I have hit a speed bump, encountered a problem, got waylaid – how else can I say it? It’s frustrating because I have a deadline, and have to wait for fabric to finish one quilt and deal with a problem I created to finish another.

The Enchanting stars quilt top is problem number one. After trying to squeeze all the templates for the background onto the correct fabric print I realized I never had enough to start with. The entity that cut and packaged the kit mixed up two of the black prints, so I had too much of one and not enough of the other. I figured I’d contact the shop and see if they had any of the shorted print left, but they have gone out of business. I then found the print for sale in a shop on the east coast and ordered two yards (just to be safe). That was five days ago, so I am hoping that it will be here soon. I then tried to put the pieces of the top together, those that I could, but each block builds on the next and I was missing two pieces in the first section. I have cut all the rest of the background pieces though, so when I get the replacement fabric, I will be ready to get it done. I am itching to start something else, but I’m showing restraint, as this project requires a lot of space for laying out and piecing.

My other issue is my BOM “Blooming Beauty”. I figured I would get it done in a few days while I waited for fabric delivery. I had a 108″ wide backing, and batting ready to go. Got it all set to quilt, and decided to do a pretty E2E rather than individual motifs on the blocks, borders and sashings. I got started and noticed some fluffiness in the center piece. The whole center is on point, surrounded by sash and then set into four large pieced corners. SO MANY bias edges. I am glad that this is my personal quilt and not a custom, as I only have myself to chastise for the stretching and puckering. I’m glad I don’t have to explain to said client that they messed up and I will do my best to make it look okay. It is disheartening though, after working on this BOM for so long and being so careful with squaring up the blocks and making countless quarter squares, that I have a less that perfect top. I am carefully massaging each area as the longarm stitches, trying not to get any obvious wrinkles or pleats. It’ll quilt out, but its a slow go.

I am making progress on the MinaB appliqué blocks, I have thirteen done and only 19 more to go – woohoo! I did end up putting the Mermaid cross stitch away. I cleaned up my hand stitching area too, dusted and vacuumed, and only have the appliqué supplies there. The yarn I ordered for the lobster sweater trio should be here today, so that might be housed there too. I got the book last Friday, and I have the patterns, so I am ready to start.

Be Kind.