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...