Projects, Projects, Projects……

I love reading about the projects you are currently working on and watching as the quilts come to life. Some of you are working toward finishing “17 in 2017”. Others are determined to make quilts from their present stash without acquiring any new fabric in 2017 (I disqualified myself from this one on January 2^nd!).

I literally quilt every day. And although I'm away from my house for over 9 hours a day, it seems like I should have more to show for my efforts. So, I decided to once again count the projects I am currently working on. I found that I have 9 quilts underway that I have in hand on a daily or at least weekly basis. And, my “list to make” includes 35 (yes 35!) more. I find myself looking at the list on a Saturday morning and feeling so overwhelmed that I just have to start an entirely new quilt. So, I made a new “header” on my “make it” list that states “I need to retire so I can quilt full time”!

Bla, bla, bla… so here is what I worked on over the weekend.

Our statewide quilt guild hosts a very fine quilt show every year in July. (read all about it on our website www.MaineQuilts.org ). This year will be our 40^th anniversary. Founding members, Patricia Libby and Virginia Morrell are hosting a special invitation exhibition of 40 quilts from 20 members. They graciously invited me (Cyndi Black – Busy Thimble, is also a participant) to join in the fun.

The rules are that each of us will make two quilts 24” square. The first will be a solid red and white (fabric provided) quilt from a Ruby McKim pattern. It has to utilize 4 10” blocks and a 2” border. 

The second quilt must contain the chosen block in some form, but we are to use our creativity and to make something unique. I won’t show that one here until after July so I won’t spoil the “reveal” at the show. But since the first one is pretty cut and dried, I can show you my progress.

I cut away the excess on the back so it will be easier to hand quilt around the inner blossom. I didn’t back baste this one even the finest pencil line showed through to the front of this “champagne” colored background fabric.

One of my first quilt books (Christmas 1971 – yikes!) was One Hundred and One Patchwork Patterns by Ruby McKim. So, of course I was thrilled to be chosen to be part of this group.

I guess because so much of my work is by hand, I am more “process” than “project”! Not complaining really as it does keep me sane (well, almost).

Hope you get lots of stitching time this week.