* * My Ducks are in a Row * *

As you know from my blog ............ I like to take pictures - lots of them!!!! So, I thought I would let you know what my sewing/dinning room looks like when I am working on a project. This one was especially messy!! Since I didn't have a plan on what fabrics I was going to use, I would pull fabrics from my stash as I went. I tried to use mostly fat quarters, so I would get a good variety. But, as with most projects - you can't always do that. Some of my appliques are very large and even a fat quarter wouldn't do. Or I just wouldn't have the appropriate color or pattern to suit the piece. Then I added that piece to the "pile", so it could be repeated at least once if not twice, just to keep things consistent. Yes ........... I spent a good amount of time rummaging through the "pile" to find what I was looking for!!!!

Section 12 consisted of the cattails and the loon. Well, darn it all!!! I still am having a difficult time getting my creatures going the right direction!!! I am using steam a seam 2, which has glue between two pieces of paper. I have to peek between to see what side has the glue. Too bad they didn't print something on that side - it would have been easier. And then the applique' pieces in the book face the right direction ................ Ssssoooooooo .................. I had to trace the pieces onto the steam a seam, then flip it over and trace it on the opposite side to get everyone going in the right direction. Whew!!! What a process - and for some strange reason (my brain maybe!!!) - I just couldn't grasp it!!! Now I am the proud owner of several creatures that are going the other direction!!! I'll find some other project to put them into - for now they will end up in the left over box.

Also on section12 - there is a space for the Canadian Maple Leaf and they give an alternate pattern for an American Flag. I pulled several different "country looking" fabrics to make the American flag, but felt in the end, that they just didn't fit. I need different fabrics - can you believe that with my stash!!!! So, I pondered the idea of blocks to insert - any 6.5 inch block would do - and then bordered on the two sides. I played around with several different ideas, but they all looked out of place in my opinion. Ssssooooooo ................ I decided to just make another bear paw!! - after all I have 3 others in the quilt top so far. One more won't hurt and it would help with the consistency of a repeating pattern.

Being on vacation is great - especially since I decided to stay home. My daughter from Texas is enjoying it too ............. she calls me several times a day (just because she can!!). So I get a call from her and she asks what am I doing??? And my response is ............ "getting my ducks in a row!!!" - upon which she laughs and says "Right Mother!!! - that will never happen!!!". To which I respond "NO ......... literally ............ I am putting my ducks in a row!!". You see, section 13 has three, cute, little ducks that need to be put in a row. And at the time of her call - that is what I was doing. Not as easy as you think, a lot of these pieces are odd sizes. So getting spacing is sometimes takes a little bit of time. And I had to be careful of the 1/4 inch seam allowances - some of the appliques came darn close to those edges!!!

Guess what!!! I'm done my sections!!! So, it didn't take long to put these sections together into the 3rd panel. And then to just sew the panels together to make my quilt top. I now have a "All Through the Woods" quilt top that needs to be ............. quilted!?!?!

This project went much faster than I had thought it would. I would definitely make another one of these. In fact I think I will make one for me - I really like the pattern.