Stars, Stripes, & Other Stuff on the Frame

Although today isn't slow stitching, I'm sharing that my Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  This project started out as something to do in my "to go" bag in which I have projects that I can work on when I'm waiting on things.  I thought I would practice with these nine applique starts. 

Now it's on my longarm frame.  I'm quilting it with my new giant template board, Milky Way that I got for myself for Christmas from Circle Lord (Loricles). 

 

I am quilting it using only one outline for the stars.  There could be a star inside the stars if I wanted.

 

 

Here's what the template board looks like:

I just love the quality of Circle Lord products!  Yes, they are sort of expensive (a little over $300 per king board) but I figure if I quilt just three customer quilts with one then it pays for itself.  These boards have great designs that work well with many different quilts.  Check them out.

Also, two new hand stitching projects emerged in my to-go bag!  Both were already on my WIP list for 2017.  First up we have "Homestead Harvest" from Simple Appeal, 14 Patchwork and Applique Projects for Everyday Living by Kim Diehl.  I borrowed this book from the library.  This is the start of the center of the quilt.  It will measure 40.5" x 40.5" when finished.  I just started with the applique green vine.  Ooops!  Looks like from the picture I need to fix that top star point before going too far!

 

This is what the outside of the book looks like.  I got it from our local library!!! :)

 

 

This is a cute little candy cane block that I kinda paper pieced instead of doing applique for all those stripes.  Now I just need to needle turn the edges.  My neighbor bought a bunch of little "kits" somewhere really cheap and gave a couple to me.  It's fun work.  The little piece of paper with it shows a pieced block that will go with it.  It also came with some fabric, but not enough???  Guess it's not a complete kit.  No wonder why it was on sale at such a good price.

 

There's not much applique on this block.  I'll add the leaves and holly berries too.

 

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.  You can see all the other wonderful projects participants are linking here.