Yeah, I'm at the stage of my quilting career where if I can no longer make complex and intricate at least I can find patterns and techniques so I can make cute and cool.  LOL

Very cute, Judy.  I'd be wanting to do the crossword puzzle.  

Until a few days ago my sewing machine has felt a bit neglected since my knee replacement surgery.   But now I'm almost back to normal and ready to sew!  In May the son and daughter-in-law of long time friends announced they were expecting their second son in October.  Well, with all our medical issues and doctor appointments, I forgot about it until over the weekend!  I quickly chose an easy, cute pattern and started sewing.  I didn't have much cutting to do because the quilt has a bunch of 9 patches and I had a big bunch of 2 1/2" squares that I've saved after cleaning up from previous projects.  Yesterday I completed 24 9 patches and today I squared them up.  I now need to cut and sew 24 snowball blocks to complete the top.  They should be a bit faster to make than the 9 patches.  So I have a chance of completing the quilt before baby reaches two months old.  I made them a quilt for the first boy, which they appreciated, so I have to make one for the second boy.  I'll feel guilty if I don't

I've also been working on a house block for a friend who's moving but that doesn't take a lot of time at the machine.  Now that I have a nice selection of kitties, I'll finish the block before I work on the quilt.

PIQF is here ... Pacific International Quilt Festival .. one of the real BIG quilt shows on the West Coast.  For the past several years, Judy Akers, has been gracious enough to host me at her house for the 3 days/2 nights that we spend at the show, so that I don't have to travel back and forth the 1 hour+ drive every day.   Plus, it is so enjoyable sharing her family life.  :-)

However, that means that I need to bring sufficient handwork to do when we are at her home.  I am finishing up my final (woo hoo!) Deco Garden block, so I am prepping my next Forever Project™.  I have two choices: a kit that I had previously bought at a show.  This kit is of chickens appliqued onto a block and when done, you have an entire barnyard of fowl creatures.  It's very cute.  BUT, I can see at times, it's a little fiddly.  I've just finished a LOT of fiddly blocks.

The other choice is an idea that has been hanging around for quite a while.  A Hawaiian applique quilt.  I've been collecting batiks for the applique.  I have fabric suitable for the background.  "All" I have to do is cut out the applique patterns.   Well, in steps my Scan n Cut to the rescue!   I brought in the Hawaiian applique image to the companion design program, size it to 10", and had it create a cut file from the image.  The cut file was then transferred to my Scan n Cut and that utterly marvelous machine cuts out the applique perfectly, every time.   Once the applique pattern is cut (so easy with my wonderful machine!), I can then trace the pattern onto my batiks like I do for all of my other needleturn applique projects.

After thinking about it only briefly, the Hawaiian applique won out.  While the appliques *can* be very intricate, the ones I'm making right now have easy curves.  Lord knows I'm all about the easy.  :-)   If any of you have ever done Pacific Rim Quilting Companys "2 Fabric Applique" .. this is just a mini version of that.  (In fact, PRQC's "2 Fabric Applique" is where I learned the needleturn method that I now use.)   I've prepped 2 blocks and 2 more have applique patterns already cut out.

I think I'll have more than enough handwork projects to keep me busy at Judy's house. :-

Pirate (PIRATE_SR) said:

I've just finished a LOT of fiddly blocks.

But I have always thought that you were our Queen of Fiddly Blocks.

How dare you disabuse me of that thinking? 

Heh .. I never quite thought of myself in that way.  You may continue your thought process.  :-)

Now, those people who make the Dear Jane blocks .... THOSE are fiddly people!  :-)

I'm so glad you are feeling better after you knee surgery to be "back in the saddle again".  It probably feels pretty good to be back at the machine.  You make such darling baby quilts and I'm sure this one will be as cute as can be.  Make sure you show us a picture of it.

Thanks Lynne.  Yes, I'm enjoying working at the sewing machine again. I missed it.  A photo will definitely be posted!

So, I love your idea for the new Hawaiian appliqué project....I love batiks! However, I am curious why you aren't using your Scan n Cut to cut the fabric?  I don't have the machine myself but have heard you can do this.....just wondering. 

Donna in Oklahoma

I finished the turtle turtle quilt top and finished binding a not-your-run -of-the-mill bear baby quilt.

Cari