Weekly update*: something new!

 * I post on several weekly linkups, not just Design Wall Monday, so I'm going to use the term "Weekly Update" to cover all of them.  I appreciate all the linkup hostesses -- Angela, Beth S., Cynthia, the other Beth S., and especially Judy.

This week I ripped out the offending Peltex from the daisy totebags. I went to Joann's in search of a substitute.  No Flex-foam, but they had car headliner. I bought a yard and used the 50% off coupon.  The red tag fabrics were 50% off and, yes, I indulged in three of the premium-quality prints, just $3.50 per yard.
Rather than go back to the totebags I made a Frankenbatt (= pieced-together batting remnants) and quilted a HeartStrings top contributed by a guild member.  (HeartStrings blocks were the guild's January charity sewing project. I said I would quilt 5 tops made of blocks from that event. This is #4.)

At the Zion Woman's Club board meeting on Tuesday we talked about plans for the May 3 luncheon when the 2016-18 officers will be installed. . I asked a long-time club member if we give a gift to the outgoing president in addition to the past president's pin. No.  No?! Marilyn, the 2014-16 president, has done a great job. I said (sotto voce) that I would try to come up with something quilted.

First I had to come up with a pattern!  I looked at a stack of ideas torn out of magazines. I found a few to throw away, but nothing for the wall hanging I had in mind. I googled "spring wall hanging" and found an Edyta Sitar design, a free download from Accuquilt.  Of course it presumes access to an Accuquilt cutter and use of specific Accuquilt dies.  I have neither.  Instead, I cut a piece of pattern tracing stuff the size of the block background and drew the shapes freehand. I then traced the shapes on fusible web, selected fabrics, fused, and cut.  As of this writing (early Sunday evening) I have finished the applique.  I'll work on the border during our TV time.











The RAILS (library system) board met in East Peoria on Friday. I drove down Thursday afternoon (RAILS paid for hotel and dinner).  I gave myself time to stop at two excellent quilt shops, Peddlers Way in Washington and Quilt Corner in Morton. My self-imposed limit was the amount of my mileage reimbursement (416 miles plus tolls = $232). I spent a LOT less than that.  I also stopped at three thrift shops -- 3-3/8 yds for $2.80 at the first; six quilt books for $1.49 at the second;  and a nice summer sweater and a knit top for $8.00 at the third.

Saturday evening was Rotary's spring social. Five couples had dinner at a local restaurant and we went to the Zion-Benton Township High School spring play, a comedy called "If This is the First Day of the Rest of My Life, I'm in Big Trouble." We hadn't been to a high school play in many years. It was great fun.

This week I will finish the wall hanging (the luncheon is May 3) and the daisy totes (they're my One Monthly Goal for April)....also clean house (AAUW board meets here Thursday), and get ready for the AAUW-IL convention Friday and Saturday.  The garden and lawn are begging for attention, too!

I'm linking up at
Oh Scrap!
 Monday Making
 Design Wall Monday
 Main Crush Monday