Fused Happiness

 Even though I may have 14 UFOs, and four quilts in progress, sometimes I just have to drop everything for a new project.  I found this project in a magazine, and it was yellow flowers on a red background.  I became obsessed to make my own.  This is just my second attempt at any type of applique (made the first one 10 days ago), and I am easing into it with fused applique.

 A few years ago I watched a couple other techniques, but turned and ran as fast as I can.  Now I am thinking I may try it again.  Lately I have been interested in whimsical applique quilts and Aunt Millie's Garden by Piece O'Cake Quilts.  I am sure the bold colors initially attracted me to something that I had previously thought as uninteresting quilts.

We had beautiful fall color this year on our trees, and I snapped this one the day before the leaves dropped. We have 10 of these trees, and it amazes me how they change color and lose leaves at different times...

A Wonderful Quilt Retreat

I just got back from our annual retreat in Oakhurst, just a few miles from the south entrance to Yosemite.  This is the view from the sewing room on Saturday morning.  Isn't it gorgeous?  We had three inches of snow.  It all melted while we were there, and just in time to drive to the local quilt shop, too.

I had a great time.  My daughter joined me this year for the first time, and she loved being able to sew for almost three days with no little ones around.  It was really nice to have her sewing beside me.  She is so creative. 

I didn't get much sleep - I just couldn't sleep past 5:00 a.m., and I didn't get to bed until midnight each night.  That's okay, because I did get lots of stitching done - I made three aprons, one wall hanging, started my first ever applique item, and planned out my next project. 

I Feel Like I Almost Climbed Mt. Everest

Okay, I know that's really exaggerated, but listen...  I think I have had this quilt on my frame since June.  I really wanted it to be special.  I wanted it to be different.  When I loaded it in June I thought it would be done in a 2-3 weeks.  But then all of my vacations began...  Flagstaff, AZ; Bear Lake, UT; Spain, France, visiting my mom and dad in Wisconsin.  Then school started.  Then my mom got sick and I spent three weeks with her and my dad, helping him through her funeral and needing to move him to an assisted living facility.  Then I just didn't feel like doing anything, even quilting.  Since I lost my mom, the pain is still so raw, and I have really felt like I need to be with my husband, daughters, and my grandkids more.  Which means less quilting time.

 So, yesterday I removed this quilt from the frame and I THINK it is done.  Yes, think, because I really feel like I want to change it.  Have you ever done that?  I feel like those green and blue squares in the border really detract from the beautiful center of the quilt.  I am thinking I may actually cut a new border, and reload it on my machine, and applique down a strip to cover those squares.

I think I know how best to do continuous curves...wow... that's a whole lotta cc's, isn't it?  I really didn't want to do this one in feathers like most Triple Irish Chains are done -- you know feather wreaths, feathers in the borders.  We'll see if I am still happy with that decision at a later date...