Quilting on Christmas quilt is completed

So just in time for the ice skating to begin, I have finished the quilting on my Christmas quilt.  in case you are following this quilt for finishing instructions.  I have sashed the blocks made here with a 2 1/2" Kona snow fabric.  The outside border was cut 6 1/2".  I chose to quilt it like this.

Here are a couple of pics as I took it off of the frame.

Maybe it is me, but don't you think they look like Christmas packages all lined up in rows?

Last night my stitchin' group got together.  I made good progress on my other top for the Olympic challenge.  I am right on track now to finish the binding on this one and the top complete on the other one.  I have until Sunday's closing ceremonies, so all is good.  Time to settle in for the evening and some women's figure skating.

#213 and #219, getting distracted again

So, I volunteered to make a doll quilt.  I knew I already had a top in a tote all ready to quilt.  I couldn't find it, but came across these "4 patch, checkerboard" blocks that are #213 and #219 in the book. 

 I put them together  into this doll quilt.

I used a fat quarter for the backing.

Oh, the color just looks so faded out, sorry, still too much snow to take pictures outside.

The bolt of white fabric is a cotton/bamboo blend.

I bought at joann's with a coupon, they were out of the kona snow.  I neglected to read the label before I bought it.

Can you see it says to use a cool iron.  WHAT QUILTER USES A COOL IRON???????  I did a test on a small swatch with a hot iron so I could return it if I needed to.  Well I was happy to find it held up to the heat.  This little doll quilt will be given away so I don't have time to wash it.  I think I will make myself some pot holders so I can wash them and see how they hold up to laundering.  For right now I am happy with my purchase.  I will keep you updated with further tests.

I am off to get ready to go out and have supper with DH and then I am home to sew for the Friday night sew in that Heidi is hosting tonight.  Maybe that will help me get back on track with Pat's olympic challenge.

Olympic analogy to quilting design

Ok, so I was watching the skaters last night and thought I could compare yesterdays quilting design prep to them. With my Christmas quilt loaded and ready for quilting (one of my two Sloanie Olympics challenge) I started to map out my program. Much as the skaters prepare their programs they perform, a quilter will audition her moves like I did. I could just go with a plain meander, it would do the job, but it would lack the sparkle the judges would be looking for. So like the skaters takes cues from their music, I took cues from the fabric. Holly leaves, snow flakes, ribbon, ribbon candy and Glass Christmas balls are all a possibility. I had planned on showing you these pictures that I am sharing with you and asking for suggestions. However this morning I woke to a light fluffy Christmas kind of snow and inspiration took over. I will share those choices in a later post. So today do as I am and enjoy that second cuppa while sharing my Olympic progress with you all.

In case anyone else played hooky from the Olympics yesterday to watch the Daytona 500, I want to send my congrats out to Jamie McMurray and GER on their win. It was an exciting race when it was running, and while it was on red flags I was able to start another project using a Moda Scrap bag to share with you soon.  Ok I can't get the pictures where I want them but they are all here so you will just have to look at them where they are.