FEBRUARY WIP UPDATE

Yeah, I know, I called the last update post February but it was really January.  Here is how things stand at the end of February/beginning of March.  I will get my months figured out for the next one, LOL.

The Patriotic Denim is coming along quite nicely.  Here are the blocks that are finished.

Here is what they look like on my design wall.

When the rest of the empty space is full it will be big enough for a queen size quilt.  The sashings will be 2 inches wide, made of denim and, hopefully their will be white stars as the cornerstones.  I haven't figured out the borders yet!  This quilt won't be sandwiched.  Denim is too heavy for that.  So I am looking for a king-size flannel sheet in either navy blue or red for the backing.  Then, of course, the pillow shams have to be done.  But it's getting there! 

A Tisket, A Tasket is coming along.  I haven't stitched anything down yet, but I cut bits and pieces as the inspiration strikes.  Here are the blocks now, but some of the pieces may change.

The laces you see pinned up are possible basket trims!  Embellishments will come after the stitiching.

Four more embroideries for the Delectable Diamonds.  That makes eight so far that need to be mounted and trimmed.  Another 4 are almost complete!

I am so into leaders/enders now, they have become a habit and a session at the sewing machine just doesn't feel productive without them.  I have my Precision Built loaded with navy blue thread for the denim quilt and sashings for Fabric Frolic are my leader/ender pieces.   Have a nice little pile now but need a lot more before I can lay out those two quilts.  That left me with what to do with my New Home.  I had a lot of leftover pinwheels cut from Rita's Water Ice and decided to make another quilt I've titled Summer Breezes.  At first I thought I would use them as leaders/enders but I want to get this one done.  I am so tired of making pinwheels, LOL!  So I decided to make them the main project but I still needed leaders/enders!  Do you remember that box of Barbie clothes and how much I hate making Barbie clothes?  I think they have been in their box for more than 10 years.  Well, I have turned them into leaders/enders!  Getting them sewn is just a little less stressful this way.  Here is what I have completed.  By completed I mean all the handsewing, too.  I have a small box of almost-dones now.  They are in the sewing basket behind Barbie!

The Barbie in the picture is a thrift store find.  I think I paid a dollar for her and she is the most annoying Barbie in the world.  She has this little talkie button on her tummy that always gets pushed at least three or four times as I am fitting the clothes.  If I could find a battery somewhere, I would pull it, LOL!  When I am done with these clothes, I am giving them to someone (I don't know who yet) and the doll is going with them!

On Tuesday, I spent the afternoon with my Aunt Mary.  We had a great time!  I showed her my blog and she showed me her one and only attempt at embroidery.  Please understand that when my Aunt was growing up, all girls were expected to learn how to sew, embroider, crochet and knit.  In any case, she had started this embroidery many, many years ago (talk about UFO's, LOL).  I offered to "finish" for her!

See the shutters on the window?  That's how far she got!  Thing is, despite the fact that only that much is done, she had/has a very fine hand!  Her stitching is/was superb!  We decided on a red door with matching window boxes, a black railing and purple flowers.  That's just to get it started.  I will fill in other details along the way and then we will consult on colors again.  I think it is going to be lovely!

I got the batting and backing for Rita's Water Ice.  The backing still has to be washed.  I have not forgotten I promised a tutorial showing how I sandwich and baste a quilt without crawling on the floor!  I intend to honor that promise this month!

On another note, my Aunt introduced me to a blog by my cousin(?) Nichole.  Nichole is the wife of my Aunt's grandson and I think that makes him my second cousin.  In any case, here is a link http://veggie-365.blogspot.com/.  My cousin lives on a 25 acre farm and they are trying to become self-sufficient.  Whatever her husband brings home from the farmer's market or grows in their garden is what she cooks!  Some of her recipes sound simply scrumptious and I can't wait to try them!

Love from Liri