Preparing For Takeoff

I am thrilled beyond belief that the end is almost in sight for the piecing of Co-Defendant #1's airplane quilt.  I finished the pieced border this evening.  I'm still debating between 1 or 2 more borders, but am leaning heavily in the 1 more border direction just to get this puppy off the runway and outta my airspace.  If I do 2, there'll be a skinny red border like the sashing and a wide navy border with tiny stars.  If it's just 1, I'll only do the navy stars.  Opinions, anyone?

I'm going to quilt a line from my favorite poem, High Flight, into the large corner pieces and probably include the entire thing on the label (yes, I'll put a label on this one!)  He's getting really excited and I'm doing my Snoopy happy dance...it's almost DONE!

Happy quilting, y'all!

Disappearing 9 Patch, Part Two

So, after the debacle that resulted from slinging all nine blocks together in one ginormous Ode to Grossness...

...I decided I better 'quick, do something...anything' which meant either 1) burn it or 2) rehab it.  It went to rehab.  The end result wasn't what I intended either because when it came time to sash it, Block #9 was nowhere to be found.  Eight blocks does not a 9 patch make.  Take that, Mrs. Emmitt!  See, I did too finally get math!!  I searched all over my sewing 'room' aka a corner of the dining room.  Do you think I  found it?  Nuh-uh.  I have a better chance of waking up tomorrow a size 2 with Tom Selleck rubbing my feet.

Time for Plan B...

I don't think it turned out too bad and am still toying with possibly adding a red outer border.  I'm thinking of quilting clusters of cherries in the green squares, too.  Then again, I'm about done with this puppy and am ready for something new, which translates to easy and idiot-proof.  You know, there really is a book out there called Quilting for Dummies.  And yes, I own it.

Once I was finished up for the night, I half-heartedly began to clean up and, guess what, Block #9 came home, the jerk!  AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!

Paper-Pieced W.I.P.

I love paper-piecing even though some clods will tell you that it's cheating and shouldn't even be considered quilting.  I say it's the most awesomest invention known to mankind...besides quilt retreats where someone else fixes the grub, cleans up afterwards and you get to go potty by yourself, of course.

This isn't quite done and it seems like I've been working on it forever but at least the top is totally pieced.  (Did you feel the Earth stop turning when I cut into my batiks stash?  Be still my heart!)  

Each individual block measures 3 3/4 inches.

  Any volunteers to pick the paper backing off?  No?  Well, fine...be that way!