Yes — yesterday I worked on 3 different projects – I was going to cut the grass first thing in the morning before it got hot but I couldn’t get the lawn mower to start so it sat! I went back in the house and started housework – took a long lunch break in town as I needed to get my drivers license renewed – (actually took a good photo for a change – weird), grabbed a sandwich and then on to the fitness center for a work out then back home to – projects!
So lets start with Common Bride – baskets are done and border attached – now it is ready for me to start cutting pieces for applique. The quilt center is now 34 1/2 x 34 1/2 inches. I have actually used two different white on white fabrics so far for the background and intend to use a lot of others.
I decided I better rinse out and soak 3 of the fat quarters that I got last week as they were dark and I will be using some in the applique – good thinking!! look at these color catchers! They almost look like pieces of fabric! The first soak in hot water gave me this tannish color catcher. I rinsed the pieces and filled my bowl back up with more hot water and another color catcher – walked off and let it soak for a couple hours and got the second one there that looks a little gray – the next soak was clear. So the moral of this story is if you are using dark batiks with white background you might want to pre-wash 
On to the next – Joseph’s Coat – yes I sat down and quilted for about 45 minutes while talking to my mom on speaker phone – mom tends to go on and on a bit-I find it is good for me to put her on speaker and set the phone on the quilt and sit and quilt while I chat with her.
In the evening I finished up working on the Common Bride (top photo) and then moved on to quilting on the hoop for X Marks the Spot – 49 X’s I believe I have 16 of them quilted now – progress is slow going right now simply because I have not been working on it as much as I had planned to. I got a little more than I thought I would done on this while I was watching the Democratic Convention last night – I am watching the highlighted speeches as I did the same with the Republican Convention last week – I want to see what both sides say although I must admit to being totally disillusioned with both parties!! I have not made up my mind.
the quilting on the prints doesn’t show up really well in the photos
The back – I do not have near the amount of quilting in on this quilt as I normally put in a quilt – I do not know if I will go back when I am done and add more or not – it will depend on how I like the final outcome.
The next part of the Common Bride is adding the applique – the pattern is like this. Yes it does fill the block up doesn’t it. I will work on cutting the applique pieces and glue basting it in place this week and then start stitching next week. I have to go through fabric and select more and see what needs to be pre-wash – I don’t pre-wash as I buy fabric as some do – although it does make sense to wash fabric as you buy it and then press and put on the shelf – one day maybe I will do that?
Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville has issued a challenge to put in an hour a day on hand work – piecing, applique, or quilting – I know I do over an hour on this each day as right now all of my projects are hand work!! Go on over and see what everyone is working on.
I guess I better get to work!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
wow! that common bride is coming together beautifully! It is so fun to watch it grow…cant wait for the next update
Tim Latimer recently posted…So many quilts So little time
Since I have turned to working with mostly batiks I always prewash my fabric. It always amazes me how much the dye in batiks can bleed. Plus sometimes the fabric just stinks from the chemical process. You do get a lot done every day…and as always…I am amazed it is mostly done by hand.
Debbie in Alaska recently posted…It’s Instinctive
Common Bride looks really good. I love the deep colors of the batiks against the whites…such a nice combo. As Debbie points out, I’m also amazed at how much you get done and that its almost all done by hand. Little bits at a time right?
Sarah DiDomizio recently posted…Make-A-List Monday… on Tuesday
The Common Bride quilt is going to be gorgeous!
I prewash my fabric before it gets put away. Batiks are almost always guaranteed to bleed a bit but I’ve never thought to put a colour catcher in the wash with them. Just keep rinsing and washing until the water runs clear.
Cathi recently posted…Sunflowers in Yellow and Blue
I love the stitching you’re doing on X Marks the Spot! I think that some quilts are okay with less ‘compact’ stitching. Maybe they’re more of a cuddle quilt or something.:)
CB is looking lovely!
Archie the wonder dog recently posted…Low volume charm swap