That Cruise Quilt.....Finally!

I've been working on the borders for the cruise quilt since the minute I finished the wedding quilt.....October 4!  Sheesh!  I guess it's kindof been kicking my butt.....but I'd never done a border like this before.

When we were on the cruise, I managed to finish the inside portion of the quilt.....I was totally jazzed by the colors.....they are so NOT me!  But I just fell in love with all the tropical in-your-face splash of colors!  We were in the Caribbean, so why not?  Right?

Here's what I did on the cruise.....

Bonnie's pattern was really fun to work with......I never do partial seams, and I was surprised at how fast they went together!  I've even dismissed patterns with them, thinking I was 'not gonna go there'.....but they really are easier than I thought.

So, the cruise was really inspiring......the colors of the ocean, gorgeous scenery on the islands.....bright colors everywhere.  It was really a paradise, so what else could I do but.......

And, of course, because Bonnie had given us a lesson on wonky stars during the cruise....it was only fitting to add a few to the quilt!

And I think it's totally funny that I have this quilt on the porch with a bit of snow in the scene!  The best of both worlds to me!

I didn't have a clue how to do the lettering, but after looking at a few blogs showing Tonya Ricucci's Word Play Quilts, I was willing to try it!  I really need to get her book, cuz I'm sure I took the long way to get there!  Just looking at my piecing on the back, makes me think there might be an easier way!  lol

Of course, I was going for the wonkiness factor on the lettering, and I had a very limited amount of the blue ocean with fish fabric (can you see the fish!?!).....so I guess it's not so bad.

I don't even know where that blue fabric came from, but when I was looking for a patterned blue piece to use, I saw this in my stash, and couldn't believe my luck!  And there was about 4 yards of it, too, so I thought 'no problem....this is plenty!'

Wrong!

I have a pile of sliver scraps, and 1 piece that is about 12" square left of it!  Yikes!  I'm hoping I can cut enough hst's to make the outside border with the diamond chain of colors......but if not, then it will just get bound in black.  We'll see what happens!  Cuz this is definitely unplanned all the way!

But I love quilting like that!  Make-do quilting......yep, that's me!  lol

And now I can finally start on Bonnie's mystery......it's been killing me not to get going on it!

Have a great day!

regan