Tuesday, July 29, 2014

LE UFO

I pulled out an applique project that I haven't worked on for about 1 year.  

Why now?  Partially because I'm caught up on the Benjamin Biggs QAL
And partially because Esther posted an update on her LE zig zag border
 Which reminded me that I still love a lot about this quilt. 
But on the other hand, the style is far fussier than my preference.
 My current plan is to finish the border then go back through the released patterns and work in my favorite bits.  Very good possibility that it stops at baby quilt size....but time will tell.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Don't Cut Corners

I have learned my lessons.  I am stitching those corner motifs at the same time as the fun, new center design.

Because I am using fabrics from the stash, I have become increasingly more concerned that I won't have enough of the fabric that I have been using for the corner leaves and buds since I only have a fat quarter of each of those fabrics.
The first 6 blocks have the same corner bud fabrics, but 7,8,9, 12,13,14, 17,18,19 will have buds in similar, but different fabrics.  If I was ...(cooler, more organized, OCD) I could have made that even more intentional.  Meanwhile I am pleasantly optimistic that it will all work out.  Back to stitching.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Caught Up

I am finally caught up on the Benjamin Biggs Applique.

This block 6 reminded me how time consuming making nice circles can be.

When I fell behind before, I quickly made the centers.  But it took just as long to add the corner buds this weekend.

Lesson learned.  Not calling it "done" until the buds are finished.


Started block 7, but at the rate I'm moving, will likely take me a couple weeks.


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Aaaah Applique

At long last I had a few hours to spend on some applique.

I finished 4 of these corner motifs on one of the Benjamin Biggs blocks and prepared a few more. Those bumpy leaves take more time than I remembered, making the curves as smooth as possible.

I really must finish the corners before moving on to the next block.

I also finished the double leaves and 3 of the 4 center stems on block 6.

We had 2 back-to back vacations on the motorcycle where I was well behaved and drove right past known fabric stores.  With one exception.  When we stopped in Dillon, Montana I thought it seemed like the kind of place that would have a nice quilt shop.  Turns out I was right.

Looks like we'll be home for a while now, and with the 100+ F temps we're having, I'll be spending evenings inside doing applique.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Purple Mumu

Despite the fact that I didn't like how the dress turned out, I wore it to the 30th class reunion.  Here's my twin brother from another mother, Rob.

Jana was his other date.
He bought wrist corsages for his sister-wives.

Since we rode over, we had to take the curvy mountain route. 
(Stanley, Challis, Salmon, Dillon, day-trip to Jackson)
 Here are some bonus shots of booze & spectacular backdrops.  
Sawtooth Mountains, Stanley Idaho
Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Wyoming