Finishes and Beginnings

It's been one of those challenging weeks here in The Magpie's Nest. Consequently I've been doing a lot of embroidery. I finished up this pair of pillowcases, although they need a nicer finish to the hem in my opinion.

I got so carried away when I was working on the middle of the large flower that I didn't think to check the pattern for color changes. Turns out the pattern calls for those spokes to be red or pink. Oh well. I added the buttonhole circle in the very center on my own too. Even that could have been a contrasting color and it would have helped I think. I'm overriding the Perfectionist Within and leaving them just the way they are. But I will put in a nicer hem!

I also finished up this pair of pillowcases:

They still have to be laundered but at least they have an acceptable lace edging, no hemming required. I chose my own colors again, using Nancy's hand dyed flosses. I also added the buttonhole stitched accents to the leaves. The sharp needles among you may remember I'd embellished the centers of the focal bloom with additional stitches. They have been removed, for the good of the end product I'd say.

These two finishes gave me a couple of empty project boxes so I've started a pair of dish towels.

I've decided that my vintage ironing board must be slightly warped. I can't seem to get a solid transfer from the iron-on patterns I've been using. So, parts of the designs are very dark and other parts are barely visible. And the pattern shifted, of course, and in spite of my best efforts, between the first and second attempts to get darker lines where I needed them. {sigh} Going to have to figure out how to overcome that. It certainly wouldn't hurt to put another layer (or two) of batting between the metal ironing board and the muslin cover. What I really need though, is a firmer, flatter surface underneath the padding.

On another front, one of my local quilt shop owners recently celebrated her 20th year in business. Woohoo! Naturally I want to support her and keep her in business. My generous

sister sent me an early birthday gift when she heard about it. That made it possible for me to bring home this collection of prints by Kaffe Fassett, Philip Jacobs, and Brandon Mably (along with a few other things 😉).

My plan is to apply these to a free pattern offered by Free Spirit Fabrics called Rainbow Blur. I'll be making a slightly smaller version than the pattern creates, with 15" blocks instead of 18 inch. I just have to recruit some energy to start cutting. Which may not happen soon because I have an eye appointment Monday. I fully expect that experience to take me out of commission for a good 24 hours. I do look forward to being able to update my eyeglass frames however. I've been wearing the same frames with the same prescription for probably twenty years now.