Here is my little baby of the weekend (I think it’s about 23″ by 24″ — not sure if I mentioned the size before).  And I cut off the bottom part of the picture again.  That annoying habit is going to be my trademark pretty soon.  After arranging the flowers and leaves into a heart shape (actually a LOT of REARRANGING went on during this process), I bravely fused them down with heat and steam.  I am surprised at how good it looks!  It felt more like a craft project than a quilt project, but I’m pleased so far.  I have a couple of borders to put on, then I’ll quilt it.  The borders are first a narrow black border, then a wider deep mottled purple.

There’s another kit that’s a wreath of cats by this same company, Whims, that I think my mom would like.  Some day.  For right now I’m ready to do some regular straight piecing where I’m much more in my own element, although it’s good to try something different once in a while.

Sue

My watercolor wall hanging is coming along.  The other ones I did would have been done by now, as the heart was pieced right into the watercolor.  This one has the heart added on top of the watercolor background by fusible applique, so I’ve been busily cutting out flower motifs from the included floral fabric.  It’s a little tedius.  Thanks goodness for the Olympics.  Next I will arrange the flowers in a heart shape on the watercolor background and fuse them down.  More Olympics.

I’m in “gift mode”, as there are a number of people I need to “gift”, so I am also making some quick table toppers, about 36″ square:

This one is from a charm pack and a little yardage that came in a kit.  (Note to Self:  Check border fabric for vertical pattern.  I cut this one on the grain, and the printing must have been a little off.  II didn’t realize it before cutting it that it wasn’t an all-over type pattern.)  Oh, well, that will be part of its charm, right?

Staying in gift mode, I will then move on to aprons, table runners, and bags/purses.  I wasn’t too concerned until I sat down with pen and paper and tallied up the gifts I want to make.  NINE!!!  I love the quote (saw it on some else’s site, and this isn’t exactly worded), “Don’t tell me not to burn the candle at both ends.  Tell me where I can get more wax!!!”

We’re going to the Minnesota State Fair tomorrow.  I received my first State Fair ribbon.  A fourth place.  On a little whole-cloth wall hanging that I don’t even have a picture of.  It was an afterthought to even enter it.  Isn’t that the way things go?  It’s fun to go and see all the fabulous quilts, and then try to find my friends’ quilts plus a few of my own. 

Something new at the fair this year is “Quilt on a Stick”.  It’s a 9″ x 8″ quilt with a vertical sleeve on the back to hold a paint stick.  Photos to come…

Sue