Starting aWonder Quilt

This is the newest quilt that I have started.  I am making the blocks with the black background but made a white background to see if I would like it.  It is washed-out in the photo but it is a pretty block.
The designs are from Sweet Pea Designs which has many colorful machine applique embroidery designs.  They have sizes for most hoops and all formats except ART.  The background is basicgrey grunge and the applique fabrics are all batiks.  One tip I would suggest is after deciding on the thread color, to put that color number on a piece of painter's tape and stick to the batik.  It will save time.  I lay my fabric on the placement stitch and then stitch down.  Sometimes the fabric does not lay as flat as I want and I give it a quick burst of steam to shrink it a bit.  Good luck with your embroidery applique.

An Old Skill

I know some of you won't believe this but I taught myself to crochet many years ago. (I did take knitting lessons in the middle 60's.) I have not tried it in a long time but I saw this pattern on an Operation Christmas Child post and decided I could do that. Google helps me me make sure I am doing the stitches correctly. I must say I am very slow but the cold this winter has given me time to get a few done.  The little bags will be for holding marbles and other treasures.