Top finished!

The yellow/gray quilt top is finished! I need some batting and something for the backing. For the backing, I'm thinking more of that darling paisley! I'm in love with that print. It's a brand-new Keepsake Calico from Joann Fabric.
What do you think?
I think anything very dark won't look good behind all that cheery yellow, don't you?
Oh yeah, and this is a gift, so no telling, ok?

This quilt is called Diamond Daze, in the brand new "Quilts from 100 Blocks Volume 2" by Quiltmaker Magazine. Love it!

The next quilt is a preprinted panel by Renae Allen of rgadesignquilts.com. It is her Design Builder panel. I had the good fortune that she lives in Utah, and taught a class at LQS--my local Bernina store, Dave's Bernina. She teaches this class, plus her original two SkillBuilder series classes, which are also preprinted panels. Both have companion booklets. The SkillBuilder has quilting lines preprinted, to get you accustomed to FMQ. The DesignBuilder only has the quilt "blocks" printed, so it's purpose is to help you choose your quilting designs, set the mood of your quilt with designs, and teach you about transferring designs to the quilt top. There really wasn't time, nor did the class really teach, the quilting skills or techniques--that's the Skillbuilder's job. It was very fun to take the class from Renae herself, hear her knowledge and tips, and learn that she pieces and quilts almost all her own quilts on her Bernina domestic machine! And doesn't usually use the Bernina Stitch Regulator!

As you can tell, I've already started pin-basting the layers. This panel will be another baby gift.

I've got to get them done pretty quickly and soon!