Posted By FarmerJ on April 14, 2010

They warned it was highly contagious; they said it would spread like wildfire; they cautioned about the dreams and the nightmares; and, they advised me of all the fun I would have.  They were right.  It’s become so contagious, I can’t look at or think about anything without trying to figure out how to incorporate it into quilting.  It’s spread so rapidly, the old-timers cannot believe I’ve only been sewing and quilting for three short months.  The dreams and the nightmares are a little crazy ~ they come and go ~ but, they’re there.  And, I am having an absolute blast!

It all started with that little table runner pattern my ‘Nebraska Mom’ gave me for Christmas, 2008.  I looked at that thing for an entire year before deciding to join the Quilter’s Guild in January.  Ironically, I haven’t started that project yet!  I purchased the fabric for it, but haven’t made my first cut or stitch.  That just seems wrong, doesn’t it?  My goal when I purchased the fabric was to have it complete before Independence Day ~ or even better, Flag Day.  I still have time to meet my goal; I think I’d better get started!

Remember the Material Girl Block of the Month quilt kits I started in February?  I’ve been progressing right along with those.  The January, February and March blocks are complete.  In fact, the March blocks are ‘due’ tomorrow, so I’ll be heading into town to show my finished squares and pick up the kits for April.  They also have a suggested pattern for the sashing between the blocks that I’ve decided to do.  However, I haven’t started sewing the sashing and blocks together just yet for a couple of reasons.  One, because I’m not exactly clear on how the pattern intends to fill in a couple of spaces it still leaves once it’s pieced together ~ and, two, because I’m not sure how I want the colors of the sashing pattern and blocks combined.  I think I will try to clarify things a little more while I’m there tomorrow and see where that leads me.

When I first joined this Block of the Month, I couldn’t decide between the darker colors or the lighter colors.  All the fabric was just too pretty, so I joined signing up for both kits.  After I had the first month’s blocks completed, while both were very pretty, I was sure I liked the darker colors better.  But, as I’ve progressed through two additional blocks, I’m not so sure anymore.  And, I still get amazed at how the fabric ends up ‘flowing’ together.  Sometimes when I look at the whole pieces of fabric laying in a pile, my nose sort of crinkles.  But, once it’s all pieced and sewn together, I stand back and look at it and marvel at the combination.

So, that’s two quilts I’m working on ~ plus the little table runner I need to start, right?  Well, last month our Quilter’s Guild hosted a quilt show.  [I think my mouth was a fly trap the entire time I wandered through the maze of 156 quilts being displayed.  There is some astounding artwork out there!]  We had a room full of vendors who brought all their latest and greatest fabrics, panels and gadgets to taunt us with.  Well, one of the vendors had a Block of the Month quilt kit.  I saw it and thought it was adorable, but didn’t think I would participate in it.  After all, this vendor is located in another town.

Before I left on the second day of the show, I had the kit in my hand.  My ‘Nebraska Mom’ had twisted my arm so severely, I just had to holler Bobbin! Uncle! and give in.  I think I’ll have to watch out for her.  She’s very practical and methodical in her tactics.  She cleverly pointed out to me that the entire ‘purpose’ of this particular quilt is to teach one how to use the umpteen different stitch settings, applique settings, and little feet our machines have to offer.  I’m just now beginning to manage getting my straight stitch straight!

I bought the last kit the vendor had with her.  However, she didn’t have any of the background fabric left, so she gave me an I.O.U. for five yards.  This meant I couldn’t complete March’s block.  My ‘Nebraska Mom’ and I went on our field trip this past Saturday to pick up the April block kit.  Fortunately, she had just gotten more of the background fabric in, so I was able to pick that up while we were there.  Now I’ve got two month’s worth of blocks to complete for this quilt.  I got through about a third [of the first paragraph] of the instructions before my eyes glazed over and the big puffy question mark was hanging over my head.  ‘Nebraska Mom,’ I need you!  You got me into this, now you’re going to have to hold my hand through it.  If we’re able to stick to our plans, we have a play date scheduled for Friday to work on these two blocks.

So, that’s three quilts I’m working on ~ plus the little table runner.  Then, there’s a secret project I’m working on.  I can’t say much about it at this point, except that it’s going to be approximately 4.5′ x 5.5′…and I have to have it finished by June.  I’ll share photos after that.

So, that’s four quilts I’m working on ~ plus the little table runner.  Then, the 18-year old boy asked me the other day if I would make him a quilt for his bed.  He said he “wants a blankie his mommy made so he can keep it forever.”  Gah!  Is that quilt guilt, or what?!  I have an idea in my head ~ that’s dangerous, I know ~ but, I need to find a pattern that works really well with black and white prints and incorporates opportunities for a splash of bright color here and there.  I’m already gathering pieces of fabric for it, but really need a pattern in order to pinpoint exactly what I need.

So, that’s five quilts I’m working on ~ plus the little table runner.  Then, there’s the new throw pillows for the living room rejuvenation project; the aprons for my buddy and me; the hot pads I so desperately need…not to mention the ultra lightweight camping quilt that’s been on Darling Husbie’s and my to-do list for six years now [now it's just on my to-do list for Husbie], along with the ultra lightweight backpack that’s been waiting just as long.  My beloved is allowing his passion for motorcycles to resurface again, and he’s got some road trips in mind where these ultra lightweight items will be primo!  But first, I need to find them…I’m not exactly sure where they ended up after the move from Arizona.  I know they weren’t in the shop, so we didn’t lose them in the fire.  That’s a good thing.

Well, with all these projects at hand, I’d best get working on them rather than rambling on here about them, right?

Oh!  I almost forgot one more thing I wanted to share.  The Quilter’s Guild fiscal year runs August through May, and we do not meet in June or July.  ‘They’ were looking for a new slate of officers, so I volunteered to head up the Membership Committee.  It’s quite a big task, I think.  In fact, I think it may be bigger than I even know at this point.  Like Darling Husbie says, “You don’t even know what you don’t know!”  Gulp.  I will be attending the steering committee meeting next month ~ that’s when I’ll receive all of my instructions, copies of the bylaws, etc.  It should prove to be interesting, for sure!

Oooh!  Oooh!  I found something else I forgot to share while I was taking photos.  This is a complete Block of the Month kit that I won as a raffle prize during the quilt show.  I haven’t started this yet.  It remains in the holding pattern for when I run out of other stuff to do.  Oy!

Yes…it’s an epidemic.  ♥

Categories: A Needle Pulling Thread
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