a little hand quilting

Two weeks ago I collected my "Return to Paradise" from the machine quilting lady who had basted it for me.  When I start on hand quilting an applique project I rarely have an idea of how I am going to quilt it.  I started by going around the outline of the shapes, and 1/16th" out, so you can just see the stitches.  However, in the case you can nor see them!  I have used taupe coloured thread on the yellow print background, and the stitches can not be seem.  Bummer!  In more ways than one I wished I had used maybe a grey thread.  I like to see my stitches on the front, but on the back I used a purple fabric, and you can see every stitch!  I have to be even more precise with the quilting, to make sure the back looks good as well.

 When Dawn created this pattern, she was kind enough to mark most of the quilting lines, and I am basically following that.  I got in touch with her and asked about the background.....wondering what the original maker made done.  I had planned on doing "echo" stitches in the background, and that is what the original maker had done.

 In the border, where I have used solid coloured fabrics, you can see the stitches much better

The holes in the leaves is where I took out the tacking.  They will go away with handling.  On the leaves and stem I will do an inner 1/4" line of quilting as well.

Every day I am doing at least 2 hours on this and hope to have it finished by the end of May.  It is really big, so hope I have not taken on too much.