Maybe a simple appliquéd square of the white under the plate might make it look a little more dramatic? (it's just a tad small for the green square IMHO )

I don't know how to appliqué, so maybe some decorative stitching when I quilt it will do the trick.

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Love everyones. Love the Hombre, the PP, the 30's fabric. Now you have me rethinking the center, darn I planned the whole thing around the panel. No, sticking with the original idea. You guys are so far ahead, havn't even started yet.

You can always make more :) they are very quick and easy. I am planning on making a few to donate to our guilds show for their silent auction, but will embroider the center squares :p its much easier than piecing it. lol

Wow Vicki that is so beautiful!!!! and I don't even like pinks that much but you have made it so tempting to try one.
Great job!

Thanks so much for all your advise. I've been working at this all day and now I have 3 UFO blocks that after making them, I didn't like so I gave up on trying to piece one and cheated with my embroidery machine. I'm now ready to start again in the morning, center is done and all strips are cut at 2" wide.

Looks like a lot was accomplished. They all look great. Today was our first day of "Open Quilt". We arranged for a room and put out the word. There were 4 of us today.[ATTACH=CONFIG]403608[/ATTACH] We had a lot of fun getting to know each other. Everyone's excited and wanted to put out more flyers. For my project, YES! the table runner. [ATTACH=CONFIG]403609[/ATTACH]The center was a fussy cut flower. Super easy. It did go very fast. Even got some of the quilting done. Then, on to a baby shower and just got home. It's almost 10PM here. Tomorrow, I get to spend some time with my daughter, after seeing daffodil hill-it's in full bloom. Sunday is Church, lunch, talk with a contractor and Bible Study. So that's it for sewing this weekend. I'm ready to do it again. Do you plan to do it next month? The forth weekend is April 26-28.

Wow!! love the corners on the center block

I just found this group and joined today. I want to join this it will be a good chance to learn how to upload photos. I am a technology dinosaur at times. See you Saturday:)

Off to bed now to dream of fabric choices

petthefabric.....that is stunning! very good job! and looks like you had alot of fun with the other ladies in the open sew.

Songbird, if you would like the PDF version of the instructions, please just PM an email address and I will email it out to you. You have plenty of time to join in :)

ok I was up at 6am (now that's an all time record for me, it's usually 9 before I even think about it).
Anyway, I restarted the new one I had made the embroidery for and while I was doing it, I got to thinking "Why not make it reversible?"

SO now that I have the first side done, I'm working on a back side. Here's the first side:

Am I glowing yet? LOL

I use a portable ironing table made from a tv tray and padded top, a small iron...next to my machine, sure saves these old bones lots of getting up and down.

I LOVE it !!! I also like bright colors and the cute center dresden. This would work with jelly rolls too....just a little wider (2-1/2" strips).

Thanks. I'm not a big pink fan either but tickled how pretty this fabric worked up. Can't wait to do the teal one. I'm loving all the runners too. This will definitely be the plan for Christmas gifts this year, along with smaller version for placemats.

Just Gorgeous. Have to get going.

That looks lovely! and yes you are glowing there :)

One hint, if you are making this reversible, I would recommend doing decorative stitches or the serpentine for the quilting. You might not get all the lines from the braids lined up front to back. I personally love the serpentine stitch, it hides a TON of wonky piecing :p

Everyone has such pretty runners developing, such fun to see the different colors. I have been working on my purple runner. Had a hard time deciding what to do for the center block, put waaayyy to much thinking into it. Last night I made a block, but it is a 12 inch block (oops, too big!). Now, Carolyn said I could still make the runner, but use 2.5" x 12.5" and 2.5" accent squares, but that means another trip to the LQS. So, this morning I made an 8" block. I had the strips laid out, then the kitty inspector decided he didn't like the order I had them in...he put them in a pile so I can start again. *sigh*

Finally, I am going to start sewing these braids!

ok I'm back with the 2nd side. Your were so right Carolyn, this is so addicting!
I thought I'd let you know how my thought process is going here.

While making the 1st side with the wreath (called Summer Wreath) I noticed it could not only be used as a summer wreath but add a little 4th of July decorations and you are set for the holiday as well. That got me to thinking about other holidays. The white tiny rounds and splashes on the center block reminded me of making bubbles in the summer with my kids when they were young but they also look like snow balls in the winter. So guess what? The back is a winter theme with snow people. Now I will have to make another one with Spring on one side and Fall on the other. Gee how did this get so out of control???? I will wait untill later to figure out the 2nd set, it might take a bit longer to decide on how to incorporate both using similar colors.

So here are the Snow People!

I like that block.

petthefabric, you ladies are doing a great job and I just love that rose runner.

Now that's a pretty one, great for summer fun.

Seasaw2, love your runners with the embroidery. Top is done, that was fun and quick! Realized I hadn't thought about the backing yet. Have decided this will be a gift for a friend who's favorite color is purple and she loves lilacs. There is a fabric at JoAnn's with black/lilacs, friend had bought some for recovering her chairs. Would be nice to have that on the back of this runner, but that means a trip up to the big city, so no finishing this today.

Maybe LQS will have something? Hehe, means I'll have to get out of my pajamas! Might not happen today.

