Decision

 A decision has been made!  I ended up using the orange for the last border on Celtic Solstice.

Now to figure out a backing.  I haven't made many pieced backs, but I'm thinking I will need to on this one because of the size.   Plus, what a great way to use up some fabric from the stash.  Speaking of which, most of this quilt was made with stash.  I had to buy some orange and some of the cobalt blue. But I did use up all of those colors in my stash. 

Fall is officially here and our garden is winding down.  We planted watermelons this year and were able to have only one for us because of the deer, raccoons and turkeys.  We have figured out a better fence for the patch, so hoping to have more next year.  But this one was amazing.  The flavor was so sweet!

Enjoy your day!  Happy quilting!

Plugging Along

 I've been plugging along on my Celtic Solstice.  I've been trying to use my stash to do the last border, but I'm just not finding the right fabric.  So I'm leaning towards making a trip to a quilt shop to buy fabric for that last border.  At least I have some time to think about it. In that respect it's not like before COVID, I would have already been to the shop and home again.  Now I really weigh the need vs the want before I head out.  My two choices:

In the meantime, I've been working on a sewing mat.  My friend Jean teaches classes and she had a class on making a mat, but at the time I was working and wasn't able to go to the class.  She sold the pattern on Craftsy before all the changes and that's when I bought the pattern.  She does have an Etsy shop with some of her patterns, but not the sewing mat.  But if you really want the pattern, you could contact her for information.

So without further ado, here's the mat:

It's such a nice size mat.  The pattern called for adding a piece of ironing board fabric to the right, but I have a little wool mat that I'm going to use instead.  I'm loving the pockets, it will be perfect for storing some items instead of having them on my table.

Playing

 I started playing with my Dirty Dozen challenge for this month.  I measured out how big I could make it  based on the size of pillow form I could get.  Dreamed of fancy borders made with stars and fussy piecing.  Then I woke up!  Just get it done!

So I'm going with a plain border around the whole piece and figuring out how to use some of my old All Iowa Shop Hop fabric to make the back envelope.  

As I said, just get it done!

Cutting, Cutting, Cutting

 I have been cutting, cutting, cutting.  I have 3 projects cut and ready to sew.  Do you ever do that?  I know Bonnie Hunter will cut and kit up blocks or part of a project, so I decided to see how it works to cut all that I need for a couple of projects. 

We'll see if I'm any more productive or if it all moves at normal speed.  I'm thinking it will all go at normal speed.  However, since I'm in the mood to cut fabric, it's a good time to do it.  

September Dirty Dozen

September Dirty Dozen was announced on the first of September.  Number 11.  And for me that is a counted cross stitch picture that I have had done for years and I want to make it into a pillow.

I thought this is a good one, since it's an election year.  

Not sure how I'm going to finish it.  I have some fabric pieces I have pulled from the stash that I added to the bag it's in.  I have an idea, we'll see how it goes.  Wish me luck!