This is all that is on my Design Wall today: one segment from Step 1 and Step 2 of Easy Street by Bonnie Hunter. I have 196 4 patch segments made (Step 1) and 32 of the 123 Flying Geese (Step 2) done. Right now I am caught up but lets see where I am on Friday when we get Step 3. 
I did finally get the ornaments on the 12 Days of Christmas quilt. Here it is hanging over the fireplace and mixed in with some of our other Christmas decorations.
This was a BOM-mystery from a couple of years ago, offered by Esther Aliu. What a challenge it was: diamond shaped pieced blocks, very small applique, large applique requiring custom quilting. Yet, it is one of my very favorite quilts.
On Saturday I went to a meeting of sewing friends and then visited 3 quilts shops on my way home. I went looking for black on white fabrics to add to my Easy Street stash. Here is what I found at two of the shops. The one I really like the best is the dotted fabric on the upper left (I bought more of it than the rest).
I also found some batiks (surprise, surprise) on sale at the first shop. This came as a kit for a pattern but I will probably use them differently as I rarely follow patterns.
And at the last shop I found these batiks on sale. If you have read my blog for any time you already know that I have a passion for batiks so there was no way I could pass these up?
This week I hope to finish Step 2 of Easy Street, begin my last Funky Chicken block, plan the 5th teapot fabric, and at least print the foundations for Carol Doak’s mystery. And since it has been in the low 70s, with sunshine, around here, I will be making room for some reading on the deck. This looks like it is going to be a busy week.
on my Design Wall this Monday. I almost wasn’t going to write but, oh well, here I am anyway.
Here is what is on my design ironing board this morning. It is Teapot #2. I really like the fabric (a really small scrap) but I’m afraid that the lid and spout are blending right into the background fabric. I’m going to have to add something to make them stand out but, of course, Ms. No Artistic Talent here, can’t figure out how to do it. It may be that this teapot is making a decision for me. I haven’t decided if I will stitch these down with my usual invisible zigzag or with a colorful blanket stitch. I am thinking that a red, to match, blanket stitch would outline her beautifully but that would mean blanket stitching all of the teapots. Fortunately teapot stitching isn’t in my near future. 
In addition to the teapot I did get 5 of my 6 Funky Chickens stitched. I’m not including a picture since they have been displayed several times before. And, I did do cleaning in-between each chicken. I can almost see the top of my cutting table now. I have pressed and folded several yards of fabric and found/made up several large scraps to go into my fat quarter drawers.
While dealing with scraps I started a new scrap bin.
Meet Mr. Batik Bear. He came with animal crackers and last week I ate the last two so he was here, empty, and feeling left out. I am planning on making some batik crumb blocks and he is a great place to put all those little pieces while they wait for me to get started.
He and I spent some time outside yesterday in the very pleasant weather: low 80s, low humidity, slight breeze. Great for rocking on the porch with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Did you see this plant in the previous picture? I had it hanging off the porch roof but it has tendrils that climb and attach and when we were expecting a storm I had to cut it down to move it. I decided that it needed a different place so I have hung it off of the iron maiden that stands outside my studio. I figure that the plant will climb up her and cover her with leaves and the red flowers that will eventually bloom again.
One more thing. I took a break from studio cleaning and we spent the day in Pensacola. I can’t go there without visiting A&E Pharmacy, where they have lots of fabric.
I didn’t have anything in mind when I went so I only shopped the sale fabrics and these are the ones that came home with me.
The one on the right is going to be the backing for one of my Christmas quilts. It really is a panel but since there is a child in the home I think he will enjoy the winter animals.
The center is really a brighter green and will be the backing for another quilt I have started but have not taken any pictures of yet.
And the one on the left, which is more of a yellow/tan is for me. It is a batik: no plan. The good thing about these fabrics is that they were only $3.98 a yard.
And this picture is of the reason it takes me so long to get things done. Just about the time I really get into a project, over comes DH to announce “Break Time.” And see how happy he is. Maybe later this week I will post some pictures of the project he has been working on: redoing his cowboy themed great room.
Yes, I live with Eric, Hoppy, Roy, Gene, Lash, Rocky, Rex, and many more old time cowboys.
Well, the dishwasher has stopped so I guess it is time to move on to other things. Be sure to stop over to Patchwork Times to see the progress other quilters are making.
Last week I posted on Facebook that I think we may have to take the roof off of our deck. It seems that it is so nice out there that I spend a great deal of time out on the deck, reading and/or on the computer. I spend very little time doing the menial, unrewarding housework type things and almost no time in the studio doing what I really like (but can't do on the deck). My daughter almost immediatly replied that she would be willing to take the roof off my hands so I had to rethink my solution to this perplexing problem. The roof stays and I must use my time better in order to enjoy all my time and toys. How's that?
On Friday I went to my LQS because she was having a sale that included batting. I like one particular type of batting so try to buy it (like all she had) in bulk and on sale. While there I asked her if she had the apple core die for the GO. She didn't but would order it for me and then she gave me 6 precut apple core pieces to play with.
This is my first experiment with sewing nothing but curves. I have to say I was pretty pleased with myself. I'm not sure what I will do with it, it is a little too big to be a mug rug and maybe a little too small to be a placemat.
I even like the look of it from the wrong side: I like seeing how well I did on those curves.
And, as long as I have your attention, I will share one other thing I bought while I was on vacation, the Pooh doll. This was a doll that was sold in limited edition about 10-12 years ago. I saw her when a patient of mine was given one. I tried to get one too but they had moved on to another doll and I never could find her. Then, while in NC, there she was, still in her box (a little shabby now, but in really good condition and will all her tags and everything. And, a whole lot less than she would have been if I had gotten her new. I should say that I have a pretty large Pooh collection of stuff and that I stopped collecting Pooh things about 3 years ago. But I couldn't pass her up and she fits very nicely in the cradle with my other fun doll. I think they make great playmates and pretty soon I will need to make them a new, bright and cheery quilt for their bed.
Today’s design wall is highlighting “the dragon”. I have appliqued about 2/3rd’s of one side of him. But this is going to go slow because I get really tired of wrestling with him. So I am going to give him about 1-2 hours a week until he is complete. 
I finally got a pretty good picture of the center of Easy Street, complete. 
And here it is again, with the three borders I have decided on. 
I only got the outer border fabric last Friday. I went to look only for the border fabric, BUT, when I walked in the first thing I saw was a sign for 20% off all batiks. I was really good and looked for the border fabric first but once it was in the cart, I was on the hunt. I didn’t buy a lot of each fabric but I did add to my batik collection. 
And DH has found a new job at home. He has “thousands” of slides. He began teaching over 45 years ago and putting on high school/college musicals and plays . And he took slides of all of his productions until video came into being. So for Christmas I gave him a device which allows him to upload slides into his computer. And this week he got a slide viewer so he can sort his thousands of slides. This is our dining room table: we may never be able to eat there again. 
