Atypical, divergent, unrepresentative...

...just a few of the words used to describe my latest project.

It certainly isn't my standard, normal or usual modis operandi,
but was so thoroughly enjoyable!
It will be a surprise for my daughter.
It was made from the scraps of the hexie quilt I am still working on. I knew this one would get to her much faster than the other!
I am calling it 'Working Nine to Five.'

I finished up last month's and this month's PFH blocks.

I used one of the stitch variations on the middle maroon flower.  I like the way it came out using a variegated Valdani thread.

I changed this block slightly by substituting another twig of bittersweet.
The original had a large circle with a star in it.
We are getting down to the last two smaller blocks and
I am real anxious to start setting them.

I'll be working on hexies today...top of my WIP list.
Hope you find time today for sewing too.

Abundance...

quilted and bound!

Thank you again Lori  of Humble Quilts for such a fun quiltalong.

Looking forward to the linky party so I can see everyone's versions.

Go check out her latest post...her quilts were part of a recent exhibit and look absolutely stunning all displayed together.  And she looks pretty cute herself!

I learned a lot hand quilting this little treasure.

First, basting is an important step if you don't want puckers and creases on both the front and back of your little quilt. I could definitely benefit from a class or perhaps I should read one of those tutorials I have pinned on hand quilting! And although wool batt is like butter, it is puffy and hard to work with without a hoop. 

  About half way through the process, I discovered that if I steamed my little project, the wool batt acted almost like an adhesive, giving me a well basted, flat sandwich. And finally, definitely don't place a seam in your backing right under a line of quilting...LOL!With all that said and done, I am happy with how it turned out.  

Imperfect, but charming.

And the last line of quilting showed marked improvement!

A Finish!

Country Whig Rose
designed by Kim Diehl

Yeah, it is officially a finish!

Here are a few closeups of the quilting.

The class I am teaching starts Friday, so done in the nick of time.

I am hand quilting my Abundance quilt, and it isn't turning out as wonderful as I had hoped. My stitches are irregular and my lines are wavy. Inexperienced, but lots of lessons learned. I will share it when it is done.

However, Gathering Garden did perk up after the addition of the some berries.

Giving my fingers a little break, but I should have this one done by the end of the month.

Then I think I will take a break from applique and get back to some machine piecing!

Tackle completing one of my WIPS.