Off to the Mountains

Hi Firends,  I am going to get a short post up before leaving for the mountains for a short stay.  I am packed with both quilting and knitting projects.  Unfortunately, the UFO I am working on is a bit to bulky for the trip so I have packed a quilt with binding to finish and some handsewing as well as some beautiful new yarn.  I don't know how much time I will have, but at least I should get some things done.  My handquilting is coming along.  I almost have one of 4 sides done.  Only one circle of feathers to go on this side.  I am trying to work on it a little each day, and while I don't always make that goal, I do get to it most days.  I have learned to just keep at it and not to beat myself up when I don't make the daily goal.  It has helped me to stay focused and less discouraged.
Today I received a photo of a lovely wallhanging that Penny finished for the challenge ( see photo).   I am pleased that so many folks are participating and finishing things.  I even had someone sign up at our last meeting...it is never to late to start finishing things.
I know that it is hot and that quilting is sometimes not optimal in hot weather, but keep at it.  Until next time, Keep quilting...Best,  Vicki

Handquilting again

Well friends, first my apologies for not getting to this recently.  My daughter and now my son have visited and since they are so far away most of the time, I let many things, like the blog and a quilting group go.  But right now, I have a few minutes, so I wanted to share my progress on the old UFO.  After looking at many patterns and not finding anything that would fit well, I decided to try designing my own. What turned out to work in the space was 5 intlocking circles of about 11" in diameter.  Then, just for fun, I decided to add some feathers to the mix and an interior design.  It took a couple of times to get the direction of the feathers right, but think that I have it down.   Oh, and did I say that I am basically freehanding the design (except for the circles) so they aren't exactly even, but it is turning out to be quite interesting.  I have included a photo of  part of the panel.  Once I get this one done there are only 3 more sides to go.  This may get finished after all!   Oh, as for the handquilting....it is improving as I go along but the point is that I am on my way to finishing this thing.  Will be going away for a week soon and I may take this along to see if I can make progress.  My strategy has been to try to do a little every day and it seems to be working.

The challenge for the guild is also going well.  Every meeting I have prople coming to me to tell me that they have finished something (or 2 or 3).  It is great to see so many people having success.  At the next meeting, there will be a UFO adoption day where each person in the challenge can "finish" a UFO by having it be "adopted" by someone else with all of the materials needed to finish the project.  This will give folks the opportunity to rid themselves of something that they really don't want to finish but didn't think it right to just throw it away.  The purpose of this whole exercise is to get unfinished thing out of our lives, so in my book, giving it away fits the bill!  Will have to see how it works in practice.  That's it for now....until next time, keep on quilting!  Best, Vicki