#57 MQG Fabric Challenge Complete!!

I had just joined the Modern Quilt Guild when this challenge was introduced. I've only been quilting for the last 3 years and blogging for a little less than that, but thought it sounded like something fun to do to challenge myself. So I jumped right in, signed up, and decided to design my own wall hanging!! I've been posting pictures to Instagram as I've completed certain stages and the last post I said I still had some add-ons left. Well for all of you who were wondering what that could be....... here it is!!
I embroidered on the stems and found the cutest buttons to add, lady bugs and bubble bees! Why not, it is a garden after all, and they just add some texture and whimsy to the project!! The quilt was completed with the  Michael Miller Fabrics along with some Kona Solids, and  I used all the scraps to make the binding. The wall hanging finished at approximately 63" long by 25" high. The drop heart quilt pattern just seemed like the perfect pattern to choose for the quilting.

#37 I Had So Much Fun This Week

I participated in my first Blog Hop as a contributor and what a blast I had!! It was so much fun coming up with a project to share, and all the new people stopping by, was amazing! You all left such great and encouraging comments, and I loved reading about your favorite parts of Christmas. While some made my heart hurt, it was very uplifting to hear most was about family and sharing all the special things about Christmas....church, lights, music, decorating, etc. with the ones we love.

The Winners Are: 

Quilty Box has been claimed...Congratulations to QuiltingGranny

And Teresa Nance wins the Mystery Prize

Winners have been contacted and prizes will be mailed ASAP

Next Blog Hop for me and what is keeping me busy, getting ready for the Wake Up to Kona Blog Hop in January. So check back in regularly to get updates!

What I've Been Up To:

As promised a pictorial of the Chalkboard Table Runner:

The Chalkboard fabric I purchased was approximately 47.5" wide. I used that as the length for the table runners I have made. Cut the width keeping in mind the final size you can accommodate or want to achieve remembering to add your borders into the calculation.

Once you have cut your chalkboard fabric to size you will know your measurements for the borders. For this one I cut 2" x 4" pieces to do a scrappy border at the small ends. I folded the chalkboard and fabric  in half and pinched to find the centers and trimmed the ends.

 Press and measure for the long side borders. I sewed (3) 2" x 4" pieces together and added a 2" wide by ? on each end to make a border a bit longer than you need for each side. Then repeat to find center of both fabrics and sew in place, trimming extra off both ends. Measure for backing fabric.

Now I have finished with and without adding batting. When I added batting I stitched it to the backing fabric to make sure it stays in place and the batting won't bunch up eventually if it comes loose from the seams.

I flip the fabric so I sew left to right and then right to left, in case I pull or my machine pulls.

You can make a quilt sandwich and bind, but I put the backing and chalkboard right sides together and stitch around 1/4" seam, leaving a generous opening for turning. Trim corners, and turn. Chalkboard fabric is very stiff, and if you try to scrunch it up to much to turn you can damage it. 

Using a press cloth press border. Press a 1/4" under to create seam where the opening is and topstitch all around the border at 1/8".

I also stitch in the ditch on the chalkboard by the border.

City Sampler:

Final Sugar Block Club Block:

And I bought a panel to make new Christmas stocking, and buttons to embellish. (had to sharpie the eyes and mouth of the creepy snowmen!! lol)