I put aside my other projects to get started with the 2017 Flower Block of the Month with Leah Day.  A lot of quilters have finished their version and I'm getting started with mine.  I purchased the patterns each month, but I didn't get the chance to work and start piecing.  I like how the blocks are coming together. 
I have to work on quilting the sashing which are quilted blocks and also the quilted cornerstones. 

I've been trying to catch up with my quilting.   I joined the Christmas Goose block of the month and stitched and pieced together the first set.  These are 6".  I really like the colors.  I'm glad I selected this colorway. 

I've been sewing round the clock to catch up on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery quilt, the 'On Ringo Lake' mystery.  I sure love the colors and worked alongside my sister-in-law while she sewed on her modified log cabin bag.  She finished it and just to see that look of satisfaction; it warms my heart that the quilting bug has struck again.  She did an awesome job.
For Christmas, we gave her the fabrics and pattern along with lessons.  The pattern is a great one from Lynn.  (The pattern can be found at Quilted Dragon in Pahrump, NV)

Here are my pictures of the pieces for 'on ringo lake' mystery.  I used my Singer 401a and boy, does she sew like a dream.  I also used my Viking Designer 1 and also my Singer 201.

 

I have two blocks finished!  Whoo hoo!  Aren't they so colorful?  I love this mystery. 

I am finished with my En Provence' quilt top!  It just took me a full year to finish the top, but things have been busy on the home front with my teaching.
I need to find backing now and pin and quilt it on my Sweet Sixteen.  It's next in line.  I first have to get Dean's quilt finished.  I have about 1/4 of the quilt to finish.

close up of one block

the flimsy!

Yeah!  We have started the "On Ringo Lake" mystery quilt!  I love the colors and yes, I am repeating myself.  I love turquoise and browns; they are my favorite colors.
Come and sew with me by visiting Quiltville and join in on the fun.

I cut my strips and sewed about 1 dozen on my Singer 401a.
I love them!  More irons in the fire, but I don't mind.  Christmas break is coming up fairly soon and I can devote more time to piecing and quilting.

I have more to go...see my strips at the top.  So join in on the fun and use up your scraps!
                                            On Ringo Lake quilt mystery at Quiltville.


I stepped away from working on last year's mystery quilt, the En Provence'.  I am happy to say that I have just the last 'neutral' outer rows to stitch.  I like how the quilt is finished with the star points on a neutral background.  I think I will bind this with magenta.

I have been piecing all day and am trying to finish last year's mystery quilt, En Provence.  This is a pretty quilt with yellow, purple, lilac, magenta, and green.  I love it.  I am sewing on the last two rows to finish this quilt.  I'm not sure if I will have someone else quilt it or take the time to quilt it myself.  I watched my Craftsy class with Leah Day to get some inspiration. 
Like many quilters, I have many tops to finish and pieces to quilt.  For example, I have the bag for Leah's class pieced, but not pinned to quilt it.  I also have yet to finish Leah's first block of the month, too.  I have all 12 blocks pieced and 7 quilted.  With school and lesson planning, it has been hard to set aside time for myself to piece and quilt. 
That aside, here's a picture of my almost finished En Provence' flimsy.  I need to iron the seams and add the last rows.

This will be finished before the start of this year's mystery quilt.  Between baking, I will get this done.

At the start of the school year, I bought several chef coats for class and thought to get them embroidered with my name.  I opened my embroidery files for both the Viking and also the Bernina...neither of the programs would open!  Okay, so what is this?  Well, the embroidery files cannot be opened using the new Windows 2016 app.  I had to locate extensions to try to get the computer to recognize my files.  Well, after getting in contact with the techie personnel, I found that I will need to upgrade and purchase the most recent embroidery software for both of my machines.  Ugh! 

After reading how others were in the same boat, someone suggested purchasing another embroidery compatible software package, Embrilliance.  This was way cheaper and it works with my Viking.  The Bernina, on the other hand, still needs its specific embroidery files to create and download the ART embroidery.  I don't have the extra $$$ to purchase, so essentially, my Bernina embroidery capability is gone.  I did download and used their demo version, but that will go away after the trial period is over.  I wasn't considering purchasing another top machine; what I have works and sews just fine.  I know technology is forever changing, but I am not willing to buy yet another package or another machine. 

I am seriously considering getting the old cpu out of storage and hook it up, just so I can use my embroidery files.  It has not been upgraded with the 2012 or 2016 Windows programs.   Ahh...the woes of technology.