Applique Sampler

After days of cutting, sewing, more cutting, and more sewing here it is. A picture of my completed Applique Sampler top. Yea!! Wish I could have gotten a better picture of it, but the quilt is rather large (90" x 110") and it was difficult finding a place inside where the quilt would even fit. So this will have to do. All the blocks are done using needle-turn applique and measure approximately 16" finished. I played around with setting ideas in EQ6 and this was the one that really caught my eye. Looks really pretty on the bed.

I have been playing around with quilting ideas...although I'm not quite sure exactly when this will be sandwiched and quilted. Right now I am toying with the idea of machine quilting the cornerstones, sashing, and border. Then hand quilting the blocks themselves. I was thinking of hand quilting diagonal lines with each row going the opposite direction from that of the row before. Nothing is set in stone though. So there is plenty of time to ponder the multitude of quilting options for this particular top.

Knitting Update: I'm really making progress on my felted teddy bear. The body is now done and I'm working on the back of the head. It's really starting to take shape and I'm getting excited about seeing it done. I'm thinking I will make a felted hat for it. And possibly even a felted flower to go on its felted hat. I have also been seeing it with a knitted lace collar of some sort (in my mind's eye, of course). Looks like I even have the perfect yarn for the lace collar. Guess I better focus on getting the bear finished first before I start accessorizing!!!