Cowabunga Florabunda: Finished!

Washed and crinkly and soft...

...Cowabunga Florabunda is finished...

...and ready to be wrapped up and put under the tree!  (Not that I have my tree up or anything... but one present is ready!)

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To Donna Becker, a "no-reply-commenter"...  I edit photos in PhotoBucket, which has an option to add text to photos.

I assume that Picassa also has a way to add text to your photos.

If you'd like more details, please contact me and include your email address.  Thanks!

Cowabunga Florabunda Progress

I have about a third of the binding sewn down...

...and hope to be finished before the weekend!

Cowabunga Florabunda Progress

Yesterday, I made the label for Cowabunga Florabunda...

....and got all the binding sewn on!

It's a good thing it's chilly these days because I'm going to spend a lot of time with this puppy in my lap as I sew down binding.

The Home Stretch

I'm on the home stretch with finishing up Cowabunga Florabunda and am planning to be finished within two weeks.  Yup... two weeks.  Actually, I'm hoping to be done by next Sunday evening... but I'm giving myself some wiggle room.

Last night, I made the binding and tonight, I'll work on the label.

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Have you read Bonnie Hunter's post about her latest mystery quilt-along, which starts November 18th?  I've not done a mystery quilt before and am tempted... but have too many things going right now.

Bonnie tells "you right up front that I do intense piecing…..lots of pieces, many of them small. This is a labor intensive quilt. One WORTH the piecing!"

If you're interested in Bonnie's "Orca Bay" Mystery Quilt Along, the fabric requirements are posted... so be sure to check it out.

Cowabunga Florabunda is HOME!

Cowabunga Florabunda came home yesterday... and she is quilted!

Overall stipple in yellow on the top...

...with white thread for the backing!

Just 421 inches of binding to make, sew on, and then hand sew down!

We're getting there.....

Ready for the LAQ

We've spent more than a little time together, Cowabunga Florabunda and I...   but she's ready to spend some quality time with my LAQ.

When she comes back.... Cowabunga Florabunda will be a quilt ready to bind! 

To Border or Not To Border?

I'm debating on whether or not to add borders to the Cowabunga Florabunda quilt top.  

Currently the top measures 105.5" x 105.5" and is shown on my queen bed, hanging below the bottom of the box spring on both sides.

Based on a king bed measuring 76" x 80", I estimate a 14.5-15" drop on the sides... which should be enough to cover the king mattress.  Length is not an issue... there is enough to cover the mattress at the foot of the bed and still have enough to cover the pillows with a "tuck under"...

I'm leaning towards "no border" because I like the pattern going all the way to the edge.... and if I do add a border, I will add two... one narrow yellow on the inside and then a 3-4" floral border.   I plan to bind the quilt with the floral print.

Please note this quilt is intended to be coverlet size, not a bedspread (or "to the floor").  I want it to cover the mattress on the sides...  and the kids don't have one of those uber-deep/thick/high mattresses.

What say ye?

Cowabunga Florabunda Progress

Despite several small projects interrupting the progress, I hope to have the Cowabunga Florabunda completed by this coming weekend.

The stack o' blocks is dwindling...

...because I have 57% of the blocks sewn together!

Shown draped over a full/double bed, the assembled blocks drape over the far side of the bed to the floor.... and I still have 21 more blocks to add.   Yes, wow....  

However, I am getting there....

 

Forty-two

I completed another 12 blocks, bringing me up to 42 blocks total...

...seven more to go!

Eighteen

...plus twelve...

...equal thirty!

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Eighteen

...blocks completed!

I'm at the point where I'm going to have to start sewing blocks together.  I'll do a 4x4 set this afternoon so there will be room on the design wall for more blocks.

Stay tuned for further developments....


Anyone recognize the radio announcer?


 

Twelve

It's fun watching a quilt grow...

...twelve down, 37 to go!



BTW - Anyone see the goof up? 

Six

After work yesterday, I was able to sew together six 9-patch blocks...

...six down, 43 left to go!

Upcoming Florabunda Adventure

I've enjoyed all the chain piecing for the Cowabunga Florabunda quilt, which will be a Christmas present for my DD and SIL.  This has to be one of the easier quilts on which I've worked.  

I like the antique/vintage scrappy Florabunda Bonnie Hunter found in Florida and for which she posted instructions on her blog.

A number of folks in Blog-land have made scrappy Florabunda quilts, including Janet O. of Rogue Quilter...

 

...and Debbie of Stitchin' Therapy...

... and now, I want one of my very own!

Chris of Weekend Wisdom is joining me for a Florabunda mini-QAL and we're going to use only stash to do so... tho we may have to purchase a solid or solids for the lattice/ladder part.

We won't start until I finish my Cowabunga Florabunda and get it to the LAQ-er... so I'm thinking the end of September or the beginning of October.   We are not setting any deadlines so who knows how long we will take.  It's more about cheering each other on and having a good time.... and maybe seeing which of us has the ugliest floral in our respective stashes!

If you would like to join in the fun, let me know.  The quilt is a good beginner pattern using two basic quilt blocks... a 4-patch and a HST.  I can provide links to helpful online tutorials for making both of these blocks.

There won't be a ton of chain piecing (such I've been doing the past two weekends) because you make each block (5 four-patch units + 4 HST units) separately using the same background fabric for each block.  This gives you that secondary layer for this quilt as well as a scrappy look.

You can make your Florabunda as big or as small as you'd like.  If you'd like a border... or if you don't want a border... it's up to you!  Pick whatever fabrics you'd like... retro, batiks, solids, prints, contemporary/modern, traditional... let your imagination and stash be your guide!

And if it's just me and Chris... that's okay too!

We've been known to get into sufficient mischief all by ourselves!

What is 196?

...it's the number of squares cut to make HSTs for the Cowbunga Florabunda quilt.

Question of the day:

I ordered the same amount of each fabric for this quilt.  I've cut the same number of strips and cut the same width for each strip (3" and 6" strips).   

How come I have two inches more of the "Blue Floral" Hoopla fabric than the Bella Solid "Sunshine" fabric?

 

And did I get 2" more of the Blue Floral than ordered?  Or 2" less of the Sunshine?   

Inquiring minds and all of that...