We are having a beautiful weekend in the SF Bay Area. just the kind that the Big Boy (on the left) likes. The temps are in the 80's, they say it will chill up a bit, but I'm enjoying it while I can. Love having the doors open. Yesterday I spent the day sewing with my good friend Deb and her 96 year old aunt. Her aunt is such a character, she had us laughing all day. She was very interested in our processes as we prepped our appliques. Deb uses a thread basting technique and I was using starch. Deb is in my Lost Sock Swap, so we were working on socks. I only finished one sock and prepped another but we had a wonderful day.

I thought I would show you what I've been puttering around with while waiting for my Prairie Paisley order to arrive. One of the fabrics is backordered so it may take a while. That is ok, because it gives me more time to clean up loose ends before starting a new project. Maybe it's not ok, I've got that itch to start something new and it won't go away. I will be strong!I will be strong!I will be strong!I will be strong!

So, yesterday I also finished Bock #5 of the Piece and Plenty BOM.

And I didn't show you the blocks I made to donate over at QYW, we are making red/white/blue friendship stars to give to some of the members that have family in Iraq. I got 8 done, they are huge 12 inch blocks. I need to get them in the mail.

After trying to take a picture of my pincushion and it coming out blurry, I decided to purchase a tripod. It wasn't very expensive, I think $20 at Target, I didn't shop around for the cheapest, you may find one cheaper. This is what it looks likeThen I had to play around a little and yes it will improve your pictures! (I need all the help I can get!)

With tripod: and without:

It's been a long week. Last weekend I worked on my Piece and Plenty BOM #4 and finished. I have to tell you that I did not enjoy making this block. I started #5 and miscut the background square, tsk tsk, the Madeira line is getting difficult to find. Not to worry though, I have already found, ordered and received the needed piece. #5 block is almost done!! I've been working on #5 this weekend, but still have some more applique to do. I've also done some special secret stitching for a friend. I volunteered some blocks for a charity group, they are 12 inch finished friendship stars. I cannot get over how BIG a 12 inch block is, LOL, cutting those 4.5 inch pieces just seems strange! It's kind of like quilting for kindergarten after all of the smaller blocks that I'm used to making. They should go fast. Red white and blue for families of service men. A friend of mine just asked me for a picture of my Cherry Quilt. Since I have a handy picture I thought maybe I could entertain you with it. Everytime I look at this quilt I ask if this is my design? What makes it mine? The cherry blocks were started at an Alex Anderson retreat. They are Alex's cherries, but I chose to put mine on point. The nine patch blocks are from Lynette Jensen's Daisy Days book. The border fabric is from Mary Lou Weidman and doesn't the over all look remind you of Mary Englbreit? So who can lay claim to this design? This quilt really has a lot of memories for me. It was my first attempt at applique. It's also referred to as my broken elbow quilt. I had only made one of the nine patch blocks and about 3 of the cherry blocks at retreat and put it away. A couple of months later I fell at work and broke my elbow. I was off work and in a cast for about 6 months. It was my right arm and yes, I'm right handed. I was actually able to applique and put this together with a broken arm. An old AAQ message board friend, Laurie in Kansas quilted it for me. Back to stitchin....xoxo

Doin the Turtle Dance

The turtle top is done!

It's really wonky, I sure hope the little waves will quilt out. I know you perfectionists and long armers will cringe when you read that. I have a few excuses of the wonkiness; curves, on point, pieced border, yadda yadda.. But besides the little waves, I really like how it turned out. I will probably bind it with the dark pink. I was having issues with green again, that is why it took so long to get done. Umm now to get it quilted. If I wasn't so embarassed about the wonkiness I'd have someone do it for me.

Wait, that's not all I've accomplished! I also finished the Piece & Plenty BOM #3. This block is designed by Brannock & Patek and is primitive. I love primitive, but I didn't realize how difficult it would be for me to DO primitive. I thought I needed more guidance, but now that I'm done, I think it was a good experience. Now I know I can do it!

So, have you signed up for the new Designer Mystery BOM that Kimberly has going over at the Fatquarter shop? I couldn't resist. They go fast and I know I'd be heartbroken if I missed out. Good thing Vicky catches these, cause I would have missed it for sure.

I'm moving on to some new things, I've started another swap that I need to make 60 socks for. The pattern is called Lost Socks, it's adorable and easy so it should be fun. I guess I'm just one of those gals that need at least 3 0r 4 balls in the air. I can't settle down to one project. That would just be too boring!

Have fun stitchin!

No, Not A Rebel

Thank you Kim, for showing us the light. I'm not a rebel, no no no.... I'm a PATRIOT! I'm doing my part to stimulate the economy in my own small way. I'm wondering if it was something in that Los Angeles water that gave me the urge buy fabric? I have no excuses for my purchases, other than that Roman Holiday piece was 50% off, it will be the backing for my All Things Christmas. Oh and I'm really wanting to do a hexagon quilt out of Fig Tree fabrics and then there is the swap that I need stuff for. On the stash busting side I did manage to turn the charm pack that Darlene sent me into a little table runner. Note, that I have the backing up there. I'll machine quilt it next weekend.

I also finished the 2nd block of the Piece and Plenty Moda U Mystery. This basket is designed by Joanna of Fig Tree fame. Love doing these blocks, I'm going to start prepping the next one tomorrow nite. Have a good week everyone, hope you get some stitches in! xoxomar

Stash Busting?

Well, I didn't buy any fabric this week, I just finished this block that I already had. Does that count? Does it count that those little filler blocks are paperpieced and I wasted a bunch of fabric cutting my pieces out to small? Not to mention that it took me all day yesterday to make these five little blocks! I'm such a doofus, thinking I'm so smart. I haven't pp'd in a long time and it took me a while to get back in the swing of it. I had just enough to get the job done!

This is the first block of the Piece and Plenty Mystery from The Fat Quarter Shop. I love that they are using this fabric line, it's Madeira by Blackbird Designs from Moda. So far each block is a basket by a different designer. This block is by Amy Bradley. Can't wait to start the next one!