Finishing the Carnival Quilt and Back to Making Jewelry

Love close ups of  fabric showing its warp and weft... and texture...and varying colors of white and off white.  Love the little dimples the stitches make.

I used Gutterman 100% cotton black Quilting thread.. 2 full spools of 220 yds. Beautiful strong thread to work with... hardly ever tangled.

I was really happy about that little narrow 1/4" strip that runs all around in the middle of the border... such a small fabric slice makes such a difference.

The tools of the trade... pretty simple.

There were 7 rows of 7 blocks.. I kept winding it forward on one side and backward on the other side as my quilting frames were just a bit too small for it to be all wound out at once.

On the home run now and later that day I had it out of the frames. Good thing cause I had a bit of catching up on a few other things.. The thing is when I get myself into a project, I really hate to leave it till I'm done. I am always anxious to see how it will turn out.  I did get used to the brightness of it from spending so much time with it and it grew on me... and I was glad I kept pushing forward with each stage.

Had to pause from the quilting to work on some jewelry.

Lots of stones, Crystals, Jasper, Fresh Water Pearls... would up and ready for dangles on some designs in our Earth Collection.

They are all strung on a wire so they stay in order and don't get all messed up in the storage drawer.

A Girl and her Flower Garden design

Back to the quilt..  All the binding strips have been cut and stitched together, then folded and pressed double.

 I did that on my last quilt and I really liked the density of it and figure it will wear a good long time. I'm sure it will outlast me.

Working on the back side and hand-hemming the double thickness binding in place.  I am happy that I used the black quilting thread and how the stitching shows up on the pale gold patterned back. 

 I wasn't sure how it would look, as I never quilted any of my quilts with black before.. but I would do it again if the colors worked for it. 

It is easier to see the design here that runs all around the border of the quilt. It represents the waves along the Fundy shore ...  a connection to our landscape. 

I want to remember that it was made here.

Well here she is. Resting on the spare bed.  The quilt is fairly large, probably would fit on a queen size bed nicely but it is here draping down the sides of a 3/4.  

I think it looks best in a very spare room where there is nothing to clash with it... cause it wants to take over any room its in.

It will be a while before I can put all my effort into the next quilt... as making new designs and "building up jewelry stock" season is here. 

Cheers for now.
ps. That is John's painting above the bed... his interpretation of the recognizable "Hands",  of Adam and God from the Sistine Chapel.