One More Kit - Ready to Go

Busy, Busy, Busy

Back to Back Retreats Coming Up

I have just over 2 weeks to go now and then I have two three-day retreats in a row.  Two different groups of wonderful women.  Can't wait for some productivity and fellowship.  

So.... guess what I'm doing.   You got it!  Kitting up some fabric so I'll be ready to sew.

That ought to cover the first retreat.  Now, I just need to come up with enough to keep me busy at the second retreat.

Practice Makes Perfect - Eventually.....

I've been spending some time looking at YouTube videos, blogs and DVDs about quilting.  I have also been doing some practicing with a pen on my white board.  I am envious of all of the wonderful quilting out there and hope to one day be able to do some quilting that I can be really proud of.

In the past I have only done meander quilting.  I keep thinking that I'm ready to try something else and then I get a quilt loaded.  I have all kinds of good ambitions and then I can't decide on what to do.  I start thinking about how many tops I have waiting and I figure it would be faster to just do it with a meander.  Or I worry about trying something new and therefore less perfect on a quilt that belongs to somebody else and I decide that I should just do a meander.



Today, I loaded my Squedge Table Runner.  It is relatively small, as quilts go, and it is mine and I can afford to practice on it.  I learned lots of things.  1) I can't draw a straight line with the quilt machine to save my life  2) I don't retrace my stitches well at all 3) some simple designs are actually simple and 4) I need lots and lots and LOTS of practice.  Either way, my Squedge Table Runner is now quilted and bound.  One less UFO now.  Hallelujah!

I keep telling myself that I need to load some fabric and just practice, but I can't seem to bring myself to "waste" fabric that way.  Maybe I need to volunteer to do some more charity quilts so I can get more practice. It won't be terrible quilting, just not as nice as I'd like it to be.  And then one day, it'll be good.  One quilt at a time.

Oh yes.  And Mom and I finished up our lotto blocks for the next quilt guild meeting.  Aren't they cute?

Whose bed is it anyway?

Much Better

I took out the thread and resorted to a Sharpie.  It shows up much better now.

Before with Thread

After with Sharpie

Two Ants on a Picnic

I've had a creative afternoon.  This is my first attempt at applique.  It came out okay, but I don't think there's a lot of it in my future.  

My friends asked for a picnic blanket. They have twin boys soon to be 2 years old, so I think they'll enjoy this one.  All told, there are 2 appliqued ants on the quilt, one for each boy.  I'll have to get it quilted this week and get it to them.