WIP Wednesday #20

My Pop Beads quilt top is completed. I won't lie. I LOVE it. For all of you who are so "over" Flea Market Fancy, let me say this. I came late to the party, and I have paid a small king's ransom to be able to attend!

Here is what I need help with:

1. It's just a small thing really, but I used a couple of fabrics from the "freckles" line, which was said to be companion fabric for Flea Market Fancy, sort of like a first cousin (more on that later). In one corner I have used some turquoise "freckles" and then I got the green leaves in the mail. Would you take the time to switch them out?

2. I need suggestions on quilting. I'm thinking of doing big stitch around the inside and outside of each bead and around the brown connector diamonds, but if someone could give me thoughts on machine stitching, I would be open to that as well.

Have you ever thought of a particular designer's fabric lines having something in common with sibling birth-order characteristics? Probably not. Mark's eyes kind of glazed over when I mentioned writing a post about that.

But I think I will delve into that topic anyway. If you are interested in some Flea Market Fancy scraps (and I do mean scraps), come back tomorrow for a giveaway of these.

Along with something special I intend to do with these:

I also finished these two blocks for the do.Good Stitches Faith circle. (Stashbuster blocks from Material Obsession 2--very fun. I will make more of these!)

Head on over to Freshly Pieced and see what everyone else is working on.

"The art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." Havelock Gill

Yesterday our good friends, George and Cheri, dropped by with a card that had that quote on the front. And yesterday I actually lived that quote. On Sunday, I posted about remembering our grandson, Caleb, who was born six years ago on March 13. Actually, March 16 is the day that is always the hardest on me, for that is the day, six years ago, we all had to let him go. When all we wanted to do was hold on.

Shortly after he passed away, Mark and I found a garden statue of a little boy in overalls. I think he was supposed have water coming out of the little hose he was holding. Instead we had a brick base built and had him permanently cemented to the base, in a little area by our front door. (Note: We live in California. Things can tend to "walk" away if you don't take precautions.)

So every year on March 13 we get a balloon and tie it to our little boy.

And every year on March 16 we release it. I hope you won't get  all "environmental" on me. The other days of the year I do care about the potential outcome of balloons released into the sky. On March 16th, I simply.do.not.care about the environment at large. It's all I can do to take care of the environment of my heart.

Mark and I had a quiet dinner together.

Then I went into my sewing room, cleaned and organized it, took apart my sewing machine, brushed out all the lint from machine quilting Levi's quilt all weekend, put in a new needle, wound some bobbins, threaded my machine, and started working on Pop Beads.

Have you noticed how working with beautiful fabric, making something with your hands, something real, something you can touch, is good for the soul? Thank you, my friends, for surrounding me, encouraging me, inspiring me. It may seem odd to some that you could feel such a close connection with women you have never met. It doesn't seem odd to me at all.