Silent Snowmen Quilt (not quite) Finish!

This beauty is my BOM 2014 from quiltdoodledesigns. and you'll see other quilts on the blog hop over the next few days, when you visit her website.

My husband says I always think I can get more done than I really can. I thought I'd be done with this by now but life, is just so... daily!

The blocks are all done and if nothing else, trying to finish the quilting got the cutting table cleared off!
YEA!! (Wish it stayed like this)

This post is really picture heavy, but I was excited to get this far in the process and wanted to show you.



Why do a Block of the Month?     It was FUN!
This one was so cute. Doing a block or a row each month allowed me to make a really big quilt, one step at a time. I got to use scraps almost exclusively. It was fun to see Cindy's free design each month.

I am probably one of the last people to quilt their own bed quilts on their domestic machines. 
 Folks, I am a quilt maker. I like everything about making quilts.

 Because of my physical limitations, I must think ahead with big quilts, breaking the pieced sections into smaller units to quilt. The center unit ( shown above) is about 28.5 X 58.5. Since it's a winter quilt I decided to back it with flannel I already owned that was 64" wide.

I'm using Hobbs 80/20 batting, both pre-washed and dried.
 Look at this cute little house...

It's going to have more applique's lots of threadwork and texture. Right now it has the words, laughter, happiness and gratitude on it.
The window will have satin stitched wood sashing to look like a craftsman house. There will be a half moon window and peak in the roof. 

The tree appliques came from the vest someone gave me, that I cut up for fabric....

See?
I think using lots of scraps, with different values makes this quilt sparkle.
I was going to only quilt it with cotton thread til my need for shiny sparkly overcame me! It now has silver and gold metallic threads as well as shiny multi colored poly.
I got a chance to use my special Christmas cow fabric and lots of my snowy blues collection. 

 I mixed in purples too.

I chose two border fabrics out of my stash. I'm more than sure I could have found a new snowy fun fabric to use but wanted to finish the way I started, using what I already own.




I started quilting the top section, 18.5" by 58.5", cutting the backing and batt larger.
The quilting is done and it's ready to join invisibly to the center after it is quilted...

I used a silver metallic fabric for the blades and button hole stitched around them.
Check out the little cow! heehee I love a cow.

 Please! Click on the photos to enlarge them and see the cool little details. The light bulbs are quilted with gold metallic thread, I like YLI the best. The caps have silver YLI and button hole stitch.

I used a double needle, mutlti colored poly and cotton threads to create the cord connecting the lights. <==
Don't look too closely. I noticed after the row was done, that I set them wrong. Oh well, I wasn't about to rip it all apart as it didn't matter to the look.

(enlarge the pics, the details do show better)
I am used to lots more quilting on art quilts but a quilt meant for the bed needs to be soft. I hope this level of quilting will be enough.See the back??

    This is the bottom third, 28.5" X 58.5" and like the skate section, the quilting is already done.

Here's a close up of the Silent Snowmen, with their wee little button eyes. I mostly used my waking foot to do varied straight line quilting but have done some free motion in areas, including these guys.
I love the mix of white/cream fabrics and the snowy blues. I also love the little row of candy.

I have gone ahead and put the first border on the top and bottom pieces and quilted them in. The same inner border will go on the sides after they are quilted.

The cup handles have button hole stitch again, and the steam is done with silver metallic thread and the white fabric sparkles with it's own metallic paints. I cut out a heart out of freezer paper. I ironed it to the cup and quilted around it, pulling it off when done, and re using it for the other cups.

I got hurt quilting the first two sections so I had to stop for now. When the center is quilted, I'll add heart buttons and other appliques. I so wish I could have been done all at once to show you.

The borders will be quilted THEN joined to the center after THOSE sections are joined. It minimizes the heavy pushing and pulling. Years ago I took a class in how to quilt as you go 12 ways. It has proven to be one of the best classes I ever took.

This quilt will be about 80" X 90" when done. BIG! Not big enough to cover the king sized bed but enough to lay across the top. Cindy has designed another BOM for 2015, so check it out. She is generous and her instructions are clear. Thanks Cindy for the fun year!!

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I write about living the Creative Life. I like to laugh and try to entertain readers as well as inspire them.
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LeeAnna