Works In Progress

I mailed the kids' quilt to Sophie yesterday, Priority Mail, so she should have it by Friday for binding.  Here's the next one to be quilted:

Isn't this just the CUTEST thing you've seen in a long time???  I just have to smile every time I look at it.  Debby McCarter sent this top to me.  She also made the one I just finished quilting.  I think she's awesome!!! 

So I'm open for quilting ideas - I have pulled a medium blue-to-violet variegated thread by Valdani to quilt this with.  My fast idea is to do a meander and throw in some stars here and there.  I could also do a medium size double loop meander.  (a circle inside a bigger circle, then a traveling line to the next circle set - about the size of a half dollar and a large lime) I guess I could also do squiggles, stars, and loops all mixed together.  So - any tips???

I promised some pics of the raw edged flower quilt blocks that my quilt buddies and I were making. 

There are 24 of these blocks - they are about 11" square - I'll set them 4 x 6 and put a border on it. The pattern is in a book, but I don't know why you couldn't draw one of your own.  Its just 3 squiggly circles, set one inside the other, cut into quarters, mixed up and sewn back together.  One of the girls in our group cut a 4th set of small circles to applique as centers in the blocks, but that wasn't part of the original design.  It looked pretty cute, but I don't know if I'll bother with it.  Looking at the blocks again, they aren't bad as they are right now.  After the blocks are sewn together, the pattern calls for large raw-edged leaves to be machine appliqued - they overlap the seam lines so they aren't added during block construction.  The leaves really add to the quilt, so I need to get some cut out and ready to sew.  Ta-da! That's my WIP for this week.

I've also been playing with fabric postcards and mixed media ATCs.  Anyone else like to make those?  Its so much fun - like being back in school when we made collages with pictures and construction paper.  My cutting table is a wreck - I have paints and glues and papers and scraps all over the place, but its been refreshing to dabble in something new.  I'm also still working on my mixed media scrapbook from the online class I took with Lenna Andrews; its on the back burner because I'm quilting right now, but I always have scrapbook ideas running through my head.  It will be wonderful when I can retire and play ALL DAY LONG. 

Joe's had a relapse on that bad cold/upper respiratory crud he's had for the past month.  He had gone to the doctor a couple weeks ago and got some high-power antibiotics and decongestants, but he got sick again when he went to Austin last week for a hospital board conference. I think he's going back to the doctor today.  Poor guy, he aches all over from the coughing and can't sleep, so he is a bear... and all the coughing makes his back hurt worse.  He's even using an inhaler a couple times a day.  I hope he gets well soon, he is so miserable.  So far, I'm pretty much over it - just a little nagging cough every so often. 

Spring is almost here in West Texas - my fruit trees are budding and the birds are coming back through here on their way home.  Our last freeze date is April 15, so we've still got a few weeks for some more cold weather, but the end is in sight.  Yee-haw.  I hate winter more and more every year.

Comments

[Debby]

Gee, I'm blushing =-) Thanks, Jeri, and thanks for quilting it!

[Claudia W.]

The dinosaur quilt is adorable.

I am in love with your ragged edge flower quilt blocks. They are so pretty, I love the colors. I hope Joe gets better soon!

[Lori]

That quilt is adorable! The meander sounds wonderful. you might also try outlining the dinosaurs to make the pop a bit.

[Debra Spincic]

Did you see the 2 flower quilts Suzanne quilted for Amy for the kids? Same idea. on Amy's blog.

[dee]

Oh Jeri, that's so cute and the all over meander is perfect for a kids quilt. I love the idea of the ATCs I just haven't gotten around to making any yet. If I would clean up my space there would be room (hmmmmm). Hope your husband is feeling better soon. It's really hard to shake those bronchial things.

[Rian]

Love those flower quilt blocks!