CHECKERBOARDS TOP

 After lots of missteps, backups and restarts, I finally got the Checkerboards 15-17 top done!

Yea!  It's about 70" by 87".

CUTTING A HOLE

 I drew out a circle on freezer paper to use as a template.  Then, using a heat erasable pen, I traced the circle onto the quilt top.

Then I cut the circle out.

After finding the perfect solid green fabric and cutting a half inch from the previous circle template, I traced it onto fabric.

Next step was to pin and glue it onto the cutout circle.

Sew and press it flat.

Using a ruler as a guide, I cut the border at 3/4" all the way around.

Sewing the rest of the top onto the cut-out circle was a little more difficult.

But, it was all worth it.  Here it is - the finished top.

ITS A TOP - SORT OF

 I got all of the rows sewn together today.

It's not officially a top yet, because I'm going to cut a circle out of it and re-insert it.

Stand by!  This could be fun.

SEWING ROWS

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month and I attended the Sew Modern Connection zoom meeting.  I was only able to sew a few rows together because I couldn't find a comfortable position for my inflammed left leg.  I left the meeting early.

Today, Monday, was a Brave Patch Monday Sewcial zoom meetup.  I continued to sew the rows together on the pink and green HST blocks.  I figured out it was better to sew the whole row together and then get up and press the seams open.  Yesterday I was trying to press each seam as I went, which meant turning back and forth to the ironing board.  That was what made my knee unhappy.

They are now in six sets of two.

BLOCKS ON THE WALL

 I went upstairs to the studio this morning - the first time since my left knee replacement surgery on May 16th.  

I got those green and pink HST blocks up on the wall.

VALENTINE'S DAY

I went up to the studio today with every intention of working on my Year of the Ox etching, but I just had to sit down and paint this beautiful bouquet of flowers from Darrell.

I must admit I brow-beat him into sending it to me at work this year. I've always hinted I'd rather have flowers sent to work, then get them at home. If I'm working, I'm there for almost the whole day. This year was no exception. I'd enjoy them more at work where I was going to be spending my whole weekend.

When I mentioned it to him this year, he says, "I don't know the address"....Wham, he got it sent to him in a great big-fonted email. No excuse now.
Anyway, I painted this with a big brush, really fast and loose.

I like it, and now I'll have the flowers forever!

This is 12" by 9", acrylic on canvas.

Thank you Darrell.
He's so sweet.