Backing Fabric

Today I purchased the backing fabric for the charity quilt.  The more I look at it, the more I like it:

It is now pre-washed and ready to go.  All I am missing now is good thread for the machine quilting.  Maybe tomorrow...

Assembly almost complete

I didn't have as much time today to work on the quilt, but I did make some progress.

All it needs now is the border

I'm happy with the way that this quilt is turning out.  I need to add a 5.5" top and bottom border and then either a 2 or 3" side border, and I'll be ready for the machine quilting stage.  Although I still need to buy the backing fabric. 

I found the perfect backing--a queen size flat sheet with white diamonds outlined in the same shade of green that is in the sashing fabric.  Unfortunately, it was part of a sheet set, and I just couldn't justify the cost.  I did find a blue backing fabric that will work well.  Okay, I found the backing fabric section and a green that was close, but not quite right, and then Geff found the blue print.

Once I get a final measurement on the quilt, I'll go back and buy it.  The batting was on sale at JoAnn's--for 40% off, so we did get that tonight.

Getting back to the charity quilt...finally!

This morning, I finished applying for the jobs that have been posted since last night.  Rather than doing what I have been doing lately--going back through each of the career sites multiple times, I decided to do something productive.  I just wasn't quite sure what that was going to be until I headed down to the kitchen.  My sewing area was entirely too clean.

And, since the deadline for me finishing the charity quilt is quickly approaching, I decided to start assembling the top.

I actually have spent many hours on it since my last post.  I decided to embroider  a few squares so that the person who ultimately receives the quilt will have a reminder of the charity that he or she helped to support.  I had originally decided to embroider five squares, but I settled for three.  Shhh...no one else will ever notice that the other two are missing!

Anyway, the first task was to figure out how to lay out the finished blocks.  Fortunately, I had a large patch of clean floor, and the dogs were very cooperative in that they were both too busy catching up on their beauty sleep to decide to rearrange the squares for me (as they have done in the past).

After moving blocks around for a while, I finally settled on the following arrangement:

Preliminary Layout

Then, it was time to cut and sew.  After four hours, I had assembled all the horizontal strips:

In progress...

Now, it is time to get back to checking the career sites to see if any new jobs have been posted.  While my phone interview yesterday went well, I need to keep looking until I have a signed offer or contract.

Tomorrow, though, I should be able to finish sewing the top.

Watching seedlings grow

The job hunt is still on-going.  I thought that I would have more time for sewing, cleaning, and gardening, but searching for my next job takes a lot of time and energy.  The good thing is that I am still getting a lot of leads.  It is only a matter of time.

When I'm not job hunting, I am trying to bring order to the house.  I've been so busy the past few years that some areas of the house have gotten a little out of hand.  Throw in visiting with friends, yard work, and some crocheting, and my days are going by rather quickly.  I didn't realize just how quickly until I was hauling my seedlings in for the night.  The squash plants have really grown.  I am going to have to start transferring them to larger containers in the next few days.

The seedlings are growing up!

Relaxing with the tulips

Last night I decided that today was going to be a creative day. Unfortunately, I wound up doing a mixture of answering questions at work and doing yard work.

Our front yard is in danger of being overrun by dandelions.  I hate using chemicals on them, and last year, I didn't have a chance to keep up with them.  So, I spent some time today trying to dig up dandelion plants in the front yard.

I also spent some time working in the front flower beds again.  I've probably spent twice as much time with the front flower beds already this summer as I did all of last year.  And, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

The tulips are in full bloom right now (the daffodils are already finished blooming).  The previous owners of this house had planted the tulips, daffodils, and iris plants.  I've been watching the tulips for the past 6 years.  I'm amazed by the mutations that I am seeing over the years.

For example, the first tulip picture shows a red tulip with a fun yellow swoosh in one of the petals.

I'm guessing that it is a cross between the two other tulip pictures.

And, then, there is the white tulip.  I haven't seen a white tulip in this bed since the first year.  I'm glad it is back.

Happy Belated Easter!

The past few months have been rather crazy, which is why I haven't added any new posts in a while.  The short version is that as of last Wednesday, I am officially unemployed.  The good news is that while I am looking for my next venture, I will have more time and energy to be creative.  The position that I was in was definitely sapping my energy and creativity.  For now, though, it is definitely time to move forward.

Easter weekend was a time of yard work.  While my wonderful husband spent time raking leaves, I decided to attack the bushes with the trimmer.  I have to figure out what kind of bushes these are (they were planted before we bought the house).  As I was gathering up the branches, I realized that they would make a great centerpiece.  And, they did (just ignore the fact that I still have a St. Patrick's Day table runner out).

When not searching for jobs and sending out resumes, I am currently focused on cleaning and organizing.  I have definitely uncovered several other unfinished projects that I had long since forgotten about, which will definitely give me more fodder for this blog.

And, there are several new projects in the works.  In the background of the photo above, you may be able to see a couple of containers of little seedlings.  I have started several flowers and vegetables indoors that I can't wait to plant outside!  I will be doing my second year of container gardening,  This year, I plan to be a bit more adventurous.  One of the seedlings starts is a container of squash plants--both summer (zucchini) and winter (a blend of acorn, spaghetti, and two other kinds that I have already forgotten).  I hope to get the first round of carrots and lettuce planted (in containers) tomorrow.