Working on Lots of Projects

I have been away from home, but I have done some quilting. My husband and I just got back from our son's house in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is close to a 10 hour trip each way. My husband did most of the driving on the way down, so I quilted on my 10-month UFO for about five hours. I didn't get any quilting done while I was actually at Ryan's house, but I made up for it on the way home. Nate drove the entire way home, and I quilted until it got too dark to see any more. I got a good eight hours of quilting time in. The callouses on my fingers are so thick I can hardly feel the needle any more! I'm trying to get as much quilting done on it as possible, because I'm having some trouble with my left shoulder. I'm worried I may have to have some work done to it. I'm not sure I'll be able to quilt should that happen; and Heaven forbid, I'd have to pay $5 for not getting one of my UFO projects done!

Now that I'm back home, I'll be working on piecing the blocks for my Happenstance quilt from Quilts by Caren. I'm really loving the way those blocks are shaping up. I'll try to get some pictures up soon. I'm also getting ready to prepare the blocks for my Crab-apple Hill Halloween and winter quilts. I have to purchase a background fabric for the #317 Vintage Trick or Treat embroidered quilt blocks. I have the background fabric for the #316 Over the River and Through the Woods embroidered blocks in my stash. (Imagine that!) Once I get those blocks prepared, I'll have virtually unlimited handwork to do. I won't have to wonder if I have a portable project to take while I'm "on the road." I'll just have to be deciding WHICH project to take. Now that the top is finished for my charity quilt, I need to get that layered, quilted, and bound too.

I am hosting Stitch & Bitch at my house tomorrow. (Lemon cake for the event is baking as I'm blogging.) My Lori Smith Christmas Quilt is due for the UFO club. I have yet to find it. I know it is done; I used it this past Christmas. Because of all the remodeling work we're doing on the house, though, my quilts are stashed all over the place. Who knows where I'll find it.