Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Madeline, All Grown Up

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Isn't she gorgeous?  This is Madeline, all grown up.  All 25 blocks of her.  I am so pleased with this quilt top!  It ranks right up there with my all time favorites.  And it may be number one in terms of color combination. I think there will be a narrow light containment border, then an outside border of the large red floral print.  She is about 60" square now, so the final version should be around 70" square.  "That's all there is, there isn't any more".  Those were the concluding lines of all the Madeline books, did you know that?

Since I was prisoner in my sewing room again today, I got all the blocks together, as shown above, and then started in on Elizabeth.  I have finished 12 out of 24 Delectable Mountain blocks.  Staying home is a good thing if one wants to get some sewing accomplished!

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And, yes, that is my new gorgeous flooring underneath the blocks!  It is turning out better than my wildest expectations.  My husband is going to be blown away when he gets home Friday night.  Worth every penny of the gazillion dollars it cost.

On the Sophie front, she is still managing to be a complete pain in the butt.  See these little red rubber spacer thingys?

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The workmen placed about a hundred of them along the edge of the new floor boards and the base boards.  And Sophie went around and collected them all.  I had a pile of red rubber spacers to hand off to the Flooring Boss when he showed up this morning.  My dog needs a job.

She would happily become an apprentice to the flooring installers.  Except for the banging and long stick things.  She doesn't much like those things.  That is a huge pail of floor glue she is wanting to get into in the picture below.  It is going to be a long night.

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78 responses to “Madeline, All Grown Up”

  1. Oh, Nicole, Madeline is beautiful! It’s so good to see you sewing again, so often. Your work is wonderful to watch unfold.

  2. Oh, Nicole, Madeline is beautiful! It’s so good to see you sewing again, so often. Your work is wonderful to watch unfold.

  3. This quilt is just gorgeous. What a gift you have for arranging fabric and placing color in just the right place. Wow.

  4. This quilt is just gorgeous. What a gift you have for arranging fabric and placing color in just the right place. Wow.

  13. Breathtaking. That is the word I *always* use when you post a new quilt. Madeline is no exception!
    And the floors, wow. So beautiful.

  14. Breathtaking. That is the word I *always* use when you post a new quilt. Madeline is no exception!
    And the floors, wow. So beautiful.

  15. Woo-Hoo! The Madeline quilt is a super beauty!!!
    I love the next blocks you have started too. Very lovely fabrics!

  16. Woo-Hoo! The Madeline quilt is a super beauty!!!
    I love the next blocks you have started too. Very lovely fabrics!

  17. Oh wow, your Madeline is gorgeous! I love that pattern. I LOVE that fabric. It looks like if Sophie doesn’t straighten up, she will be in the doggie crate for a lonnngggg time. Please stop by my blog and vote for my friend.

  18. Oh wow, your Madeline is gorgeous! I love that pattern. I LOVE that fabric. It looks like if Sophie doesn’t straighten up, she will be in the doggie crate for a lonnngggg time. Please stop by my blog and vote for my friend.

  19. Madeline is beautiful! And I think your Sophie has more personality than lots of people I know! Give her a doggie treat from me, and an extra walk around the block! Jayne

  20. Madeline is beautiful! And I think your Sophie has more personality than lots of people I know! Give her a doggie treat from me, and an extra walk around the block! Jayne

  21. Madeline grew up well, I think. Gorgeous. Can’t wait to shamelessly copy your layout…(just kidding, I’ll most likely do my own twist on your version!) I’m curious tho… how much fabric of each color did you use?

  22. Madeline grew up well, I think. Gorgeous. Can’t wait to shamelessly copy your layout…(just kidding, I’ll most likely do my own twist on your version!) I’m curious tho… how much fabric of each color did you use?

  23. Madeline looks just beautiful! I love all of the fabrics and they way they play together happily with the blocks and in the whole quilt top. Well done!!!!
    I may use this block layout for some of my lovely but older pansy fabric that Marcus Bros. made… perhaps? The star centers would be perfect for the pansies!
    Poor helpful Sophie! She was just trying to help so her life could get back to its peaceful and quiet norm. Hope she didn’t find her way into the floor glue last night!
    Hugs!

  24. Madeline looks just beautiful! I love all of the fabrics and they way they play together happily with the blocks and in the whole quilt top. Well done!!!!
    I may use this block layout for some of my lovely but older pansy fabric that Marcus Bros. made… perhaps? The star centers would be perfect for the pansies!
    Poor helpful Sophie! She was just trying to help so her life could get back to its peaceful and quiet norm. Hope she didn’t find her way into the floor glue last night!
    Hugs!

