Moda Blockheads is a Top

I actually finished this top in mid-April when I went to Quilt Camp in Lake Tahoe, but since I haven't been  blogging and the Blockheads II started yesterday, I thought I would share it.  I'm not sure if I'm going to do the second one, but I'm printing them off just in case.  I'm contemplating doing it in red, white, and blue to be used as a Quilt of Honor.  I thoroughly enjoyed working on the first one but I'm in the middle of so many projects already.

 

 

 

 



I also started the Sarah Johnson quilt at camp.  I've had the pattern for years, but didn't feel I had the time or expertise to attempt it.  I got most of the middle medallion finished at camp and began working on the 172 star blocks needed.  As of today, my star blocks are done and my applique blocks are prepped.  I should be able to start assembling next week.  I included the second picture with my hand so you can see the small scale. 

 



Here is a link to the pattern and some background on the quilt.
https://www.hooplapatterns.com/shop/Shelburne-Museum/p/Sarah-Johnson-Quilt-pattern-x20241186.htm

A Finish and Some Progress

This week I finished this stitchery BOM provided by Jenny at Elefantz.  I belong to her Facebook group, Gentle Domesticity, where she is providing BOM called "A Year in the Garden".  Check out her website at www.elefantz.com

Below is a shot of my design wall this week.  The top left blocks are a SAL from The Quilted Moose, and the 3 blocks on the top left are the last three Moda Blockhead blocks.  I'm waiting to be inspired to create a setting for these 48 blocks. The tiny shoo-fly blocks are my leader/ender project.  I have many shoo-flies pieced but decided to set them as the mood struck me.  Notice a pattern of behavior here?  No to do lists for this gal!

 

 

I'm looking forward to some hand quilting time while watching the Olympics this evening and weekend.  We are having unseasonably warm weather here in California, but we need rain and snow desperately.  Maybe some of you in the Midwest can send some our way. 

 



I'm Baaack!

Wow.  I didn't realize how long it has been since I last posted.  Six months and so much has happened.  This will be a rather long post so I'll keep the quilty goodness at the beginning and add the personal update at the end in case anyone is interested.  In early April I spent a wonderful week in Lake Tahoe at quilt camp with many wonderful ladies and my high school friend, Connie.  I worked on finishing some WIPs and came home inspired and thankful.  I'll be sharing these soon. 

I've been successfully keeping up with Moda Blockheads block of the week despite some real challenges (see personal below).  Here's my work so far:

 

 

I recently purchased Jo Morton's Jo's Little Favorites II and fell in love with most of the quilts.  I finished the triangle one last week.  It is so satisfying to work on smaller quilts that can actually be finished.  Both quilts are hand quilted.

Courthouse Steps

Half-Square Triangle Challenge
 

Finally, here is my Circa 2016.  This was a sew along with Temecula Quilt Co. last year.  It hangs in our family room.  It is the only quilt I can ever remember my husband saying he likes!

Circa 2016

Tomorrow's Slow Stitching will be some hexi flowers.

******* personal info*******

After my delightful time in Tahoe, I decided to take care of some routine health maintenance which included my mammogram.  Much to my dismay they called be back, I had a biopsy and was diagnosed with breast cancer in early May.   I had lumpectomy surgery and a lymph node biopsy in mid-May.  I feel extremely fortunate that my cancer is small and an early stage, however it didn't get me out of chemo.  I had my first of 4 treatments last week, and while it certainly isn't a walk in the park, it is manageable.

I hesitated to share this much personal information, but there are two things that I want to share with my quilting sisters.  First, if you are not regularly getting your mammos, please start.  Do it EVERY year, if possible.  Women in their 60s are most at risk.  The second thing I want to share is how much being a quilter has helped me brave my frightening new world.  Hand stitching, reading your blogs, and prepping new projects have kept me from falling into despair.  We are so blessed to have this hobby to help us through the challenging times in our lives. 
With gratitude,
Barb