A Good Day's Work......Taking Time To Do It Right!

You may remember that about two months ago I was "gifted" with a charm pack of Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket from Connie over at Quilting by the River in honor of her birthday.  I was determined to use this with solids and white, and struggled for a while with layouts and block construction.  I pieced a lot of four-patches using various greens alternating with the patterned fabric. 

Even though I wasn't terribly happy with the first layouts, I kept on going (you have NO idea how many four-patches I made).  Yesterday I finally got the last of the center top pieced, and started work on the borders.  I'm a sort of "slash and finish it" kind of border gal.....but I was determined to make pieced borders that "floated" on the top.  There is no doubt that it was much slower, but I'm pretty happy with the finished product:

I'm really taken with the color palette here....quite outside my normal range, with a lot of muted colors contrasting with bolder solids.  Does anybody have any "naming" ideas?

With the remainder of the four-patches and alternating 2-1/2" squares, I made up a pieced back (another thing I admire, but rarely take the time to do), using up large strips of the same solids that I used to frame the four-patches on the top:

(Yes, the back is hanging in front of the top, which is showing through....reminding me I need a good batting choice to keep the front and back from 'shadowing'---ask me how I know that)......

It was fun to work on my own design, and I'm glad I took the time to work out the math and get those borders on accurately.  It seems that once I get the basic top done, I'm always in a hurry to "finish" and move on to the next project.  Does that ever happen to you?

I must say I am pretty satisfied that I let the design process evolve and didn't let myself be distracted by my "get it done" tendencies.

Over the weekend, I have in mind several projects that I've been itching to make more progress on.....my king-sized Summerbreeze quilt (yes, it's "percolating" since I can't decide whether I like my design or not), and I've started some handwork for an applique group I joined.  We're working on "broderie perse" as a learning project:

Here's my vase and flowers that will be eventually be appliqued down.  It's been a long time since I did needleturn.....

There are seven quilts awaiting bindings (ugh), so I guess I'd better get moving!  Looking forward to some sun after several days of clouds and thunderstorms.  But look what I got a picture of the other night:

Why do rainbows always fill us with a certain sense of wonder?  I know all about the physics involved, but I'm always taken anew by their spontaneous nature....they are just "there."   Have a great Memorial Day weekend, everybody!

Kathy