Splash...

This is a last minute finish before I leave for a quilting retreat tomorrow (yeah for me!).  The pattern is from a Debbie Caffrey mystery that my quilt bee did 2 or 3 years ago.  I remember picking fabrics that were out of my comfort zone because I wanted to try something a little different.  And I loved how the top turned out when I was finished.

Splash - Formerly known as H2O

The quilting of this top though has been an exercise in frustration.  I picked a bubble pantograph for it that I thought would be perfect to go with the fabrics in the top.  However, I never considered how difficult it is to quilt a perfect circle - let alone 1,000 of them!

Double Bubble Pantograph by Urban Elementz

I had to force myself to quilt each row.  But I'd tell myself that if I made one pass, then I could work on something else for a while.  Little by little, it got quilted.  And with practice, my circles got a little less oval-like and more round, but they're by no means perfect. 

I'll also admit, now that it's off the frame and done, the quilting looks better than I was expecting.  From a galloping horse, it looks down right good!

I printed out a simple label for this one, fused it to the back and stitched around it with invisible thread.  I do believe it's important to label all your quilts, but I was just ready to be done with this one.

Label for the back of the quilt.

So, here are the stats for this quilt:

• Size: 59" x 73"
• Fabrics: all of them are from JoAnn's
• Batting: Warm &White
• Thread: Guterman (piecing), Superior Threads White for quilting
• Pattern: Debbie Caffrey mystery
• Quilting: Double Bubble  from Urban Elementz (13 passes, 5 bobbins)
• Started: 2008?
• Completed: October 9, 2011
• Recipient: Holding on to it for now 

So this is another of the long standing UFO's that I've finally finished.  Next to go on the frame will be a JoAnn's BOM that I finished making in June of 2009!

I'm off all this week on a quilting retreat in Williamsburg so I definitely won't be posting until I get back.  But I hope all of you out there have a wonderful and really blessed week!

Until later...

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  

Ephesians 3:16–17 (NIV)