Enchanted Autumn Leaves

Hello Everyone,

I've been busy working at the shop and finishing up my income tax preparation, so you've not heard much from me lately.  I have worked on some of the maple leaves for Enchanted Autumn in the evenings.  I also have more yo-yo's completed.

It hasn't been very Springlike here in California for the past few weeks which makes it easy to work on a project for Autumn.  It is so hard to believe that April starts at the end of the week.  Where has this year gone?  All I know is that it is a good thing that I'm working on quilts for Christmas!

I'm off to the shop this morning for the last Summer's Blush class.  The 'almost finished quilts 'will be posted tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day everyone. 

As always,

Lynn

Busy, Busy Week....

Hello Everyone,

All I want to do is quilt, but that gets pushed aside for daily chores, errands, walking Zinny (and Joe), accounting for our little business and yard work.  But I have managed to quilt a little every single day.  It all adds up by the end of the week and I could actually see some progress.  Month #3 for Enchanted Autumn is coming together.  Notice that I managed to get some plaid into my pumpkin!  Now if I could just figure out how to grown plaid pumpkins in the yard!  I'll have to talk with Candace at Squash House Quilts about growing plaid pumpkins.

I'm excited about finishing up this UFO.  These sections are going to look so good together.  I still ask myself why I put this quilt away and didn't finish it years ago.  I love this quilt!  I also still love the color palette that I chose eons ago.

I have just three more flowers to finish on Summer's Blush.  That name just isn't going to work on this version.  I've been auditioning borders and decided on the red and black.  My to-do list today includes making the four corner blocks.  Then I'm just down to the borders!  I'm working on the final draft of the pattern directions.  This is on my to-do list also today. 

Time to get off this computer and start tackling "THE LIST".

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of fun things to do and see.

As always,

Lynn

Enchanted Autumn - Section #2

Hello Everyone,

What started as pieces, is now all put together for section #2 for Enchanted Autumn.  I said I wasn't going to re-do any of the blocks that have been sitting in a drawer for the last  five years....but I didn't say I wasn't going to remove some of the stitches that were very visible and re-do them!  Overall, for my very first attempt at applique five years ago, it isn't too bad.

So one football playoff game later......this section is finished.  This little bird block was all finished except for the purple/magenta berries.  What a difference with the berries.  They add so much color.

This was my first ever Bear Paw block.  It too, is far from perfect....but it is going to stay just the way it is.

I am determined to finish this UFO this year before October!  I may even have it finished by September so I can enjoy it just that much longer.  My version is a little 'brighter' than the original which suits me and will brighten up the area where it will be hanging.

You haven't heard a peep out of me for the last few days because I've been spending good quality time with the little man in my life, Jess.

Walks with Zinny and picnics in the snow.  Life just doesn't get any better....unless all of the little kids were with me.

Don't forget to enter the contest for the Wilder Family Cookbook.  The drawing will be held this Friday, 11/21/2001.  You can also enter by sending an email to patched55@comcast.net     Good Luck!

As always,

Lynn

Getting My House in Order

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back! I hope your Christmas was wonderful and now you are getting ready to start the New Year with a flourish of creativity.

Do you make resolutions? I usually don't because they are just too hard to keep. BUT, this year I am going to make a resolution. My plan is to finish one UFO this year.  I know some of you are going to make me stick with this! 

While I was cleaning my sewing room before Christmas, I pulled out all of the blocks that were almost finished for Enchanted Autumn by Verna Mosquera.  This was my first attempt at applique.  This beautiful quilt started me down the applique road and I never turned back!  As luck would have it, when I went into work last Monday, Melissa the shop's owner said that Enchanted Autumn is going to be a BOM this year.  This beautiful bucket of flowers is block #1.  The shop's version will be in the same look and feel as the original design.....warm Autumn colors.  (Notice the plaid bow.....I've always loved plaid and try to incorporate plaid into every quilt I make.)

I fell in love with this quilt when I first saw it.  I was also lucky to be able to take the Enchanted Autumn class by the designer, Verna Mosquera. What a delightful class with a wonderful and talented designer! 

As I looked through all of my blocks, I thought not too bad for my first attempt......BUT.......should I redo some of them?  I can see my stitches, I used the wrong thread (I only use silk now), the pieces aren't perfect, my alignment isn't perfect, the list goes on and on.  I decided to not change or "fix" any of the blocks.  This was my first appliqued quilt, it was my skill level at the time, so I won't change anything.....well maybe just a few little things that I can't live with. 

So follow along with me while I finish up this quilt.  I still have lots to do, but the majority of the blocks are about 80% complete.  Except for the house block.  I was stuck on the house and never started it.  It is funny how you can have one stumbling block that will prevent you from moving forward to completion.

What about you?  How many UFO's do you have in your cupboards and closets?  Why don't you select one of them and finish it this next year.  I want to finish a couple of blocks a month so this quilt will be quilted, done and hanging in my home by Autumn.  That's my goal and I'm sticking to it!

So I resolve (and you are my witness) to finish at least one UFO in 2011 and start getting my house....and quilting room in order.

As always,

Lynn