Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album 12 inch quilt block - just finished in time (phew) for the mid month link up here. I'm glad those fiddly little stems are done but isn't it a pretty block pattern? See the link for lots of other finished blocks.
I finished piecing (by EPP) the half square triangles for Harrison Rose, stitched them into strips and attached them to the quilt top. But strange things have happened because my border is quite different from the pattern...compare the corners!
This is the photo on the front of the pattern packet:
And this is my top:
You probably had it worked out straight away but it puzzled me for a while. The HST's on the side strips are heading in the opposite direction from the top and bottom strips - and hence the corner placement is unbalanced on two corners. I undid just the corner blocks and turned them this way and that, but this was the best looking solution - short of re-piecing two borders (which was not happening) .
Ho hum - I can live with it but I expect it will be a 'talking point' amongst my non-quilting family - and the very first thing they'll notice.
And it proves what I have always said - piecing is not my strong point. Give me applique any day...
It's a busy time with Christmas getting close but one thing I always make time for is bringing hydrangeas in from the garden - such a rewarding plant and often associated with Christmas in Australia.
Here's a special collage for Wendy - who sent me some Hollyhock seeds months and months ago. I threw them around in the garden and quite a few germinated. It has been a long growing journey and they are now taller than me and finally have started flowering - just in time for Christmas. They are superb Wendy - thanks so much!
I know there is nothing like the magic of a white Christmas but an Aussie Christmas in the garden (preferably in the shade) can be pretty special too. Have a wonderful Christmas wherever you will be!
Your hydrangeas are amazing! Beautiful. Your quilt is beautiful also, but I have to say, I had to look & stare & compare for a REALLY long time to see the difference. The blocks themselves are what people are looking at, & your work is wonderful
ReplyDeleteI have had quilts were the corners turned out kind of wonky too - my hexie quilt that I am quilting right now is like that - I think each corner turned out differently - that's ok - if anyone says anything I will say I designed it that way to be different!
ReplyDeletewonderful finished top and applique block. It looks so neat, just pretty.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Sylvia
Your applique is beautiful as always. I wouldn't even start a pieced border like that, and I think you made the right decision to resolve the problem. Your hydrangeas are lovely.
ReplyDeleteAs a Brit, I found your writing about the Aussie Christmas very interesting. Here we long for snow (which often happens) and our symbol is holly with red berries. I have green holly in my garden and the birds enjoy feeding on the red berries.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the middle of a snow shower and looks like our Christmas will be very white--I would much prefer the Aussie version!! Your applique is beautiful! I don't think you can avoid those corners unless you split the borders in the center, having them go in opposite direction. You will have the look of a flying goose at the centers, but the corners should work as long as there is an even number of HST's. Not sure that makes sense to anyone but me--lol! I've made a couple quilts with borders that look like yours and it doesn't bother me a bit--it's just the way it is!
ReplyDeleteYour Mountain Laurel block is stunning. I love your 4 patch backgrounds for these blocks. I think your Harrison Rose top is magnificent. I like your border triangle direction better than the original. And I am with you 100%, I'll take applique any day. I have never seen such color variety in hydrangeas. I think the hollyhock is one of my favorite flowers. I think because they remind me of my Nana. I cannot however get them to grow in my clay soil. Thank you for sharing your lovely flowers.
ReplyDeleteLovely applique block :-)
ReplyDeletexx
I absolutely adore the pieced background! It adds such interest in a subtle way.
ReplyDeleteAn Aussie Garden Christmas would be a wonderful change. I just finished shoveling 12" of snow from my driveway. Your applique block for the month is stunning. The red and green are always so striking. I wouldnt worry about the corners. They're paired up perfectly. Actually, I like how they turned out. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful arrangement of hydrangeas!! I like your borders on the Harrison Rose quilt - it's such a beautiful project :0) Your mountain laurel is lovely as well - I can see those little stems would be a pain - did you back baste them too?
ReplyDeleteThe Mountain Laurel block is so pretty with its pieced background and the border on Harrison Rose looks perfect to me :) Beautiful hydrangeas!
ReplyDeleteVery nice block. I love the pieced background!!
ReplyDeleteYour HST border doesn't look imbalanced to me. It's awesome! What amazing flowers in your garden.
Your Mountain Laurel block turned out gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love your Harrison Rose - congratulations on a fabulous finish!
I really like how your borders turned out!
Such a beautiful bouquet from your Garden!
Wishing you Happy Holidays!
I would take an Aussie Christmas for a change! How lovely it would be to spend Christmas in the garden. Usually by now in my part of Canada we would have had a few snowy days...but so far we are breaking records for warm days and no snow yet. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHow nice Wendy shared flower seeds, they are lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour Mountain Laurel block is wonderful! Love the pieced ground.
Harrison Rose is lovely in a nine block variation. I like the HSTs. Your feathers in the quilting will also have to be adjusted for the smaller nine block arrangement - I look forward to watching your progress! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.
Your block looks lovely, as does the quilt. And I think the corners are interesting! What gorgeous hydrangeas - I didn't know they came in so many fabulous colours. Wishing you a happy Christmas too.
ReplyDeleteI love the pieced background fabrics. that is a great ways to use up odd pieces. I have that pattern...perhaps I can make a block or two.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see the Hollyhocks in their new home! Mine are now just about finished, with the terrible heat we have had here.
hollyhocks are a fave of mine...my gran grew them in her yard....lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteYour block is beautiful and on the other project, the triangle direction lends interest and they look great!
ReplyDeleteOh Hilda, another beautiful SVBA block, I love the different backgrounds and the red and green fabrics. Your Harrison Rose is also gorgeous, congrats on finishing the top, I think it's amazing that you hand pieced the border. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2016. Thanks for all the inspiration and I look forward to more wonderful posts next year.
ReplyDeleteYour Harrison Rose is lovely. The cheddars really shine. As for the border, I think it looks just fine and your quilt now has its own story.
ReplyDeleteI live in the Great White North (Canada) and while we normally have a white Christmas this year it was unseasonably warm (10C or more). It felt strange but yesterday winter finally arrived with a vengeance and we now have plenty of snow!
Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016!
Hilda, your quilt is beautiful. And those hydrangeas so speak to me, I love the purples. Happy New Year.
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