Thursday, September 5, 2013

Easy Street

Just this morning, as the sweet cool air poured into beautiful downtown Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire from Hudson Bay, Canada, I put the last stitches into the hand hemming of the binding on my version of Bonnie K. Hunter's, "Easy Street" quilt.


I did lay it out on the driveway and measured it once and for all! When I had measured it before the longarm quilting that I did on it, it had been 96" x 99". That's pretty rectangular for what's supposed to be a SQUARE quilt, eh?


I didn't try to take photos of it lying down in the strong sunlight as it would've been all overexposed. But the flat measurements with my big Stanley steel tape measure were 95" (through the middle, side to side) and 97" (through the middle, top to bottom). So I'm gonna call it a square of 96"   x 96".


Even as big and very heavy as it was, strong breezes were lifting it up and back as I was trying to photograph it. You can see a big rumple in the lower half in the above picture.


Here it is very hard to see the quilting that I did on Ellen Peter's rented longarm, but it is turkey red thread and Baptist Fans.


I want to say a big, "THANK YOU!" to both Ellen Peters, for helping me get it quilted, and to Bonnie K. Hunter for such a fabulous free mystery pattern!
It was quilted on such a very hot day in Ellen's studio that I nearly fainted from the heat. Ellen sat me down and did a full pass to give me a much-needed breather. Thanks, Ellen!
I had only just barely finished piecing the top to bring to Bonnie's Manchester, New Hampshire workshop to show it to her during the brief show and tell session. That was way back in April, LOL! Now it is September. So Bonnie had seen the top then and said she loved it. Thanks, Bonnie!


This shot of the wide backing with the little red and black straw flowers shows the quilting a bit better. If you click on any picture, it will let you zoom in for a better view.





My bedroom has poor lighting but I did try it on the bed and I loved it immediately! There is so much to look at, it fascinates me.
Earlier in the day, Felix called to me in a whisper to come quickly to the open front door. This was taken through the screen so it looks greyed.

Munching new apple drops from the Liberty Apple tree.

I tip-toed out the side door by the driveway, and got only this shot before the big doe hurried away deep into the pines.

She kept all that row of bushy tomato plants between us and was very alert.




At least, this year, she was gracious enough to not browse all my Rose of Sharon buds off the little bush! Yippee, some blossoms!!!!





Happy sewing!






16 comments:

Gayle said...

I absolutely LOVE your finished quilt! The colors are so perfect and your Baptist fan quilting looks great on it. I still have a few blocks to make on mine, and although it seems I used similar colors as you, mine doesn't look nearly as nice - I think green in the dominant color in mine - really should get it done. Thanks for sharing so many pictures of it - it's really, really nice!

Janet O. said...

Love your Easy Street. So warm and cozy looking! Maybe if mine looked as nice as yours I would have finished it. : )
Beautiful flowers--nice of the doe to leave some for you to enjoy.

Glady said...

Congratulations on finishing your Easy Street Quilt. It looks absolutely fantastic! I love your colours! You have inspired me to get busy and finish mine. Happy sewing to you too, Vic.

cityquilter grace said...

it's beautiful vic and so very old fashioned looking....great job and looks great on the bed too...

Helen in the UK said...

Huge congrats on your Easy Street finish. It looks wonderful :)

FeatherDuster said...

Your quilt is my very favorite, of all I've seen made from that pattern. Love it.

Mary said...

Your Easy Street is just gorgeous. I love the colors you used on it.

Rose said...

It makes my head spin to think about getting that quilt together...so much going on but oh, so worth it. I just love looking at it.

Elaine Adair said...

Oh my, Victoria - it is truly a beauty! I LOVE how the values blend, are not "in your face" and yet are visible. You can be very happy and proud of this big project - your vergiage says you ARE, by the gentleness of the other photos. 8-))) And you can also enjoy the blessing of cooler weather. Life is good!

We are over 100 today - another week they say before cool down. Thank the Lord for Lennox Air Conditioning and our local man. I should bake him a cake!

Kay said...

Love your quilt! Love your colors! Baptist fan suits it. Just perfect!

Kats Studio said...

Vic, your quilt is absolutely beautiful! I don't even know what step I'm on with my Easy Street. I like your deer photos. I posted about our new calves today. Love what you share.

Beth in MN said...

Vic, Your ES turned out beautifully!! The baptist fan quilting is just perfect on it. Hopefully I have sent some cool weather your way.

Caro said...

Yeah, what they said - gorgeous work!

My Easy Street top is done, but I have to finish a few other quilts before I can get it done.

momto1 said...

Got to your blog from Bonnie's. I love your repro colors. Thanks so much for sharing your photos!

Debbie said...

I saw your quilt on Quiltville and just had to come look some more. Your Easy Street is just gorgeous. Love the colors.

Mavis said...

Wow Vic! I adore your colours! Mine is still in pieces on the design wall. Just a couple more blocks to go and it will be a quilt top. Way to go! You should be very proud of this quilt. It's gorgeous.

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