A Busy Week and a Finish!

I've been "missing in action" for a week.. where does the time go? It's not that I've been ignoring you.. I've just been very busy. Despite the best intentions, sometimes "life" just gets in the way and it certainly has been keeping me occupied. I have finally finished up the little silk miniature. In hindsight, it was not a great idea, but I guess I just wanted to see if I could do one with silk. Of course, using silk for a miniature with very small seams is NOT smart, I certainly should have known better. When you have a seam that's not more than 1/8", and a few threads ravel off the dupioni silk, well... you can just imagine the "fun" I had.... This project was the epitome of  "careful handling"... But who can resist the luscious shimmer of silk? It did make lovely little Carolina Lilies... I should clarify here - the yellow-green background is cotton, but all the rest is silk. Using it for the border and binding might not have been the best choice. But it's all done now. I won't be taking it apart. The quilt measures 10.75" square, the blocks are 3" finished. The design is by Cindi Edgerton, you can see all of Cindi's "Little Bits" patterns here. This one is called Mini Carolina Lily (#V242). There are enough tissue paper foundations in the pattern to make 24 blocks, so who knows, maybe someday I'll use more and make another Carolina Lily mini. In COTTONS.
My original plan was to do nine blocks. After one trial block and then changing my mind on the background fabric and doing one more, I decided perhaps four blocks would be enough. (There are four sections to each block, and things must be extremely precise for the lilies to line up with the stems.) When I got it all together, I wished I had stuck with the original plan of nine blocks. I wondered, with the four blocks and the one plain block in the centre, would the viewer's eye be drawn more to that centre block? I pondered and pondered over what to use for a quilting design in that one central block? If I had had more time, I might have tried hand quilting a small feathered wreath in that block, but then I again wondered if that would take the eye away from the pieced blocks? So I simply cut the outline of the lily design out of freezer paper, ironed it on and machine quilted the outline with a soft yellow Sulky rayon thread. It is subtle, but I thought that was better than really standing out... What do you think?
I was anxious to finish this piece as I was booked to teach a Miniatures class for a Nova Scotia Guild this weekend, and it's always nice to have a new piece or two for a class. I left here Friday morning, had time to stop and have lunch in Amherst with my blogging friend Karen, visit the local quilt shop, Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium, then continued on to New Glasgow. I was treated royally by the Thistle Guild. I was the "entertainment" for Friday evening... lol  I did a Trunk Show which was followed by a lovely Dessert Party - oh. my. goodness. those Pictou County quilters are SUCH good cooks!!  What a treat it was. (I really had to restrain myself. I'm sure I gained weight just looking at the heavily laden tables....)
Saturday's class was great fun, I enjoyed it as much as they did! I was thrilled to have a group of skilled enthusiastic quilters. They  were keen to delve into the world of sewing small....  And I got to meet another blogging friend, Sheila, of Sheila's Quilt World.  Poor Sheila couldn't actually sew as she broke her wrist last week, but she came for the morning, got the notes, saw some of my demos, and I know her Guild sisters will help her with the info and techniques she missed in the afternoon. Giving you a big wave, Sheila!  A huge Thanks to all the Thistle Guild gals, especially Anne, Carol, Gloria and Janice who did all the organizing for the weekend. I had as much fun as they did, and I hope they'll invite me back again soon! Don't forget to send me photos of your new Miniatures, girls!    :)    

Peace,
Linda

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson