Sorry to hear about all that seam ripping, but spending time with a friend is a good distraction while you're ripping away.

Your new project looks interesting.  I like the butterfly fabric you're using for the applique.

Thanks Lynne.  It feels good to be back.

Thank you for the suggestion to use blue thread, Dee. I bought all of Superior's King Tut line years ago and I will probably use one of those threads when the time comes to quilt the monster. Right now I am going to focus on polymer clay for a while and create some bugs, flowers and other ornamental things to stick in my flower pots on our terrace.

Marcia, glad to hear that the parents really like it cause it is a fantastically fun looking quilt.  Love  the bright colors.

Jo

William is nice.  If I can keep it going long enough I could switch to My Sweet Billy.

Mishii said:

If I can keep it going long enough I could switch to My Sweet Billy.

and if you're especially nostalgic, you could use the familiar Billy Bob.  

Judy, I'm looking forward to seeing some of your polymer clay ornaments decorating your pots!

Thanks Jo!  I really like bright colors.  They're fun to work with and to look at.

Sounds like quite the visit with your friend and Jack. Your butterflies are really going to be pretty! Love your background fabric.

I am working now on leaching a bunch of of clay colors. That's about as exciting as pre-washing and ironing a big  batch of fabrics.    (Leaching is a process of removing excess plasticizers from brand new packages of clay.)

DH has halved my metal garden stakes (stakes I used to hold up Oriental lilies in decades long gone) so I will have durable metal stakes for my polymer creations.

I am flipping through old claying magazines looking for inspiration for funky flowers, etc.  None of my creations will aim for realistic "sculptural" flowers. No, they will be flowers, birds or bugs from Looney Tunes by way of Picasso or Salvador Dali. 

Right now I am testing for clay strength with baking times in the oven, etc.  Here is Scrapper the Freckle bird and a couple of bug friends; these will also be used for varnish testing.  (Well, look at that .... Scrapper is standing on her nose!)

Flower is far too small.  Notice that I am experimenting with a clay color I do not like.  LOL