Dancing to the Muse

So I've been trying to follow my muse today... but she's not speaking to me much... not sure what to make of that... I hope she returns shortly, I miss her... or is it him, or both, or it?  Can muses be any gender, or none at all?  whatever...

I've got my row by row top done... it has a couple of borders on top and bottom that aren't pictured here (yet)... (a blue border strip at the top, a white border strip at the bottom, both music themed)...

I also finished a couple of pillowcases... they are sandwiched, quilted, backed with a zipper closed backing and then bound.  Love how they came out... and yes, that peacock is cross-stitched (an old hobby that I'd pretty much given up on since I started quilting in 2003).  I made that pillowcase for my mother-in-law, Susie (Zetella), who passed away a few years ago.  My father-in-law just entered assisted living and this was one of the things he didn't take with him, so I brought it home, quilted it, put on a new back with a zipper and put an oversized pillowform in it to really fill it up.  The raven pillowcase is one I made for myself, just updated it by quilting it and giving it a zipper closure on the back. 

Tonight, I meet with my mini-group, a great group of ladies, who help keep me grounded and focused.  While there, I will pin baste my row by row quilt so I can start quilting it tomorrow.  If I can finish the quilting by the eob Sunday, I can rush to my local shop and claim a prize on Monday!

I know I'm too competitive, but that is what helps keep me driven and active... Speaking of which, the local county fair is coming up soon... and I've got to finish getting quilts ready for that as well... so much to do, so little time...

Progress and Depression

Depression is an insidious disease/condition/whatever.  It has no outward signs like measles or chicken pox, but it can be devastating to those who suffer from it and their families.  It plays havoc with my enthusiasm for all things, including quilting. I have complete and thorough empathy with anyone who is dealing with depression, either personally or indirectly.

That said, I've been powering through with the help of some pretty heavy duty meds, which have their side effects, but totally worth them, most of the time. 

I've been working on hard on my 2018 Row by Row challenge quilt.  I've got 7 blocks completed, the 8th (and last) being cut and fused, ready for pressing, but I'm holding off because a friend wants to trace my appliques before I put them on the block (I had to reverse them because they were drawn for hand applique in the pattern, with double-sided sheets which made tracing in reverse with a lightbox extremely difficult.  Since I've already done it, I wanted to save my friend the headache.  I see her tomorrow, and once she has traced mine, I can finish the block... I think Thursday I will get to sandwiching and quilting  Hopefully I'll be done by Sunday... I know I'm not first, as someone in Oregon already turned one in... but it'll be done when it's done... I'm sure I'll get it in first somewhere (every participating shop can have a winner).

Here's mine to date:

My last block is antoehr 18" square, and I'll have to cut some filler blocks and/or panels to fill the side (haven't yet decided if the 18" squares will go on the front or the back though).  Anyway, I'm content with my progress.

I finished my Faerie Dreams quilt, two tops and two pillowcases.  Faerie Dreams was started about 14 years ago for a friend's young daughter... I never finished it, and now she's a grown lady and a bit of a goth, so this wouldn't go over well, even as a lap quilt for her.  I found the cut triangles pieces in a box when cleaning my studio and decided to finish it... If I don't get a granddaughter sometime soon, I'll probably end up donating it to Linus or some other kids charity.

This is Laundry Basket Quilts "Pumpkins" from a Quiltmania Magazine from last September/October.  Fell in love with it and wanted to make it... just got the blocks fused and ready for blanket stitching when Row by Row started... Had to put these on the back burner for the time being.

This elephants quilt, which I call "There's One in Every Crowd," was fun to make... also a Laundry Basket Quilts design.  Can't wait to finish the back and quilt it!

Maybe I'll get some pictures of the pillows soon.... Now, off to work on one of the many bindings I'm far behind on (I've got a current queue of 7 projects quilted, trimmed, and awaiting bindings). 

Busy week ahead, but I think I can squeeze in some sewing and quilting.  I wish I didn't have to squeeze time for such things into my day.  You'd think being retired, I'd have lots of time, but between lots of activities, and the depression, good time management is not something I can honestly put on my resume.

Spending this evening watching musicals on TCM... love Tuesdays and Thursdays this month!  Back to The Music Man...