Today I'm supposed to give an update on my UFO progress for Susan's (of Blackberry Creek) UFO Busting Challenge.
I have been working on my Tree of Life quilt. I got back to the appliqué work. Previously, I had had the leaves and berry at the bottom of this vine done. I stitched the vine up to the next section, made some more leaves and berries, stitched them on, and have the vine stitched up to the next section of leaves and berries. I think there's only one more section of leaves and berries to go on this side. This weekend I hope to work on that. After that, I need to repeat all this on the other side, and then there are two bluebirds that go on the top center and bottom center. Then this is ready for quilting.
I feel like I worked on this a LOT but don't have much to show for it. Sigh. Oh, well. I was PRESENT for every stitch, didn't rush it, and enjoyed every minute of it. That's what counts. I worked on some of it at Linda's Sit and Sew last Saturday (which I posted about here). I also worked on it at my Friday night Sit and Sew that Cheryl coordinates.
Just for fun, Cheryl reserves the multipurpose room at her church for us one Friday per month. The room is huge and has great lighting. The church sets up all these tables and chairs. Cheryl brings all the extension cords and power strips (!), and can you see the little paper bags attached to the tables? Cheryl does that so we all have thread catchers. You can see back by the kitchen door, we have a table set up, and everyone brings some food to share. The church opens up the kitchen for us, too. It is a beautiful church and a beautiful facility. (Can you believe the church does not charge us one penny for this awesome service?)
We work from 7 pm to midnight, but people can leave when they want to (and come when they want to). We spend a lot of time admiring each others' work, checking out what everyone is working on, etc. We get some sewing done, too. Holly (the one in the black sweater) was laying out a quilt on the large open floor space. That was really great for her to have such a nice space to do that in. Laurie (in the purple over Holly's shoulder) is enjoying chili that Cheryl made and shared with everyone. She was working on binding quilts that night. It was so funny, because I was sitting across the table from her, hand sewing, too. I kept looking up and there she was, asleep in the chair, with her quilts in her lap, needle poised for the next stitch. It was very cute.
Holly is in my guild here. At our last meeting, she brought her first art quilt creation. When I told her about the art quilting challenge I'm doing with Lynn (Alamosa Quilter), she suggested I join her art quilting group. I've gotten to know Holly a bit and really enjoy her. I'm looking forward to working with her group this summer. They meet on Wednesday nights, and Papa Pea teaches on Wednesday nights this semester. So, it's hard for me to get away for the art group meetings until school is out.
Also the gal in the pink sweatshirt to Holly's left works at the university with me. she works in the Registrar's Office. So it was nice to meet her. As a faculty member, it's also always good to have a friend in the Registrar's Office! I'm looking forward to sewing with her more, too. All the gals who came to this were just as nice as can be.
This gal (I'm so sorry, I can't remember her name) was doing her own UFO busting. This was a project that she had done in a class. The shading on the flower is all tiny pieces of fabric that she's sewn/fused down. They also painted on the fabric to get some additional shading. See all the black spots on the stamens? Those are all tiny pieces of fabric! This was her first or second time attempting free-motion quilting. I think she was doing just great, don't you?!
And see the nice big tables set up behind her? One gal came and used those tables to baste a quilt that night. I tell you, this facility is just wonderful for all sorts of things. And Cheryl is so sweet to organize it. We have another one coming up on February 18. I can't wait.
After yesterday's post, Patti, one of my new friends from Marshall (I met her through Linda, The Quilted Pineapple) sent me some photos. We decided we live parallel lives.
She said her husband was teaching her son, who was in 4H to do some welding. They made this gun rack out of horseshoes. Isn't this a clever gun rack?! Great job to her son and husband!
And her cousin had this tilework done over her new stove as part of her kitchen remodel. It was inspired by Edyta Sitar's Tree of Life pattern that I'm working on. Isn't it beautiful? I never would have believed it could look this great in tile! I really like this. Notice how they even used back grout on the tree trunk. Wow. Attention to detail. That was not easy, I bet. (I've done enough of my own tile work to know!)
Thanks, Patti, for sharing that. We often laugh at how many things are similar in our lives.
Well, I hope you ahve a great weekend. I'm going to do some UFO busting, work on my Quilted Fish project for the Design Team, and...oh, who knows what else. Maybe catch up on some zzzzz's. I could use it.
Until next time,
Mama Pea
Ooooo, Stephanie, your Tree of Life is looking beautiful. Worth the time you're putting in.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | January 28, 2011 at 09:41 AM
Visiting from Susan's UFO bust. Thanks for sharing the friday night sew. I love getting together with other quilter. Nice progress on your UFO too.
Posted by: Diane W | January 28, 2011 at 09:44 AM
Applause for the beautiful Tree of Life you're making! You're so right that enjoying each part of the creative process is so important. One book I read, Sue Bender's "Plain and Simple", calls it 'Pleasure in the process.'
How about seeing your quilt block done in tile?! How cool is that?
I'm a fellow UFO Buster.
Cheers!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | January 28, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Definitely like the Tree of Life. Did you see the Tree of Life quilts this week on Quilt Index? Some very nice pieces.
Posted by: Debra | January 28, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Lovely tree of life quilt. Applique takes so long but it is so worth it. Looks like you have a fun group of ladies to sew with.
Posted by: Robin Booth | January 28, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Tree of Life is looking good! Hand applique is so time consuming! So just enjoy the process. You are making progress and that is what counts.
Posted by: Lynn | January 28, 2011 at 02:11 PM
It will be so worth it in the end - eventho it seems to be going so slowly. It is really turning out so pretty. I need to get back to some of my hand work - since I can't seem to sit and sew!
Posted by: Linda in Calif. | January 28, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Your Tree of Life is looking great. Hearing about your sewing until midnight, reminds me of my younger days when we used to have an all night sew in too. Haven't had one of those in a while. Looks like a fun group and a great place to sew!
Posted by: Caroll D | January 28, 2011 at 08:18 PM
What a lovely place to work!! I love that flower quilt, and I need to show hubby that gun rack - he'd love it. So glad you had a great time! Your TOF looks wonderful!
Posted by: Allie | January 28, 2011 at 10:00 PM
What a huge church room! Bigger than the entire churches here!! I'm thinking now that when you re-do your kitchen, we will be seeing quilt pattern tiles also.
Posted by: sisLH | January 28, 2011 at 11:51 PM
I'm glad you're able to work on your UFO without feeling pressure and working at your own pace. Great job! I've been working not only on my UFO but also on the postage stamp quilt along. I just finished sewing all the rows together tonight--yay!! I definitely did not work at my own pace...I HAD to have the top finished by Feb 1st to be entered in all the drawings...so I made myself work fast...not enjoyable!
Posted by: Deb | January 29, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Looks like a whole lotta fun going on! Love the tree of life in tilework! But I have always had a love for mosaics!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | January 29, 2011 at 08:48 AM
LOL! I thought I recognized a few of those photos!! Isn't that tile motif gorgeous??? I think it's so cool that you guys get together in that church. What a great deal!!
Posted by: Linda | January 31, 2011 at 07:20 AM