Hi Everyone,
Sorry I have been away for a week! Man, time flies. Work is really kicking my butt lately. Things are really, really busy. And to top it off, I feel like I'm coming down with something. I'll try to do better than posting once a week. I miss it when I don't post. But forgive me if work just gets the better of me now and then! (I'm behind on responding to some of your comments and emails, too. I apologize!)
I do have a finish to show you today. (Blogging really does motivate me to get things finished. I didn't want to show you this until it was all bound, so that got me to finishing that this weekend!)
Click on any of the photos to enlarge.
Which Witch's Boot is all quilted and bound! Yippee! I am so happy with it. I love it.
The pattern is by Crabapple Hill Studio. I blogged all the pattern information and my review of the pattern here.
Once again, Shelly Pagliai of Prairie Moon Quilts quilted it for me. I think she did a great job again! In the black borders, she emulated the ribbon candy. What a great idea. Love it!
In the orange parts, she did these great looking spider webs. I love them. SOOOOO much better than the spider webs I have quilted in the past! Way to go, Shelly!
I asked her to do microstippling around the hand embroidery. I am so glad I did. I think it looks fantastic. Shelly told me she was afraid she couldn't execute it. Um, Shelly, your microstippling is fantastic. Do I have some agreement here from the rest of you, or what?!
Here is a close up shot of all the microstippling and all the embroidery. I really love the microstippling. I washed the quilt after I bound it, and I threw it in the dryer. I wanted it to get all crinkly. I love how it crinkled. I think I lost a little black on the boot when I washed or dried it. But I still like the pale gray of the boot.
Here is the back. I used more of the white ghost fabric, and then I used a bunch of the oranges that I didn't use on the front, because I thought they were too busy. (Again, the fabric line is Guising, by Lizzie House, and I got it from the Intrepid Thread). Sweet Pea wanted me to use the candy corn fabric for the binding. I was going to, but I thought it might be too busy, with those bold, black borders. So, I went for a solid (reading) orange from my quilt shop instead. I used the candy corn for the sleeve instead. That seemed to appease Sweet Pea a little.
I draped it over the wagon wheel for a shot. Looks nice with the pumpkin, huh?
You know, many of you show photos of your quilts with your cats in the photo. You write how you can't get the cat OUT of the photo. I tried to get Spidey to sit to the right of the pumpkin (as you face this photo), but every time I put him there, he just kept running under my feet (which is where he likes to spend his time). I couldn't get him to stay IN the photo! You can see here, he went there by himself but he was about to scamper away when I got this photo. Haha!
And Belle supervised the whole thing. She keeps that cat rounded up well. Her eyes look so crazy when she's "supervising" the cats.
After I finished the outdoor photo shoot, I brought the quilt inside and hung it up in my entryway. I finally replaced the Christmas quilt that's hanging there (all year round! LOL).
I'd like to be able to rotate the quilt here with the season. So far, I have two to rotate. I better get more busy. But I'm pleased with how this one looks!
Hope you like it! I'll try to be back tomorrow with some more Halloween goodies!
Have a great day!
Until next time,
Well, I must say it does look great! I love the look of it after being washed. It was a joy to quilt it for you. Your piecing, and especially your embroidery, are perfect!
Posted by: Shelly | October 22, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Oh, and I wanted to say how hysterically funny your animals are in the photo shoot! I'm one of the ones who can't keep my animals OUT of the photos. It's never a problem including them. And our blue heeler gets that same look when she's herding our cats -- too funny!
Posted by: Shelly | October 22, 2012 at 03:24 PM
That is one awesome finish Stephanie! I love all the fabrics you used with your beautiful embroidery. And yes, Shelly did a wonderful job on the quilting. This quilt will be treasured for years to come!
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | October 22, 2012 at 03:32 PM
I had wondered what one could do for quilting around embroidery. I would have been terrified to quilt around it, for fear of ruining all the hard work. It looks great though!
