My Splendid Sampler™ is ready for basting ... I think.

I am so proud to be able to say I finished the top for my Splendid Sampler™ quilt! Like so many other quilter, I started sewing the six inch blocks in February 2016. I didn't sew all the numbered blocks, a few were replaced by bonus blocks, or by my own blocks. All in all, it was great fun! I learned so much, about sewing techniques, color, being creative when I don't feel like it, ... .

The 2017 on that is probably a bit premature, it will be 2018, for sure!

The big reveal!

Here are some of my favorite blocks, in no particular order:

Simple, yet effective. i see a whole quilt of crosses. Plus it appeals to the doctor side of me.

Pretty and playful.

Positive and uplifting.

Have to love bumble bees!

My great-grandmother's tea cup.

Colorful cross stitches.

A bit of sewing whimsy.

I learned to apply perfect circles on this Kandinsky baobab tree thing.

Too cute! Makes me sad I won't be having any more babies...

Rainbow!

Fresh and fruity!

Light and shadow, so simple and beautiful.

My own improv block. My road to happiness is over scraps of colorful fabric!

Yesterday I finished setting the blocks and I love my quilt! Although I've decided to add just one more set of setting squares and rectangles around the outside, so the edge isn't so thin.

Here you can see my helpers.

I didn't realize until I saw the pictures that my outfit matches my quilt!

I have the batting and 2/3 of the backing. I just have to find some matching fabric for that and then I can baste and hand quilt.

Booming with creativity

I've been on a creative high lately...

I made this omelet, with eggs from our chicken and home grown radishes.

It tasted as good as it looks!

Then I made this pretty bouquet.

Chives, forget-me-nots and lady's mantle.

The beauty of a raindrop on a leaf...

Happy jumble.

I made one more for our bedroom, and one for my mother and grandmother each.

Our bedroom is almost done: freshly painted walls, new curtains, ...

...beautiful skirting boards, floor re-varnished, ...

... my little writing desks finally fixed, ...

... the bed painted ...

... and made with my favorite Libeco sheets,

... the dresser from my great-grandparent's farm renovated ...

... and this beautiful lamp ready to hang! Willem and I have been working hard on this room!

Sunday afternoon, I made a kite...

... and flew it in the street, for Felix to ride under.

It's very pretty and flew quite well, despite the fickle wind.

I also finished Pieter's wild shirt.

He really likes it, but doesn't like posing.

Almost there...

I have eighty blocks sashed...

... and I bought my batting. Now for the final haul to get my Splendid Sampler basted!

Splendid Sampler™ Spin Off - Full Circle of Friendship

Full Circle of Friendship mini quilt.

When I was making block 59, Circle of Friendship, designed by Michele Muska, I couldn't stop at just a section of the circle. I had cut sections of all the fabrics in my quilt and joined them in a very pretty rainbow, and couldn't bring myself to trim away a part of that to fit the block. So I kept my full circle and made a new section for the block. I have started making a Splendid Mini Quilt using the full rainbow circle. It's not quite finished. I still have to do some hand quilting and binding. But there is a Splendid Sampler™ Challenge going on, so I have decided to enter it as is. Maybe I'll win something ... ?

Not quite finished ...

Partly because I got some pretty thirties repro fabrics for my birthday, and started making Sarah's Sampler from "The Quilter's Apprentice".

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love hand quilting!

Lovely pebble structure!

The block that will go into the Splendid Sampler.

What I've learned from the Splendid Sampler™ quilt along.

This is my The Splendid Sampler™  so far:

Ninety-seven blocks, forty sashed, twenty joined. Mostly numbered blocks, a few bonus blocks and a few of my own.

And these are just a few things I learned along the way:

1. Quilt alongs are fun!

2. I learned how to use a rotary cutter!

3. I learned to sew an accurate scant 1/4 inch seam.

4. I learned that I enjoy a bit of handwork: English paper piecing, needle turn applique or embroidery.

5. I learned that I don't enjoy foundation paper piecing.

6. I became more confident in picking colors.

7. I found out that having a deadline and feeling like you have to finish something is fun, and also that letting go of the deadline is okay.

8. I learned that having a go at a block that seems too difficult, or just not pretty, often yields surprisingly satisfying results!

9. I learned some new techniques: reverse applique, needle turn applique, English paper piecing, piecing curved seams and machine applique.

10. I learned that when you start learning, you don't want to stop! (so I tried improvisation piecing on one block, which was fun!)

The Splendid Sampler™ - only 12 blocks behind!

Yes, I'm still slowly catching up! I don't think I'll cross the Splendid Sampler™ finish line on Valentine's day, but I won't be far behind. And then I plan to hand quilt the thing in the coming year.

Here are my latest blocks:

86- Unity Star

66 - Happy Thoughts

89 - From Colorado to the Midwest

75 - Stitch Crazy

60 - Hearts and Flowers (simplified)

57 - Starting Point

58 - Homeward Bound

53 - Whirling in Circles

59 - Circle of Friendship

85 - Flow

40 blocks awaiting sashing, 20 are already sashed and joined, another 20 lined up in my sewing basket, with the sashing cut and ready for sewing (so they are not in the picture because I didn't want to mess up the whole organization I've got going for that!)

I'm really looking forward to finishing the last 20 blocks and joining them for a huge quilt top. It was so much fun to be along for this huge quilt along. I have learned a lot, from sewing an accurate 1/4 inch seam to starching, from needle turn appliqué to reverse applique, from working really accurately to letting a few not so perfectly matched points slide, and much, much more! I've become quite confident in picking colors for my blocks, and more open minded towards trying something new and forestalling judgement, because sometimes the blocks that didn't appeal to me at first became real favorites once they were done. Or a technique which I thought I wouldn't enjoy (like EPP) turned out to be quite fun.

Apart from quilting this beauty, I have some other sewing plans in 2017. One is to sew some more clothes, for me, the kids, and my husband. And I'm considering sewing along with the Monthly Minis by Sew Can She.