For the love of slow stitching!

Boy it has been on crazy day!  I finished my first panel of Trailing Vines on Saturday and woke up this am thinking " I don't have anything to slow stitch today! "

  So I got out the next panel and pressed a few more branches and started glue basting them in place.  I have never been a big fan of using glue, but I do like it for basting these long strips.  It really made for the arduous task of prepping so much more bearable!  It was quite time consuming and when I got the stems done I realized I still wasn't ready for any slow stitching!

So that is when my eye caught a glimpse of Baltimore Garden all basted and draped over the quilt hoop. I really could use a break after all that prep work, so I got out my quilting templates I had made and started thinking about what I wanted to do and it all seemed to come together.  It didn't take me long to trace around a few templates so I sat down to put in a few stitches.  I am thrilled that I have gotten over the hump of just starting!  At least now the decisions have been made and I can sit and stitch a bit here and there when the mood strikes.  Since I prefer to hand quilt by the light of day, I still needed some hand work  to sit and stitch this evening!

 Indian Summers is starting tonight on Masterpiece Theatre and I really like to stitch as I watch.   So, it was back to prepping the leaves for the first branch of panel 2 glad to have all this prep work behing me. First I am heading over to Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy and the rest of slow stitchers to get inspired as I sit down and finally get to enjoy some of my own slow stitches.

On the right trail!

I know as quilters we are always having to make decisions.  I think one of the hardest decisions is what our next endeavor will be. There are a lot of factors that go into making that decision.  Since I quilt for my enjoyment, I am always looking for that perfect next quilt pattern. I guess that comes from knowing there is no way one can make every quilt their heart desires.  I do know the process of making that quilt really comes into play.  So often I see quilters jump into a project and find themselves losing interest in the project.  I find not enjoying the process is probably the biggest culprit.  

Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken came to mind.  It really explains how I feel when choosing my next pattern.  I tend to always take the road less traveled. I stopped buying quilt magazines when they were all about "Quick" quilts.  It's not about "Quick" for me!  I love the process and simple shapes and if they come from nature, count me in.  

So while some think that making this quilt would get quite boring, for me it is the perfect choice.  I love applique and playing with scraps.  I love that a simple design taken from nature used over and over has the ability to turn into something so grand.  I have only been working on this quilt for a week, but I am very happy with my choice.  So glad that I followed my heart and I have no regret on the trail I chose.  If you like to slow stitch, I hope you will join us over at Slow Stitching Sunday and share the trail you have chosen.

Trailing Vines!

Well, I have finally jumped in with both feet and started the applique on my version of Susan Mc Cord's Trailing Vines.  I am using Janet of Quiltsalotte's pattern.  Thank you Janet for your generosity and sharing your pattern.  Janet of Mrs Sew N Sew just finished her version of the quilt. What's not to love?
I have been wanting to make this quilt for a long time.  If you follow my blog you know I have spent the last four years making quilts from scraps that I have collected over the years.  I am down to a box of strings and large bag of bits and pieces.  So two new projects are started.  The first is making string blocks, with no idea how they will go together. Not sure if they will become several smaller quilts or one large quilt.  If you have ever worked with strings and paper foundations you know how much fun these are to make.

The other project is using those bits and pieces to make Trailing Vines.  This week I started the applique on the first strip.  Oh my, this is one of those projects that just plucks you out of reality and takes you on a wonderful adventure.  A bit like eating potato chips you just can't stop.  I have read several bloggers posts on Susan Mc Cord and see words like genius, best quilter, and I agree she had a real gift.  She lived on an Indiana farm and raised seven children,  you would think that would keep you busy enough but she found time to make some very wonderful quilts.  I hope someday I can return to Michigan to see her collection at the Henry Ford Museum.  But for now, I know I am really going to enjoy having this project waiting for me when I feel like enjoying some applique stitches.

Mini Pineapple Finish

I always love to celebrate finishes!  Big or small it is wonderful to see a plan come together.  My first intention was to add a border and add some hand quilting to my mini paper pieced pineapple quilt. But once I finished the blocks, I just didn't feel that was the best thing for this project. So, I cut some bias binding and finished it up. Since the logs are so small I knew there was no way to hand quilt it.  I also didn't want to distract from the lovely blocks so I used some monofilament thread and machine stitched in the ditch.
It will make a great addition to my mini collection.  I think there are going to be more two colored quilts in my future.

Today I will be working on row 31 on TATW.  It's the final row for my quilt and by adding some quarter square triangles it will square up the edge so that the binding can be added.  I started this project back in January and can't believe that I had the tenacity to stick with it.  Like an old friend, it would be there when I had the urge to do some stitching.  If you ever want to learn to hand piece this is a great project to tackle.  No thought or planning went into fabric choices as I used fabrics from the stash that have been there way too long.. The only criteria was wheter  there was enough to add a whole round of squares.  A great scrap buster and I am pleasantly surprised at the results! I will be linking up with WIP Be Gone and Slow Stitching Sunday today! Hope you will join us and enjoy some stitching!