I'm Diggin' It - Finish Friday

I have a few finishes this week.  It is nice to have a few small projects in the works - I might even have something to show you next week too!

As promised, here is a picture of my reverse applique T-shirt.  It's really hard to get a picture of a shirt you are wearing, while you are wearing it!  I did not follow the pattern given in the Handstitched class, but instead tried to make my own.  It didn't quite turn out like I imagined.  Seems more like a showcase of stitches rather than the fabric underneath, but I will still wear it proudly!

Also - Tada!!  The latest installment of the Medallion quilt for the Handstitched class, complete with the storm at sea blocks.  I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am diggin' this quilt and the journey.  The next step has some applique and a few on point squares in the border.  Can't wait!

I'm not sure whether I am pleased to show you my latest Free Motion Challenge piece or not.  It seems vacation has taken a toll on me, and my work has suffered a bit.  Well, here it is anyway.

I really liked the idea behind this month's motif, and drawing it didn't seem to be too difficult.....but when I started doing little tiles on my practice sandwiches, everything didn't come together as I hoped.

You see, I have made a whole bunch of practice sandwiches from the "trimmings" of my quilts.  They are typically 4 inches wide by 6 or 7 inches long.  Just big enough to practice something, pick up my free motion groove, and check my tension levels.  For a little while there, I even got into the habit of every time I changed my bobbin, I would load up my darning foot and do a little practice sandwich before continuing with whatever I was working on.  It kept free motion a little fresher in my mind.  Well, some time last month THAT habit went out the window!  And I could tell based on my first couple of practice sandwiches when I sat down to do this month's challenge.  My hands were jerky, my foot unsteady, and I swear I was seeing double a few times!  The results weren't great.

Now a smart woman would have said to herself, "Jen, you seem a little out of sorts today.  Perhaps you should save your challenge piece for another day."  Evidently I am not a smart woman!  After 2 1/2 practice sandwiches, I thought to myself, "maybe these sandwiches are just too small and it will work out better on a slightly bigger piece".  HA!

Oh well, these placemats are showcasing my journey through the challenge.  It probably wouldn't be realistic to think that I wouldn't have a month of backsliding.  I should eat my breakfast on it and just think how much better I am going to do next month!  Which brings me to a short list of things I am going to work on before next month's challenge: free motion quilting straight lines, and travel stitching.  Seems I really need some more practice on those two things in particular.

Tomorrow I am off to the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach!!!!  I cannot wait!!!  I plan on getting some inspirational pics to show off and share on Tuesday's post.  So, make sure you stop by for some eye candy.  I'm just sayin'!

Linking up this week with Handmade Parade at There and Back, TGIFF (this week at Stop that Owl), and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.