The Bizzy Bird Farm

Thanks for all the wonderful comments. Yes, I plan on entering this into competition the first one being AQS Des Moines. This has to be done by May 20th, this year!!! So this is my first goal and all I can do is try to make it. I have already made a big change, yesterday had it basted together but I tried to hand quilt but the batting was too thick. I ripped out the small area of quilting and the basting and replaced the batt with Mountain Mist Polyester low loft batt. I just finished outlining the center fruit block and my hand quilting is much, much better. Glad I made the change. Planning on outline everything first then go back and add the "creative quilting". Still thinking about using large circles in the blocks, will let you know later when I decide.

The 'Bizzy' Bird Farm AKA Roseville Album

Well I finally finished appliqueing....around 3:30 this morning !!! Yes, it was early morning and I couldn't sleep so I kept sewing and sewing and sewing.....as I could see the end. The day before I had to make about 40 more circles. I will count these some day but I think I put in around 450 circles. I think once these circles are made these are the easiest pieces to sew on, one pin to hold and start stitching. As you can see I made many changes on the outside borders. This is where I put many circles and several flowers from the center. I decided to put birds, a cat and a goat on my corners to keep with the animal theme, thus the name change. Today I got it all layered together and basted thanks to the help of my Mom and Karen W. We also basted together Karen's Civil War Bride quilt top, which I will post later for her on that blog site. I'm using Quilters Dream Wool batting. I'm going to outline all the applique and been thinking of a creative way to add more quilting as the busy background fabric will not show off my hand quilting very well. Circles keep coming to mind, large circles. Maybe I just need some sleep. LOL It's been a long and fun journey with this quilt. I'm just so happy that I found this blog site and decided to join in on the fun. I truly enjoy and appreciate all the comments and really like reading each other postings from ladies all around the world....think everyone is having a good time with this blog. Thanks Kim for making such a beautiful quilt and sharing it with the world !

Set together

I've been busy today setting this together. Had to lay it out on the deck in order to have enough room to photograph. When I get the outside borders on I will use my stand to get a straight on shot. I'm very pleased with all of it. Will start sewing on my last 2 borders tonight. It's hard to believe that I'm getting low on circles to use on my borders but I did just use 144 of them on the 4 corner blocks (may need my quilting friends again to baste circles). LOL Probably will regret having so many when I'm hand quilting around each of them.....but I really like the extra punch they give to this quilt.

New Tip and almost done!

Thought I would show you what I've gotten done so far. I have 2 borders done and one corner block.

I had a mishap on all of my corner blocks. I took them with their cut out pieces for each block with me on my week vacation, which I sewed only on two nights. I spilled coffee in my sewing basket and didn't know it until I got home. The coffee soaked thru all blocks and some of my thread. I soaked and washed all of it but on 2 of the background pieces I could see a slight color difference. Since I'm going to do competition with this quilt I decided to start over, had one block almost done and partially another. I have since cut out the pieces that were sewed and I had just enough background to cut the 4 blocks out again, soooo glad I bought extra as it was on SALE.

As i usually do, I made some changes. I didn't put the birds in the corner blocks as I didn't want any birds upside down so I used the 2" circles and a smaller size circle to create this flower. Also changed the borders, using many flowers from the center adding little birds and added a cat and there will be 2 cats on top and bottom borders. I may add more circles but will decide this when I get it all set together.

TIP FOR THE DAY - I have left the selvage on my out side borders (remember to allow seam allowance for the pattern placement). I do this when possible because it helps to stop strecthing while sewing and quilting. I will cut it off after I'm done quilting and before I add my binding.

Roseville top panel

I got a lot accomplished this weekend. I finished the top panel, finished cutting out the corner blocks, made all the 1/4" vine for outside borders and made the bias binding. I always try to make my binding ahead, just in case I don't have enough fabric or forget and use it some where else. I'm using the black with purple dots for this as I wanted a dark fabric to "frame" my quilt.

I used the pencil fabric on the house to give it a log home effect and pyramids fabric for the tile roofing. I also used the golden yellow for windows, looks like my house is glowing or just left all the lights on... one of the yellow cats looks more like a fox than a cat and I changed the rooster...I ususally change things from the original patterns, guess to make it more personal.

Well I need to get back to 'SEWING' if I want to keep on track with my goals....and thanks for all the wonderful comments.

Roseville Bottom Panel

I finished another panel, Yeah! One step closer to my goal of May 20th. I made a few minor changes. For starters I accidentally reversed the pattern for the trees so all my birds and circles are in slightly different areas. Since we use to raise black Angus cattle, I had to make them out of black fabric and of course, a Bull....our close friends thought I needed a mule (because they have mules), thus the long ears on the pink one and we had several outdoor cats even a yellow one. I'm not familiar with the long horn billy goat, but I must confess, this is one piece that I sewed partly on with yellow fabric and thought it was too light and replaced it with the blue poka dot. This blue is much better and is very eye catching. This has been my favorite 'block' to sew, so far. This was a fun panel to do even though it took me 2 1/2 days for each tree.

Working on the top panel and already have most of it cut out and have sewed on one tree. I sure like having all of those circles ready for sewing.

LEFT SIDE PANEL

Another step closer to my deadline as I finished my left side panel tonight. I was able to get this panel finished so quickly this week because I fell on the ice last Wednesday and sprang my ankle, and required to miss work for 3 days (sad face) and had to keep my foot elevated, so I got lots of sewing done (happy face). I was so thankful that I cut out everything for this panel the Saturday before. I audition every fabric to get the squirrel's tail to look just right. Have lots of fussy cutting for the animals and birds.

Started working on one of the big trees on bottom panel tonight.