Progress

I am linking up with Amy today for her One Thing, One Week Challenge.  I have several projects percolating and it seems as though I just can't get any one of them completed, so my goal this past week was to get at least one of the quilt tops I have been working on finished.

I am happy to report that not only did I finish two, I also prepared the backs and they are now ready to be quilted and I finished a small wall hanging.

This quilt was made using a Mary Engelbreit layer cake that I've had in my stash for several years and the Twister ruler and pattern by CS Designs.  I am pleased with how it turned out.

This quilt is last years block of the month club at one of our local quilt shops.  The setting and layout are my own choice.

To be fair I only had to add the final border to both quilts.  The wall hanging was a little more work, I hand quilted it very simply added a hanging sleeve and binding and now its ready for next christmas.

What have you been working on lately?

Wallflowers

I'm a very tactile person.  I love pattern and texture and color.  I love the feel of things, the soft silky smoothness of a rose petal in contrast to the prickly thorns.  You can't really appreciate one if you haven't touched the other.  As a youngster whenever we went any where, the supermarket, the fabric store, a furniture store, my parents were constantly telling me to keep my hands off the merchandise and in my pockets.

Maybe that's why I like to quilt.

Maybe that's why I signed up again for the state fair quilt challenge.

I've had since September to figure out what to do and when Amy posted last week that she was going to do the One Thing, One Week Challenge I decided it was time to "git 'er done"!

So here's the top all pieced.

The State Fair Quilt Challenge is using not less than 50% of a fat quarter (a piece of fabric 18" x 22") of the current challenge fabric in a quilt, wall hanging size.  The challenge fabric here is the farm animal print in the center blocks.  I think I shall call it "Wallflowers at the Barn Dance".  What do you think?

This is the third year I have participated.  My first effort won a first place blue ribbon, my second effort won a second place red ribbon.  Hopefully I can buck the trend.

It's your turn now.

Almost Finished

Last week I decided to participate in Amy's One Thing, One Week Challenge.  I am taking an applique class at one of my favorite quilt shops and we are doing Aunt Millie's Garden a pattern from Piece O' Cake Designs.  I have not done any needle turn hand applique before, but have done several machine applique projects.  I have taken several classes over the years on the technique, but have not taken those lessons home with any specific project in mind, so I don't have any real experience or practice at doing it.

Finally Jeannette over at Piper's Quilts and Comforts has de-mystified needle turn hand applique for me and I am doing it and enjoying the process rather than being intimidated by it.

So for the one thing, one week challenge I said that I wanted to finish the first block, well even though I didn't quite get it done I did finished enough of it to share and am confident that I can and will finish it before our next class.

You can see what everyone else has been up to by clicking on the link here.