2007-01-28

Winding Ways on Cape Cod

This weekend, my winding ways quilt went from this:
to this:
I drove to Cape Cod Friday after work and even though I had planned to update my blog every day with fun action filled shots, I got way too caught up sewing and talking with the ladies that these are practically the only photos I took. A quick recap: My roommate was Avis, a very nice quilter that I hadn't met before. We got along really well. About 15 women from the Silver City Guild came to the retreat, and there was another guild having a retreat at the same hotel, but in the 2nd floor meeting room (we were down in the basement, but it was still a really nice room). The hotel wasn't dead like I thought it would be, but instead full of noisy children running around in their bathing suits with their bathing suit clad parents shouting after them to stop running. I suppose this is the typical New England winter vacation. Anyway, I went with 3 projects to work on, but started with the WW. I had 3/4 of the blocks done so I set out to finish the blocks first, but didn't get too far the first night. I got them all taken care of by noon on Saturday and then a couple of us headed out to Tumbleweed Quilts for a little shopping break. I was good and didn't buy any fabric, just $60 of Japanese quilt mags, templates, and batting. When we got back I really buckled down and worked to finish the top. It was done just after midnight. I got up this morning, had breakfast, sat through the presentation they had planned (nothing to get too excited about, just scrappy picture frames) and after most of the quilters left, I pulled 3 tables together and spread things out to baste:

It took me over 4 hours to baste the whole thing, and now my fingers are sore, my neck and shoulders are sore, and my knees hurt from where I knelt on the round heads of my straight pins over and over. But I'm so glad it's done.
I want to quilt it. I want to quilt it really bad, but not til my fingers get a little rest.
I came home to find a huge leak in our bathroom ceiling so I'll stay home from work tomorrow to wait for the plumber and take care of things. Costas and I aren't letting ourselves get worked up about it yet because it isn't really clear what is causing the problem. Anyway, I've got an extra unexpected day to spend how I please, so maybe I'll quilt it tomorrow...

13 comments:

Pam said...

Hi! I'm a chronic lurker and never comment, mainly b/c I don't have a blog of my own so I feel kind of guilty...anyway, all this to say, I've been moved to overcome my normal silence -- I just had to tell you that I love this quilt top!! The pattern and colors are fabulous and it turned out beautifully. I'm really looking forward to seeing it quilted. Nice work!!!

Jessica said...

Thanks Pam. I'm really glad to find that I've got another local reader. Have you found any good quilty hangouts/groups up in Cambridge?

Anonymous said...

Lovely top! The basting often stops me cold. Once that's completed, it's smooth sailing!
I don't think there's much worse than looking up and finding a wet spot on your ceiling. I've had that experience several times. Ugh. On the bright side, the fixes were all pretty simple. Good luck with it!

African Kelli said...

My goodness! What an incredible quilt. You should be so proud of yourself.
And I hope the leak isn't something horrific.

Anonymous said...

I love that quilt top - the pink and green work together so well - hope your fingers are feeling better soon!

Anonymous said...

Winding Ways is one of my favorite patterns (along with Storm at Sea). Your top turned out so well, and good for you for getting it basted and ready to quilt so fast! What a perfect winter quilting project.

Feeling Simply Quilty said...

what a great quilt! Is it an EQ quilt? Did you draw that without a PC? If you did you are a pretty advanced quilter. Hope you are high and dry now and no more leaks!

carrster said...

It's really beautiful. :)

PJ said...

Absolutely...WOW!!!! Job well done! Glad you had fun!

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a delightful top, Jessica! The colours look so yummy and like spring... it will be a pleasure for you to quilt it... once your fingers are well again.
What a refined move to interrupt the pattern by that bright circle (hope you know what I mean!), looks very playful.

caroline said...

The quilt top looks truly wonderful and I like the idea of the tables pulled together to baste it. I usually do it all on the floor, however it takes me equally as long and causes just as much pain. I know well the urge to start quilting but the poor blistered aching fingers after all that basting just won't let you.

Judy said...

The quilt looks lovely! Can you tell me what you use to baste with? A long needle?, curved needle? Or just a regular needle and lots of time. That's the hardest part to me..the basting for hand quilting. Can't wait to see how the circles come out.

Unknown said...

It looks great! Don't you love this pattern, with all the secondary images that shimmer and spin? Very nice...

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