What a great week, so far.
I finished quilting Jack and was going to bind it but decided I need to get back to the deadline projects. I brought it in to put on my end table and decided I like the rough look so it is going to stay that way until after the first of the year and then a quick binding, just because I will tire of this look pretty quickly.
This is the backing on Jack. It is fabric I have had for at least 7 years. I had planned to make a vest but, as you can see, that didn’t happen. I used to really enjoy Halloween when the kids were little but now, way out in the country, we really don’t celebrate it much. I have put out some of our decorations but we don’t get very excited over it.
Monday night was another of our great grandson’s soccer games. We really do have fun watching them run and kick with almost no idea of which way they should be going. 
Tuesday I spent trying to sort out a closet. I have filled 3 bags with clothing and old comforters that will be going to Goodwill tomorrow. And, of course, I haven’t made a dent in what needs to be sorted. 
And yesterday, well for the most part it was spent sitting on the deck with a good book. It was one of those beautiful Fall days, warm, sunshine, breeze, leaves falling, way too nice to be inside doing anything productive.
But late in the afternoon the book was finished so I went inside and appliqued one chicken and cut the pieces for the Carol Doak BOM for October. Here they are all stacked up and labeled, ready for stitching.
And this is where I stopped: 3 sections done and one to go. However, it was my turn to cook dinner so I had to leave.
Today it is raining. I can sit on the deck but, after the obligatory housework is finished I am headed back to the studio to finish what I started and move on to other fun stuff. Interestingly, I will be all caught up on the 3 BOMs I am doing. I was very careful to not let me get overwhelmed this year with BOMs and that has worked out great. I have had to miss out on several I would like to do but the lack of pressure has been wonderful.
Since I stopped working for Weight Watchers I have found that I have been “forgetting” everything I was taught and had been teaching for the last 3 years. So I am back on plan. I hadn’t gone very far astray but I could see the old habits coming back and I just can’t have that. This was my breakfast this morning: whole wheat toast with sugar free pumpkin butter (yum), sliced apple and coffee. When I am thinking about it I eat slowly and that means that when I am finished I feel satisfied and comfortable. I did share some of the apple with my parrots: they love 0 points fruit and veggies. 
Wow, this has been a busy week.
First Rhonda posted this free pattern. That was right after I had decided that I was not going to start anything new until I was done with the few things I am making for Christmas.
However, isn’t this terrific? Here he is all fused and I really already have him appliqued. I will get him quilted and bound today, hopefully, and then he will be hanging around until Halloween is over.
So, what do you supposed are these? Well, they are a small part of a project I offered to do and that I am not at liberty to share.
And this is another part.
In fact, my embroidery machine was hard at work all week. We made one label that is ready for the quilt on the frame.
In fact I also got another label embroidered, not finished, as well as three insects. Small things for my design wall but three different projects seeing progress.
Meanwhile the seasons are changing, even here in the deep south. Here this tree is called a Sweetgum tree and is the most colorful tree we have on the property.
We also have several oak trees. Here you see the little acorns. There are now hundreds of them on the ground and on the deck. They are so small they fit in the cracks between the deck boards. However, they don’t feel very good under bear feet!
But none of this activity or change is interfering with Ms. Murphy’s beauty sleep.
So, quietly please, hop on over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are working on.
My hubby found this cartoon, which he had given me last year, and brought it into the studio while I was working on my “feathers quilt.” We both thought this was perfect for this situation.
After spending part of almost every day last week learning how to quilt feathers, I finally got this one done.
I know it’s hard to tell in this picture but some of my feathers look pretty good. And some? Well, not so much. I don’t have a picture of the whole quilt, yet, because it was raining outside when I finished and there was no room to lay it out on the inside.
I had to take breaks frequently because I found that I was using a “death grip” on the handles.
So then I would change to a finger tip control. I was frequently surprised to find that my hand had gone back to the death grip. This went on all week but did get better toward the end.
I left the side borders unquilted. Then I turned the quilt, fastened the now top border (with my wonderful red snappers) and let the rest of the quilt float with only the magnets to hold it tight. When the top borders were done I turned it and finished the bottom borders. It was so easy. This was the first time I have used the magnets and they were great!
On Saturday I took the day off from this quilt and we went to the gulf. We found a great place to sit under the pier (shade) and watched the pelicans and people. It was a beautiful day and so calming.
We had a great lunch at Outback. This is chicken, artichoke, and parmesan cheese on flatbread. Then some shopping, a “short” visit to Dunkin Donuts and back home to the puppies and cats.
I do have one regret. This is the first month that I didn’t get my color challenge made, or even started. I did make a plan for a pickle dish table runner in what looked to me like fall colors. I cut some of the fabrics for the arks but that’s as far as I got.
I got the fabric out for the backing on one of the Christmas quilts and will be piecing it soon and have it on the frame soon.
And, today the new Funky Chicken and Teapot blocks come out and I’m ready for them!!
Since I stopped working for Weight Watchers I have found that I have been “forgetting” everything I was taught and had been teaching for the last 3 years. So I am back on plan. I hadn’t gone very far astray but I could see the old habits coming back and I just can’t have that. This was my breakfast this morning: whole wheat toast with sugar free pumpkin butter (yum), sliced apple and coffee. When I am thinking about it I eat slowly and that means that when I am finished I feel satisfied and comfortable. I did share some of the apple with my parrots: they love 0 points fruit and veggies. 
