Stitchers Garden and a birthday celebration.

        Check out Jacki's stunning "Stitchers Garden" quilt! Made in a class at The Apple Basket.

Made with some gorgeous scrummy fabrics, linens, textured fabrics and fabrics with a slight overlay of sparkle for a teeny bit of 'bling'!
You may remember seeing the same design a couple of months back when I quilted Chris' version. See this post.
Jacki asked for a few points of difference, in her words :"no frilly dilly stuff"...............................
So it was straight lines in and 'frilly dilly' quilting out!!

 One of the challenges I faced with this beautiful quilt was the applique blocks have already been quilted, the backgrounds have a semi lofty stabilizer on the back side and each background has it's own 'quilting'. You will notice the above block shows diagonal decorative  pin tucking, so this was my challenge, I was reluctant to do any quilting in the background. 

You can see in the photo above the decorative stitching on the background fabric, all that can be done on these blocks is ditch stitching as not interfere with these decorations. Some of SID (stitching in the ditch) had to be 1/8th or 1/4" from the edge of the appliques as the decorative stitching often protruded over the edges of the applique shapes.

A swirl and some curling ribbon on the border wasn't to frilly for Jacki she rather liked the touch and the fact that the fabric is patterned the quilting gives texture more than a stand out quilting design.

I have been quilting for Jacki for several years now and I feel like I know her style : clean lines, simplicity and definitely NO  frills.............................I had to send the feathers packing for this quilt!
Thanks so much Jacki. Back lovers will enjoy the backing of this quilt, Jacki always makes special quilt backs for her quilts.

I like this early morning photo, un- cropped, with my wilderness garden, to the left is a large Australian Frangipani tree waiting for planting.

Monday saw a friend ready for another birthday and why not share it with a few friends? I invited a few friends over to share the celebrations with coffee and cake and of course there were presents!
This is what I nearly didn't give to my friend..............................................

                                     And the back...................................................................

 This cushion looked so nice just resting to be wrapped up that I think I shall have to make myself one!

I had one strip of squares left over, so I pondered what to do with the strip? Then I remembered the hand towels I like to decorate.......................................

As much as I like my friend and value our friendship, I did find it hard to wrap these gifts up and give to her, but I did!

                                                                           Enjoy!!