Christmas in September & Some Quilting Frustration

Before the huge rush begins to make multiple quilts for Christmas gifts, I decided to make one (pictured at left; still a work in progress) for our home. It's going to be quite large (a little bigger than twin size) and will be a wallhanging for our living room. This quilt - it turns out - is Dear Husband's favorite of all the quilts I have made. The borders are gold and white half-square triangle squares. I wish this picture was better (and in-focus might have been good too!) because it doesn't show the sparkles in the fabric very well. I will finish it up today. It was a blast to make, didn't take much time because of the large pieces, but it did present one challenge which I solved myself, so it was a good learning experience.

I am also working on my 34 blocks for the block exchange in which I am participating. I ran into a BIG SNAG yesterday because the directions indicate you need to make 6-4 1/2" inch non-pieced squares and 10-4 7/8" pieced half-square triangle squares. Alright, call me an idiot (I fear some will) but these pieces are NOT going to fit together, unless the half-square triangle pieces are trimmed to fit the 4 1/2 inch pieces. But the directions don't indicate this. So I wrote to a quilter who provided the fabric and my mentor, Lori, for this quilting project, for clarification.

Again, I had a learning opportunity making these blocks; that being, an easy and precise way to make half-square triangle pieces using a much better and more accurate technique. I like the end result, so I will make these pieces in this manner from now on. Takes a little more fabric, but the pieces turn out much nicer than if you have to piece two half-squares together in the more 'beginner's' fashion.

This week I am taking a class being held by the quilters guild of Roseville. It's a Japanese puzzle class. I am so excited about making another piece using this technique! I will cut the fabric out today for this quilt top.

I am also picking up my quilt for the silent auction for our Crush party this weekend. I hope someone does buy this piece or it will become a gift for someone who likes wine and olives.

It is raining here. I am content that the Fall season is nearly upon us. I remember during the last few months of my father's life, he would ask me all the time, "Is it ever going to rain again, Sis?" He loved the rain. I walked the dogs this morning in an early morning drizzle, thought about my father and how happy he would have been that it is raining again, just as I promised him it would. Had a good cry over this as we walked around our neighborhood loop. The doggies got wet, so the house smells a bit like damp pups right now, despite a good drying with a towel and nice brush. Get out the Fabreeze!

Skating Wednesday and Friday this week, with an ice dance lesson with Coach Chris on Friday.

Onward.