I sat down to take a break, read a few blogs, and perhaps even work on a couple of EQ designs. And look what happened. Everyone else decided it was “break time” too. With a lapful like that, who can get anything done? And who would want to? So we clicked on the TV, watched a little HGTV before returning to housework and quilting.
I won’t share pictures of my housework (boring) but here are the completed February, yes I said February, blocks for the Carol Doak Mystery 2012-13 quilt. If I read her right these are the last blocks and soon we will get her plan for the layout. I am all caught up with this one so I am ready for the next step so I can have another UFO to guilt me. 
The quilting on my feathered star is coming right along. I only do a row a day but I am very happy with what I am seeing.
I did draw out, on a sheet of Plexiglas, my quilting design plan and then I took pictures. I printed them and that way I can make sure I am quilting the same thing in each of the stars and/or star points. I have two star points and then the final border row to do and the quilting will be done. I guess I better start looking for some binding fabric.
I am also still chugging away on Bonnie Hunters Easy Street. I am 1 block away from being on the last row which includes 4 blocks, 5 large triangles and 2 small triangles. And then, of course, I still have to sew all those blocks (and intersections) together. I know what I am going to use for a small stop border around the center but I have no idea about an outer border. And I don’t think I have anything in my stash that is jumping out and saying it is ready to play with this very bright and busy quilt. What fun it will be to be taking ES to the quilt stores to look for the best playmate. 
But I don’t think that is going to happen quite yet.
Have a great weekend, I know I will.
And yet, there is nothing on my design wall this morning.
During the last week I sewed the blocks together and decided on the inner border. I blogged about this fabric here and am really happy with how well it goes with my swap blocks.
And then I decided on the outer border and this past weekend I cut it out and
And sewed them on. I am so excited at how this quilt has turned out. During the making I, again, remembered how difficult swap blocks can be: not the right size, no quarter inch seam allowance, poor stitching, pleats inside the block, etc. However, once I decided that I was going to use each block pretty much as it came, the top came together to be beautiful. I also got the binding prepared so now it is ready for quilting (once I put a backing together).
And that brings me to the mental block I have been suffering since June. That’s when Judy at Patchwork Times offered lessons on stitching feathers. I made my quilt, a Carpenter’s Star, put it on the frame and stitched the top border.
And that’s as far as I got. Between the stitch regulator now working and my unhappiness with my feathers, I just couldn’t make myself go back into the quilting room…..until Sunday.
You see, I am making two quilts that I want to have done by Thanksgiving. Both tops are done but in order to get them quilted I have to finish this quilt. So Sunday I made the stitch regulator work and then quilted one more line.
I am not unhappy with how these feathers look, but I still need to quilt a curved feather as well as a circular feather. I have given myself this week to get this done: I really need to move on.
And, in between quilting bouts I will be making my funky chicken #9, my color challenge project, and working on my EQ7 lessons. And, how do I relax? I read murder mysteries, especially ones that include quilters. Nothing better than sitting on the swing out on the deck, reading a book and petting a puppy.
Oh, I also spend a little time on the computer trying to get through all the blogs that are posted on Patchwork Times every Monday. Lots of great stitching going on over there.
I won’t share pictures of my housework (boring) but here are the completed February, yes I said February, blocks for the Carol Doak Mystery 2012-13 quilt. If I read her right these are the last blocks and soon we will get her plan for the layout. I am all caught up with this one so I am ready for the next step so I can have another UFO to guilt me. 
I did draw out, on a sheet of Plexiglas, my quilting design plan and then I took pictures. I printed them and that way I can make sure I am quilting the same thing in each of the stars and/or star points. I have two star points and then the final border row to do and the quilting will be done. I guess I better start looking for some binding fabric.
