In the studio this week… lots of odds & ends…

Last year, for my Block of the Month, I made 3 completed quilts with each of the different techniques (applique, embroidery, piecing only). This time around, I was lucky to just get the appliqued quilt done! But I decided that I would just start working on the embroidery and see what happened. I managed to finish the embroidery (it actually didn’t take that long), and then had a lot of fun picking out some fabrics. Made my embroidered block, and I’ll reveal it next week.

I LOVE how it came out! I’m working on the embroidery for block #2 now, so fingers crossed I’ll get that one done, too! (Here is a photo of Alfie testing the new block for me, he is the founding member of the CQTA (Canine Quilt Testers Association.)

I finished binding my Ahoy Mini Quilt last week- mostly because I needed it for a photo for a blog post! Otherwise, I’m not sure when I would have gotten to it… but I’m glad that I did because it’s going to be perfect for summer. (I have a pile of about 4 more quilts which need binding…)

One thing I talk about a lot here on my blog is lack of creative time. I know it seems that given the fact that I call myself an artist & designer I’d just be in the studio makin’ stuff all day- but that is far from the truth! It can be really hard to squeeze in creative time. So I decided to try to do a little art every day. My “daily painting” is actually becoming more of a “weekly painting”… but it’s good for me to try to do these quick little paintings because 1. they don’t take a lot of time and 2. when you put a time limit on yourself, it keeps you from fussing and fretting and being a perfectionist (which I tend to do.) I’ve been posting some over on Instagram, if you’d like to follow along.

For the most part over the last few weeks, I’ve been finishing up the organizing for the Maggie’s First Dance Free Block of the Month, which starts in about a week and half on June 6! Woohoo!! There’s a lot of “behind the scenes” stuff that goes on for this event. I am adding a couple of new features for this Block of the Month. I am working on creating a Linky Page, so you can share your BOM photos right here on my site- this will be a great sharing place for those of you who aren’t on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest! I’ve also just created a brand new Facebook Group! It won’t be strictly for the BOM, but it will be a good place for you to share your photos, ask questions, and connect with other “Maggie Quilt” peeps.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about the Maggie’s First Dance Block of the Month and Sew Along! Remember it starts June 6, and we have a FABULOUS giveaway prize that week (did someone say Aurifil??……) They can get all the information here https://jacquelynnesteves.com/maggies-first-dance-block-of-the-month/