Puzzling

Quilting is a puzzle - trying to find the pieces, fit them into their correct spots, pondering the the final solution. When we quilt, do we see the whole puzzle? Do we find the right pieces? Will it fit into the correct spot? Do we start in the center? Do we look for all the same colors - the connecting colors? Do we start with the border? Ah, all in the name of creativity - it surely is puzzling!

DESIGN WALL

I played with the last bits of pieces from that little scrap bag from a quilt guild member. A double 4-patch with some left over muslin. Now to find that puzzle piece - some border fabric in that scrap tote, then maybe another border of muslin - do I add to the puzzle and use all those little pieces and bits into a scrap border to find the solution?

The next puzzle I am working on is the Made In Cherry Quilt Along. I decided to dump my puzzle box - that pre-cut barrel of 2" squares that was SO STUFFED! I sorted my puzzle pieces and found an abundance of reds. Now to decide what the background color will be - white, red, black or totally different - aqua???? Ah, it is a puzzlement.

I had to lay out all my little house pieces of the puzzle. I would like to start sashing up into 4'sies (with corner stone). So the puzzle works on with what color to go with. I know I like the idea of a brick red for the corner stones, but what for the sashing? I think from now on I will just show these once a month - or you will get sick of them.

Linking these up with Judy at PatchWork Times.

FMQ CHALLENGE

I have been very bad in keeping this together into the same 'puzzle box'. I kept practicing with drawing and found I was too small with the leaves and would just lose the path - the mind couldn't follow the puzzle - by hand or machine. So I tried larger, which was better - like a child starting with one of those 12 pieced puzzles. But I found that adding some loops and meandering helped to stay with flow. Oh, golly I cannot find that practic sandwich piece (there were 3 more sandwich) - I lost part of the puzzle. Does that happen to you?

Linking up with Sew Cal Gal.

MINUTES FOR ME

A few posts back I showed some fabric fortune cookies that I made from this tutorial found here for my quilt guild. This is the layout of all the puzzle pieces - basic start of cookie, heart traced on square and little 'quilter's fortune' on paper rolled for stuffing. They were handed out at our last meeting with a challenge to design your own 'Funny Valentine' (no bigger than 18" square). You had to use that little heart in any applique style in your piece.

Well this is the puzzle I found with all those pieces. My little heart? Why look upside-down, it is the puppy's muzzle. I chose fused, raw edge applique for this project - AND lots of 3-D embellishing. A new name tag - it's 4.5" square, my little puzzle.

Linking this up with Marcia's Minutes For Me. Yes, fun ME time with my 'Funny Valentine'.

OH MY WEIGH

My one step with Annie's OMW was to schedule regular mealtimes - made that placemat and mug rug. The next step was to build on that step. I need to add more protein in my diet, so researched high protein foods. Protein promotes tissue growth and repair, red blood cell growth and aid antibodies to resist infection, and regulate enzymes and hormones. Lima Beans, Kidney Beans, Okra, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Eggs, Fish, Peanut Butter, Milk - pieces of my food puzzle. Fiber added in the form of high fiber cereal and whole grain bread. I thought I could use my crock pot in assisting with my dietary puzzle - fizzle, spark, and smoke - it died!! So my new crock pot. I think I need to make a pretty cover for it - don't you?

CLOSING THOUGHT

'A cat is a puzzle, for which there is no solution'
- Hazel Nicholson -

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon