Blissed Off

Remember my Bliss quilt I was so excited about and then it took a back seat for, oh I don't know, a few months? Well, I finally finished it (you'd think it was huge but it's just a baby quilt). I was going to free motion quilt it, but I chickened out for a couple reasons - I didn't feel like practicing again, and the size and weight of it made me lose a bit of my moxie (I didn't need it to be perfect but I didn't want to make a total mess of it). I feel more confident with free-motioning on smaller pieces, so I think I'm going to try incorporating that into some of my bags.

Sorry for all the pictures - I just loved the colors :)

This is the backing: I thought it was more aqua than blue when I bought it. I think it goes, even though it doesn't match.

To quilt it, I just stitched either side of the seam, and down the center of each charm square using 1/4 inch quilter's tape as a guide.

Things almost got crazy while I was quilting - this is the closest I've come to sewing my finger:

Luckily it was in a spot where I could snip myself free.

This little baby is far from perfect - the thicker batting I used made my fabric pleat in a few places (despite my walking foot), and the binding is a little wrinkly in some places, but I truly don't care. I decided I have a sewing philosophy. When I make something like a bag I like it to be as perfect as I can make it (as I'm usually selling it or making it for a gift). But for a quilt I just want to go with it and sew without being stressed. If it's not horribly misshapen or sewn I'm not even going to fix it, because they're for no one but me right now. Besides, I like looking at early makes and comparing them to more recent ones to see what I've learned. And despite all of its little quirks I love it - I don't know if this will make sense but it reminds me of what summer must have looked like when my grandma was young. I don't want to use the word 'vintage' because that doesn't fully encompass it...is it weird for fabric to do that to you? I guess it's not the fabric itself, but some memory that it tickles somewhere within you...  Have a blissful Monday, folks! I'll be back with some goodies that the mailman dropped off recently.

I'm linking up here this week:

C.R.A.F.T. *** Homemaker on a Dime *** Craft-o-Maniac *** Sew Can Do *** Sarahndipities *** Pinkapotamus *** Sumo's Sweet Stuff *** Ask Anna *** Skip to My Lou *** All Things Fee *** Running With Glitter ***Today's Creative Blog *** Funky Polkadot Giraffe *** Creative Itch *** All Thingz Related *** Sugar Bee Crafts *** Homework *** Cherished Bliss *** My Girlish Whims *** Sew Much Ado *** Tea Rose Home *** Free Pretty Things for You ***  Someday Crafts *** Somewhat Simple *** Fireflies and Jellybeans *** Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom *** Momma's Kinda Crafty *** The Shabby Nest *** Creation Corner *** Iron Violet Designs *** Tatertots and Jello *** While He Was Napping *** Show and Tell Saturday *** To Sew With Love