Well, I'm way behind in the retreat. The movie last night was good but a little violent. This morning we had to visit a friend, so I was not able to look for any fabric until this afternoon. I am trying something new, I have never used a jelly roll, I found a earth tones roll that I liked on sale at Joann's. I think it goes well with some fabric in my stash. This is going to be a gift for a friend and I thought neutrals would be good, the dark brown is going to be the border. Now to decide on the center, which will be the white on white and two golds, I think I might use the white for the squares also not sure yet. I should have the center done tonight and post a picture when it's done. I still think I will leave the Iron in the basement, I need the stair stepping. Every ones pictures look great, I am really fond of purple, hope mine works as well as yours.

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This is so much fun! I actually am happy with the way it is turning out. There is more contrast then the picture shows but still fairly muted.

Dede, I love the colors, also remember you can punch it up a notch with decorative stitches either as your quilting or prior to quilting. I would even be tempted to do decorative stitches with a gold thread like that dark gold you have as the fabric for the center. **just ideas here, of course it will look stunning regardless of what do :) Great job!

And btw, it is not a race :) just a friendly get together to make something pretty :) enjoy the process, dont worry about the finish line.

Oh Emma! I love it! how pretty it turned out :)

Am so glad everyone is enjoying the braids. They are horribly addictive but very striking when done. And great for a quick project. Always have those "need something immediately" gifts.

To give you an idea how distorted the colors are the blocks are a forrest green not black and the center panel stands out more. It is funny how so many of us are planning out next one. I know this won't be my last.

Oh Emma that is so pretty. Can we see a close up of the center block? Is it a panel or embroidery?
My DH liked mine until he saw yours. LOL Guess I won't hear the end of it until he gets one with more greens and gold. He said his doesn't have to glow either. He just cracks me up.

Wow! You sure answered my question! Love LOVE how yours turned out! Well everyone's is gorgeous!!

Seasaw: Its just a panel that I have had for a million years. Just trying to use some of the things I already have. Love how yours turned out. Had to laugh at all of your plans for other runners, right there with you. This is so satisfying. I wonder if it would work for a beginner, would love to get my daughter interested.

I have my top finished, will try to get a picture posted tomorrow, it is 11pm here and I don't have the energy to work out how to resize the picture to get it to show so that will wait until tomorrow.

I used a 6 pack of fat quarters my sister bought me for Christmas and I just cut two of them twice so I had a run of 8 on each side, I like how it turned out.

Carolyn thanks so much for organising this VQR and for posting such clear instructions, I have been wanting to make a french braid quilt for a while now but felt somewhat daunted by it now I think I can give it a go.

Emma, I am very excited as my daughter is coming round tomorrow for her first ever sewing class. My grandaughter age 8 loves to sew with me and has made several things for her mum. A few weeks ago my daughter said she would like to sew with us and would I teach her. Not sure how far she will get with me as a teacher but I hope she enjoys it and becomes a quilter like her mum.

Am going to pick out a backing tomorrow, already have the binding, don't think I will get it finished because of sewing with daughter and grandaughter but can finish it off on Monday.

There are so many lovely variations of this runner, I am in awe of seasaw2much a reversable runner!!! WOW

I think it would work for a beginner (maybe need help on binding) and my granddau will be up for Easter so I might cut out some pieces for her so she will have time to sew one up. She's only 8 but loves to sew when she visits, her sewing machine stays at my house since her mom doesn't let her sew by herself. If she's up to it, I will get her some sew time and post the pictures later.

But the top matches perfectly

Carolyn, I know it's not a race. I probably will not be able to sew until Monday, Husband will be in Indiana then. Love to sew but life gets in the way. I think I will make a 1/2 size runner for my self and full size for my friend. I really enjoy the support on this thread. And the mystery's are fun!

Emma, it's great I love the flow! I have pieces that I have had for years and don't know what they are for but some day.

Seasaw, yours is too cool, both sides make me want to smile.

Good Morning! I hope everything is going well for everyone. I have a mead tasting to go to mid-day today with my brothers. But will be home after and work on finishing my table runner :) so pictures to follow.

Great job to everyone! Guess I will do another cool project for next month, my goal is to get the project done and instructions written BEFORE I post for everyone to join in!

I'm behind; however, here are my fabs. The set of 4 will be the braids. The red will be the little squares. The focus fabric will be the center. Washing all but the red right now while hubby is sleeping. He will be cutting my fabric. Fingers crossed he can cut straight. ;) I'm excited about these colors!!! It is the La Bella Fleur line by French General for Moda.

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Hi everyone,
My retreat will continue next weekend. I'm traveling a few days this week. Will post when finished.
Have a good week.

Love how everyone's runners are turning out.... I fully intended to participate in this little retreat again...BUT.... when I opened the drawer to choose my fabrics..... there were my fabric bundles for my next spicy spiral table runners.... so I have worked on them today.... but have to stop as company is arriving soon and dinner is ready to cook.... but not on the burners yet. Thanks for planning this little retreat..... I so enjoyed making my bathmat/ picnic table topper last month. (I did make a French Braid quilt & give it to friends a couple years ago.... it's a very dramatic pattern)

My table runner is quilted and I am about to put the binding on but have run into problems, can anyone explain how to mitre the corners? Thanks