I'VE BEEN BUSY....

I woke up this morning with much less tremor than I have had the past week or two...so "Ellie" and I spent some time getting properly reacquainted. 

The first thing I did was try to complete MOST of the three mug rugs I am giving to my mom, dad and aunt.  I won't show you the back yet because I want the back as cute as the front and I am still looking for a particular shade of rick-rack to finish it off, lol.  

"Ellie" is still uncooperative at times.  This is my FAVORITE little fancy stitch for "prettifying" seams.  Okay, it is sort of like a baseball stitch...but I still think it is pretty and use it quite frequently.  For some reason (known only to "Ellie") she is skipping stitches all over the place.  On the first of the three mug rugs I attempted to go over the missing stitches.  Not good...all I did was draw attention to the area.  So on the last two I simply left it be.  My mom, dad and aunt won't mind as these mug rugs are not for "show and tell" but to be USED.  I think my dear sweet "Ellie" is going in the hospital while we are away on vacation this fall!  Do you hear that, "Ellie"?  Straighten up or you are going to have your guts examined!

Fortunately, even if I want to use this stitch on my mom's quilt...I won't get to that point in the process until WELL after we are home and my Ellie girl should be "all better" and sewing properly by then. 

Today was also a day to experiment and plan.  The design I have in my head for mom's quilt calls for dresden blocks alternating with machine embroidered blocks.  There is just one little catch to that plan...I have NEVER made a dresden!  I'm nothing if not ambitious!

I decided it would be a good idea to experiment with making a dresden using scrap materials.  That way I could make sure the overall block size is what I want....AND that I am actually CAPABLE of making a dresden, lol.  The result?  I am THRILLED with how my experimental dresden turned out.  I still have to properly center the circle and sew it on...but the tremor is returning and for safety's sake I am moving far away from sharp, pointy objects, lol.  But, I am THRILLED.  I keep looking over at my sewing table and smiling.  I think this is eventually going to have to turn into a mini quilt.  It is just So. Darn. Cute! 

In other news, with the giveaway just a little over a week away, I think I am FINALLY done adding to the pile.  This was SO MUCH FUN!  I can't wait to ship this bundle off to the winner!  Don't forget the drawing is September 8th and for a chance to win...please follow my blog and LET ME KNOW YOU ARE A FOLLOWER ON THE ORIGINAL GIVEAWAY POST.

Take care and have a great day!