Saturday 27 February 2016

The finishing line...

My Benjamin Biggs journey started in January 2014. Thanks to the monthly free blocks from Sentimental Stitches (25 blocks plus border) it has kept many of us plugging along ever since. Thinking of the border kept me going -  my favourite part of this quilt. Mind you...I think I've had enough of applique buds for a wee while! 

I hung the just-completed top in my Golden Ash tree for an early morning photo. 


The back looked interesting in the  morning light.

Mr and Mrs King Parrot  were twittering at me from higher branches. I was in the way of their breakfast feeder. Excuse me, and a few minutes later ..
Mrs King Parrot

Mr is politely waiting his turn
And a little finish to report: I spied a lovely  kit on Instagram and very soon this arrived in the mail from Cutting Cloth. Intriguing?
A sewing box ! "Yummy" I thought, "How hard can it be?"

Well, it took me two solid days of work - super addictive but challenging!  Luckily the instructions were very clear and thorough. Imagine a bit of fun giant's EPP combined with a great deal of invisible stitching at tricky angles (with the facial expressions to match).



Decided not to make the pattern pincushions (have plenty already) but I just love the sewing box and it plays nicely with my other accessories.

I've only started one new quilt this year ( Sarah Fielke BOM) - and the self restraint has nearly killed me! There has been so much temptation out there as you all know. But you see, I'd done a little count and frightened myself by finding that I am working on 8 different large quilts - quite enough to be getting on with for now. Ben Biggs can now rest in the quilting queue while I give more time to the others. 

Am looking forward to posting a big finish next time. Can you guess which it might be? 

(PS the other quilts in my progress list are Shenandoah Valley /SVBAQ, Indigo Circles/Quilty 365, Civil War Bride, Wheat and Woods, Harrison Rose, Grandmother's Garden and Sarah Fielke's BOM)

36 comments:

  1. Congratulation.
    Your Benjamin Biggis Top looks amazing.
    Have a nice weekend, Manuela

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  2. Congratulations for this wonderful finish Hilda ! Another masterpiece is born....
    The parrots are beautiful and your box just amazing !

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  3. Your Benjamin Biggs is lovely. Your applique is an inspiration to us all. Your little sewing box is very cute. What a fun short-term project to work on. I'm looking forward to seeing your next complete top.

    I enjoyed seeing the green grass and green leaves! We received 8 inches of snow this week. Blessings Gretchen

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  4. Beautiful finish of such a gorgeous quilt! Your little sewing box is really quite cute and looks very useful with the contents very easy to find and access.

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  5. Snow and cold where I am so how refreshing not only to see your gorgeous BB finish but also your sunshine, green garden and parrots as well! :)

    I think the next finish will be the Civil War Bride quilt finish?

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  6. Snow and cold where I am so how refreshing not only to see your gorgeous BB finish but also your sunshine, green garden and parrots as well! :)

    I think the next finish will be the Civil War Bride quilt finish?

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  7. Your Benjamin Biggs quilt is gorgeous! Very well done! Love your sewing box! I will have to find out more about it.
    Have a super great sewing and stitching day!

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  8. Your B. Biggs quilt is oh so wonderful! I can see why you got a bit tired of stitching buds. I would rather be stitching the variety of designs in the block than repeating bud stems.

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  9. Your quilt is stunning, would love to do something like that but fear my applique skills are not up to scratch lol
    That's a delightful sewing box too and well worth the 2 days work lol

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  10. Congratulations, your Ben Biggs quilt finish is just Stunning!
    Such a beautiful little sewing box to hold your sewing notions.
    You certainly have quite a few ambitious projects in the works.
    I must confess, I'm happy for it. I greatly enjoy seeing your beautiful works in progress. Always inspiring.

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  11. Now I wish I had made the quilt! Yours is beautiful!

