Putting new patterns to use

 I started to machine quilt on my bright quilt that features applique patterns designed by Sue Spargo.  (I suppose I should figure out a shorter way to refer to this quilt. )

 When I was thinking about how to quilt it, it occurred to me that it might be a really good opportunity to try out some of the free motion patterns that I just learned.

 The quilt has several areas that are large enough to do a different pattern in each spot, such as the vertical rectangles that have the dresden plates appliqued over them.
Here are some of the samples, and then where I was able to do them on the quilt:

 I discovered that with this one you have to be careful in those spots where the rounded ends meet each other so that you don't get little pushed together build-ups of fabric.

 pebbles and ripples:  I need to do this one again, with more ripples like in the sample.  It was one of my favorite sample patterns!

In the light pink barbell shaped area I put the arches pattern, although it is a bit hard to see,

 And in these areas,  I had a lot of fun...

 On the blue dotted area I did diagonal wavy lines using the dots as a guide,

  on the green dotted fabric, I put the fern leaf,

 and the light green pattern has the moon paisley design

I am learning a lot with this project, and it is actually quite a lot of fun to fill in different areas with different machine quilting patterns,

 I'm just using a variegated pink and orange 50wt thread, so the patterns aren't really too noticeable unless you really are looking closely at the quilt.  It is pretty densely quilted though, so it will be interesting to see how it looks after washing...
I'm linking up to the TN and TN website today, so thank you in advance if you have come here from that site!!
http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

And the answer is....

 Isn't the color of that rose amazing?
Okay, I ended my post yesterday with a cliffhanger!! I had somewhere to go last night! Where was it?

from in the late '90's, porcellainous white stoneware with navy slip sgraffito, gold lustre

Answer: A pottery class! 
It has been nearly 11 years!! since I did anything with clay!  I can hardly believe it has been such a long time, but from the moment that I started to get things in line for the store, I laid down my pottery tools, and then, as a result of all the minutae of daily life, and also as a result of moving house a couple of times, I had them packed away all this time.  Well, they are still all packed away, but for the last year or two, I have had some yearnings to play in the clay again.

mugs from about 15 years ago, part of the dinnerware set I made for us to use at home, still using it--- earthenware with white glaze, blue overglaze decoration

I noticed that there is a place here where you can rent open studio time, and when I dropped by to inquire about that, the person there suggested that I take a class, partly to get to know a few people, and the procedures of the place,  and so I enrolled. 
Last night was the first class, and I am so glad that I went.  The instructor presented an excellent demo on throwing-- centering the clay and pulling up a cylinder.  It has been  a long time since I threw anything, and I think that I have a lot to remember, and to learn to improve my technique!
I think that I might also register for some open times as well, just to wallow around in the clay.  It is such an easy way to get back to do some clay work without having to set up a studio at home-- hooking up kilns, mixing up glazes, etc.  Maybe I'll do that this summer in Asquith -- who knows. 

So, that is my big news.
As if I don't have already a vast number of creative outlets.  I'm not sure  what  my goals are, or where I'm going with all these things.
 I am enjoying the ride  though.

Free Motion Quilting...

Yesterday I got a bit of quilting done, as I basted two quilts! and got one of them quilted.

For this one -- the expanded blocks with 1930's fabric, I had been mulling over whether to add another border, but then decided against it.  I decided that what I really wanted to do was to just finish it.  So I backed it with a lovely Anna Griffin print that I found.  And then, I quilted it!

 As I quilted, I freed up enough pins to baste this quilt as well, which I backed with this funky red fabric.  So I have it all basted and ready to sew.
I have been making little swatches of machine quilted patterns:

 I had been using the designs found on Leah Days site (there is a button link on the sidebar).
There are all sorts of little filler patterns,

 Like these ones,

 They are quite interesting to try, although I find that I get sort of tense while I am doing them.  They are quite small scale, and so I get some really teensy tiny stitches.  On one or two of them, I found that my top thread tended to break a bit more than I am used to. 

 After a while, I decided to just try whatever came into my head,

 this one below, that looks like little bird's nest is one of my favorites, it is by Leah, and she calls it pebbles and ripples,

However, when I sat down to quilt the 1930's quilt, none of the patterns on the swatches seemed appealing for this project, so I reverted to my default meander!
I hope to be a bit more adventurous when I do the bright colored quilt.
Also on the track of finishing things off, I just bound the Art to heart fabrics sampler with Applique,

 I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I just love some of the birds, (which were from the book by Blackbird Designs, called Birds of a Feather.)
 For the quilting, I just used an off-white thread, and did an allover pattern of leaves on most of it, from the center out, but then the last pass around the outside border I used meandering.  (not sure if it shows up in this close-up)

 Well, that's a lot of progress!
We had quite a rainstorm on Saturday, and so yesterday there was a lake outside our back yard!

 Looks like we live in a swamp! 
But it is all gone today,  I think we must have gotten about 6 inches of rain.
This is the resurrection fern on the oak tree in our deck:

 Have a great Monday!
I have something special to go to tonight!  Stay tuned!

Pieced Borders

Just added a new link to the Tutorials section on the sidebar, called Pieced Borders,  it is from Quilter's Cache, by Marcia Hohn.

I was just on the site looking for an idea for a border to add to the quilt pictured above, that I worked on in December. 
I felt the need to finish  some projects, so yesterday I went to the quilt store to shop for backings and came home with enough fabric to back three! quilts. 
However, as I was laying this one out on the floor to baste, I wondered if I should add another outer border. 
That brings me back to the website I visited.  It turns out that it has had over 21 Million! visits.  Wow! 
Briefly looking over the site, I can see that it is a very extensive resource,  so it is a really good one to keep in mind when you want some ideas for trying new blocks with some good instructions.
this is the link for pieced blocks,  here

Happy Friday

Today I have no Friday Finishes, but it is a beautiful day here and the whole day stretches before me, beckoning with new adventures. 

 We plan to go downtown and take in a visit to the Owens-Thomas House museum.

 (This is from a different house, but I was just looking through some of my photos)

(Also, I made a new coupon for the store for you to use, below, it is buy 2 threads and get a third one for free--no limit on the number, )