Friday, April 22, 2011

Signature Quilt and Retirement Party

I presented the quilt at the retirement party this afternoon.  Here is the quilt hanging in the center of the stage in the ballrrom of the Purdue Memorial Union. Angie Flack did the arch of balloons.

 

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Signature Quilt

Well, it was "deadline weekend."  The IRS had given us all an extension this year with the filing deadline on Monday April 18.  I got my taxes filed (thanks to Turbo Tax) just before noon today.  I also needed to get my latest signature quilt quilted. On Saturday I worked on my taxes in the morning and then started on the quilt. Here it is on the long arm.
This quilt is a French Braid in shades of gold to black (Purdue Black and Gold) with gold strip between the braids. I collected signatures on the gold strips. Black ink on the gold strips complements the braids.

I used this pantograph for the quilting design in each of the strips. The gold strips were must a bit wider than the 8 inch pattern and the braid strips were wider (with over an inch extra on each side). After stitching the pantograph I went to the front of the machine and used echo quilting to fill in the strips.

Here are some close ups of the quilting. I like the texture that the stitching creates on the back of the quilt.
I got the quilting finished just before 9:00 Sunday evening.  I have until Friday to put the binding on it and to put a hanging sleeve on the top. 
The celebration for the faculty member receiving this quilt is on Friday, April 22.  it will be held in the big ballroom at the Purdue Student Union building and they are going to have the quilt hanging during the celebration. Its a good thing that Angie Flack is in charge of things for Friday - as her experience creating gigantic balloon desigsns will be imporant in figuring out how to hang the quilt in the ballroom.