Weekly update: the social whirl, string piecing, and that mystery

We went to the podiatrist on Tuesday. He pronounced the second procedure successful and scheduled the next appointment for December 20.  I'm *trying* to favor my foot.

The first week of December is when many of the organizations I'm in have their holiday parties. I had to skip two of them (Monday evening and Tuesday noon) but I went to three others.

FQ exchange and scrap bags 

 The quilt guild dinner was Wednesday evening.  We have a fat quarter exchange -- package four FQs any way you'd like. Draw a number and take your pick of someone else's FQs. I brought four sets so I got to choose four sets.   There were scrap bags left over from our quilt show last month. We were invited (begged!) to take them home, so I helped myself to three.  [15 yds., no cost]

The United Methodist Women luncheon was Thursday at a local restaurant.  Liz picked me up.   I had to hunt for a suitable white elephant for the gift exchange. I sold a lot of that sort of stuff at my garage sale in August. (Technically I could have boxed up fabric scraps or empty spools. I wanted to give something nicer.  I found an English china cup-and-saucer and a package of fancy tea. Perfect! And the recipient was pleased.) (In return I got a pair of glass candleholders that are already in the box for the next garage sale.)

The AAUW  holiday luncheon was Saturday. Since I am branch president I had to be there -- and besides that, it's always a lovely and lively event. My friend Rosemary was my guest and my chauffeur.  We have several fundraisers -- a silent auction ($631.50), a 50/50 ($110 to the winner, $110 to the branch), and the raffle quilt that I make ($400). [Proceeds will be allocated among AAUW Funds (national) and  our branch scholarship, convention, and community funds.]

Dorothy won this year's quilt, "Winter Stars." She won "Holly
Basket" in 2006 and took pictures of the two on her sofa.



The guild scrap bags were  "irregular strips" ranging from 1.5" to 2.5" with a couple of chunks thrown in. I dumped them all into a box and started using them.   The Block Lotto December block is pieced strings.  Each 6.5" block has one strip with a least three pieces.  There's a limit of 9 lotto entries but I can't quit making them. (I added three more after I took this photo.)

In 2015 I knocked myself out to make twelve   Heartstrings quilts, each with a different colorway/theme.  Earlier this year I quilted several of them (and I sold three, unquilted).  The  influx of strips motivated me to make a couple of blue-centered blocks. But why stop? And here is the latest HS flimsy. (4-7/8 yds used)














And, finally. The project I was NOT going to start.  Magenta is the constant color for En Provence, the 2016 Quiltville mystery. I found the perfect magenta on the shelf and I slid right down that slippery slope.

I bought Deb Tucker's V-block ruler at the guild quilt show. I'm using it rather than Tri-Recs. I had to read and re-read the instructions to be able to use the markings correctly. I think I have the hang of it.

Monday linkups:
Quiltville Mystery Monday
Design Wall Monday
Main Crush Monday
Oh Scrap
Monday Making