Retreating at the Lake

I had a chance to get away to the lake house for a couple of days and focus on sewing and hooking (and working a bit, but that part isn't fun to talk about!).  I've been spending most of the time doing applique and managed to finish my third rose block. That makes five blocks out of twenty - and three out of four roses finished.



















I also finished two more of the applique blocks for my house quilt.  Four more and I will be able to piece the top and add the rest of the applique.

I have made progress on my Sauder Village rug over the past week or so, too.

I plan to finish the chair tonight and start on the lettering.  I'm heading home tomorrow so I want to make the best of every uninterrupted minute I have left!  Too bad I don't have any of these to munch on while I hook:

Amaretto macaroons from Missouri Baking Company on The Hill.  Delicious!  It's a shame they are back home in the freezer!

Basket Fun

I had a little time in the sewing room this weekend and was able to finish up another basket block and prep two more.
 

I am absolutely loving this project!  These baskets are so much fun to put together and I am very happy with how they are turning out.  I really want to have this one finished for the quilt show.  So far I've finished 3 blocks...only 17 more to go!  I'm planning to work on another while sitting through a 3 hour conference call today.  It sounds wrong, I know...but I am completely amazed at how much better I listen to calls if I stitch during them!  It prevents me from multi-tasking with other work and I actually pay attention. If the people on the other end of the line only knew!

I am also working on a new rug project - hopefully one I can knock out quickly before my next workshop in June. This is Linda Pietz's Sauder Village pattern. 

It's a very fun pattern and I am particularly enjoying doing the color planning as I go rather than thinking it through in advance.  It probably isn't the smartest approach, but hopefully it will all come together in the end!