So what are you all working on?

I have begun making a McKenna Ryan wallhanging called "Home Tweet Home" whi ch was a commission from last April! I did get so far as to trace some of the designs before my illness and cancer diagnosis took over my life. I a lso have my "Owl Hollow" wallhanging to work on - the fabrics are ready and the tracings are done. Polly insisted that my owls should be completed be cause it is my obsession.

I am now on my second course of chemotherapy which allows me a two week per iod of rest between infusions - so while there are some rough days ahead, I am enjoying the creative process again. This schedule will run for as man y months as I can tolerate any side effects followed by more surgery if war ranted.

The only concession that I have made to my sewing area is that I have conve rted my dining area into sewing central - I have stapled the craft batting for the wallhanging to the wall behind my machine and shall be able to crit ique every time I pass through the space. My regular sewing room will rema in the 'stash' room, ironing space, sewing room - I still use both my pfaff and husqvarna machines.

Good thoughts and encouragement welcome! barnyowl aka Jennifer in Ottawa

was a commission from last April! I did get so far as to trace some of the designs before my illness and cancer diagnosis took over my life. I also have my "Owl Hollow" wallhanging to work on - the fabrics are ready and the tracings are done. Polly insisted that my owls should be completed because it is my obsession.

of rest between infusions - so while there are some rough days ahead, I am enjoying the creative process again. This schedule will run for as many months as I can tolerate any side effects followed by more surgery if warranted.

my dining area into sewing central - I have stapled the craft batting for the wallhanging to the wall behind my machine and shall be able to critique every time I pass through the space. My regular sewing room will remain the 'stash' room, ironing space, sewing room - I still use both my pfaff and husqvarna machines.

working on at the moment ?

I might be able to answer in a couple of weeks - until then the answer is 'nothing' (much to my dismay).

I'm in a bit of a phase so I have been doing everything.

A couple of weeks ago I baked one of these:

Then kiri's gallbladder had a fit so she didn't get so much as a lick of frosting. Surgery is scheduled in a few weeks.

Since then I have been baking loads of low fat oatmeal themed things, bread, muffins, cookies. Took a break from oatmeal for Italian Easter Egg bread. I had thought to do Greek this year, I actually have the mahlep and the mastic, but it takes a load of butter whereas the Italian takes just a bit of olive oil. I don't think the family cares much which I make, it vanished in record time.

I am approaching the last round of starts for the garden. Had bad luck with hot peppers this year, nothing but a couple of hot paprikas deigned to germinate. Today I got a meyer lemon tree and a key lime tree in the mail. I've been wanting to try those indoors, but never got around to ordering them. Checked with the company, anonymous gift. So I happily potted them up and figure my mysterious beneficiary will eventually come out of the woodwork.

Today I've combed about a pound of wool out with a comb and hackle made of 16d and 8d nails. As I nurse my blisters I am hoping that deity sends the proper tools to a yard sale near me.

I have nearly completed some curtains for the over sized window in my workroom. A red and white Kentucky chain against a background of mixed colours (but no red and white). Just odd bobs of assorted drapery weight fabrics that have come into my possession over the years. I shudder to think that some soul out there has some of these as major decor points. I have scraps of blobby green and blue flowers on ecru, and the same flowers in gold and brown on another scrap. I have this image in my head of somebody using one to cover a couch and the other to cover matching chairs in a room with mustard colored drapes. The image probably came into my head because they were folded up with some mustard colored faux shantung.

Oh, and a friend asked for a "grown-up dragon sweater". So I designed one and I am almost done knitting it. Seriously, if you know how to quilt and also how to knit, designing knit colorwork is pretty easy.

NightMist

I had 4 quilts basted and waiting to be quilted, so I set up my Juki and have the two smaller ones finished. Still have a twin and a large queen size waiting.

For those who remember our garden railway, DH called the local club and gave it all away - they will be setting up displays for some community groups etc., so it will all go to new homes. DH has struggled with the live oak leaves and two years in a row of acorns. Add the Spanish moss that falls with every wind, and keeping the train running was becoming a huge job. It has make packing to head north a much easier job, and I didn't have to pack up my sewing room two weeks before our departure date, so he could store all the train buildings and accessories.

We'll be heading north sometime next week. We're looking forward to seeing our 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law for a big hug!

My travel hand work will be preparing 1/2 inch hexagons. I found a pattern in an Australian magazine that has several sizes and shapes of hexies, so I thought it would be fun to make in my spare, travel, and waiting for appointment time! This is another project that I thought I'd never make, but last winter I made a bed-size hexagon quilt, using Christmas fabrics.

I'm looking forward to seeing my spring bulbs poke through the soil when we get home!

Susan quilt> >> Having been out of the loop for so long I just wondered what you were all

working on at the moment ?

me as Singer or Singermom. After knitting numerous afghans for Project Linus for the past few years, I am getting back into quilting. I am hand-piecing a twin-bed sized quilt for Project Linus from 6-1/2" baseball-themed squares I accumulated 13-15 years ago in the RCTQ Baseball Swap! The pattern is "America the Beautiful" by Florence Moy, published in the March/April 2013 issue of Fons & Porter's "Love of Quilting" magazine. I am going to hand quilt the snowball blocks to look like baseballs, and the appliqued stars are also baseball-themed fabric. It feels great to be back quilting, though I sure wish my fingers would callous over soon!

Pictures are in the plan. If I cannot get DH to help with that, the guy I am making it for will.

It is dragons plural. I just took a yolked pattern and smacked dragons onto it.

Looks like I may be doing a heck of a lot more knitting than quilting in the near future. I woke up this morning with a bulge the size of a baseball pushing out right next to my surgical scar. I poked it back in, and rang the GP. Appointments from here to Buffalo over the next couple of weeks, and a 10 pound lifting limit along with orders to take it easy until further notice. DH has scolded me for hefting around potting soil when I planted my trees, and DD3 has sworn to be my garden slave this season. I shall have to rummage in my drawer and see if I can find those spanx sorta things DD2 bought me for her wedding. They ought to help keep my insides in.

NightMist

"NightMist" ...

Goodness NM I sure hope you knot stays away! You take care of yourself, you hear?

Barbara in Florida, zoom to be back in SC

working on at the moment ?

Nothing at the moment I'm afraid! Lots of sorting out to do here + learning this new computer; but then I have high hopes.

working on at the moment ?

I am finishing up a penguin that stands about 21" tall. Tristan calls him "Pingu" and fell in love with him before I could get the feet or wings on! I finished the feet and sewed them on today.... he was dubious that this would improve the look, but he had a great big smile when I handed him back!

Tomorrow is the wings. It will turn his flightless bird into... a flightless bird that can swim underwater. The pair of them keep sliding down the hallway on their bellies. They're both getting filthy!

-- Jo in Scotland

As usual, I've got more tops pieced or partially done than I have projects ready to finish! Lately, I pieced a few of the jelly roll race strip tops to give the grandkids - lots of pinks for Veronica and Vivian, and a red/white/blue sports theme for Vinnie.

The 30s quilt I've got to finish for my bed is taking a back seat. I think I dread lifting it about because it is king size and heavy. Plus, nothing should be done for pleasure until I clean the craft room!!!!!

I got distracted - a lady at work had a bracelet from South America that had been crocheted with cotton thread and then beaded with a variety of interesting beads. I've now made about 6 in all colors. Also, Veronica needed a solar system diorama that we made together - I did get to use use fabric (dark blue with silver stars) for the background!! Moni

working on at the moment ?