Picnic time again!

My second rendition of the Primitive Gatherings Picnic Quilt is a flimsy now. I need to get the backing sewn together and get it to my LAQ next week. I know, I just got a midarm machine and am going to do my own quilting now, but this is a gift quilt and my skills are not up to snuff on full size quilts.

As this has been coming together I have been making more Spring Baskets as leader/enders. I will have 10 when I am finished. I've made mine a little smaller than the pattern.

Yes, I see the error in the top, middle basket. I have more trouble with
baskets than anything else!

 I think 9 of them will go in the above setting and the tenth may find its way into a little quilt that Kathie posted the link to earlier. You can download the free pattern for Baby Basket here.

Many of you are aware that Temecula Quilt Co. posted basket number five and the setting for their Blessings Baskets sew-along on Thursday. I was very anxious to get all of the fifth baskets made for my four versions and get them set, but time has not allowed. I did make the last basket for the batik set and cut the pieces for the setting. Here it is on the design wall. Can't wait to sew it up and get the others made.

As I said in a previous post, the sashing fabric was just a scrap. I had to cut the sashing strips 1/4" narrower than the pattern indicated and then piece the last two strips together lengthwise in order to make it work. It is a busy enough print that I don't think it shows. I'm really happy with how this little quilt is coming together, but I have no clue as to what I will do with it.

 I've been sewing like a madwoman to try and catch up on the Barrister's Block Sow-Along. I was behind by several blocks on the Christmas set. Now I am all caught up there--until Wednesday.


                                                                                     

These three are the latest two bonus blocks Randy has gifted to us (on either end) and the center block is one I had made incorrectly the first time around. I had totally missed the fact that there were double 4-patch blocks. I'm still going to use the first one I made--so I guess that means these are all bonus blocks! : )
Look how fun these plaids and stripes are when they all come together!

 I should never have signed on to the SewCalGal Free Motion Quilting Challenge. I am always squeaking in under the wire with my link. And I don't have a very good photo of my quilting. Everything turned out either blurry, washed out, or the quilting didn't show up. I haven't wanted to try out March's challenge on something I liked, so I postponed it as long as possible. Last night I was flipping through this book when I came across this design and it made me think of a table runner I had made years ago and never finished because I wasn't crazy about it.

So I pulled out the runner, bought some greyish purple thread today and started stitching these little tulips with some loops thrown in for good measure. It is really hard to see the stitching. I made lots of mistakes, but I am not extremely unhappy with it. I might even use it. 

Finally (sorry this is so long--I only seem to get around to posting once a week and then there is so much to share), I got my fabric winnings from Doniene's 15th Fabric Giveaway. She is posting a giveaway of a small bundle of fabric the 15th of each month throughout the year. If you link to follow her blog you won't miss any of them.
I'd better save the rest for later. I need to get this linked to the FMQ challenge before I turn into a pumpkin.
Until next time,
Janet O.

p.s. Happy April Fool's Day, and happy birthday, Chris! I actually have the pattern and fabric gathered for your gift! : )

Feathers are for the Birds!

There are so many people doing the Free Motion Quilting Challenge that have made beautiful feathers, that I am hesitant to post my efforts. I think I am feather-challenged so I struggled with February's feather challenge, in spite of Diane's great tutorial. However, I'd love to have my chance to win prizes (LQSs don't carry Aurafil thread), so I am swallowing my pride. Here we go. I will admit that they look better in the photos than they do in real life!

Kind of hard to see the darker ones. I kept trying because I thought I would eventually get one I liked. I'll just keep trying. : )

Until next time,

Janet O.