  25. Truly beautiful. I can’t wait to see it with borders. Borders to a quilt are just like a great haircut to a face. They just set of off fabulously!

  26. Truly beautiful. I can’t wait to see it with borders. Borders to a quilt are just like a great haircut to a face. They just set of off fabulously!

  27. Madeline Looks so wonderful! Have you decided what you are going to do on the border? Did I miss it?
    I love Elizabeth too. I’m looking forward to the new book coming out in May that will have the pattern in it. I have it on my wish list so I’ll remember to pick it up come May. I don’t think I have enough time in my life to finish all the quilts I want to make.
    Sophie is so funny! The workmen are very patient. lol!

  28. Madeline Looks so wonderful! Have you decided what you are going to do on the border? Did I miss it?
    I love Elizabeth too. I’m looking forward to the new book coming out in May that will have the pattern in it. I have it on my wish list so I’ll remember to pick it up come May. I don’t think I have enough time in my life to finish all the quilts I want to make.
    Sophie is so funny! The workmen are very patient. lol!

  29. Nicole, absolutely gorgeous – you have a way with colour and your blocks always look so crisp and perfect – you’re a real inspiration.
    The floors look lovely as do mine – it was worth the effort. Add new floor boards and paint and I want to throw a party to celebrate our new (old) digs. The painters come back this weekend to finish up, this means more packing of books and china and scraping off of wallpaper.
    Enjoy a hopefully quiet weekend.
    Yes, dogs do need jobs and if you don’t assign them a task they will find one, hence the spacer collection.

  30. Nicole, absolutely gorgeous – you have a way with colour and your blocks always look so crisp and perfect – you’re a real inspiration.
    The floors look lovely as do mine – it was worth the effort. Add new floor boards and paint and I want to throw a party to celebrate our new (old) digs. The painters come back this weekend to finish up, this means more packing of books and china and scraping off of wallpaper.
    Enjoy a hopefully quiet weekend.
    Yes, dogs do need jobs and if you don’t assign them a task they will find one, hence the spacer collection.

  31. I have to agree with you!! When she was little she was adorable but now that she is grown up…what a beauty!! I think I am going to HAVE to make a big sister for my Madeline!! My favourite all time colour combo!! Love the other blocks too- love Rouenerries!! Take care!
    Paulette

  32. I have to agree with you!! When she was little she was adorable but now that she is grown up…what a beauty!! I think I am going to HAVE to make a big sister for my Madeline!! My favourite all time colour combo!! Love the other blocks too- love Rouenerries!! Take care!
    Paulette

  33. Hi Nicole,
    Your quilts are coming along fabulously.I just got my new Carrie Nelson book in the mail. Nicole, you quilt is FIRST in the book. Way to go. You do beautiful work so it’s good to see your name “in print.” What is the name of the fabric line used for Bennington? It’s colorful without being overwhelming. Good luck on Sophie and the house re-do. The disruption is tough on the homeowner; dogs must just be so out of their own world with tension.
    Best wishes,
    Stephani

  34. Hi Nicole,
    Your quilts are coming along fabulously.I just got my new Carrie Nelson book in the mail. Nicole, you quilt is FIRST in the book. Way to go. You do beautiful work so it’s good to see your name “in print.” What is the name of the fabric line used for Bennington? It’s colorful without being overwhelming. Good luck on Sophie and the house re-do. The disruption is tough on the homeowner; dogs must just be so out of their own world with tension.
    Best wishes,
    Stephani

  35. It’s gorgeous!!!!! I’m going to start your “just one hour a day” advise. I never seem to get quilting done, mostly because I fritter my time away doing other stuff.
    The floor is beautiful. Too bad you are leaving it. Sophie is such a good flooring apprentice!

  36. It’s gorgeous!!!!! I’m going to start your “just one hour a day” advise. I never seem to get quilting done, mostly because I fritter my time away doing other stuff.
    The floor is beautiful. Too bad you are leaving it. Sophie is such a good flooring apprentice!

  39. Madeline is indeed a beauty. I just saw an Elizabeth that took my breath away. Can’t wait to see yours. I may have to do one, not sure I want to start collecting all those fabrics. We put down hardwood floors several years ago, love them! It looks wonderful.

  40. Madeline is indeed a beauty. I just saw an Elizabeth that took my breath away. Can’t wait to see yours. I may have to do one, not sure I want to start collecting all those fabrics. We put down hardwood floors several years ago, love them! It looks wonderful.

