My friends' quilting progress

My own quilting progress isn't much to talk about I'm afraid.  I'm still appliqueing flowers onto strips...  One of these day's I will be able to get started on the flower centers which will be a job in itself as I think I have over 50 flowers appliqued now. 

There was a time when I did only needle turn applique but a few years ago I learned the technique of prepping the pieces beforehand with spray starch and that has worked wonderfully and made for very sharp-edged applique pieces.  I make a freezer paper template (double the paper to make it stronger), then iron the paper onto fabric, cut out the piece with fabric to turn under.  The edges of the piece get starched with a paintbrush (not sprayed on) and then I use a stiletto in my left hand to turn the edges to the paper while ironing with my right hand.  It took practice but I'm pretty dexterous now!

Though not really patchwork, I spent a few days this week collaging another block for the McKenna farm quilt I've been working on al this year.  No sewing started on any of these blocks yet...

 But it is nice to report that my friends are getting some sewing in!  Mrs. N who is actually living in another prefecture during the pandemic, had asked me to help her design some small quilts that she wanted to give her friends.  Mrs. N is known for her love of cats and so cats are what her friends are getting!  The fabric is basically mine (lots of leaders/enders used!) and Mrs. N machine quilted the little quilts and added a bit of whimsy to each to make it seem as if the cats are looking at something. Let's see...  Two cats are looking at falling cherry blossoms, one cat has its eye on a butterfly and one cat is getting ready to bat at some soap bubbles.  I think Mrs. N's friends will be enchanted!

Then I have my friend M-san who finished her quilt of coffee cups!  I had sent M-san home with a coffee cup template and some fabric and suggest she make a few and she came back a couple of weeks later with 30 some coffee cups!  She made a few coasters and a small tapestry and a table center etc, and her finale is this beautiful coffee cup wall hanging!  Isn't that nice and cheery!?  M-san has now started on STARS and we'll see how many she can make before I see her again!  Such gung-ho patchwork apprentices!

Shasta at High Road Quilter, has a quote quilt that she's making and though I haven't (yet) incorporated this quote that she had into a quilt, I did put it into my bullet journal.  

Okay...  Back to my flower applique!