YES!

It's official: I'm such a joiner... I signed up for Doll Quilt Swap 7 today! I'm really excited even though the deadline is in September and I'm only supposed to be finishing WIPs before starting anything new. But doll quilts are small, so they don't really count, right? I'm looking forward to getting my top secret swap partner assignment!

WIP Busting

I am busting everything over here, it seams- scraps, stash and now WIPs. I joined up with the WIPing Through Summer group on Flickr to help hold myself accountable to my pledge to finish what I've started before starting any new projects. *Sigh* It's so boring compared to starting something new! and improved! but it really must be done, especially since when I looked at my last "knock out those WIPs" post it was back in April and I have only completed one thing from that list. Oops!

So here are the projects in my WIP pile that I will complete before summer ends. I'm looking forward to posting pictures of each one as I complete them!


I'm also looking forward to rewarding my WIPbusting success, with more new projects and perhaps some new inspiration in the quilting book form... I'm starting to dream in applique and the new Piece O' Cake book looks great!

Swap Blocks and Scrap Busting

I finished a block for the Stash Busting Bee International for Lish today! I had a zillion ideas for the fabric she sent out (the red print below) but ended up making the same pinwheel block as my other swap group is using. I have a few strips of her fabric left, so I am thinking about making one more block just to exercise my creativity.

While I was sewing my swap block, my 7 year old finished the faux Ugly Doll she started sewing at school. I was really excited because we stuffed it with the scrap stuffing- all the bits that are to small to even be crumbs or strings, along with thread clippings and little pieces of batting scraps- that I compulsively save because I just can't throw fabric away. It turned out great! Now to make a few more stuffed toys to use up the other bags of stuffing size scraps I have stashed in the closet!

Perfect vs. Done

I was getting really stressed over getting my pinwheel swap blocks perfect... and then, after ripping and resewing, ripping and resewing them too many times, I remembered that perfection in quilting is a Platonic ideal, at least for me. Some of my favorite quilts are old utility quilts that were just pieced and scrapped together until they were the right size, no matter if the design was "regular" or if the corners matched up. The beauty of imperfection is such a vital and vibrant part of our quilting heritage! I could go on, but the point is that my swap blocks are done and in the mail to 5 ladies now. The sixth block (upper right) is hanging out here, spinning the other way and waiting for something wonderful to result from it's uniqueness.


I also finished my first Stash Busting Bee block, for Shannon. She asked for a Hunting Lodge theme for a young family friend, so I hope she likes it! I had a lot of fun making it!