I have been away for a few days, but I’m back and itching to start a few new things and finish some others. Before I left, I finished piecing the Swordfish top. Very happy to have that done and in the TBQ pile. Cleaning up after the final de-papering was not as fulfilling as completing the top, but it got done. All the scraps have been put into stash, the empty bags stored with all the other ones and the room got a fairly thorough vacuuming/hoovering. I like the word Hoover so much more than vacuum, as in “I’m just going to hoover the rugs”. I don’t have Hoover brand machines, “I’m Miele-ing the carpet now” doesn’t roll off the tongue as well. Anyway, there were a lot of tiny little scraps of paper and bits of fabric in all the corners and spaces under my sewing table and chair. Now those areas are cleaned and dust free, for a while anyway.

I got started on another Elizabeth Hartman Fancy Forest animal quilt that I need to have done for next month. I have all the fabrics, and background yardage gathered up and ready to cut. I’d also like to make a quilt from the Moon Dance Revival pattern by Sewkindawonderful. Since I just finished up all the curved stitching on the swordfish top, I am feeling very confident about stitching circles and curves. Since I’ll have a bunch of solids out on the cutting table anyway, it sound be easy enough to put together.

I did not bring any handwork on my little vacation, very odd for me, but I was one two very full plane rides and didn’t have much down time. I did miss a few days of the Tiny hearts stitching, I am almost caught up, need to stitch yesterdays and todays hearts. The large one, has a bullion stitch border around it that is being saved for last. Meg Hawkey’s plan, but it think its prudent, so that the stitches won’t get crushed by the hoop when we finish up the last hearts. The Castle is being built, block by block, and the roof is going on. The patterns on the roofs are repetitive and only two colors, which makes them fairly easy to work. I am hoping to have this finished be the end of the month. Then it’s on to the greenhouse, the next house in the set is called Cottage, only the colors have been released. Speaking of new releases, Nashville Market is also at the beginning of March, lots of tempting new charts and projects. I have had the “Beach Comber” chart by Lindy stitches in my cart for a while. I think it is charming, might stitch it up for my sisters beach house.

After getting home yesterday, I had a few hours left in the day, I used them to finish quilting the Big Dream flower. I also got a start on the pastel lap quilt (nameless right now). I have enough room on this same backing/batting for two more small quilts. I need to look through the TBQ pile for something to add on to it.

The weather this weekend isn’t conducive to outdoor activities, and I am going to sew and stitch for most of it. House cleaning be damned, or postponed a few days 😉

Be Kind.