Finally: the proper needle for this job!

I've been looking and looking for good hand quilting needles for my monster job. Yes, the regular ones are really nice and just bendy enough but for this huge job with straight lines only, I was given a mystery Roxanne needle which I loved and then snapped in two - by accident and after many many stitches.

At the Festival, I scoured the stalls and spoke to Someone in the Know who recommended embroidery needles. They are a little stiffer (and also sharper at the other end) but they are longer and come with a bigger eye. So I'm happy ...

Out of my sewing funk ...

because of too much stress at work, I haven't sewn in weeks, months, really. I did some hand quilting but nowhere near enough to meet my deadling :-(

But today I will attempt something like this little block!

"Takings" at Festival of Quilts

There were a few things that I couldn't walk away from:

Lurvely fabric:


A membership to the Quilters' Guild, patterns, bobbins, needles ...


But before those get put to good use, there must be an end to this:

Best laid plans ....

had me doing a large recap of the Festival of Quilts ... but I cannot seem to find the energy or time for it. So I'll just show my high-lights:

- loved the multi media quilts such as this one:

- became ever more determined to do one of those:

- was (and still am) intrigued by this one:

- changed my mind about appliqué:

- adored everything about the Twelve by 12 show:

- grew ever more eager for the "Army Wife" series by Kristin la Flamme:


Now I am drowning in ideas .... and will definitely go again! For more, go here: Festival of Quilts 2011 Flickr Set

Looming deadline: 43 days to go!

This quilt is supposed to be finished for this year's quilt retreat ... I have another day of work to go and then about six weeks of what one might call "unpaid leave" where I have a lot of admin things to tackle. But the biggest item on the list is for me to relax, unwind and recharge my batteries. Finishing this project may just do the trick with those 3 tasks.

Gone quilting ...

Bunting Mug Rug

Made by Anna of Something Sewn
Brilliant!