I just completed the Rainforest Rings runner top for my sister’s birthday in April. She is planning on using it for a wall hanging over the hearth.

I picked up the beautiful Fireweed background fabric in Alaska in May. I fell in love with it, bringing back memories of living in Alaska as a child. Then I had a friend that was in Alaska in July and saw a pattern by Lisa Moore called Rainforest Rings, using the Fireweed. I fell in love with everything about the pattern. But when I tried to find the fabric for the rings everyone said it had been retired. So I was on a quest and after much searching I found the fabric online from a store in Minnesota called Hingeley Road Quilting, they had all the colors. It is a Hoffman called At Home in the Woods a Ryan McKenna collection and yes it has been retired. I did try other fabrics, but just didn’t have the same effect, usually I can adjust, but just couldn’t on this one. The border is a little different.

I hand appliqued the rings and will hand quilt the runner. But this time I will use a colored quilt thread, either a dark purple or dark pink, I want it to blend instead of standing out. Usually I am traditional and use ecru for hand quilting. I want something really special for the back and binding, not sure what and of course I don't have it in my stash. So off to the LQS.

For those that are interested Lisa Moore has a great website with her patterns at quiltswithatwist.com. If you have questions she is right there with a quick email response and can help you if you have any challenges with her patterns and she has said to call her if I have questions. She is great to work with.

I also just finished a very long table runner for my cousin in NC. She wanted it to be really long so just over 62”. It is the North Star block from the Underground Railroad Sampler book. She had seen the block and fell in love with it. I just hope she will like it, It is off in the mail on Monday.

How beautiful!!

They are both beautiful, but I am totally in love with the rings. Slendid job!

They are both beauitful. Love the rings!

The ring quilt is the most unusual quilt I've ever seen. And it's gorgeous!! I see why you had to have those fabrics.

Oh, you've reminded me that I own that ring pattern. There was a trunk show at our LQS and I bought at least two different patterns. Nice job, I love your fabric too.

Oh Gay!! Those are absolutely beautiful!! Since the fireweed fabric is so hard to find, I think you should keep that one and make another one for your sister! LOL. But I guess she would remember the fireweed too. Do you have enough to make yourself another one?

I love the long table runner too. And to think, Y'all, both of those are totally hand quilted, and the rings are hand appliqued!

Wonderful job!! Now I want to make one of the rings.

Thanks to all of you. Since I do all of my applique and quilting by hand. It takes a long time before I have a finished quilt to post. So many times you may just see the unquilted top. Although the Rainforest Rings will be finished by the end of March. That will be a record for me. A month from start to finish.

But I had a lot of support and motivation from GaiGai on the board. To get on those Rainforest Rings.

The rings were really quite easy and the instructions were great. While in email contact with Lisa she mentioned a Clover fabric fold pen for using on curves, it is a great little tool. I found it at JoAnns and purchased it with a coupon. For anyone that appliques it is great.

Gai, I bought 3 yards, thought about using it for the back, but decided against it. Although I think there may still be Fireweed available.

It really helped to have your encouragement. Hugs.

Beautiful projects