would never use it. I think it worked out just right for this quilt though.

So, now what to do with her? I’m still pondering my options. For awhile, I’ll probably just spend a lot of time just looking at her. I do so love a scrappy quilt! She looks pretty folded, sitting on a bench (look at those fun fabrics on those two middle folds!).

But she really looks pretty, all spread out with someone sleeping under her. (Speaking of which, what is it about cats and quilts? Within 5 minutes of sitting down to start the binding of the quilt, both cats tried to climb up on my lap and curl up under the quilt. Stubborn Scruff even tried twice!)

Now I can get back to work on the baby quilt. I’m hoping to finish the quilting by Halloween — it’s lots of work, but it sure is fun!

Have a great week!
XOXO,
Anna

P.S. The pattern for The Aunts’ Quilt was designed by Australian Gina Gregory!

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The Aunts’ Quilt — The End

29 Comments / October 16, 2015 October 16, 2015 / Cookie of the Month, The Aunts' Quilt

{Sigh.} Here we are at the end of the Aunts’ Quilt Quiltalong. It’s a Happy Sad Day!

The year sure flew by, didn’t it? I loved every bit of it — I loved picking the fabrics and doing each group of blocks each month. And I loved seeing the other quilts in the quilt along. There were around 15 people who participated, but I think only one other, maybe two have finished. Karen for sure, and rumor has it that Lina is done too, so I’m excited to see a picture of her finished quilt. I’m thinking maybe I should have ~~nagged more~~ been more supportive and kept you kids going. Sadly, I haven’t had the time this year — I managed to make the monthly deadlines, but that was about it. Bad Quiltalong Leader! I feel like the mother who lost a few of her children during those rebellious High School years. It’s ok though — I know the rest of the Auntlets are plugging along and they’ll eventually cross the finish line!

So, here is my finished quilt.

And, here’s a little closer view. It’s hard to see the details, but that’s ok for now — we’ll save those for when the quilt is quilted. I’ve debated whether to do big-stitch quilting or fine hand quilting (because, imho, that much hand work deserves some sort of hand quilting!) I’m pretty sure I’ll go with fine hand quilting, and since I’m not retired yet and would like to see this quilt finished before my demise, I’ll probably ship it off to a hand quilter.

Now, how ’bout The Cookie! Another debate for me, all month. I really wanted to try a few new cookie recipes, but when I reviewed the Cookie of the Month list and realized that my favorite cookie wasn’t listed, I knew I needed to have it be the Cookie of the Month. Long-time readers will probably remember my Frosted Orange Cranberry Cookies. I LOVE this cookie. It probably has to do with the fact that it has … Frosting!

I had to put a few cookies on my favorite little flower from the quilt. That flower is so fun — I’m sure I’ll use it in future quilts.

So, thank you so much for following along on my Aunts’ Quilt journey. I loved having a schedule with monthly reporting dates — that made all the difference in not letting this quilt turn into a UFO. And a special thanks to the Auntlets’ for participating — it can’t be a quiltalong without quilters! For you Auntlets who aren’t finished yet — keep plugging away — the end result is SO worth it. And Special Congratulations to Karen and Lina for finishing their quilt tops — WooHoo!!!

XOXO,
Anna

(P.S. I know the time-stamp on this post indicates that I’m a day late to report in, but, in my defense, my website was down and I couldn’t log on to post!)

The Aunts’ Quilt — Month 11

20 Comments / September 15, 2015 September 15, 2015 / Cookie of the Month, The Aunts' Quilt

WooHoo! It’s the 15th of the month. The ELEVENTH month of our Aunts’ Quilt quiltalong. How are you Auntlets doing??? One more month and we’re done. Unbelieveable — this year has flown by!

Our assignment this month was to do two of the borders on the quilt. I was too lazy to spread my whole quilt out again (I did last month, and I will again next month), so I just folded the borders and took an abbreviated picture.

And here’s a more spread out version just to prove that the borders are actually sewn to the middle of the quilt top.

Next month we do the last two borders. Then what? I’m going to need a new project. (Ha! Maybe I should work on a UFO!)

Anyway, it’s also time for the cookie of the month. This month I chose a cookie from a little cookie leaflet that I received from the kids’ school years ago. Scandinavian Almond Bars — they’re easy to make and they’re pretty darn good!

Scandinavian Almond Bars

Cookies:
1 3/4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. almond extract
milk
1/2 c. sliced almonds, coarsely chopped

Mix butter until soft. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg and almond extract and beat well. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into fourths. Form each into a 9-inch roll. Place two rolls 4 to 5 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten each roll with your hands until it is approximately 3 inches wide. Repeat with remaining rolls.

Brush the flattened rolls with milk, and sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light brown. While cookies are still warm, cut them crosswise at a diagonal into one-inch strips (a pizza cutter works well). Cool them on a wire rack. Drizzle with almond icing.

Almond Icing:
Stir together 1 c. sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. almond extract, and enough milk (3 to 4 T.) to make an icing of drizzling consistency.

Now, for a little housekeeping — new fabrics arrived for my little etsy shop while I was gone! First up are several different double gauze prints. I LOVE the little shirt that I made out of double gauze a few months ago and I wear it all the time. This fabric is so soft and cozy — it’s perfect for anything for babies (swaddles, bibs, burps, etc.) and big kid clothes too. Love, Love, Love. And … kitties with glasses and bow ties — Eeeep!!!

And then there are the beautiful Seed Catalog prints from Lakehouse Fabrics. I love these prints. They’re perfect for backgrounds and low-volume quilting needs — I can’t wait to do some applique flowers on them!

And last (for now haha!) I only have one fat quarter bundle of For You by Zen Chic left. This fabric goes great with my Aunts’ Quilt and I’m so sorry that it came out too late to be used in my quilt. The prints are really fun — a great stash building bundle!

One last housekeeping item — how ’bout a winner for the Good Neighbors Charm Pack from my pincushion post? If your name is Pam S and you said

“This is a beautiful collection of fabrics, and I particularly like the combination that you chose for your beautiful pincushion. Thanks for sharing! I would love to visit the Grand Canyon someday.”

You’re a Winner (and I hope you make it to the Grand Canyon)! Send me your address (anna@thimbleanna.com) and I’ll forward your info to Connecting Threads.

Whew! I’m off to eat a cookie!
XOXO,
Anna