Harrison Rose first block

A start to Harrison Rose ( Dawn's pattern ) - one block down. It's a large block at 17 inches square and I chose to construct it in solids and all needleturn applique, with back basting prep. The pattern helpfully gives a suggested order of placement for back basting. Of course, being so keen to start,  I only noticed those instructions once I was half way through - haha. So my order of attack was different but it worked just fine. Nancy has put together her blocks here - so beautiful! Scroll down here for her alternative prep method. I say "whatever works for you" to get those points under control!

My Civil War Bride border is coming along  - the two side vine borders went along quite quickly and I stitched them to the top. 

Then to work on the top and bottom borders. This was a little more complex as it would include the ends where the vine turns the corner. 

I wanted to have a bird on the vine in each corner but discovered that I am really useless at drawing vintage/naive looking birds! So I borrowed a bird from one of the blocks and with a few minor adjustments decided he would do. 

Here are a couple of progress pics

Centre of bottom border

A bird at a corner

All in all I had a very productive Queen's Birthday long weekend on the quilting front - not that I am a monarchist but they clearly have their uses! 

So I also managed to pin baste my Ann Randoll quilt top.

I'm planning on a narrow brown binding to finish the quilt along the saw tooth edge. That edge is quite fragile as all hand appliqued - very vulnerable to fraying and damage during the tug and pull of hand quilting in a hoop. I thought about trimming the layers and adding the binding right now and so protect that edge. But I have never before added binding before quilting, and am not confident how good a finish it will produce. Would the straightness of the edge be compromised? not sure and even more, not brave enough to try! 

So my solution was to add a broad but purely temporary border strip. It serves two purposes while quilting - to protect the applique edge and to enclose the pesky fluff of the batting. I cut up strips of ugly or poor quality fabric that has been languishing in the cupboard. This I stitched into a broad, very crude casing along the outer edge. I used the largest basting stitch on my machine - easily removed after quilting is finished.

What would the Quilt Police think of my border attachment do you think? Actually it might win awards for making a statement perhaps? ...in fact I'm rather afraid it might!

Speaking of which..I'm really looking forward to visiting the Sydney Quilt Show this week - with the special Red and White display. The  Quilters Guild of NSW is posting photos, and encouraging others to post pics, on Instagram so maybe the 'publishing' constraints of previous years are being relaxed...would be lovely to be able to share more of these. 

...in fact a new post on their blog has just popped up with a lovely photo here - exciting!