
Way back in December, I received this “Surprise” package in one of my Island Batik boxes. I didn’t know which line of fabric it contained.


Along with the 1/2 yard cuts of Harvest Night, I received 2 yards of Wheat Leaves Latte and 2 yards of Midnight Blue.
We were instructed to make a “New York Beauty” quilt.
P.A.N.I.C.
YIKES!!!! Google “New York Beauty” and you’ll see why I was in a panic!
EQ to the rescue! They have plenty of blocks to choose from. I chose to do a Checked Arc Beauty. Then, in order to have enough fabric for the design I chose, I foolishly chose a 9″ block. If I had been wise at the time, I would have chosen a 12″ block. But, I might have run out of fabric making those 9 blocks that run down the centre.

I printed out the pattern, taped the necessary parts together and started to sew. It took me over 3 hours to sew my first block. Oh my … what had I gotten myself into?
When I paper piece, I do NOT sew on the paper. This way, I can chain piece my pieces and use a regular sized stitch … and the bonus – I don’t have to remove paper!!! AND it’s easier to “unsew!”

When I was doing the curved seams … I pinned, pinned, pinned. I wanted those points to match up. And for the most part, they did! That was a LOT of pins for me to use – especially since I rarely use pins!

Here’s an assortment of pieces of one block …

I went to a retreat in March. I took my project with me … I only got 4 blocks completed on the weekend! Sigh!!! But, I must admit, I was busy visiting, taking pictures, eating, visiting, eating, taking pictures, visiting and only sewing in between!
Once I got home from the retreat, it was pedal to the medal and the quilt top was done.
This quilt told me it needed a simple, fairly skinny border which finishes at 1 1/2″. The dark border is “Midnight Blue” and the light border is “Wheat Leaves Latte.” Both of these fabrics are foundations that are available at any time.
To sandwich the quilt, I used 505 Spray baste and Hobbs Batting 80/ 20. It hung on the design wall for several days while I decided how to quilt it. There is a LOT of stitch in the ditch and some 1/4″ outlining … it took awhile to quilt! Aurifil Thread #2370 (Sandstone) was used. Schmetz Needle microtex chrome 70/10 was used for the quilting. The scrappy binding used each of the 20 fabrics.

Here is a close-up of the quilting. And yes, I like this thread so much, I’ve almost used a cone and a lot of a large spool! (Not all on this quilt!) I hate having to unthread my machine to wind a bobbin – that’s why I like to have the extra spool – just for bobbins!

I didn’t have enough of the Wheat Leaves Latte for the backing … SEW … I cut what I had in half diagonally, put it up on the design wall and measured what the distance was between the 2 pieces. I took some of the left-over pieces and made the center strip. Then I had a backing that was big enough – and pretty as well!

Here is a closeup of the quilting on the back:

There is a give-away!
Island Batik has a give-away! You have the opportunity to win a fat-quarter bundle of Jewel Carvings or Nightshade! Both lucious collections! Follow the rafflecopter instructions below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Visit Elizabeth
Visit Elizabeth at Epida Studio. She received the same surprise bundle of Harvest Night as me. I can’t wait to see her New York Beauty!!! I bet they look totally different. But I need to wait until she posts to see it!
Thank you!
Disclosure: The fabrics, batting, thread and needles were generously supplied by the following companies: Thank you, Island Batik Aurifil Thread Hobbs Batting & Schmetz Needles !!




