Three WIPs

I have been sick since Sunday (sniffle, cough), and tomorrow I’m supposed to leave for a conference in Bend (in Central Oregon) till Saturday night. Bend is near the quaint little town of Sisters, home to Jean Wells and The Stitchin' Post.  I have decided that if I survive the drive (about 3-1/2 hours) and a board meeting Thursday night, I will live. And maybe, just maybe, I'll have time to run over to Sisters.  In the meantime, here are three WIPs in various stages:

Block 1 of the Sue Ross BOM

So far, so good.  Feeling pretty clever.

Feeling like a genius!  Super quilter!  

Now, to combine the inner ring with the outer ring.  Pin, pin, pin.....

  Sew, sew, sew....

Feeling in awe of my own brilliance, and the fact that it actually works!

Inner and outer rings together at last!

Yes, the light colored triangles are a little puckery, but the block lies flat and I think it will "quilt out."  It's not perfect, but I'm glowing with happiness over it.

And there's nothing like a little self-congratulatory margarita on the rocks with salt to help you live with the imperfections.  I still need to appliqué a circle into the center and then appliqué the whole block onto the background.  It's really an incredible looking block!

So, while I was still basking in the glow of my success, I decided to start block 2, and immediately got into GREAT difficulty!  From the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat (anyone remember that phrase -- it dates me).  

I have set block 2 aside for now.  I can whine about that later.

The next WIP is this Kaffe Fassett Red Columns Quilt from Westminster Patchwork and Quilting Book Number 2 (Westminster, 2000).  I really wish that I was a better photographer, because the stunning thing about this quilt is the rich, vibrant colors that I just couldn't seem to capture.  The quilt top is completed, I just have to decide on a back and a binding.

The wonky long cabin top is ALMOST finished.  I want to add about two more inches of white all the way around (I ran out of Moda Bella), perhaps a back pieced with large pieces of some of the Amy Butler fabrics, and then a pieced binding.

I made two other blocks with the strings from this quilt, just to play around a bit.  I think I will incorporate them into the backing.  Although, they would also make nice pillows...

Wonky quarter log cabin block.

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String block.  Sometime soon I am going to make a string quilt.

Oh, and Tobey (of recent improvisational block fame) admits that she is getting a big head from all the nice comments.  I, too, appreciate the lovely comments, both on the blog and those emailed to me.  I so enjoy hearing from everyone and love responding when I know your email address.  It’s so much more fun to have a conversation than write a monologue.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan