May!

Time does fly.  My kids will be out of school in 6 weeks and the crunch is here.  As much as it feels like I work, there is always more. Should have been born male so when 5pm comes, I can just do nothing.

The biggest news is from a quilt show in Utah.  The show that used to be called HMQS (its now UQSM) is right now. I have 2 quilts there, and they have outdone themselves.  These are my newest finishes from late last fall and this spring).  One took 1st place in its category, and The Twisted Sister has earned her second Best of Show!  I was so excited to hear that this quilt did so very well. These are someone else's photos borrowed from FB because I am not there.

 Back in cold, wet Maine...I spent a week puttering.  That's code for "little of this, little of that, lotta nuthin".  I have a book in the works that may or may not be done later this summer. At some point I must switch gears and start prepping to teach in July and September. It still feels like there is a lot of content I need to tweak and prep.  Here's a sneak peek at one of a couple new class samples I have done on border quilting. I need a drone/clone that can just do all the things I think I need doing while I go take a nap.  I have a couple dozen borders still to draw.  Go, clone..

The extra body in my house is going back to work Monday. It will be SO nice to have my work space to myself again.  I spent time yesterday starting to quilt this quilt... It is my next quilt, but don't get any ideas you will see it finished before next April. This is the usual time I start quilting for an April finish, sigh... I have just reached the 1/2 way point with the ditching.

 I'm going to say this here, again.  I am sharing photos of this process so my readers can see them.  This is NOT something I particularly want you all to just copy and plaster on your facebook or pinterest.  Please don't. This is my personal intellectual property.  It's my design, and I'd like it not taken or copied before I finish. Thanks.

The backing is just amazing flower fabric.  No boring solid backing this time (even if it does show off the quilting better!).

After ribboning last week in Paducah, I realized I really needed to get a smaller quilt in the works. Somehow, all my quilts have gotten big - like 70" and larger.  I have always had a second entry that can go in the small quilt category until now.  I have a small hand-piecing project started. I might show progress in a couple weeks.  The theory is I may be able to have it finished by December.  I know, I hear the laughing in the background too...! LOL