Blog Hop Schedule
Everyone is making New York Beauties this month! Be sure to visit each of them. You are in for a lot of fantastic eye candy! Here is the schedule:
June 6:
Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail
Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio
June 7:
Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts
Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts
June 8:
Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels
June 9:
Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter
Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts
June 10:
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway
June 13:
Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
June 14:
Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts
Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum
June 15:
Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde Gifts
Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion
June 16:
Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs
June 17:
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway
June 20:
Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia
Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky
June 21:
Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads
Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts
June 22:
Megan Best, Bestquilter
Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
June 23:
Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
June 24:
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Giveaway
June 27:
Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
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An amazing quilt, love the layout and the fabrics!! Wow!!
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Thank you, Eileen!
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I can relate to the challenges of making a NYB block. I noticed that one of your pins looked like it was run over by a sewing machine. I have done that too 😦
The end result is beautiful and the back is just as lovely!!!
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Thanks, Preeti!
I went back and looked at the pic of the pins and I didn’t see one that had been run over … but I admit, it has happened to me more than once!
I love doing pieced backs with the diagonal! 🙂
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Just beautiful 😻!!! My favorite quilt shop is Jordan’s in Oregon! 🥰
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Thank you, Pam!
And good luck winning a fat quarter bundle! 🙂
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Oh Gail…amazing.This piece of art is so beautiful.
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Thanks, Patricia! You did see some of the first blocks at the retreat! 🙂
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I am just WOWED by your quilt Gail, and how fast you got it done, because oh, probably 15 years ago I started one…and yeah those blocks take FOREVER. Now that I, too, have learned how to paper-piece without sewing through the paper, I really should pull it back out and make it. I am amazed that you got this done so quickly, and manage to do other things as well. It’s just beautiful, a real heirloom. And I love the back! – I must remember that diagonal cut for when I don’t have enough fabric (which happens fairly regularly).
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Thank you, Sandra!!! Your compliments mean a lot to me! And yes, paper piecing without sewing on paper is a game-changer! I’d love to see YOUR finished NYB in the near future (like in the next year or two! LOL!!!) 🙂
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Love the fabric and the way you used it in your quilt.
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Thank you very much, Nancy!
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Gorgeous quilt! New York Beauty has been on my quilting bucket list for a while. Some day I will get to it!
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Thank you. I must admit, NYB was never on my bucket list! If it wasn’t for the Island Batik challenge, I probably wouldn’t have done it! I’m glad I did, though! Happy Quilting! 🙂
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wow this is gorgeous. you did a fabulous job. this will be so fun to remember what you went through when you made this. thanks for sharing and inspiring. my favorite quilt shop is: Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop with Carrie Quinn and Katie Reed (owners) Fox River Grove Illinois
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Thanks, Lori!
Good luck on winning one of the bundles of fabric! 🙂
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Beautiful! My husband loves the colour combo.
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Thanks, Ioleen! It is a great collection! 🙂
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WOW!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!
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Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! Great job!
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Thank you, Cyndy! 🙂
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Wow, that is gorgeous. I am so happy that you persisted, and I trust you are, too.
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Yes, KJ, I, too, am glad that I persisted. I really like the finished quilt! 🙂
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Love your blog! I am a Batik lover and have been since they first started making batiks, so I enjoy seeing what you make with them!
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Thanks, Jantyl!
It thrill me to hear that you love my blog!
And batiks … I’m seriously in love with Island Batiks! There are a lot of new collections every year and the fabric is a dream to work with! LOVE it!
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It’s fantastic, Gail!! I love the back almost as much as the front! Your method of paper piecing without the paper intrigues me! Paper, ugh! That’s why I don’t paper piece! The thoughts of tearing out all that paper after you finish, not to mention the tiny stitches you have to use! LOL Your quilt is lovely.
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Hi Brenda!
Thank you for the complements! 🙂
I really really dislike tearing out the paper … I find there are ALWAYS little smidgens of paper left in the corners. I can 100% guarantee that there is absolutely no paper in my quilt! 🙂
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New York Beauty is one of my all-time favorite blocks! You did well on your NYB quilt!
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Thanks, Wendy!
This was my first time making a NYB, and it won’t be my last! 🙂
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I love NYB quilts! The fabrics you used are so pretty and you did a great job on your quilt.
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Thanks, Mary! It was great fun to work with the Harvest Night collection! 🙂
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Absolutely gorgeous! These are tricky blocks to sew (many pins required) and you did a fabulous job!
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Thanks, Kathy! In the end, it was worth all the pinning! 🙂
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Your New York Beauty is SO GORGEOUS! I absolutely love the setting you used and the colors are so rich!
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Thank you, Sue! Island Batik composed the Harvest Night collection – and they did a fabulous job!
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Aren’t you glad you persevered and have a beauty of a finish:) I have 4 blocks of a NYB done and that was years ago, they are a lot of work!
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Yes, Vicki, each block is a LOT of work – but worth it in the end! I challenge you to pull out your blocks and start working on them … you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done! 🙂
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My favorite quilt shop is my local one, B&B Quilting in Buda, Texas!
yoyopattycakes@hotmail.com
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Hi Gail! What a beautiful finish. I would have panicked when you said it took you three hours for one block. OMG! But that time investment was SO worth it. I look forward to seeing all the beauties this month! Nice job. {{Hugs}} and happy Monday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne
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Thanks, Roseanne! I must admit, I do LOVE the finished quilt!
All of the quilts promise to be spectacular! Each ambassador is so creative and none of us do the same thing! It’s always fun to see! 🙂
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Your New York Beauty sure is pretty!
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Thank you, Susan! 🙂
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Gail, I just love what you did with the block and of course the fabric is fabulous. Guess I will have to install EQ8. The only problem with that is I know that I will spend a lot of time designing.
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Thanks, Fauntie!
It is fun designing quilts, but it certainly helps me to make my own creations! 🙂
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Hello Gail! I love the way your NY Beauty quilt came out. It must have taken a lot of time to sew all those blocks! Have a great day.
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Thanks, Jennifer! It did take a LOT of time, but in the end, I love the result! Happy Quilting! 🙂
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I LOVE YOUR DESIGN AND THE COLOURS LOOK SCRUMPTIOUS. THANKS FOR SHARING
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Thanks, Bonnie! I just love the Harvest Night collection from Island Batik! They are the ones that made the colours shine!
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Perhaps if I learned to paper piece that way I would hate the process a little less. Ha ha.
It looks great, Gail.
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Thanks, Gene!
Learning to paper piece without sewing on the paper has been a life-changer for me! 🙂
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Your New York Beauty quilt is gorgeous! I love the diagonal layout of the blocks.
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Thanks, Julie! I just had to do something different! 🙂
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Beautiful quilt!
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Thank you, Pam!
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Your quilt looks fantastic and I’m intrigued as to how you make it without sewing through the paper. I must go and research this method.
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Hi Anorina!
Thank you for the complement!
As for paper piecing without sewing on the paper, I’m thinking that perhaps I should do a class on it! 🙂
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