It pays to get up early

I am not, nor have I ever been, an early riser. Yes, I can rise and shine if I have to, but I just prefer not to. Recently, I have been going to bed earlier, but I still get up around the same time. This might have something to do with working out at the gym 5 days per week, but I digress.

Last night, I went to bed thinking about my goals for today. I really, really want to finish up at least two of the Caritas Clinics charity quilts. I guess that's what woke me earlier than usual. On my way downstairs to the stewdio, I caught a glimpse of the sky peeking through the landing window. I grabbed my camera, stepped outside, and for the first time in a long time, I saw the sun rise. The sky was just beautiful

I'm supposed to be quilting today...supposed to be working on those two charity quilts that will bring me to my goal of at least one charity quilt completed per month - well, almost, anyway. So what if the January one is still waiting along with the February one? And that the next two are waiting for just a couple of borders to be attached? So what, if I want to play with something else?

So?

Yesterday, a few of the Amazing Quilt Babes came over for a "free" stitch day. In other words, we got to play with whatever we wanted to do. It wasn't a birthday stitch day, so four of us played with backings and blocks and prepping applique. We also managed to make it to the "new" little quilt shop 13 miles south of my house, The Needle Nest. You know, we HAD to go!

I played with making more 6.5" blocks to go with the existing 60 blocks I already have. About 3 years ago, a few friends and I (Bonnie included) exchanged 6.5" blocks with each other. I love every one of them! I had just gotten my new Pfaff, and I learned that with the proper equipment (IDT foot), I can do weensy bitsy pieces! I just couldn't put them away today when it was time to set up the quilting machine. No, I just couldn't put them back in their bag, could I?

I remembered Bonnie's 4 Patch and furrows setting, and I wondered how it would work with these blocks? So, instead of quilting on those two charity quilts, I got out other equipment. The new rotary cutter blade, and my new EZ Angle 6.5" ruler, and my new fabric. Now, this fabric is so very different than what I usually work with, but I DID want the quilt to look old-fashioned.



The bottom row is where I ran out of the darker fabric, and I still need to make another dozen 6.5" blocks, but I do think I'm going to like it!