Still here!

Summer is flying by already and I haven't done most of the things on my to do list! Where does the time go. I've been trying to get my house organized and cleaned up. (I guess it's a late spring cleaning.) Seems like every step forward I make, I take three or four back. I am making progress here and there but it doesn't show much yet. I did finally hang my clock up again. We took it down when we painted the walls in my sewing space several months ago. My son gave me a gift card for JoAnn's Fabrics for mother's day and I bought the giant scissors and a couple of other things. Aren't they fun to have in my sewing space? I bought the photo holder at IKEA and thought it would work to display some postcards. The photo shows what is above my computer.

I've been studying Sharon Schambers video on leaders, enders and rice bags. I've looked at a number of methods for getting my quilts on the long arm and so far I think I will like hers. I made the straps and enders for the sides according to her method and I'm sure that will work better than what I had. Still need to make the leaders but they should go together quickly. She uses velcro. I know many people use zippers but I decided to try the velcro for now. It's good to know I have options if it doesn't work for me. This photo shows my enders. Kind of a jumble now but I'll take another photo when I have them attached to a quilt.

I need to make six leaf postcards. The idea is to make them on one large piece of fabric and cut them apart. I did leaf pounding for these. I still need to finish them up but this is what they look like so far.

I like the look of just the edge and the center and wish I had thought of that at the beginning. I might have to make some more and try just that.

I have a few other Works In Progress that I'm trying to finish as well in between cleaning my house. Such as this one called Pick a Peck of Posies by Susan Perry. There are quite a few more blocks involved before I finish. This is another block of the month I purchased many years ago thinking it would be easier than making and buying my own. Hah! I messed up the first block so much it's almost a full inch smaller than all of the rest and I have no idea how I did that. I stopped after that first block and there it sat. It's going together perfectly now so far. Not for a beginner though. You are given exactly the amount of fabric needed and if you don't cut carefully you can't get all of the pieces from what they give you. You really have to plan every step of the way.

I also finished one more row on my potato chip bag purse. I made this row all black. I worked on this at our "quilter's day at the lake." Only four more rows to go!

I'll leave you with another garden shot. I have to enjoy my flowers while they last. Well, back to my cleaning. Can't wait to finish so I can spend some time dyeing and painting and rusting fabric while the weather is good. Have a creative day. Janet