Right Under My Nose...

These are the fabrics I've chosen for my 12-month quilt project. I joined a local quilt group, The Disconnected Piecers, last month and one of the members is teaching a free class. I'm learning applique' techniques, and there will be twelve blocks to complete...one per month. At the end of the year, I'll be able to assemble the quilt.

I'm really fond of the colors I've chosen. The pattern shows the design sewn in dark colors, but I want to go for a different look, so I pulled the jelly roll from my stash with all those pretty patterns, and then selected the coordinating fabrics. I also had to purchase the lightest color fabric as the background for all the squares.

I promise I'll show you each square as I finish it so you can share my applique' journey. I think it will be an interesting twelve months, don't you?
Guess what else happened yesterday? This will probably be a yawner for y'all, but I was pretty excited. We had our usual summer storms pass through on Sunday night. I always run into the studio to make sure all of my machines are unplugged. I guess, without realizing it, I had also unplugged the "accelerator" control on Prissy. When I went to sew yesterday, nothing happened. When I figured out why, I had to plug it back in.
Look. Do you see it? There. Peeking out from under Prissy. Could it be? Tell me it is! Slowly, I reach for it and this is what I found...
Woo Hoo!!!! It's my favorite, sharp, almost vintage, seam ripper! What was lost is found. It had been right under my nose the entire time. Safe and sound, but virtually invisible.
From my vantage point, the seam ripper had been obscured by the connector for my foot pedal. I swear I'd looked there before. I even lifted the machine up once, but apparently, it was still covered by the machine and I didn't see it.
I was so grateful that I got out the brass polish and cleaned it up. Then I perched it on the crocheted (tuffet) pincushion that was created by Twyla at Two Crazy Crafters. I left it there for the afternoon and then hung it on the hook right next to my machine for safekeeping before I turned out the light in the studio for the night. One lost item from my list moved to the "found" column. Now, if only I could find those berry bowls!
One more thing...
Some of you had voiced your regrets at not requesting one of my 400th Follower Artist Trading Cards. I contacted you, asked for your address and told you I would do a Phase II set. Not exactly like the first set, but incorporating the same elements. (The embroidery on the right side of the ballerinas is a different design and color.)

They're ready now and will be mailing out today. Thanks again for asking for one of my mini art pieces. I hope you all enjoy a creative day!