Wednesday's Progress

I've been working on a few different things, and one of them has NOT been my Aunt Millie's Block. :( I just am having a mental block, and I know it's the hand piecing, but I'll get there. It isn't even a huge part of the block, and I could probably do it differently, but we'll see.... So, this is what I've been doing instead: I finished my A Tisket A Tasket January block.


The May block was just posted yesterday here. It's super cute.

I got my Soiree purchases in the mail. The yardage is yum, yum, yummy!  I used quiltshops.com website to search for it. I always have good luck finding what I need, and all of the stores have all been very speedy to ship my purchases. This time I ordered from Desperate Quilters. They even sent a packet of tea, and a free Moda pattern, too. Highly recommended. I pieced all of the blocks from the 2 charm packs, I just love that fabric. I'm feeling like I might go back for more! (Don't tell hubby, he just shakes he head after coming back from the mailbox, and there's another purchase waiting for me!)  I can just imagine a cute, summery, something good made with it!



And finally, I'm back to working on my Primitive Garden blocks.  I have posted about these before here, and here, and here.  This block is really neat. The garden gloves aren't shaped quite as they should be, but they'll do. I'm slowly working on these blocks. They are fused down, beautifully hand died wools from Primitive Gatherings, and then blanket stitched with perle cotton floss. The blanket stitch goes pretty quickly, it's the prep work that takes time and patience. Much like anything else, I suppose, the work is definitely worth it in the end.

April Vacation

I have been slacking on my projects this week. The kids are on April vacation, and really don't want to sit around and watch me sew, and I can't say I blame them! The weather has been one extreme to the next, too. Sunny and beautiful one minute, pouring and windy the next! I did manage to finish my Aunt Millie's block, and I'm getting really close to the toe on sock #1. I'm not crazy about having to repeat the whole sock again, it's a very boring stockinette stitch. Next time I'm going to have to put in a pattern around the cuff. I was really stuck on "turning the heel", but I found some great instructions on ask.com. What did we do before computers????

Feeling A Little Better....

I have my next Aunt Millie's block all prepped. I have been trying many different methods for the blocks so far, and this month I used the spray starch and heat resistant template plastic. I have to say, it looks like the time consuming process is actually worth it! The seams are all turned under, and now I can just sit and stitch, which I think is the best part!


I'm posting a picture of my Miranda Bag. I made it last summer with asian fabrics, something I wouldn't normally quilt with, but the fabric was so pretty, I just couldn't leave it behind! I purchased some black and white fabric to make another bag, from the Miranda Bag pattern. It is for my mother-in-law for mother's day. I know my mother checks this blog, so her present has to stay off the blog... she'll peek even if I say not to! I do have to admit though, I'm just like her in that respect, so I understand :)

My other most recent project is to make a quilt blog roll/carrier to bring all of my applique blocks out with me. I found a great fairy frost charm pack, and 1/2 yard to coordinate with it for the interior. I'll definitely embellish the outside, too. Maybe some yo-yo flowers, or wool, rick rack and ribbons, oh my!

Aunt Millie's Block #2

Yahoo, number two is through!  I love the orange and bright turquoise combination together, the blue is so vibrant!   I have most of the fabric picked out for my next block, they are light aqua blues.  These blocks have really been keeping me feeling bright and cheery, despite the long, long winter we are having this year.  I realized today that my blocks aren't numbered correctly...  I have them numbered in the order I'm doing them, not their actual number in the pattern, oops.  I also noticed that in the picture, my background looks orange, but it's a true Kona red.  I tried to take the picture with several different options and flash, but they are all reading orange in the photos, oh well.  Off to prep the next block.  I was thinking today, I really wish there was a way to be in "blogland", and still be able to quilt too!  Wishfull thinking..... :)

Oh yippie! My Aunt Millie's garden block 1 is all appliqued...I am so happy with how it turned out.  I'm looking forward to starting the next one.  We're getting more snow today, and  I have to say, I'm quite ready for Spring.  Looking at all of these bright colors and beautiful flowers helps to remind me, that despite at least 6 more weeks of winter according to Paunxsutawney Phil, the nice weather will come, eventually.