Spring Bouquet in progress

I've been working on Spring Bouquet. The 9 interior blocks are all appliquéd, the 1" checkered square borders are done, and the 4 border pieces are all appliquéd. Whew! 

I did most of the appliqué on the border pieces while we were in Chicago recently and I did not have a needle to hide the threads. I know I could just cut the threads off but I prefer to take all the threads to the back and bury them in the stitches. Guess I'm a bit compulsive about finishes! I never did find a needle so I just kept appliquéing and was careful not to catch any threads. When we arrived home I had four pieces that looked like this all over.

Threads need to be taken to back and buried.

Then I began the job of taking the threads to the back and burying them.

Threads are buried.

While watching TV, it took a few hours but not much thinking!

Back with threads buried.

I am quilting this quilt in pieces because there is LOTS of quilting. I am outlining each appliquéd piece and doing small scale stippling in all non-appliquéd areas. It is taking  lots of time but I think it will be worth it!

I sewed the 9 interior blocks in 3 rows each having 3 blocks. The top row and the middle row are quilted and joined. I need to finish quilting over the seam where I joined the pieces.

Six blocks joined and quilted except at seam.

Can you see where I need to quilt - right by the seam in the middle of the photo below.

Close up of seam area needing quilting.

In a couple of days, we are leaving for Washington DC and I won't be taking my machine since we are flying. So I'll get back to the quilting in May.