I owe you some sewing!

With the sun shining, a fully functioning computer and a body doing a reasonably good impression of pain-free, I thought I better get a couple of pics of my Midnight at the Oasis blocks so far, as promised a gazillion years ago!

I received the beautiful Jen Kingwell pattern as part of the triumphant FQR quiz team prizes, and with Jess and Sharon starting the QAL, and Adrianne being such a good influence, I was in, and opting to go 100% Denyse Schmidt before I knew it.

OK so the 'ick has slowed me down a bit, but whereas I would have gone straight for the machine appliqué option, instead I have embraced hand-stitching in a way that is even more satisfying than hand-finishing binding!!

I used freezer paper templates, painted the seam allowances with starch (another first!) then pressed, and have been stitching away slowly on the sofa all week.  I am not going to pretend the preparation was not a PITA, but sewing the little blocks has been a joy.  10 down, 10 to go.

And here's my centre block...

The pattern calls for appliquéd circles in the centre; I was going to go for portholes (this was all pre-epiphany) but as I had the perfect floral centre-piece, I just added an extra border and I love the result.

My Y-seams are not perfect, but will be more than adequate once quilted, washed and crinkled.

This quilt is making me very happy; I might not say that when I get to the milion-piece borders, but so far so good.

I have a queue of obligations I need to get on with now, plus birthday makes and quilts to finish, so hopefully I will be back behind the machine this week and knocking out some finishes before you know it.

I hope that under the circumstances you will accept this as a global thank you for all your lovely comments over the last week - I have read them all and appreciate them more than you know, but I would be here until Christmas trying to answer them all individually.  I want to add that I have been casting my beady eye over my blog list this whole time, but iPad commenting is a chore I couldn't be doing with, so consider yourselves well and truly read.

Thanks for sticking around lovely people xxx