For the past two and a half years, there has been one Wednesday every month which ALWAYS feels like a Friday.  I know it’s coming, I plan for it, my job is scheduled around it, so it’s no surprise.  But when it comes – I know that for at least a few seconds I will think it is Friday.  That Wednesday is today.  I have finished closing the accounts for another month and submitted it to the higher authorities.  I am an accounting manager by day and a mother, wife and quilter by night/weekends/lunch breaks.  I truly love working with numbers and it does fit me perfectly, but the sense of relief to get through the close is always a good cause for celebration.  So,… I will treat myself to extra quilting time tonight!

I have stuck with my goal so far this year to do some quilting every day.  Last night, I finished up my alternate Block 1 for the Blogger Girls BOM.  My husband graciously snapped a picture for me from home this morning since I forgot to take one last night.  What do you think?

 My husband said … “Those don’t go together, do they?”  The blue and greens are throwing him off.  I’ll have to evaluate how they mix together as I go along.  Perhaps it will end up being a reversible quilt?  I actually think they look good and I’m sure they will be fine altogether in the quilt top.  Reminder… these two blocks are made from the same pattern, just different fabrics.  The idea is to mix them all in the same quilt so it appears that you have all unique blocks.  Done!

Tonight…  I work on Block #3 of my Away from Home BOM, which are two panels that will be all applique.  Two oak trees with lots of leaves.  I kind of miss my applique time – so really looking forward to it!

I have to go now and show my CEO what pretty numbers I have made this month!

All the best,

Jennifer

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you are removed from your home and don’t have all the normal distractions like cable TV with Netflix and pay-per-view, along with a handy washer/dryer and a couple of thousand square feet to (think about) cleaning.  I moved on to the Alternate Block 1 for Blogger Girl’s BOM.  After selecting the fabrics which I thought would make a significant difference in the resulting block, I cut back into new fat 8th pieces.  Turns out, I was just shy of being able to get my main background pieces out of what I had leftover from my first block.  This will drive me nuts, especially since I can’t buy yardage in this collection until later this month.  I just need a few more 3 inch blocks!!  Dang it!

Well, here’s the dry fit layout.  Of course, until I do sew some of these pieces together, I can’t really demonstrate how awesome it is :).  Try to imagine!  And the colors in this picture are pretty bad since I’m working at night, under flourescent overhead lights.

BG Alternate Block 1 Dry Fit

And here’s the original Block 1 again:

BG Block 1 Dry Fit

They will look decidedly different when they are all done and the colors are so much more wonderful that you can see in these pics.

Home news update – they now tell us that we can come back after Monday.  Still disinfecting everything, etc…  Demolition appears to be done.  Not sure when the building will start.  Most of the floor is removed down to the lowest layer, which looks like some kind of tar paper was used for adhesive?  The house is really, really old – so who knows what they are cleaning up now.

Have a wonderful, quilt filled weekend!

Jennifer

I have stopped short of bringing my machine to the hotel room, but I did collect a few rulers, my mat, rotary cutter, sewing scissors, pencil and newly arrived box from FQS last night.  Inside the box was my Fat 8th bundle of La Belle Fleur.  I normally perch my new bundles on my cutting table and stare at them for a few weeks at least … but I don’t have time for that nonsense now.  This is probably the hardest part:

Taking off that perfectly tied and pressed twill tape from MODA.  **sigh**  However, that almost ensures I will get started on this project and make it to the end.  I have a tough time cutting into my new fabric – but I have jumped that hurdle already.

Since I don’t have my machine with me, I at least cut out the pieces needed for the first block of the Blogger Girl’s BOM.  I still need to cut the pieces for the alternate block (same pattern, different fabrics/values in the positions).  Will plan to do that tonight.  Here’s my first block – dry fit for display:

I LOVE the French General colors!  And this collection has the perfect background fabric for the project.  I will need to order about 4 more yards of it to cover all the blocks and sashing, so I partially decided on this collection because of this background.  The only thing I might, MIGHT, add is some fabric that has black in it.  It would really add some interest I think. We’ll see.  Maybe in the corner stones of the sashing units.  I can probably find a French General fabric that would fit that bill.

Here are the fabric selections I haven’t used yet.

Definitely pulling in some of those blues into this next block.  Maybe every block will have red, and alternatively switch between green and blue.  I’ll try a few and see how they mesh together.

Hopeful that we will be moved back home tomorrow.  They tore up the kitchen floor today, finishing up the demo.  Although I would rather wait until I can cook at home before we go back – I’m getting really homesick…

Have a great Thursday!!

Jennifer