Posted by: Amy | October 22, 2012 at 04:00 PM
It turned out wonderfully! And yes, you NEEDED the cat in the photo...perfect!
Posted by: sherri | October 22, 2012 at 04:18 PM
Love it, and I agree, Shelly did a fabulous job with the quilting. I have a Halloween quilt that hangs year round, at least in our current home it does. Nthing wrong with out-of-season quilts on display! ;-)
Belle is a good supervisor-- I think she owuld have looked good in the wagon wheel/pumpkin ohoto, too!
I adore this quilt, might have to buy the pattern.
Posted by: Doris | October 22, 2012 at 04:30 PM
Your quilt is stunning! You did a fantastic job with the embroidery. It looks so good on your wall. I like the idea of changing with the seasons. Belle reminds me of my dog Queenie when I was growing up. Is she a Border Collie?
Posted by: carolld | October 22, 2012 at 05:03 PM
I studied the quilting closely. Great job Shelly! I may use some of the same patterns when it comes to quilting up mine.
I'm still working on the embroidery for mine. I haven't been able to work on it much for a few weeks with Spooky "helping" me. Kittens and embroidery do not mix!! On Saturday I took it to guild to work on since Spooky would not be going too. I got so much done that it inspired me to shut my sewing room door so I could work on it at home. Spooky has not been happy, but I have. If I can get the embroidery done by Halloween I'll be happy.
Posted by: Lynn | October 22, 2012 at 05:29 PM
Absolutely beautiful!!! Both your work and Shelly's. Great combination!
Posted by: liveacolorfullife | October 22, 2012 at 06:15 PM
I love it! I love all things Halloween. And don't worry about that Christmas quilt hanging up all year. My Spode Christmas china was in the china cabinet for the full year of 2011!
Posted by: Melissa | October 22, 2012 at 06:38 PM
I love it! It is adorable and so cheerful for the season. Your right the stippling is wonderful. Your furbabies are too cute!
Have a good week.
Hugs
Donna
Posted by: Donna | October 22, 2012 at 07:39 PM
I love it, Stephanie! Love where it's home is too. Don't animals just crack you up. Great finish.
Posted by: Patti J | October 22, 2012 at 08:15 PM
That looks so wonderful. I do love the microstippling too! Your embroidery is phenomenal. What a super quilt.
Posted by: Jackie | October 22, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Beautiful job!
Posted by: Erika | October 22, 2012 at 10:18 PM
Love that quilt thrown over the wagon wheel! And...great spot to hang it in your home..yes I can see many more seasonal quilts hanging there!
Posted by: Deb | October 23, 2012 at 07:43 AM
Love the embroidery and the microstippling!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | October 23, 2012 at 08:19 AM
Great finish! I love how whimsical this looks, from the embroidery to the framing fabrics to the quilting. You and Shelley do such amazing work! How fun to have a special place in your house to hang handmade seasonal work. Hope you can fight off that bug!
Posted by: terriaw | October 23, 2012 at 09:43 AM
OMG--I love it! Love it! Want it!
Posted by: jenclair | October 23, 2012 at 01:04 PM
I love the finished quilt, border and all. It's perfect! And the quilting is beautiful. Hi to Spidey, and especially to beautiful Belly Belle. What a great dog!!
Posted by: PegVan | October 23, 2012 at 06:21 PM
You did an excellent job on this - it's just wonderful. And it looks so good in your stairway. Spidey does look pretty cute in the picture.
Posted by: Linda in Calif. | October 23, 2012 at 06:24 PM
How on earth did I miss this post?? This quilt is absolutely STUNNING!! Your handwork seriously impresses me!! And please don't feel like you have to reply back to this. I know what it's like to be so busy, so you just keep on doing what you're doing! I LOVE IT!
Posted by: Cindy | October 26, 2012 at 11:06 PM
OhMyGosh -- this is gorgeous Stephanie!!! I LOVE it. What a lot of work. Congratulations on a fantastic finish!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | October 30, 2012 at 09:54 AM