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  12. The quilters of the original Benjamin Biggs quilt are applauding you! Yours is a gorgeous version. Don't you love making sewing boxes...what a sweet one you have to hold sewing notions. I have made a number of them - kept one and others as gifts. The pattern looks almost identical to yours - the one I use is from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. After seeing your soft colors, the urge is there to make one for Spring:-)

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  13. What a beautiful finish. Your sewing box is amazing--I would have had the kit sitting around for years before getting to it--lol! Looking forward to seeing the next reveal;)

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  14. Your Benjamin Biggs is beautiful! What a nice setting out among the trees! Always inspired by your work!

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  15. Just exquisite! And the box looks like a challenge too. You are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. What is your quilt become brilliant!
    The back is so beautiful to see.
    My compliments!
    The sewing box looks very handy out, well done too.
    Greetings,
    Floor

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  17. What a wonderful achievement! I'm very relieved Mr and Mrs Parrot didn't leave a surprise on your quilt when it was hanging in the tree!

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  18. A quilt show In your own garden! Ben Biggs looks amazing, and perfectly suits the garden scene. Many happy hours of quilting ahead on that one. I am waiting for your reveal with much anticipation, can't wait. With a wip list like that I expect there will be many lovely reveals this year.

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  19. Everything is so beautiful. I love your BB quilt. I have stopped on block 13. I was thinking about making it a wall hanging and be done with. But now, I think I will keep going. I was not so sure about that border; but it is lovely. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. Lovely to fit in a quick finish for a treat. BB looks wonderful.

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  21. Another fabulous appliqued piece from your hands. So lovely to see this finished, I love the fussy cutting you did for the buds. As usual, your little special details make this amazing.

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  22. B Biggs is wonderful and the swag border is beautiful. Your lovely parrots must have thought if complimented them. You're showing great restraint with all of the sewing temptations. Can't wait to see what's finally finished. :0)

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  23. You accomplish so much! The swag border on Benjamin Biggs is perfection. Love seeing the colorful Mr. & Mrs. P in your garden. Great little sewing box project. I can see why it took two days to make :) Looking forward to your next finish!

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  24. congratulations - it is stunning!
    I loved seeing your parrots and the sewing box is wonderful

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  25. Congratulations on yet another amazing quilt. Your BB quilt is fabulous and while I know how much effort must have gone into that border it is worth the effort.

    The sewing box is really lovely. I made a sewing box many years ago but mine was smaller. They are a lot of work but they are so pretty and useful!

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  26. You've done Ben proud!! What a stunning top. The King Parrots are beautiful. And well done on the gorgeous hexie sewing box.

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  27. Love the quilt, beautiful. I have been watching a couple of people make theirs. A lot of work!

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  28. Your BB top is so lovely! I enjoyed seeing the back too - so soft and pretty. Your appliqué is gorgeous! Your garden looks like paradise so green and lush :0) That does look like a challenging sewing box - it turned out great!

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  29. You stuck with it and it is truly amazing!! Nice work!

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  30. Beautiful top, amazing applique, congratulations to the finished top.
    Love your new little sewing box,
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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  31. Well, Benjamin Biggs was certainly worth the wait (at least for me!) It is simply stunning. And, you little sewing box is adorable. I'm not sure I would have the patience, but it is tempting. Thank you so much for sharing the parrot photos. I watch a pair of eagles from my office each morning, but I can't even imagine seeing something this colorful on a regular basis. How special!

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  32. Such a lovely finish. I remember when Benjamin Biggs began and how seeing your blocks inspired me to begin. Sadly I only got 3 blocks made before major life changes got in the way. Mi don't see myself finishing but am so happy to see yours. Like you I have many quilts in various stages of progress but I did start Sentimental Stitches new BOM. Much simpler and something zi can keep up with, well so far. Saw your red and white finish on IG, gorgeous!

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  33. Congrats on your finish...so beautiful!

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  34. Congrats on your finish...so beautiful!

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  35. Your BB is so gorgeous! Congratulations on a wonderful, beautiful finish! The sewing box is lovely too, very special.

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