Just a little more progress

Three things to be happy about:
(1) a free football ticket
(2) the distant winter sun
(3) the feel of fleece

At the craft fair Saturday there was a sweet quilter from Bowie, Marilyn Mowatt, who had put fleece on the back of her baby quilts... just the top and the fleece back with no batting.  I had an "ah-hah!" moment - why not do the same with my super-duper Christmas quilt?  Since it will only be used in December anyway, the fleece wouldn't be too warm.  I called my LA but she's never done it and wanted to research it a bit, so I'll just do the usual with this quilt to save time.  But sometime soon I'll try that top/fleece combo on my own with a smaller quilt! 

Since my last post I've only made one more block... Remember me mentioning a basket block embellished with candy canes?  Well, this is it, sort of.  It's a paper-pieced block from EQ but I made it rectangular rather than square, then I decided I didn't like the handle so I eliminated it.  Looks sort of like a vase, doesn't it? 

After piecing the bottom part, I cut background fabric for the top and appliqued the candy canes, then joined the two pieces.  To make the candy canes I started by sewing alternating strips of red and white fabric together.  Then I drew the candy cane shapes on fusible web, placed them on the back of the fabric and cut.

This angel block was in a box in my sewing room; I think I made it back in the spring but never did anything with it.  I figured it'd go well with my Christmas quilt so I tossed it in. 

I was trying to make it tall enough to join with another block, so I put the little piece at the bottom... that's a nostalgic Christmassy street scene between the green pieces. 

Then I decided to join it to a different piece, and I wanted to make it wider by adding the red and white - yuck!  I think I could have made this combination work if I had placed the side on first (minus one diamond!), then put the bottom border all the way across. 

It looks a bit choppy as is, especially with the piece I meant to join it to, so I removed that diamond piece.  I think I can still use this angel, but with a different set of blocks!

Here's one combination that I want to show you, they're coming right along...

Santa, deer, churn dash blocks, and cute rocking horse!

I've reached the point now where I need to take careful measurements, add a piece here, shave a bit there.  I also need to decide which orientation my new blocks will be - vertical or horizontal.  I still don't have my house!!

That's all for now, enjoy your Tuesday - sew forth and sew on!