Back to School Finished

This is Back to School and my first finish of 2016! I believe I started this back in the Fall of 2009--it was featured in Quilt Sampler magazine on the cover and was designed by Temecula Quilt Co. My plan was to make it from my scraps which I was able to do.

The top had lingered in my hope chest awaiting quilting for over a year or maybe two I confess. Machine quilting is my least favorite thing. I know I hit a wall with making the houses especially the small ones--templates and fussy cutting are NOT my favorite.

The pinwheels and snowballs were easy, but the baskets were a bit more challenging. The top and bottom borders were a little difficult because they were set on point, but I persevered and got it done.

I quilted it on the long arm with allover loops and natural colored thread--the quilting really only shows up on the black print border. 

I made a quick label. I have been attaching my labels before quilting and just quilt right on through them. This quilt measures 46 x 55 inches after washing. My tastes have changed to more bright and modern since 2009, but this country, traditional quilt will look lovely hanging in my country home.

I apologize for the rotten pictures, but it started dumping very wet snow as soon as I got outside. I took quick pictures and ran back inside to a dry and cozy sewing room where I did a happy dance for my first finish of 2016! This quilt was also my goal for the OMG January 2016 Challenge (see the link on the right hand sidebar)--DONE before the first week of January YES! I better dig through my cabinets and find another UFO to tackle.