Misty Mystery Quilt....FINISHED!

A long time ago, I'm thinking almost a YEAR??? I joined in on a Mystery Quilt.  I had done 2 before and knew that I would enjoy this!  As I attempt to fill the house with seasonal and themed quilts; I searched the market and to my surprise found a bunch of American Patriotic fabrics!  I'm a bit particular but these appealed to me.

I first posted about this project and made the first clue here.

The first date I can see is December 13, 2010.  Yikes!  I started late too!

Anyway, about a year I had to make this quilt and save the first clue; I did it all in two weeks!  The last two weeks!  So, get a cup and enjoy the show!!

Here I got into PDO to use the craft room to use their huge tables for easier-on-my-back basting.

I'm just showing you how I used masking tape to tape down the backing.  I pieced it together and am really pleased as I used everything from what I had bought so long ago.

This fabric with the hearts above was given to me generously by Sylvie before summer.  It was'nt quite enough so I had to figure it out!

And here it is!  I took the left part which was the Mystery part and it just screamed AMERICAN FLAG to me so I tried my best to make it so.  The only reservation I have is that the stripes are too short.  They should be wider in my brain.  But, I used what I had and that was not enough to make it longer.  Still, all-in-all, I am very pleased with it!

When I finished and was sitting in my car; after the shock of getting over the fact that I ran out of basting pins and was on my way to Jean's to get more to finish basting at home....I saw this view.

and just sat there watching the little white boat sail right by.

I did not bother taking the masking tape off and inadvertently; sewed some in, while quilting!!!

Uki, of course, had to 'help' me and was checking out those very cool pins!

I pre-wound 5 bobbins and only used 3.5!

I decided that since the quilt in itself was SOOOOOO loud in many ways; I did not need a difficult quilting pattern so also, with the time restriction, I chose to do a large meander!

I also chose blue thread.  I am glad that I did.

I had a little basket I made with leftover French Braid fabric and my Bose with iPod on my iPhone and was jamming along as I quilted.

When I was ready to do the binding; Uki plunked down and scared me so bad I took a photo and yes, before i closed the blade.  Look how cute she spreads out her back legs!

So, as I cut off the raw edge of the red bit; I threw it on her and she eventually started flipping all over the table!

Here is the binding all done.  I used what I had.  What I wanted was to have the binding be all blue with just a strip of red but in the end; used red and blue and a strip of the red/white/blue fabric which worked out so beautifully!  Love it!

As I was putting on the binding; it poked myself!  Ouch!

Uki found the left over batting and made herself at home!

Here it is, all done!  I'm so pleased!

Here is the backing of the quilt.  I did not have enough of the blue heart flag fabric so I used what I had of the other stuff to piece it together.  I like things to be asymmetrical and realized that my husband DOES NOT!  HOW did that man end up with me??  The only thing he said about this quilt is, ok, two things..."Why haven't you made a wall hanging for that spot?" and "What is that on the back?  Is that a design?  Of WHAT?????!!!!" LOL!!

After the kids were done helping me to photograph the quilt; Amal threw herself down on it and proceeded to have a long discussion with me.  I tried to bribe her to measure it for the final measurement and she eventually did so but I forgot to write it down!

All folded up and ready to be taken in, in a few minutes!  It will be displayed with all the other Mystery Quilt participants and then a Viewer's Choice will be done!

As always, thanks for stopping by; it has been a while.  I have been busy with this but I should be getting some professional pictures of my daughter and will post on that.  THAT is what kept me away for so long!  Come back soon for sure!

PS.  I missed linking up to Amanda Jean's over at Crazy Mom Quilts linky party for FINISH IT UP FRIDAY, WEEK 1; so I entered just in time for week 2!!