Greetings from my deserted island...

I'm proud to say that I powered through and finished a couple of things that were about to end up back in the closet!

First up, my Halloween quilt (that I am desperately trying not to think of as "The Covid Quilt") but I am naming it "The Gold Tooth." Can you see why? I always love adding a little humor to my work. This will be my first BIG quilt on the longarm and I can't wait. Black batting is on the way!

 Next up, my Fourth of July table runner! It was not ready, but no one came over, so it was not missed. :-(  I used a Schnibble pattern called Lincoln for the blocks, but I rearranged therm to look more like a flag. I am absolutely obsessed with this fabric right now-- it is Minick and Simpson's "Mackinac Island."

Doesn't this just remind you of summering in the Upper Peninsula at your grandmother's lake house? (No, I don't have that memory either, but it's lovely, isn't it?)

I ordered a yard of it for my backing fabric, and it took so long to come, that I forgot and then ordered two yards from the same place.

My obsession comes late-- the fabric line sold out weeks ago. But I did snag this wickedly expensive cheater cloth to practice on the longarm. It also is a real Block-of-the-Month-- I so wish I had signed up for it, but it's too late! Sometime you can pick things up on Ebay months later and I intend to keep an eye out.

This is just a crummy picture I pulled off the web to show you the Derby Street Quilt. Did you sign up? <3

So then, if you thought that navy roses fabric was gorgeous, here it is on cream. I definitely needed six yards of that for the backing of my cheater cloth. It's been a bit of an expensive month-- but we're still saving based on what we used to spend on eating out-- plus the savings on a therapist haven't even been calculated in... it definitely made me happy.

You'll see that I bought that fabric from an Etsy shop-- highly recommend switching to some of these smaller retailers right now-- I had it in three days-- no chance of forgetting what I ordered or what it was for this time.

And here it is! I finished my hand cross stitch stocking!

It is BEAUTIFUL! 23 years in the making.

Some of you asked if I will be digitizing a Christmas machine cross stitch stocking and, yes, I do have one in mind but it would take 3 or 4 hoopings to do it. It's a scene of Russian-looking town with horse and carriage and of course, snowflakes everywhere! Let's see what happens.

And finally, "Sew In Love." I skipped ahead to Month 7 to avoid making 8 more of Month 5 in different colors. It't a large folksy tulip, and my apologies to the designer, but it's a bit rough... all concocted with  weirdly shaped pattern pieces, Y seams, and curved piecing. I signed up for the applique version, so why would I prefer this method to hand sewing?

On the plus side, I really compliment Editya (we're on a first name basis now) with providing enough fabric and then some--- there is almost enough to make two quilts-- so I was able to just rework it to simple applique on 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" background fabric.

The large petals of the flowers also lend themselves perfectly to English Paper Piecing, so I have those all assembled. Even if you think you won't like a technique, it's worth learning something to have it in your toolbox if needed.

So those are coming along albeit slowly-- since I don't have a piecing project right now, I might simultaneously work on Month 9-- checkerboards-- which I love. There is no going back to working in order now--LOL.

So that is what I have been beavering along on in isolation--

I have really never had progress like this on craft projects before in my life.

Remember when asked what you would bring if you had to live on a deserted island? I am blessed to have everything I need.

If sewing ever fails me,
I will turn back to scrapbooking, or forward to book writing.

Zoom meetings with friends have just fallen by the wayside-- there is just nothing left to say and it will be months before I see them again. 

:-(