Bernina Zen Chic QAL Progress

I've noticed that some bloggers post only when they have a finish to share. I'd like to think that some of us are still interested in, and want to take time to focus on the process. Maybe that's my excuse for being a little slow in the productivity department, but it's true that making a quilt is a process, and (hopefully) one that doesn't need to be rushed, and is enjoyable!

Since reading and commenting (hint) on CrazyMomQuilts 's latest blog post about her hand quilting work-in-progress, she made me think to share progress pictures of my Bernina Zen Chic Quilt-along quilt.

It's very close to a finish; the deadline is Friday. That August 31 due date is to be in the running to win some of the prizes being randomly given away, but it's good motivation to finish. I have to upload finished-quilt pictures to the BerninaZenChicQAL website!

Our 46th anniversary was Sunday, so I didn't spend any time in the sewing room. We went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch and then hung out the rest of the day, watching a movie on TV.

But I quilted a little bit each day until Monday when I finished all of it. Most of the ruler-work and free motion quilting was done on my Janome 1600P. Then, I swapped out the Janome for the Bernina 440 to do the walking foot quilting. I much prefer using the Bernina walking foot. It's better-designed and operates smoothly.

I tied and buried hundreds of threads! That Sench needle got a workout! This is my clipped-threads pile, as evidence. You might notice that I used gray (50-weight) thread in the bobbin, and seafoam-colored (40-weight) thread on top. 

Then, to remove marker inks from a blue wash-out marker, and purple disappearing marker, I put the quilt in the washer for a rinse and spin. After a five minute tumble in the dryer, I laid it out on the freshly-washed tile floor, measuring the sides and across the diagonal to pat it into "square."

I turned this textural picture into the screen-saver on my cell phone!

Binding is Kona Pond, to match the quilt background, and was machine sewn to the quilt using my favorite binding method - No Tails Binding: Mitered Corners by Machine.

By the way, I've been "pondering" quilt names. 😄 Several were offered-up on Instagram.

"Triangles in the Pond"
"Diamonds in the Pond"
"Crystals in the Pond"
"Tranquil Pond"

Thoughts?

On Tuesday I began hand sewing the binding to the back. It was a good, portable project to work on during the Big Cypress Quilters' business meeting. 

I've enjoyed looking at this texture as I've stitched. That lovely loft is the result of using a wool batt. 

I'll make and sew on a sleeve next, so I can use my quilt stand to take good pictures. Also that will make the quilt that much closer to being ready to enter in the Quilting Guild of The Villages January "Showcase of Quilts." Entries are due September 30. I still have a quilt bag to make though. Quilts have to be delivered for judging in their own homemade, drawstring bag. (Have you ever heard of such a thing?!)

I can't begin to say how much I continue to enjoy eating smoothie bowls, and experimenting with different combinations. I haven't yet had one I don't like. Every one of them makes me believe I've just indulged in a bowl of ice cream!

This bowl is: 

• sliced, steamed, then frozen, yellow crookneck squash
• frozen banana
• frozen strawberries
• hemp seeds
• almond milk

Topping is:

• homemade granola
• chia seeds
• bananas
• warm peanut butter

Healthy. Nutritional. What more can you ask?

If I can't convince you this bowl is good, than how about a book recommendation? If you like wine, and/or you like France, with a little WWII history, then you'll like "The Lost Vintage" by Ann Mah. Linda