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Working on my PHD: Tumbler, Gypsy Girl, and Merry Go Round

I am happy to have been so productive over the last couple of weeks!  I haven't been able to post really due to data/internet troubles, but I've got some fun quilty projects to show you today! 
 
First I have a tumbler quilt that I put the finishing touches on.  It's all in subtle country prints and I like its little country charm. 
 

 
I've had a bundle of fat quarters that I've been hoarding for about 4 years.  It's a Free Spirit line called Journeys from Kathy Davis.  I just loved the prints and couldn't find a pattern that I though was worthy of my coveted bundle.  I finally took the leap and cut into my bundle and I'm really happy with the results!  I used the Gypsy Girl pattern from Heather Mulder Peterson's Fat Quarter Five book.  It's so full of color and fun!


 
I've been rather disappointed with my free motion results lately. While I like the stitching that I'm putting in to the quilts, I haven't gotten a satisfactory backing lay out all summer. I don't have enough space in an RV and carpet just gives too much play in the backing for my liking.  Each of the quilts I've done over the summer I've been so happy to have my completed quilt top and then once I've quilted it, my excitement dies and mixes with a bit of disappointment as I see a couple puckers and folds that cropped up while I was sewing.  So, I've decided that I'm going to bring these two tops to a friend of mine for longarm quilting.  She runs Quilt Squirrel and does excellent work. I am so excited to see what she can do with my quilts! 
 
 
The last of my project for the last couple week has been whipping up a couple Merry Go Round toppers from Terry Atkinson.  I used a couple prints from the Persimmon line as well as a couple Moda Grunge prints and a Bella solid for the background. 
 
 
I still need to hand sew the binding to the backing. I'm planning on amassing a few of these small projects to take with me on a relaxing trip up north next week.  So while I'm sitting by the lake with not a care in the world I can do a bit of hand stitching.  That sounds so great right now, I can't wait!

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