Birthday Sister

Today is my sister Renee's 60th birthday.  I can finally reveal my covert sewing operation:

The pattern is called Falling Charms from Missouri Star Quilting Company.  I used two charm packs of Persimmon from Moda, off-white Grunge, and Downton Abbey fabric for the border and backing, all purchased at Bittersweet Quilt Shop in Pinconning, MI.  I arranged the colors going from dark to light, though it's a bit hard to tell from these photos taken on my cell phone by my sister Carol.  I quilted the 70" x 70" throw on my Juki 2010Q after piecing it on my Juki F600.  Once done I serged it using my Juki MO-1000, and bound it using the grunge fabric.  Can you tell I adore Juki products????!!!!

I gave Renee the quilt tonight following a large family dinner at Big Boy -- very fun time.  While the pattern name is Falling Charms, I told Renee I call it 'Out of the Darkness' -- which is the mantra for Suicide Prevention.  This is the first birthday for Renee without her son Paul, who committed suicide last June.  She's also the first sister to have a birthday without our Mom, who died in October.  It was good to have so many family members attend her party -- we took over the restaurant and sang Happy Birthday to her -- so fun!