For the Love of Solids2 - **Received**

What I had anxiously been waiting for was in my mailbox yesterday! Imagine my surprise(!) when the return address was the exact one I had just sent my FTLOS2 package to! Yup, Julie (Julie@Distant Pickles) of Distant Pickles and I were secret partners to each other!

Anyway, on to the splendid goodies Julie made for me!

The small project is an absolutely darling hst drawstring bag!

And here's the awesome large project! Look at that beautiful 'star' surrounded by a circle of little flying geese! Julie does impeccable work and made this piece in my fav blues, greens, and gray - perfect!

Here's some quilting detail - so nice.

Look how great even the back looks - and how handy that Julie added corner hanging pockets.

So another super enjoyable swap is complete! Good fun indeed!

By the way, if you'd like to read Julie's post on both of our projects, you'll find it here. Thanks again, Julie!

W.i.P. Wednesday

W.i.P. Wednesday sure came 'round quick this week! I do have a finish I love, but otherwise haven't accomplished much in the sewing room. sigh

Completed projects

Modern Crosses mini quilt - I admit I'm smitten with this one! Now it graces the wall of my office and just makes me happy. Finished at 48x36", I shared all about it here.

For the Love of Solids 2 - My project {see post here} was sent off last week and was happily received yesterday by Julie of Julie@DistantPickles! I am not so patiently waiting to receive my package!!

Ongoing projects
do.Good Stitches Faith Circle blocks for March - Des has asked us to make butterfly blocks using a tutorial by Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts {here}, and I at least got my blocks cut out!

Modern Blocks Bee - I got my fabric from Krista, and am considering blocks - we can made anything we want, so I'll be trying (hopefully) a couple of new-to-me blocks.

Scrappy Depression Blocks - no progress unfortunately.

4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks - no progress - 3 more to do in short order.

Upcoming projects  
* scrappy Metrolink
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too
* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt

* "On a Whim" OR/& "Hopscotch"
* Table runner for my cousin

* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

For the Love of Solids2 - Given

The For the Love of Solids swap last year was so fun and gratifying, there wasn't really any doubt if I would participate again for round two. Obviously yes. And fresh from the Japanese x and + block swap, I was easily influenced  to go rogue and make some solid blocks. Playing with some photo graphics of blocks I'd made for the x and + swap helped me figure out a plan for a variation all my own.

I pretty much grabbed the majority of my solid stash and got to work.

After stitching up the first little 5" block, I was encouraged.

This was one project where my design wall was my friend.

Bit by bit it all came together.

When it came to quilting, I wanted to show off the small center blocks as much as possible. So after detailing each of the small blocks, I echo-quilted around the large '+', moving farther apart with each row. After much deliberation, I had succumbed to the temptation to use variegated thread - the wonderfully colorful King Tut "Joseph's Coat" by Superior Threads - and was really pleased with the results.

As a final touch, I made pieced binding, matching up with each color in the big block.

For my small project, I used solid scraps to make a Lined Drawstring Bag made from Jeni's pattern. (Love the chevron twill tape I found at Amy Dunn's pinked fabrics!)

So there's the saga of FTLOS2 - sure hope my partner is pleased!

Linking up with T.N.T. Thursday and Finish It Up Friday.