OK so here was the design wall on Saturday.

About 5 minutes after taking this picture, the Twister Jack was taken down.   Something had to give and he was it!  I think having him up there and knowing it would require a huge chunk of time to do the "twister-ing up" was really bogging my mind down.  I'd come downstairs to work and see him and mentally feel a twinge "OH Man it's almost Halloween--gotta get that done"   :(

 Here's what's on the design walls now:

3 anvil blocks

I got the pattern here.

I "made" another slab of blue yesterday too.

 The two Urban Runner's are together and waiting for quilting.

I mentioned in my last post that I got Amanda's latest pattern.
While I was working on the Urban runner's I kept seeing the pattern sitting there begging me to stop everything and make it.
I didn't go that far but I did sew the panels for the front and back together.  I thought I'd just 'get started' on them but it was fun and once started how can you stop?  It did take me a couple hours and that's when I also pieced the blue slab.
So two things done at once, even though neither was what I started with;
sorta works-right?? 

I was on a sewing roll and spied the leftover curved pieces from this quilt.

And just sewed them together in a crazy rainbow-ish stack-no idea what will become of this- I'll stick it in a backing if nothing else.

But I feel better that it's sewn and not just sitting there.

I finally cut out the pieces for the Urban Pods bag I've been wanting to make for 3 months at least--going to try to get them sewn together today.

And I am still working on learning to use  rulers on my HQ.

It was frustrating and slow going at first.
AND that is an understatement!!

All thumbs I was.

Yes, see that bobble, I think my thumb was in the way...very difficult for me to keep my big fat thumb out of the way at first.
Now if it happens I get mad---I know better!

 I am gradually noticing I'm able to manipulate the ruler with more ease. I'm s-l-o-w-l-y figuring it out and just realized this morning that I can start/stop the machine without having to think about it or hit the wrong button on the handle.
I know that sounds funny, but having to concentrate on holding the ruler correctly--level, straight, just the right amount of pressure, make sure my thumb is out of the way-- AND start the machine and THEN start moving the machine was a lot for my brain to do.

I guess I'm starting to have a 'flow' going.  So progress on that front as well!

I started quilting the X's quilt thinking I would SID along all the pieced seams and do any design -with different rulers- in each of the blue areas.   

That  kind of worked for the first row.

But this is what happened.
I was doing too many new things at once and stinking at them all.
Not a good way to learn and feel like I was ever going to get it.

So I changed the plan to SID along all the seams to stabilize the quilt.
It's now off the machine and I can go back to it when I have some more free time and work on one design or with one ruler at a time.

Finishes and getting close to finished....

I  finally put a clothes line up along the fence for taking pictures of smaller quilts (been wanting to do that for a long time). 

Here's the first picture using it.

and the back.

Aster Manor it done too even the binding.  

I've had some days off in a row and have been keeping my nose to the grindstone!

When I needed a break from quilting, I blanket-stitched the last 6 Dresden plate to their background.  

This is it-seriously-no matter what I am not making anymore of these dang blocks.

Remember these?  They're from March/April.  I started them on a whim.  I really wish I wouldn't do that.

I pieced another 3  X blocks.  After I sew them on the layout will be 3 x4 and approximately 72 x 96. No idea what I will do with this one-perhaps take it to 'Camp diamond in the rough'.  

Which isn't quite so rough anymore--Paul and I've stayed over twice this month, but that's another post for another day.

I hoped the X's would use up a lot of strip scraps; alas, they did not.

I have a couple customer quilts to do and then I'm hoping to get 2-3 more of my own quilts quilted in September.

As April blurred into May, things remained pretty stagnant here.  I did quilt

a few customer quilts but piecing went out the window.  Finally last week, I spend most of a day sewing....

these blocks became

an Urban Chained flimsy!

 Yesterday the  last 3 rows were sewn together at 6:30 am-before work!

The X's quilt has been sewn together; 3 X's across by 4 down.

I should say "I can't believe I didn't get a picture", but I can believe it!

I bought Kim's Fantasy Feather's booklet and it arrived just as I was getting ready to take down the X's flimsy.  Unless I forgot, I'm going to use her design ideas on this quilt.

I also "flimsied" (did I just invent a new term?) this one.

It measures about 53 x 56.  I was trying to keep with the modern look which in many cases means, no borders.  But adding the border made the size better.  I think it's a good baby size now.
It felt really good to get these half finished tops off the wall. 

I also pieced the final block for the Curve It Up quilt along. 

This picture has the block with the curved border already on.

I am going to put each block up on the design wall as I finish them. 

 I cut out the rest of the pieces and ran out of the white on white and the grey solid.  

Separate trips to two different Jo-Ann's and I finally found the same grey--who know there were so many 'shades of grey' (ooh that could be a bad pun if you know of /read those steamy books from last summer).
 

***I did start the first book and after about 100 pages, couldn't find a plot and was thinking "no way in Hell anybody could do that so much and still be able to walk***
Call me a snob but if I'm going to read smut it has to be believable smut. 

I returned the book to Target. And was told by the clerk, when I gave my reason (I really didn't know it was THAT kind of book). She said I must be the only person who didn't, as it's been all the morning shows etc have been talking about.
 

Sadly, I do not watch morning TV or most any other TV so I am out of the loop on matters trivial and important. 
 

Does this make me an ignorant snob??????

whoa-that was a digression-  and I hope not TMI !
And finally, since it is Facebook official on my DIL's page.  I feel it's OK to say.

******

My son, John and his wife, Jen are
GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!

...IN DECEMBER!!

...I AM EXCITED!!

...CAN YOU TELL!!


***SMILE***SMILE***SMILE***