This and that Saturday

Star blocks, a ladybug apron, and a retirement quilt. Definitely this and that. 
 
These 12" star blocks will be put in the mail today and sent to John'a Lee in Tennessee.  She posted a request here for muted red, blue, and white star blocks, either 8" or 12".   Her daughter's fiance was killed in Afghanistan two weeks before his wedding, and he was buried on what was to have been their wedding day.  John'a Lee plans to make quilts for her daughter, the fiance's mother and two brothers, and a soldier friend who was with him when he died.  
The least I can do is send some blocks.  I just cut pieces and parts and started sewing with a random mixture of fabrics. 


Gramma Vivian sent a ladybug apron to granddaughter Maddie a couple months ago. Here she is modeling.  She's a typical little 3-year-old who loves dress-up.  When she have a Skype call with her family, she's often wearing some sort of princess dress.  They're coming here for a 10-day visit during the holidays, and I'll see what I can gather to put into a dress-up box for her.  

first quilting project with HQ Sweet 16

front folded over back of the quilt

The retirement quilt for my coworker, Dixie, was finished and given to her a couple days ago.  I love, love, LOVE my new HQ Sweet Sixteen quilting machine!!   Some time in the next week I'll write a post about it.  I made a few notes as I worked on this first project.  All positive comments so far.  (good illumination while quilting; not as harsh as this photo suggests)

As the front of Dixie's quilt is almost exclusively Thimbleberries fabrics, I used some pink floral TB yardage on the back, with a strip of the border fabric across the center of the back.  Two WOF pieces weren't quite long enough for the back.  
I'm very happy with it, and Dixie was too.