Road to Cronulla

Oh, what do we have here? Another finish, that’s what we have up in here! I’ve kept this one on the down low (which is so unlike me, because I prefer the up high) but it has been percolating since the beginning of the year. Mr. Sparkles’s lifelong friend, Gabrielle, had an historic birthday in February. To celebrate, I made her what is typically referred to as a Road to Tennessee lap quilt. Since she lives oceanside in the beachy suburb of Cronulla in Sydney, I’ve titled it Road to Cronulla.

It started way back at Sunday Stash #2 when I was just a wee, baby quilter. Those were the days! I found these charm packs at my LQS, The Remnant Warehouse, for 25% off. I didn’t know much about Vintage Modern, and even less about Camille Roskelley. Oh, how that has changed. For those initiated in the Mr. Sparkles Says scroller, there’s even a very popular Vintage Modern quote tucked away in there.

It wasn’t long before I decided on the Road to Tennessee block, and I finished the quilt top in a week–an intense mutha of a week. Except, at the end of the week it became a UFO–I know, how could I? I mean, it was a birthday present for a friend! Basically, I hit that business so hard, that when the top was done, my poor little fingers would just not go on. So into a box it went.

Until now. And here we have it, Road to Cronulla.

You’ll notice that I machine bound this quilt. I used a mish-mash of tutorials to assemble and attach the binding, but I purposefully did it back to front. Instead of blindly trying to catch the binding wrapped around the back, I pulled the binding from the back around to the front, and sewed it right on the edge. Because I used scarlett thread to match the backing, even when it isn’t exactly in the ditch, it’s hardly noticeable. I finally think this technique might have a place in my sewing arsenal.

I’ve nearly got my signature, Glitter Flecked Binding (GFB) perfected. With each quilt I’m auditioning different sizes of glitter, and now I’m thinking I need to audition some new fabrics. Maybe some Disco Dot in snow? I best be stockin’ up! I’m sure I’ll need it for something else, too.

This perfect quilting was done by Quilt Jane who now has the title of “Quilter to the Stars.” (I mean, she quilts for me, right?) That flower design is so, so hot for Gabrielle, and that delicious thread choice: Aurifil 2805 Light Turquoise Blue reflects the view of her oceanside apartment. Vintage, yet, Modern, indeed.