Thank you for being so encouraging! I could never have completed this quilt without your help - I did so many searches on this forum to find out how to do so many things - so it's actually a group project. :) For instance, someone (I'm afraid I don't remember who) recommended using Glad Press and Seal to transfer designs. I was hung up for the longest on how to transfer "Windsong" onto black fabric. But I printed out the word, using Edwardian Script ITC at 300 size (it took 2 pages), pressed the Glad PS on and traced over it with a purple sharpie. Then I peeled it off and centered it on each end of the quilt. Since the Glad PS is frosted, the dark sharpie showed up just fine on the black fabric and I free motioned quilted it. I appreciate so much this forum and all the wonderful information ya'll post here. I don't post often, but always find friendly people who are more than happy to share their knowledge. Thank you so very much!! Kathi

Calliope - Thank you for your suggestion of dividing the quilt into more manageable sections, what a great idea! I'll be grateful to you when I'm working on this quilt :) Since your quilt is warm enough for an Ohio winter I feel comfortable going without anything in the center at all. Love the colors you chose the red flannel with the denim must look awesome! Thank you too for letting me know that you work with 1" seams. I've been wondering about this since some work with 1/2" seams. I bet it makes a prettier fray this way too so I'll definitely take your advice here. I'm not surprised at all that your grandson values his quilt for its beauty and because it was made by your loving hands. The color (and denim) you chose for the quilt definitely makes it more masculine. I believe men appreciate our quilts more than they lead us to believe :) My husband rolls his eyes and yawns (jokingly) hearing about my quilt projects. However, he could hold his own talking with a group of quilters about quilts because I tell him details anyway LOL! When I finish the first one I'm going to make a 2nd rag quilt (raffle quilt) that will benefit the Alzheimer's Association. I've made 2 raffle quilts for them in the past. The last one was a paper pieced queen size pineapple quilt. A rag quilt is more sensible since the pineapple quilt didn't raise the dollar amount it was worth. I'm in the market for a featherweight because my sewing machine bit the dust (it was way too expensive to repair.) So I've begun collecting denim in the mean time. It's been 1 1/2 years since I've worked on a quilt (that's when the machine broke.) Yes, I had withdrawal symptoms and am very eager to get back to my quilt projects. Calliope, thanks again for your helpful suggestions! Lea

My stash growthit! Like you, I do find myself with three groups of stashing: 1) group by color 2) group by coordinates that someday will become a quilt 3) by theme, but that's really just Christmas fabric and some juvenile fabrics. I continue to collect fabric in anticipation of retirement! V.

I am hoping to get the binding on the first quilt for Jackie's Baby James project. I found a cute pattern I would like to make for the second one - if I get time to start on it! I am painting our front door and got it sanded and primed today. Tomorrow I need to sand again, then the first coat of paint. Sunday evening we are going to a concert, so that will be fun - although I would probably rather sew! Sue