This week I’ve been buying patterns.

On the right is Terry Atkinson’s pattern All About Me. I first saw this quilt done up in University of Kansas fabrics and immediately thought it would be a great pattern for either my cat fabric or music fabric.  I bought my copy of the pattern at Stitch on Needlework in Lawrence, Kansas.

The middle pattern is Eye Fooler by Krisanne Watkins. I first saw this quilt on Subee Sews Quilts, but then forgot that’s where I saw it. So I searched ‘net and found a version of it at Rouge Quilter. where I found a mailing address. I could have saved myself a bit of time and ordered the pattern on-line, but by the time I found Quail Valley Quilts, I had already sent a check in. I’m planning on making this quilt in brights on a black background for my niece’s graduation.

The pattern on the left is Star-a-Day by  Karen Styles. I’m not even certain how I tripped over this pattern.  I picked my copy up at Quilting Bits and Pieces in Eudora, Kansas. The idea is to make one 3″ LeMoyne Star every day for a year – not repeating any star fabric. They are set together alternating with 3″ squares.  I’m not a handwork person and I am in the process of hand stitching the binding down on my DWR, there is the hexie project in my busy bag along with some red work, a few applique pieces and a bit of embroidery, so there is no reason for me to start a new hand project. But as you can see, there is the first little star waiting for the rest of the setting pieces….

Yesterday I posted that I needed to get it into gear. Well, the sewing machine is out but I’m still stuttering.  It’s been a long time since I’ve had so many spots to fix on a machine stitched binding. But I’ll get it fixed and then move on to this month’s Alphabet BOM and the DWR binding. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

It’s time for me to get it into gear. The sewing machine is still in its case and not on the table. On the other hand, I have put the design wall backup and cleared the ironing board. No, I don’t really know what I’ve been doing all week – but clearly not using my sewing machine.

The windmill has been hidden behind all sorts of brush and trees in the jungle backyard. Last week we uncovered it and decided it needed a new coat of paint. The only question was what color. We wanted it to stand out against the trees. I  think bumblebee works.

Yes, it’s the silicon mat that went missing earlier this year.  You may remember that in early June I broke down and bought another pressing mat – assuming my original mat would turn up.  It didn’t and I needed to finish Eeyore, so I went ahead opened and used the new mat — which I couldn’t find when I packed for the retreat a week later.

This one surfaced when I dug through a box of “sewing stuff” under my sewing table.  It is now in its usual place in the drawer on the shelf.  I’m sure the second mat will turn up sooner or later. It’s not like I took it anywhere….

Not the 5″ squares – those are for a future project. That pile of 2 1/2″ strips of various lengths.

This is my Egg Money Quilt from the Eleanor Burns book of the same name.  I started this as a BOM at the LQS in August 2005 and finished binding Jun 2007.  I know the block in the lower right corner is not in the book. I wanted a quilt for my king size bed so added a few. Without looking in the book I couldn’t tell you which others I added.

I did this quilt using Quilt-As-You-Go techniques.

To mark the quilting in the framing, I printed circles and diamonds onto labels and then cut them out. I used each label several times until it wouldn’t stick to the fabric any more.

In the sashing I found a diamond cable in one of my books and cut it out of template material to trace around. I just reused that cable the other day.

The blocks themselves I just did simple outlining.  I can’t remember how the green inner border is quilted and the outer scalloped border has two rows of quilting following the scallop.

I used Warm and Natural batting so this quilt is heavy.

That is the viewer’s left – about the width of Piglet’s right foot.  Fortunately the pieces are just pinned in place.  I can’t really cut the extra off the left edge or there won’t be enough room for the letters at the bottom — but I briefly thought about it. (Yes, I’m missing the mane  and two strings.)

One of the things I learned at the retreat this past weekend is where to find inexpensive cotton shirts.  One of the thrift shop chains in town picks one color tag each Sunday and sells the clothes for 25¢ each or 5 for $1.  This week the color was yellow. At the first shop I picked up 10 pieces.  At the second I found 3.  There were yellow tagged 100% cotton shirts left behind at both shops.

My best guess is 19-1/2 yards of recycled fabric for $2.75 which is a little over 14¢ a yard.

This could be bad for my long-term stash report now that I know where to get the shirts…