Wow, Running

I'm running to get some of these runners finished up.

Blogging motivates me and whenever I can make things happen I try to take advantage!  The new section in my side bar for celebrating completed projects is looking kinda forlorn; reproaching me actually. :(  Sew I decided to make 52 asterisks and make sure I have something for every week.  Last week was embarrassing, only my sink curtains!  :(

And my feet dragging and tripping over my shoe laces is because I have let my free motion quilting skills lapse. :(  It is sew true that if you don't use it, then you WILL lose it.  The runners, therefore serve a purpose other than just pretty.

I loosened the wrong screw on my walking foot and I haven't taken it in to have it put back together but Mini is only too happy to use my old walking foot and do the first lap in this race.  She is a sweety and hasn't smirked once at Nina.  She is just content to have her corner and her stack of little patches to run through.  I should spring for a new light bulb for her though.

This wee runner is outlined with straight stitching and is made from a package of coordinating squares.

Nina has lots of lights and quite a few bells and whistles, including the BSR, Bernina Stitch Regulator.  But I learned to fmq without one and I rather like having the needle space free and clear of obstructions. I'm sure I will use it as it apparently really shines for the those teeny tiny stipples.

But I was sew happy to just warm up with some flowing movement.  Felt good!  I have a ways to go to pick up those dormant  fmq skills but I have finally gotten off the starting block and I'm happy to be back in the race.

This larger runner will be a very big hot pad for pot lucks.  I can see lots of close straight line stitching for this design but then that wouldn't be practicing my fmq now would it!  What if...

Now I need to run over to The Needle and Thread Network and see what all my fellow runners are doing this week!

wow, I still have to shop.

I haven't quite got Nina humming.

The orange top needs some more orange fabric options which will happen tomorrow.

I did find in my cleaning and organizing another wip.  Two in fact.

 A table cloth, about 42 inches square

 and a table runner,  10 inches by 30 inches.  Who knows when I did them but they are ready for layering.

I did find some backing options and one WILL definitely be the backing.

I am leaning to the middle fabric. The fabrics in the upper right are too small.  :(   The grey/brown on the left has to be from the first year I was quilting.  oye!

But I need a dark brown (?) for a binding so my shopping list is growing.

 This was in my crazy patch days.  Not where I am at now but definitely worth finishing.  I have one of those small round tables with the long floor length table cloth in the dining room and the toppers add to their appeal.

I'm not at all sure how I will quilt it.  ???

Perhaps some of  participants in The Needle & Thread Network will have some great ideas!

A fly by

I did finish the bindings on all three runners.  See how little snow we have, although I gather my first step out this morning will be into an inch or two of the fluffy stuff.

The third runner was done late last night and as I'm going to be flying the coop in the next hour I won't be showing that one.  I'm off to spend the next 5 days south of the border while the Rooster keeps things well in hand here.  I'm not sure what the plan is but top of the list is FUN!