DOH

I wanted to get all the pieces of the baby quilt sewn together yesterday.  I cut the strips.  I filled the bobbin with white thread.  I started sewing.  I thought I was careful.  Do you see a problem here?

Is that a distress signal when the boats are upside down?  Well, I had to take that row off.
Who needs to pin?  In a perfect world it all fits.  Blocks are the same size, strips are the same size, seam allowances are the same size, it all fits, right?  No.  Again I had to take off another row because it wasn't straight and I ended up way off.  ARGH.  So I pinned and hung my head in shame that I am so lazy that I didn't want to pin.
Now the front is one piece.

It turned out way bigger than I expected.  Whatever.  So now, what to do on the back?  I could just get a big old piece of material for the whole back or I could be creative.  I have more of the sweet "Guess How Much I Love You" fabric that I would like to use.  I just have to figure out how I am going to put it together.

Great news on the Quaker Bag!  Here I was yesterday:

Disgusted and ready to quit. But I am tenacious.  Really.  I have too much done on this sucker to give up.
Today:

I did it!!!  Panel three is done!!  There was a lot of stitching on this one.  I'll have to look back on this blog to see when I started it to know how long this took.  I already know the answer:  too long.
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The Secret Drawer

This is the secret drawer that I put marbled paper on.

 I am very happy with how it turned out.  Some of the parts that I put marbled paper on got wrinkles in them so I was worried.  I wanted to show you where it goes.

The panel lifts up revealing a space underneath.

Then you can pull out this drawer.

 Slowly but surely I am getting the tray for the flat casket done.  I cut some pieces of the edging tape to go around the edge of the tray.

Then I can put marbled paper on the sides of the tray.
Next I want to finish the pin cushion tray that has another secret drawer.

Things are going badly with the last motif of panel three of the Quaker Bag.  I was off and had to take out a lot.  So I put in some basting stitches to show me the center so I could work out from there..

 I stitched a star in the center and them realized the basting stitches were off!  ARGH. Ripped some more.   I think I have the perimeter all set but now the flower stem is not fitting like it is supposed to.  ARGH.  I'm about ready to just leave in all the mistakes.  Maybe I need to start on another piece for now.

On a brighter note, I am tickled pink that I have one side pasted to my casket.

 It makes me want to get more done.
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Friday

Too cold to walk outside today.  So I went off to the Y.  I didn't even need to turn on my nano as friends were walking with me.  The time goes much faster that way.

I am ready to trim the three queens.  It turned out nice and flat.  I was afraid that if I trimmed it before I pasted, I might be sorry and have it the wrong size.  We'll see how brave I am to trim when I put Hampton Court on the top of the casket.

I put Hampton Court on the stretcher bars.

 I am afraid to wet it.  So I think I'll just paste the paper on the back - with my fingers crossed that it works out.  You can still see the ring where the hoop was.  That part will be trimmed off eventually.

I started sewing the quilt blocks together.  One row done.  I want to do row #2 today.

I finished the pink motif.

 One more motif to go and this panel is done.  I started the left flap last night but I'm off somewhere and have to figure it out and get back on track.  Ugh.

I got my new FitBit.  I like it.

 You can just rotate your wrist and the time shows.  That's handy.  Before, I had to press the button to see the time.
It is interesting to see some of the designs that are coming out at market. Stitching Bits and Bobs has a market page.  I see a few things that tempt me.  I'm going to wait until I go to Spring Fling before splurging on anything.  Stitchville is such a wonderful store for shopping.  I should start a list.
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Progress!

Finally, I am pasting the three queens to my casket.

I've been afraid to do this for the longest time.  I also covered a secret drawer with marbled paper.  I am also going to prepare Hampton Palace for the top of my double casket.

I need to add just a bit of fabric to the sides so that I can stretch it on my Evertite stretcher bars.

Then I started the sashing on the baby quilt.

I made good progress on the Quaker Bag.  I am almost done with the right flap.  That will leave just the left flap to do.  Maybe I can finish the bag someday soon.  It could happen.

It's a snowy day here.
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Yuk

I was vacuuming this morning (don't look so shocked!).  Then I was putting away some things in my curio cabinet and I couldn't find Ophelia's doll.  I had her out to show Claire on FaceTime the other day.

So I was terrified that I had accidentally vacuumed her!  What to do?  I didn't want to but I had to check the vacuum's bag.  I took it out and laid newspaper on the floor and cut it open.  Good grief.  It needed changing anyway.  I couldn't find the doll.  Whew!  I kept looking around the dining room table and finally found it on the floor.  I had never cut open my vacuum's bag before.  I hope to never do it again.  Yuk.

I finished the center part of the panel of the Quaker Bag.

I really want to be done with this.  I started one end panel.

 I have stitched this motif on the first panel and it was a bear to do.  I wanted to be smarter this time around.  Things go better when I work from the center of the motif out.  Mistakes are more apparent.  I worked my way to the center and will work out from there.  I would love to have this motif done today but that is a bit optimistic.  We'll see.

My excitement for yesterday was finally pasting (not gluing) the special paper to the back of the Three Queens.  I couldn't believe that it worked!  I let it dry, took it off the stretcher bars and then cut off some of the excess material on the sides.

 The linen will have to be trimmed again after it is pasted and it dries.  I am embolded!  I want to rip off the top to the trinket box (again) and restretch it without the padding, paste the paper on and put it back on.
I am going to mix up some more paste and paste the special paper to the casket today.
A bit more was done on the birth announcement.

I got to walk outside again.  It was 39 degrees, wow.  I'm enjoying it while I can.
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Another Day

While DH is off to the grocery store, I thought I would sneak in a post.  I didn't think I had much to show you but when I looked at yesterday's photo, I have made progress.  I was so hoping to finish the purple motif but I am not quite done.  Mistakes keep happening.  I should be able to sort things our this morning and finish it off, I am so close!  Then there is a small half motif and all that is left to this panel are the ends.

I put in the rest of the dog on the birth announcement.  He is so cute!  This is such a sweet design.

I got out the quilt squares and am trying to figure out the sashing part.  The easiest way is to just do strips without worrying about squares in the corners, if you know what I mean.  I guess I should try and trim up the blocks so they are a uniform size.  I am not really a quilter.

Again today I was able to walk outside.  My new FitBit is supposed to arrive today.  I found a piece of fabric to do Monica's skirt (that goes under the apron). But I need to order some more thread.
I want to do something exciting today.  We'll have to see if I can find something that fits the bill.
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Of A Monday

Three days in a row I have walked outside!  How lucky am I?

I don't have much to show today.  But such as it is:
The Quaker Bag:

The birth announcement:

Janet's SAL:

One bathroom is clean and I am about to start the other one.
February!  How did it get to be February?  I have another Stumpwork Lesson to read.  Oh, goodie!  That will motivate me to get the other bathroom done lickety split.
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