Special table topper

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog.  I had computer woes and had to break down and buy a new one.  Great way to clean out your computer in a hurray!  But, I've been busy sewing and hope to post the finished projects over the next week or so.

Two of the quilt groups I belong to make lap quilts for our local chemo unit at the hospital in our town.  One day a man came in for treatments and received a quilt.  His wife brought some blocks in to the clinic that had been made by her mother years ago.  These blocks were never made into a quilt and she thought perhaps we could finish them and give it to someone who needed chemo.   One of the girls has taken the blocks home to think about how to set them.  There were 5 appliqued tulip blocks which were done differently than the rest and had been outlined with black embroidery thread.  One of the girls suggested that we make something out of it for that lady so she would have something to remember her Mom by.  We brainstormed and came up with the idea of making her a table topper alternating the tulip blocks with large squares to make a nine patch.  The top was quick to assemble, and one day I decided to tackle the quilting and get it done.  A friend was over and suggested outlining each of the tulips 1/4" and echoing around to fill the block.  Great idea until I started and realized how much quilting that was LOL.  Then DH suggested the quilting design for the polka dot squares and that was a lot of quilting as well.  But, in the end it was definitely worth it!  We were all very happy with the way it turned out.  I found an older Kaffe Fasset print in my stash that I picked up in a clearance bin when we visited Ottawa a few years ago.  It went perfectly on the back and I found an old stripey print in my stash that looked antiquey for the binding.  (Click on the photos to enlarge)

center tulip block

it was fun free motion quilting 1/4" around the tulips

quilting isn't perfect, but it looked good when finished - I like the Dear Jane quilt motto:  "Finished is better than perfect".

polka dotted block quilting

Backing (an older Kaffe Fassett print)

I got this polka dotted print from MadAboutPatchwork in Ottawa.  It was the perfect modern blend with those old tulip blocks.