First Finish for 2012!

It is hard to get a good pic today because it is snowing but I couldnt wait for the sun to post a pic.

One UFO complete! What a great feeling to get something accomplished.  This quilt was started in July of 2010. Not too bad...I have lots of quilt tops that are unfinished and much  older. Some of my tops just scream "hand quilt me!" I always have a handquilting project on the go.    I chose this one to FMQ because of the simplicity.  It is made from a jelly roll called "Boutique" by Moda.  The pattern is from "Jelly Roll Quilts" by Pam and Nicky Lintott.  The design is called "Sparkling Gemstones". I am calling mine "JellyStone" .

I added the three borders to make the quilt bigger. For thread, I used Wonderfil "Konfetti", a 50wt cotton in the top and bottom with a Microtex 80/12 needle.  I used about 7 bobbins.  I did spirals in the white sashing and a curvy diamond in the rectangles. I was surprised by the look of circles in the secondary design that showed up.  In the white border I did the heart shaped leaf design that we are practicing this month with the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge.  I worked on the FMQ over five days and enjoyed it so much.  I love how it turned out because until I washed and dried it, I was not in love, but I am now. I have a hard time with  red and pink and when I bought the jelly roll it was meant to help me get over my aversion 

 What one will I FMQ next?  My plan is to write the name of each UFO I have destined to be machine-quilted, on a piece of paper and put them in a bag and then draw one out of the bag and just do it.