  43. I think there are going to be several Big Madeline’s on some quilters To Do lists, she’s lovely. I particularly like how you fussy cut that one big flower in the gray, and added a few 4 patches as centers. Wonderful job Nicole.
    Sounds like the home improvements are going great, you picked a great contractor.
    Are you swapping out the shiny gold accents, door knobs and light fixtures as part of your redo?

  44. I think there are going to be several Big Madeline’s on some quilters To Do lists, she’s lovely. I particularly like how you fussy cut that one big flower in the gray, and added a few 4 patches as centers. Wonderful job Nicole.
    Sounds like the home improvements are going great, you picked a great contractor.
    Are you swapping out the shiny gold accents, door knobs and light fixtures as part of your redo?

  45. Nicole, this is a great post! I’m glad you finished Madeline and that you love it! Isn’t that the best feeling? When you just love your top and have no wishes for wanting to do things differently?
    Sophie kills me! I love all the stories you share of her mischief. She needs someone to constantly be on the watch for her. Little rascal.

  46. Nicole, this is a great post! I’m glad you finished Madeline and that you love it! Isn’t that the best feeling? When you just love your top and have no wishes for wanting to do things differently?
    Sophie kills me! I love all the stories you share of her mischief. She needs someone to constantly be on the watch for her. Little rascal.

  49. Nicole – Madeline is beautiful. Love the way you laid out the colors. Sophie is funny – just wants to be a part of things. Are you sure you are going to want to leave your house now that you are doing all this work to it? LOL – it is coming out beautiful.

  50. Nicole – Madeline is beautiful. Love the way you laid out the colors. Sophie is funny – just wants to be a part of things. Are you sure you are going to want to leave your house now that you are doing all this work to it? LOL – it is coming out beautiful.

  53. Just beautiful! The more I see that line, the more I like it. You’re right, there’s something special about that color combination.

  54. Just beautiful! The more I see that line, the more I like it. You’re right, there’s something special about that color combination.

  55. Madeline is indeed gorgeous. I also wanted to tell you that I saw the photo of your Pansy Park on your quilt photo slide show and it’s beautiful. That’s a kit I have but never made. How do you accomplish so much?
    Sophie is adorable. Don’t you love that crazy terrier mind?

  56. Madeline is indeed gorgeous. I also wanted to tell you that I saw the photo of your Pansy Park on your quilt photo slide show and it’s beautiful. That’s a kit I have but never made. How do you accomplish so much?
    Sophie is adorable. Don’t you love that crazy terrier mind?

  61. Beautiful quilts. . . but I love the Sophie portion!! he he he Are Welsh Terriers in the working class of dogs? If so then Sophie is definitely trying to find her niche.
    Have a happy day!

  62. Beautiful quilts. . . but I love the Sophie portion!! he he he Are Welsh Terriers in the working class of dogs? If so then Sophie is definitely trying to find her niche.
    Have a happy day!

  65. Your quilt projects are beautiful. Do you have a special trick to making such perfect half square triangles? Do you cut them before sewing or do you sew the two lines on a square and then cut them apart? Mine always get a little wonky.

  66. Your quilt projects are beautiful. Do you have a special trick to making such perfect half square triangles? Do you cut them before sewing or do you sew the two lines on a square and then cut them apart? Mine always get a little wonky.

  67. Hi Nicole,
    well I can only add to what everyone else has said. Madeline is truly a beauty! Your colour combination is fabulous. Love it, love it, love it!
    Don’t know how you will bear to leave your house when it is all going to be so perfect!

  68. Hi Nicole,
    well I can only add to what everyone else has said. Madeline is truly a beauty! Your colour combination is fabulous. Love it, love it, love it!
    Don’t know how you will bear to leave your house when it is all going to be so perfect!

  69. I fell in love with that fabric as soon as it hit the shops, I think I bought a little of each fabric. Madeline is just stunning, now I’m undecided if I should use the pattern I picked or follow your lead.

  70. I fell in love with that fabric as soon as it hit the shops, I think I bought a little of each fabric. Madeline is just stunning, now I’m undecided if I should use the pattern I picked or follow your lead.

  71. Your Madeline is beautiful and just plain heartwarming. It is a pleasure just to look at it 🙂 As is sweet Sophie. Such a busy girl with all the stuff going on at her house.

  72. Your Madeline is beautiful and just plain heartwarming. It is a pleasure just to look at it 🙂 As is sweet Sophie. Such a busy girl with all the stuff going on at her house.

  75. All beautiful as ever! As for Sophie, think yourself lucky – my naughty dog would’ve eaten the blocks!!!

  76. All beautiful as ever! As for Sophie, think yourself lucky – my naughty dog would’ve eaten the blocks!!!