Happy Valentine's Day

Hello, Spring is in the air here. I know a lot of you have a while to go before the snow melts, so I hope your Valentine gave you something to help you hang on. I have been plugging away on my first border, and I have the top halfway done. I hope it will ge a little easier from here on in. I have been very concerned that I wouldn't be able to make a border that would "belong" with the center, and it has been a bit of a wrangle. I am finally happy with this much, at least. Each border will have variations, but all will consist of fruits, veggies, and flowers, with a few birds thrown in. I love the original so much, but after commiting to the vivid broderie perse flowers in the center, I couldn't wrap my head around managing it through the rest of the original Mary Brown blocks. To me, those seem to demand a more dignified palette. Thus a change was made.

Do you all read Margaret's blog? She is drafting the Maltaville quilt, an absolutely gorgeous quilt from 1847, and will be offering the patterns as a 4-block per month quilt along. Lisa, and I, have been rooting from the stands, eagerly awaiting the start of the fun. On the 22nd, Margaret will officially start the blog that she is setting up for us to share tips, and photos of our progress. There are so many blocks (around 60) and such a wide variety of designs for applique, that this promises to be something extraordinary. I hope many of you will join us. The original is in the Smithsonian, and partial proceeds will go to the museum. Do take a look, won't you?

I'm off now to listen to an audio book, and see what I can accomplish on this border. Tomorrow is D day, as in root canals.  Wish me luck.  Michele