Saturday, December 17, 2016

IN WHICH WE HAVE OUR FIRST DAY OF SNOW! 

Tonight's temperatures will reach -10 F.  It is good to be inside and watch the snow swirling out there where it cannot reach me.  The cats have taken to their kitty heating pads and the birds are crowding in at the feeder.

I have been making progress on Sweet Surrender.  I am slowing working away on the pieced triangles intermixing that with FMQ practice.  Here is SS so far:





None  of the applique and pieced sections are in their proper place yet-I will do the layout when all the triangles are finished.  I have 6 more big triangles to piece and and 6 half triangles for the edges.  This paper piecing is very hard on my hands and shoulders so I am taking it slowly.  Appliqueing never bothers me probably because that work requires more movement of hands and shoulders but for epp, one sits and stitches in the same posture continuously.

Finishing the pieced triangles will probably take me a few weeks.  I alternate this tiresome job with the fun one of Free Motion Quilting practice.  I told you I have been taking a wonderful class from Christina Cameli-Wild Quilting on the Craftsy platform.  I cannot say enough good about this class.  We begin by making 6 fat quarter quilt sandwiches and use these to progress thru the lessons.  I have completed lessons 1, 2, & 3.  Quilting from lesson 1 was shown last post and here is lesson 2:


This lesson was on grouped combinations. This has been liberating for me as I am being more spontaneous and less critical as I quilt.  For a person who began this blog 6 months ago describing her terror at FMQ, this spontaneity and its associated feeling of freedom demonstrates so much growth.  The actual quilting may not be spectacular but the ease with which I did it was.

Here is lesson three-blended combinations:


Christina is such a lovely person and her lessons are so instructive.  I really recommend this class!  It is a 10!

As I said, the snow is falling and winter is definitely here.  The birds are arguing over the sunflower seeds and we cannot kept the feeders full.  Here is a pretty wren:

And here is one of the many goldfinches visiting us right now:
He is waiting his turn at the feeder.  The sparrows are such greedy, aggressive birds that it is harder for the smaller goldfinches to claim a perch.  In the winter, the pretty yellow of the goldfinches dulls to this muddy yellow.  But wait until spring!

The next couple of weeks will be very busy for everyone.  I send out best wishes for everyone to have a merry and happy Christmas time!

If you can squeeze it in your busy schedule, happy quilting!


I am linking up with:
Slow Stitching Sunday, Bambi's Blog,
Patchwork Times,  Em's Scrapbag,
Esther's Wow, Let's Bee Social,
Free Motion by the River, Whoop Whoop,
and Off the Wall Friday.           




20 comments:

  1. Great post Pam. Your appliqué is lovely. I am particularly interested in your FMQ, I am so rubbish but don't do it regularly. yours is the second recommendation I have read for the Craftsy class in a couple of weeks, it's on my wishlist. I didn't realise you had been blogging for such a short time, I just started in January so I'm not far behind you. Keep on what you are doing, it's great.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your blocks are looking so lovely. She's going to be beautiful. I posted photos today of the guild's Sweet Surrender quilt. The lighting was very poor but you'll get the idea. Have a blessed Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your SS quilt is getting better and better. Beautiful! And your fmq is stunning. I particularly love the second one.
    Pinned

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sweet Surrender is looking gorgeous--love it! I'm going to have to check out the Craftsy class--your machine quilting is so fun and awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  5. SS is looking so lovely. But your fmq is amazing! I know it is not for me but I could almost be tempted as your work looks so beautiful. Lovely bird pictures - we get gold finches but only when it is really cold. Now we are in UK for Christmas and NY where it is mild but thankfully dry so far. I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas. xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. So love your Sweet Surrender, and that sandwich for lesson two is gorgeous. I'm bookmarking that class for when I progress with my FMQ. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I totally love your applique. I had assumed that your pieced blocks were just that. But the epp makes it so perfect. I love your colorful combinations. Also thanks for sharing your free motion work. I could use practice as well.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Piecing the triangle units would take me a lot of time too. I would rather be doing applique.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't wait to start my own Sweet Surrender! Here is a post by Judi Madsen, who just completed quilting one... http://www.greenfairyquiltsblog.com/2016/11/sweet-surrender-quilt.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your Sweet Surrender is certainly a sunshine filled sight on this cold winter morning. Stay warm - cold here in the northwoods too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your Sweet Surrender... the colours and that background fabric really sing!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Must you do the pieced triangles by EPP? Could you foundation paper piece them or traditionally piece them instead? Your quilt is going to be magnificent, and your FMQ practice looks great, too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nicely done FMQ! I have to relearn it every time. The class sounds great. Such pretty stitching on your lovely blocks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow your FMQ is stunning. The class must of been fantastic. It's sound like a class I need to take.

    ReplyDelete
  15. OH PAM! I always enjoy your applique and quilting updates but now I see your appreciative visitors enjoying the bounty put out for them...lovely captures of our feathered friends :)

    Have a Very Merry Christmas! :) AND by the way there is NO WAY that I am telling MY cat that YOURS have heating pads, lol...she might put that on her list for Santa.

    ReplyDelete
  16. love your sweet surrender quilt, I haven't seen that one before, beautiful fabrics!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Today, says a happy Bambi thank you for your inspiration and link to the Show and Tell Monday and says Merry Christmas! Hug Bambi

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think your free motion quilting looks great! WOW!!!
    Sweet Surrender is a wonderful quilt to be working on as January approaches. So bright and happy.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Just came upon your blog. I love it. Applique is also my favorite. I just finished reading all your posts. Couldn't stop myself. Now, I have to get some work done. But I will be back to check you out again. I love your Caswell Quilt, maybe one of these days! I will be back too visit again soon.

    ReplyDelete