Fat Tuesday, Really?

 To begin with, I didn't get any quilting done today. I did look longingly at my pieces all laid out on the sewing machine, but never got a chance to sit down and actually sew.

My fuzzy friend, worn out from all that bird watching, napped on the floor in the sunbeams instead of curled up on the bed.

Though he did make it to the bed in time to be closed up in the bedroom long enough for me to get groceries in.

 This was one of those days when I had a long list of things to do, and actually got them all done. I had a dentist appointment this morning, in Temple City, and one of the requirements (now that I have metal parts) is to take antibiotics an hour before. I was actually able to find the pills this morning, amazingly enough--at least my meds are organized! Not only that, I phoned in a renewal so I could pick it up while I was in TC.

Once I got all that done, I came home for a bite of lunch, then off to Target and Trader Joe's, with a stop off at the bank and gas station. Go me!

I even managed to get all the groceries and stuff in, and put away. Then it was time to head back to Pasadena for quilt class.

Tonight was fun. Anne brought her blocks from a retreat she went to last year, and laid them out so we could play with them and critique the design.

She finally decided that it would look best with a sashing between the blocks--a cream to coordinate with the background, and cornerstones in colors to harmonize. The pattern is just too busy otherwise.

Interestingly enough, when Ethel made the same blocks last year, hers went together without sashing--but she had a different, broader color palette. It's a nice design and I could see it working out in several ways for a 3D effect.

Both Anne and Ethel have been making selvage quilts. Tonight Ethel got the top of hers done, and even found a fabric for the backing that is a print that looks like strips of selvages!

I took pictures from a distance, closer up, and then really close up so you can see the fabrics and how well it all goes together.

The black bubble print is in the center of each block as well as the inner border. It will also be the binding. 

 Please note that these are the quilters who make fun of me for doing all that paper piecing with the little bitty pieces.

I have a feeling that if we did a piece count (which I have no intention of doing!!) this quilt would probably come in pretty close to my star quilt!

Anyway, it's a good way to use up those selvages, which are getting more and more creative. Some  companies are really making an effort to make the selvage complement the design of the fabric.

Instead of just the little dots along the selvage to register the colors, some are using motifs from the design itself. Some of my 30s prints have had little flowers or bubbles or fruits.

Which means that now I cut my selvages off first, and leave a half inch or even an inch of the print with it. Then I pass them along to these "string quilters" who put them togeher in really cute and creative ways!

Rounding out tonight's accomplishments, Louise put a hanging sleeve and binding on her quilt. This was a "mystery" quilt done in a group at last year's Glendale Quilt Show, and she's entered it in this year's show.  I love the vibrant colors!

Now it's time to put this post, and myself, to bed! Another busy day tomorrow, and I'm hoping it will be one that gives me a chance to do some sewing!