I started working on the Christmas Baltimore Album quilt today – not much accomplished but I decided which block I would start on. I went through the stash looking for greens and red appropriate for the job. Next I started tracing out the pattern pieces. With this much applique I use freezer paper templates so I numbered all the pieces on the pattern first and then trace in sections onto freezer paper. Next step will be to cut out my background squares from the goldish/beige that I bought on Saturday and then cut out sections and iron onto the correct fabric. This of course won’t be done over night! But that is ok, it will give me a break now and then from quilting and working on dear jane. I don’t expect I will have the this quilt done in time for for Christmas this year but for sure the following year. I have always wanted to do a Baltimore Album so I plan on doing this one carefully as I want it to turn out really well.
This pretty turquoise color mug was given to me by my younger daughter at the same time I received the mug with the cat handle (where the cats face is in the mug if you remember). This mug was not made in any special place or in any special way. It is special in that she gave it to me — eons ago 
The very slender handle on it makes it delicate. It was bought at the same craft show that the other mug was at in Missouri – I think Springfield if I remember right.
Yesterday’s question: A grapefruit spoon can be helpful prior to which of the following quilting techniques? The answer is B – machine quilting — weird huh. The way the test explains this is that some quilters use a grapefruit spoon to close safety pins used to baste quilts prior to machine quilting. A commercial tool is also available. Both reduce the wear and tear on fingers that occurs when closing hundreds of pins. Makes sense I guess. I have heard of the spoon being used for hand quilting also. You hold the spoon in some way under the quilt and when you push your needle through the layers you have it hit on the spoon which in turn reflects it back up to go through the top of the quilt. I can’t get the hang of it, I tried it. I have to feel the needle come through the quilt to know it is through.
Next question: It’s fine to use hand quilting thread in your sewing machine. TRUE or FALSE
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