Only 168 hours in a week?!?

I don't know where last week went!  I certainly didn't rack up that many billable hours at my 'job'.  So what the heck did I do all week?

I quilted!  I've been like an out-of-control kid in a toy store, wanting to try out everything!  I have so many works in progress it's overwhelming, and I don't know what to work on next.

I was working on quilting a comfort quit for my friend Mary who is battling cancer.  I have an overwhelming need to finish it, but want it to be beautiful and unique. My thought is to give her a place to focus when times are tough, to lose herself in the patterns and movement of the quilting.    The idea was to put a different design in each piece of this Tossed Pinwheel quilt.

Big ideas, right?  Hooo boy - I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started quilting on this.

I started here 

The pattern is a variation of a Disappearing 9 patch, and I started with 12 9 patches split into 4s - suffice it to say there are a LOT of different blocks here.  The pebbles took a bit of time to fill this 4 1/2 in square.  That was the first indication that this would not be a quick process.  The confused spiral in the 2 x 4 1/2 went fairly quickly, but still took some time.

 

 

 

I filled in a few more squares - the little ones are the easiest... the pearled feather came out ok.

 



 

I like the peppermint candy - to me it looks like a pan of cinnamon rolls.  Then I got the idea to write words of encouragement on this quilt in the 2 x 4 1/2 inch blocks.  Hope, peace, faith, love, trust, healing, prayer.  If you have any others - please leave me a comment - I have LOTS of 2 x 4 1/2 blocks to fill in yet.

And some other designs, knotted spiral, a feather looking thing, one that looks like a ruler, cobblestones, and I don't remember all the others.  Thanks to Leah Day and the Free Motion Quilting Project for all the great filler patterns!  I'm linking up to her FMQ Friday linky party.

Now that I've started this every block thing, I need to continue that way.  Oh My that's a lot of hours at the machine! I finally had to put this away because I had some other things to work on too - and the cats kept eating my Pinmoors right off the quilt! 

So I pulled out a project that needs to be done in a couple of weeks for my almost-granddaughter's birthday.

 

Bella's Beauties is made in the Falling charm pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I still have to put borders on it then get it ready for quilting.  I'm thinking a narrow dark purple batik then either a piano key border from left over pieces or a scrappy 4 patch and another 2 1/2" of the purple butterflies with a hot pink binding. But we'll see when the spirit moves me again.

 



 

 

100 Hugs a day for Connor, who was born last month, is finished and needs to be quilted.  Plus, Connor has an older brother Christopher who hasn't had a quilt from me yet - so his is in the works too.

 



The Grinch won't Steal This Christmas - a Quilt for Kids kit project that needs to be finished this month.  I also want to send along something else, but not sure if it is going to happen this month.

So when Leah Day posted FMQ Friday - More Time to Quilt Needed! I feel her pain.  I want to spend all my time quilting, but know that if I don't work - as a freelancer - I don't get paid!  I need to get paid to support the quilting habit. 

Other things on my work in process list:  Big Brother quilt for Christopher (72 4 1/2" half square triangles and 288 2 1/2" half square triangles - OMG! what was I thinking?); Jacob's Ladder for the first grandson of my dear friend Mary Ann; Pop-Pop's Pass-times for my father-in-law for Christmas; Quilt of Valor for a very special young man and his new bride commissioned by his Mom, Irish Chain for mother-in-law for Mother's Day, if I can hold out that long; unspecified quilts for my Mom, Sister, brother-in-law, nephew; a Mystery quilt I started back in July; and dozens upon dozens of ideas running through my head.  Plus quilts for charities like Quilts for Kids and Quilts of Valor.

Balance is a skill I desperately need to practice!  I've been learning and practicing balance, having fun and setting boundaries with my coach Teresa Romain at Access Abundance.  This month I will be taking a one day workshop that you might be interested in (if you're within driving distance of Egan MN) called Unblocked and Thriving.  I believe she has a few seats left at the early bird price that ends this week.  Take a look.  Teresa has helped me in so many ways.  It seems like she has a 'webcam' into my soul and her messages are always what I need at that time.

So back to today I'm going to have some fun quilting - basting the two finished quilts and finishing up Bella's Beauties so it too can be basted.  This week is my busy week at work.  I will weave some quilting in amongst the work.  Until next time - Happy Quilting!