Circle 7 :: Finished Quilt ::

This quilt has been finished for a while and I have been enjoying snuggling with it on the couch immensely!  I've been holding off taking photographs for a while and finally just decided to do it myself this afternoon with the help of a clothesline. Luckily, it's not a huge quilt so I was able to capture most of it without a helper.

 

I used some hoarded Nicey Jane in my favorite print, Church Flowers, for the back.  

 

I decided to quilt it using an all over swirly design.  My free motion quilting still has a lot of room for improvement, but it's come a long way!

 

This quilt was made by a circle of friends from the first Sew South.  I made the initial blocks (see the post here for more information) and the girls had free range to add whatever they decided.  I had a loose theme of "favorite things," instructing them to add their favorites, whether it be an object, word, fabric or block they love. What an amazing, talented group of ladies!  The quilts that came out of this bee just blew me away. 

 I thought I'd go through and show you each addition.

 

First up is Jennifer, of Ellison Lane, with her paper pieced sewing machine block and all of those adorable spools of thread.  Seriously, look how many spools there are! Each one is perfect, too. I knew this quilt was  going to be so special with that first addition.

 I may have lost track of the order, but I'll always know who made each section.  The next set of blocks were made by Lindsey of LR Stitched.  Oh, how I love the mason jar with the scallops and those fun, geeky glasses!  Such awesome piecing.

 

Dana, of Old Red Barn Co., is up next with her matroyshka doll, because she knows how much I love them and have a little collection. I love that she added a bit of fabric from her antique fabric collection.  The embroidered paisley is so special!

Susannah-Kate made this amazing paper pieced seed tray because she knows how much I love to garden.  The fabrics she picked are perfect and I love that she framed it in the architextures ledger print!

Valerie, of Val Between Quilts, did the entire right hand side of this photograph.  I love the economy squares with their special bits of fabric and the word "love."  And the coffee pot was the perfect block to put besides the little mugs I made.  I love this section so much!

Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock, added the final section, featuring these envelope blocks because she loves mail, which is great because we share that love! I can't tell you how many pen pals I had when I was little and I still think there is nothing like the real thing. She also added a row of hourglass blocks and some more patchwork in the most perfect fabrics!

I added the row of apples at the bottom because one of my favorite things to do is go with my family each fall to the NC mountains to pick apples.  They were leftover, along with the mugs, from Lori Holt's Row Along, which is now in a cute little book.  I am so good at starting new things, but not so good at finishing.  Once I realized I was not going to be making the whole Row Along quilt, I'm glad I was able to use the super cute blocks here!  Let's hope I do better with her Christmas blocks - I'm already four in.

So, that's a wrap on this quilt!  Thank you so much to my lovely Circle 7 friends!  I will treasure this quilt forever!