Clara, it sounds like you are going to need to have a lot of quilt-therapy in the next while. I have a 17 year old daughter and I find quilting is the best escape from the drama of her everyday life!

I have another suggestion and I don't know if anybody thinks this is a good one or not so I throw it open to the floor - how about we do some letters, as in the alphabet. Here are some photos of letters I did when I got my machine first and I just wanted to try out the FMQ on it. I used a sheet of grease-proof paper as a template, drew the letter - I wasn't worried about it being perfect - drew a couple of lines around it making sure that they were straight and then stitched on top of the paper. I used a Superior Highlights thread (Rainbow thread for the 'P')which is lovely for FMQ. Once I had the letter and the lines around it stitched I tore off the paper and began filling in with whatever took my fancy. I used left-over pieces of a practice quilt sandwich and left-over binding too. Each one is only about 5x6 1/2".


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As for what I will be doing this weekend, well this evening I am doing taxi service for my daughter who has gone to a party. Tomorrow I will probably quilt in between taking my two children various places for their very active social lives and on Sunday my son is having an end of Chinese New Year party for a few of his friends. He has purchased all sorts of Chinese goodies for them to try and we will round it off with lighting paper lanterns which will hopefully fly away in the evening sky.

So, what are you going to be doing this weekend. We are going to be welcoming our nephew to our home. He will be living with us for a while. He is 18 and lived with us for over 3 years a few years back.

Quilting might just become a stress reliever for me. What other ways besides pure enjoyment does quilting do for you?

I got an idea for a Alzheimer's: Priority Quilt. How about a reel block? I understand there is a big exchange going on.

Happy quilting. Clara

they're all beautiful - can't wait to get to bid for one or two ...
finally did my WotRott reels yesterday and tonight - still working on a get-well quilt for a friend - was washed this weekend - now i found that there was one more panel that hadn't been written in waterproof markers... luckily i'd outlined the lighthouse with my quilting - so that'll be easy to fill in - but will have to get the message and signatures again from my colleagues in our hamburg office. also found that i'll have to do quite a bit more quilting - but am getting there...
once this done - time to finish up my strippers and hst quilts - everything has to be done by early march as i'll be travelling for work (with a 2-week visit with my parents and family in canada over easter) from mid march to end april - only on-the-go stuff doable then

Clara they are beautiful.

Thanks guys. It means a lot coming from fellow quilters! Clara

Beautiful flowers, I love the Hibiscus and sunflower especially but all are beautiful. So much talent!

All I can say is: WOW!

Amazing work Clara!

Clara, You are a true artist!! They are absolutley beautiful. Wish I could bid on them all. I don't tthink
I could choose. I am really impressed. Wow!!
Have a great day. Cathe

And the other 3.

Sorry, the color is not great in the photos. I did some quickie photos too. Clara

Here is what I worked on. Quickie post.

Clara, sorry to hear your son has pneumonia and I hope he is better soon. My daughter had it when she was 11 and it took two courses of anti-biotics to clear (primarily because the doctor gave her a paediatric dose the first time0. She is now 17 but we always worry when she gets a bad cold or cough in case it is returning - probably unnecessarily.

As for quilting, I just finished the binding on a pineapple quilt - from Gyleen Fitzgerald's Trash to Treasure - and I hope to post a photo later today - I need to get some good light to take the shot and it is raining and very dark here again today. I made the quilt for my daughter's friend who is in hospital recovering, with many setbacks, from having much of her bowel removed. She had been suffering with colitis for the past few months and was taken in for emergency surgery. Poor thing, she is only 35 years old. She just began a degree in midwifery last september and has had to postpone it for a year. I decided to make this quilt for when she came out of hospital. It's a lap quilt size so perfect for recovery on the sofa while watching TV.

Clara, Glad to hear your son is feeling better. I can't wait to see what you are working on. I am trying to finish my HST, so that is
it for me right now. Cathe

Put in about 7 more hours this weekend on the second batch. I need to work on finishing the quilting on the first, but my boy Mikey was sick with pneumonia and I needed an easy stop and start project to help me stay relaxed. He is doing much better and hopefully will be returning to school tomorrow. Will post pictures tomorrow of progress. I'm working on a bunch of flowers. Outside my comfort zone, but always wanted to try.

What are you guys working on? Share, even if it isn't Alzheimer's: Priority Quilts. We all (most of us) have several projects going at the same time. Wish I had more discipline, but oh well. Please share. Any new techniques?
Clara