It never ends I might just put Williamsburg Beauty away again for awhile until I can come to decisions on it!! I have the narrow border print cut out but not sewn to the quilt – it is pinned to the wall. I thought I would try out some ideas for what is next.
Narrow print border to be sewn on today –
Trying to decide if I should do another narrow brown border before my idea of an light tan tiny print border with scrappy diamonds for the next round. (the light tan matches the two squares in the very middle of the quilt) Two diamond groupings were hastily basted together to see how they would work the diamonds would use the same fabrics as the very tiny colorful squares on one of the inner borders a lot of the flowers were from this fabric also. (the light tan with the diamonds is a little wider than it needs to be the fabric is folded narrow and just pinned in place)
These pieces are just pinned in place while I am thinking things over. Ideas appreciated! It is possible I will totally change my mind on the diamonds – I have a book on pieced borders that I plan on digging out and looking at to see if I can find another idea.
One thing that is limiting my choices is the lack of brown fabric – the piece in the forefront looks lighter than it does on the wall – so far there is actually three different brown colors on the wall – this one in the forefront is on the last border (the other was used up) – the darker brown underneath is only a half a yard. The paisley I haven’t measured but I have at least 2 yards of, the lighter color beige is about 2 yards. That one might be a good option for a narrow border before the diamond piecing border. I no longer know where I purchased any of these!! they have been on the shelves for awhile so I’m not even going to try to match up. The paisley is the only one that I know what it is – Jenny Beyer and I have had it for years. All other browns that I have are fq’s or less although I am going to be searching through things for that also.
Decisions, Decisions! now you see why I say I might put it away for while.
Almost ready to roll The Final Frontier down one more time – I was working on this area last night – did I finish it? I don’t know I started to work on this after I wrote my blog post to schedule. I am linking to Sew Fresh Quilts , Quilt Fabrication: Midweek Makers and Jo’s Country Junction and My Quilt Infatuation.
Melanie posted this photo of herself at work yesterday on the library’s Facebook page so I didn’t think she would mind if I shared it!! – so many of you have enjoyed seeing her stitch work that I share once in awhile so I thought you might like to see Melanie having fun at work – she works for the local library driving the Book Mobile and does story time all over the county for children at schools, day cares, special needs children centers and the like — She was really getting into the story here.
I love the scrappy diamonds! for what it’s worth I think you do need the narrow brown border first otherwise the new beige border with diamonds blends into the previous one.
thanks for your opinion! I thought it might need that or maybe a narrower brown border first after I stood back looking at it a little bit
I agree with Elaine and one thing the scrappy diamonds did immediately was draw out that little border of squares! They sort of popped right out! And love the picture of your very talented daughter! What a treat for the kids!
Yes I will be using the colors that are in the tiny squares so very much wanted these two areas to pull together
Oh, I didn’t know Melanie drives a bookmobile and does storytimes! That’s wonderful!
I like the diamond border idea but wonder if you should use a slightly darker background fabric? It seems too high contrast with the dark brown from the tiny computer picture. Maybe less in real life?
I thought I mentioned that Melanie worked for the library. She loves doing the bookmobile. Yes the light beige does stand out – I have a lighter darker beige that I can pin to the wall to try out – never hurts to check it out
I agree the narrow brown border helps to frame in what you have finished so far on the Williamsburg Beauty. Your beautiful daughter looks like she really enjoys her work!
thanks Lorna – this quilt has been giving me problems!! yes Melanie loves her work and working with kids
I like the idea of the scrappy diamonds! And your quilt is gorgeous!
Cheers,
Emese
thank you Emese
Karen,
Winnie Fleming has an excellent class, ‘Finishing School Better Borders’, on Craftsy. I really enjoyed this class. She shows how to audition as well as how to fit multiple borders for medallion style quilts. I really need to watch it again.
Just a thought, have you tried the diamonds next to the the first brown border. That is cream all over floral, brown, then diamonds?
Have fun playing.
No I had not see the class on the Medallion borders. I am not taking any more of this quilt apart right now. I like it how it is up to this point and just trying to decide what colors before I make more diamonds. – thanks for your input
So many decisions!
Love those scrappy diamonds! That will really tie in to all the borders before it, as well as the appliqué center….I hope you are able to use that Jinny Beyer paisley somewhere in the quilt….I love paisley fabrics! As for adding another brown border before the scrappy diamonds…. I would wait until the background for the scrappy diamonds is selected…If you go with a deeper background, you may not need that brown….I can make a case for adding the brown border…. or not….in the end, I know you will find the perfect solution!!
Thanks for sharing the picture of Melanie! Looks like she enjoys her job!!
We are having fabulous weather in Virginia….highs in the 80’s, sunny, and no humidity…perfect weather!! I wish it would stay like this for a while, but I think we are going back to typical fall weather after a couple more days of this….
we are going back to fall weather tomorrow as well – it will be welcome! thanks for all your ideas.
Sometimes it is the “possibilities” that freeze up my thought process with quilts.
I too find that by walking away from a project for a couple days allows the chance to look at it again with a fresh perspective. Your quilt is beautiful!
yes I think I think I will let it sit on the wall for a couple days so I can think some more
Melanie looks so darn cute ! Do you have to keep using brown; if you are short I wonder if you have any sort of brick-red-orangish kind of fabric to try….not sure…just a thought. Love the diamonds. Whatever you end up doing it’s going to be awesome and just take your time, yep! 🙂
I am not going to decide today! I will let it sit on the wall for a couple days before I do anymore – no I do not have to stick with brown – I will look some more colors over and see what I have – in a couple days I might be sticking more fabric up to the wall with pins!
Melanie has a fun job!
yes she does! she is pretty stress free most of the time.
I’m voting for the brown border before the diamonds – hope you have enough brown!
Thanks for sharing on Midweek Makers
I am sure I will be playing with this until my head starts to spin and I put it away for awhile. LOL – I already took the narrow yellow print off the board and it looks better already! but different from what you all saw
If the last two borders before the diamonds are only pinned up, you can place the diamonds next to the brown border that is just after the floral border. The last two boarders (brown and thin yellow) are very close in size. Moving the wider diamond border in will break it up. Just a thought.
And another thought ….. 🙂
I may be interesting so see the small scrappy inner border repeated later but with a larger square.
Decisions, decision, decisions. Happy stitching.
I have been experimenting off and on all day
the diamond border will be so elegant
thank you!
Karen, whatever you decide will be perfect, although I do agree that a darker border first would look good. What a fun job for Melanie! She looks like a natural! XO
while I have been playing around with the design wall today I took the narrow yellow print off the wall and like it better – I have been working on more diamonds and changed the background for that as well – photos tomorrow?
Karen seguro que tomas la decision correcta
me gusta la idea de los diamantes
suerte en la tela marrón
tu preciosa hija hace un buen trabajo
saludos
Have you thought about a narrow border in a burgundy or maroon color, like the corner stones with the appliqued flowers or the tiny triangles in the yellow border? I’m thinking more color like Deb. Just a thought. Love this quilt. You are so creative!
Yes I already said I was looking at a rusty red color but I might not have enough – I am still looking at it.
Love this fun shot your daughter shared on facebook. Thanks for sharing here on your blog! I am giddy with your Final Frontier progress ? Your scrappy diamonds are so cool looking… hope you decide to stock up on more brown fabric for this quilt… it is a true beauty in the making. Kathi