MONTH 12 -- Show Your Completed Top Here!

[Patricia B.]

[Patricia B.]

my 2023 BOM is done! The backing is made of blocks from an abandoned project and I think it makes the quilt happy on both sides

[Donna M.]

Just wanted to share how I am approaching the quilting. I am a doodler and love the technique of putting a B&W image in a sheet protector to try out different ideas. This quilt is calling for a combo of ruler work and free motion from me. When I got to the bird border I was intimidated at first but then thought ghosting (I think that is what is called) would look lovely. I use this disappearing marking pen to set my guideline.

[Barbara B.]

Great design choices! Thanks for sharing your work.

[Sandra Hand.]

I'm finished!! This was quite a challenge (which is always a good thing) and I'm happy with the final results. I wanted to make the last border look like Northern Lights around the cabins - hope that was effective. Ready now for a good press and a trip to the "spa". Thank you TQS and Barbara Black - could not have completed this without you

[JANET E.]

My top is finished! I learned a lot and enjoyed the process. I'm glad I had done last years BOM first. Thank you for the adventure.

[Sandra Hand.]

Love the black background!!

[Teresa B.]

Ready to be quilted

[Helen W.]

Teresa, I really, really like your sawtooth stars rather than the mountain shaped piano key border.
Your quilt is beautiful. It looks like the stars were the original design. Goes so well with the stars
that were designed for the corners. Now I will have to audition that idea in EQ8 to see what it
would look like on my quilt. I changed a lot of the quilt to fit my style. If I do go with your idea, I hope it looks as good as yours HelenW

[Teresa B.]

Thank you Helen w.

[Shirley R.]

I like the stars in the outer border as well as your color choices. Beautiful quilt!

[Carolyn H.]

[Monique G.]

I love your colours. You obviously choose your own palette and what a striking combination.

[Helen W.]

Carolyn, Very beautiful quilt. The red, white and blue is wonderful. I would have guessed it was
made by someone living in the USA. But it could not be more beautiful. Great job. HelenW

[Carol G.]

Very pretty! I like how you changed the background fabrics

[Carolyn H.]

Thank you Sara and Barbara, this quilt was a lot of fun.
Carolyn, Nova Scotia, Canada

[AmyE]

Finally done. I changed the birds and put in flowers instead of hearts, but otherwise followed the pattern. This one was a lot of work, but I like it.

[Helen W.]

Amy, Love the black background. Mine also has a black background. Hope I will be able to put up
a picture of a finished top soon. HelenW

[brigitte.wieser]

Your choosen fabrics and colours look really great !

[Sandie T]

The Cat ate my birds.

NO this is the truth, my sweet cat, Russel Claude aka Rusty, chewed up my birds. He has never destroyed anything. I was struggling with the birds and placement. So, my cat made the design choice not to have birds in my quilt. Who knew I was living with a design cat!
Thanks, TQS for such a wonderful challenging and huge learning experience. I love my quilt even with its imperfections. I am still a newbie at this craft and sewing. I learned that I am not needle turn appliquer. But I tried. I found Karen K Buckley products helpful for me. Thank you, Sarah, for your design. Thank you, Barbara Black for all your help, without it I do not believe I could have completed this quilt.

[Carol G.]

Sandie I had to laugh at your cats at first because I seriously considered cats instead of birds on my vines. I hope Rusty didn't get sick. I love your changes... the corner baskets and the hearts

[Sandie T]

Thank you, Carol G. I enjoyed watching the development of your quilt top. Rusty is fine!

[brigitte.wieser]

Dear Sandy, oh I love, love, love your story

Finished top.

Helen, A red door would have been nice, if only I’d thought of it sooner. However, It’s not too late to incorporate strategic red embroidery to make it stand out. Thank you for your observations and kind words. Mary S.

[Helen W.]

Mary, I think your idea of embroidery to get contrast is a great idea. Are you doing the 2024 BOM?
HelenW

Helen, I’m not planning on making the 2024 BOM. Are you?

[Monique G.]

I finally finished my top. Some things I did different; if you look at the peddles in the main flowers, four peddles are done in one color and two in another. I decided to have my birds roosting instead of in flight. I loved the way Barbara did her additional berries in the border so I decided to copy her. My houses are embroidered instead of paper pieced. I didn't buy the kit, only the background fabric so it was a learning experience for me to have to select my own fabrics. The stars in the corners are done with a gradient fabric which I loved the look of. Most of my items were needle turn appliqué but there is some raw edge appliqué as well. Lots to think about in this BOM. If I get the time, I would like to put a bit of hand embroidery around the houses, and some beading in the foliage. My sewing area is in total upheaval from testing several different fabrics. It will take me the all of December to get it organized again. Thank to everyone for the help and encouragement. It was great to learned from everyone, but especially you "BARBARA". Hugs your way.

[Helen W.]

Monique, Thanks for giving your comments on your subtle changes. It makes it unique but still very
recognizable as the TQS BOM 2023. Your color selection and placement is very pleasing to the eye.
HelenW

[Barbara B.]

Thank you, Monique! Your fabric choices are beautiful. So glad I was part of your journey.
My blog today is about clearing the studio clutter before being able to create again:

https://bbquiltmaker.blogspot.com/20...os-studio.html

[Kelly H.]

Here is my top. Kaffe Fasset fabrics except for backgrounds, stems and some leaves.

[Helen W.]

Love the background fabric color with the Kaffe. I plan to use bright colors, mainly Jason Yenter
left overs from several of his quilts I have made, for Pick A Petal 2024. I think they might look good with a similar color palette for the background. Was it a collection or you just found a lot of similar colors. It is beautiful.

Are you planning on doing Pick A Petal? HelenW

[Shirley R.]

This is my finished quilt top. I love the vibrant colors in this quilt. I did not purchase the kit; however, i purchased some precuts of a few of the quilt kit fabrics. Other fabrics are from my stash. The following changes (other than fabric choices and color placement) were made: center cabin was replaced by a star block; birds are different from those in pattern; hearts were made earlier than release of the heart pattern and are ”larger and fatter.”

Sarah, I greatly admire your work and have wanted to make one of your patterns for several years. What a joy to have one of your designs completed!

Barbara, your videos and blogposts were very helpful. Having a “guide by your side” certainly makes the process proceed more smoothly than it would otherwise.

I used needle turn appliqué and this is my second appliqué quilt. The 2022 Garden Party Down Under was my first needle turn appliqué quilt. I learned so much through these two projects. Thank you!

[Helen W.]

Since there was no progress Month 12, I decided to put it here. The picture is distorted looking since I took it
laying the quilt on the floor since my design wall has other stuff on it. My quilt has just evolved as the year went on.
Right now I am feeling behind, even though Barbara says you should not feel bad about being behind because this month 12 just started. She was referring to Pick a Petal, but I am applying it to Homeward Bound too. Hoping it will be done
by the end of the month. HelenW

[Carol G.]

Helen I have enjoyed following your progress on HB. I love your border with the squares, your little birdies on the vines, everything about is lovely. You're not behind, It's early December!