Motivation

I was totally motivated to get this top assembled in time for Take Your Child to Work Day...until I learned they didn't need me after all.  That took the wind right out of my sails.  But I have a new deadline of May 18, for a Wellness Expo.  Different audience, same message - eat your fruits and veggies. 

This MAY also mean I'll get to complete this quilt on a new sewing machine.

A couple rows are missing because I'm taking them on a field trip.  I test drove a Baby Lock a few weeks ago, and the shop owner suggested I bring in a project and thoroughly test the machine. That's tomorrow's mission - I'll try doing a long seam, chain piecing and a simple applique.  Should be fun!  :)

Scraps by Judy Martin

This book is so engrossing, it's almost dangerous. 

Saturday my Sweetie and I took a jaunt to Iowa.  Should have been a 3 hour trip.  I knew there was a confusing interchange right after Dubuque.  But I was looking at my new book, assuming that my Sweetie would comment when the interchange came up, or if he had a question about it.  

So on we drove, blissfully unaware that we had passed through the interchange incorrectly, and were now moving further and further off course.  In retrospect there were many clues, such as the town of Zwingle, IA. Surely I would have remembered that unusual name!

We eventually realized our error, corrected our course and got to where we were going.  It took about 5 hours total.  That's the last time I'll read a Judy Martin book when I should be navigating. :)

Making Progress

Went visiting this weekend, so I didn't expect to do any quilting.  Then on Saturday, travel plans were delayed by 30 minutes - so I quickly pinned the Olympic Rings below.  Now its set to go for the Crafter's Luncheon at work.  

Tried to do a shop hop on Sunday, but our timing was off, and we missed an exit.....so no shop hop.  But I located three LQSs that I hope to visit soon. Got home early and put the extra time to use, piecing the Picnic Quilt above.  This puts me ahead of schedule on the picnic quilt - making my self-imposed (but unrealistic) deadline of April 22 (TYCTW Day) more feasible. A nice surprise! :)

Picnic Quilt Layout

While working on this quilt I had a brainstorm: This would be a great prop for Take Your Child To Work Day - but its less than two weeks away!  So I challenged myself to get all the nine-patches done by this weekend. This gives me 12 days to assemble, add the border, baste, quilt and bind.   Time for some uber-quilting!  :)

Picnic Quilt Start Up

I saw this quilt made up at my LQS, and fell in love with it.  As a dietitian, we are always telling people to eat all the colors of the rainbow.  This quilt will help serve that purpose (and brighten up an otherwise boring sea of beige cubicles).  I have just 81 more nine patches, and 49 half triangle squares to go!  :)

Rose Bud Begins

After designing this quilt on EQ6 I had to try making the squares to see if they'd come out right.  The chain took 5 minutes.  The rose bud was more challenging.  Had a few false starts, but produced my first rose bud square in an hour or two.  It should be easier now that I have a block to refer to. 

I've started another project - for which I amassed far more fabric than I truly needed.  So this rosebud quilt will be an outlet for all those beautiful reds!  :) 

Rose Bud Variation

Having more fun with EQ6.  Here's another option for my Rose Bud quilt.  If I'm gonna make this one, I better start immediately.  LOTS of piecing!

Lazy Daisy - Quilted and Bound

  Here is the final Lazy Daisy, front, back and (high tech) border motif.

Rose Bud Quilt Design

I've had this quilt planned in my mind for a long time, but thanks to EQ6, now I can share it with you!  I hope to use a Kaffe Fassett floral for the border. This queen-size quilt will go to the annual Love, Lauren Celebration, this summer. See: http://www.bpchildresearch.org/help/love_lauren.html to learn more about this event, and/or JBRF - Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation.

Winter's Song - Complete!

Well, here it is at last.  I spent many months tracking down exactly the right shades of red for my birds. Though it was a challenge, I'm happy with the hand applique, tho some day I'd like to do another applique project by machine.

My original plan was to complete this earlier in the winter.  But then I got sidetracked with a Christmas Tree Quilt, oragami bags, a Tranquility runner and a Valentine runner...so the winter quilt got done in spring.  Still, I have it displayed in my living room because I'm seeing and hearing much cardinal activity...so we can enjoy them all year long.

With a litlle luck I'll have another quilt completed to share in the next day or two.

After that I'll reorganize a bit and start cutting what will be quilted picnic blanket.  The beautiful weather has insired me to get more things done so I can go out to my flower bed and dig in the dirt.