FMQ on Friday

I finished my placemat/table topper with some free motion quilting:

I used Leah's brick like design for the patio floor and just doodled or stitched in the ditch for the rest. It was fun.  Here is the front:

 

I'm calling it Red in the Garden. The lady block is this month's swap block at Block Lotto. I always wanted red hair. Go figure.  Linking up to Leah's FMQ project. You can see lots of great FMQ there.

Hexie Friday 13th

Probably should have something orange for this day - wait a minute I do - the last hexie flower I finished. Started on the second of three - yippy for me. It has gone better (quilty-wise) as the weather has cooled down.  I picked up this latest issue of McCall's Quilting because it has the neatest hexie project in it.  I'm adding it to my wish list as the quilt has applique and machine piecing - two of my favorite quilting techniques plus hexies! 

Also - I have a finish! So I'll be linking to Amanda Jean's Finish it Friday and Connie's Linky Party.  I completed my machine appliqued Dresden block, and yes, I did make it into a bag.  I'm really pleased with it. I used a simple pattern that my Guild provides for making Happy Bags - a community service project whereby we make these bags to fill and give to the children in the Cancer Care unit at Loma Linda Medical Center at Christmas time.  We put in a stuffed animal, crayons, coloring book, puzzles, a book, etc. They love them and we feel blessed to bring them some happiness into their lives. Since we use juvenile prints for the bags,  I'm keeping this one as it is the block from the workshop I last attended.  Thank you Anelie - it was fun.

I like this bag pattern because you line it at the same time you are constructing the bag without making the lining separate and then inserting it into the bag.  It is a very quick and easy bag to make that only takes about a half yard of fabric.  You can find the pattern here.  Click on the tab for Community Service.

What have you been up to - Hexie or otherwise?  Billie and I would love to see your eye candy. And mind you, it could be an old post - it will be new to us.  Linky below:

Applique Tuesday

Now that little Alan is down for a nap (he's here for the day), I can upload my applique post.  I've made some progress on LE - added 6 more pie shapes, but thought I'd share another bit of applique I started three weeks ago. Our guild had a workshop given by Anelie Belden on Dresden blocks - a new way to do them.  I followed her method and was happy with my easy to piece block.

There were 16 of us in the class and all the blocks made were beautiful using different fabrics. I machine quilted the block  and in the process machine appliqued the points.  I'm considering using the block to make a bag.

What are you up to this day?  Would love to see your eye candy - applique or not - new or old or a pattern you've bought.  Linky below. I'm linking to Connie's Linky Tuesday and Esther's WOW.