Quilt Show and Fair season is fast approaching. First I had to decide if I would enter and what shows and fairs I would enter. Laclede County Fair is first. Entries have to be delivered July 7th. Paperwork is filled out at time of drop off. I will be entering and machine pieced and quilted sampler from our Saturday Sampler Group 2016 version. It was a little late getting finished on time to enter for last year so it’s this years entry. This is the only time this will be entered in a Fair or Quilt Show. It will be delivered to the gift recipient after the show.
I have decided that A Boy and A Girl quilt pattern by Kim McLean , but I’m calling it Altered Perception of Album Quilt, will be entered in the Laclede County Fair, the Ozark Empire Fair, and the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show. This was a big decision for me. The Ozark Fair and the Quilt Guild Show are judged by certified judges. I have been encouraged by friends to enter my work. I have not always been certain that my work was good enough. It’s my passion and I love applique but to be judged on execution is a little intimidating. Because as in life, we all have good days and not so good days. Sometimes my sewing is exceptional and some days, well you know, not so good. It’s a big deal for me to put myself out there to be critiqued. Vickie Clancy, my awesome quilter, has been posting works in progress on Instagram. I get giddy each time I see a new one. After all I did spend 2 years 3 months making this quilt. She is doing an awesome job, as always. Here is a photo. To say the least I am very excited about my quilt. The paperwork has been completed for entry. Each show has different categories, it gets confusing what to choose when filling out the forms. Big sigh. 
Onward and upward now. Here is a photo of my flower bed I completed this year.
Current projects. As always I have numerous projects going and yes most if not all include applique. I am still working on Bed of Roses pattern by Sue Garman. We’ve all heard stories that begin with “on the way to……” Well…… I was working on a set-in block and decided I did not care for the placement of the leaves on the arc. I pulled them off and was going to re-glue them and when I squeezed the glue bottle the whole tip spit out and a tablespoon of glue poured onto my block. YIKES!!!!! What a mess. I think I am going to have to remake the leaves. I cleaned it up as best as I could, but have been too afraid to peak at the damage. Coward that I am, I have been appliqueing the scallops on the first border, too afraid to look at the block. I will try to be brave today and take a peak at it and see if the leaves are salvageable. Just a little set back is all.
I have been prepping the next block and got it all prepped. Just have to prep the set in block and month five will be ready for appliqueing.
Still using the freezer paper, starch, prepared edge technique. As you can see lots of circles. Perfect Circles are my new favorite way to achieve “perfectly round spheres” to applique. Love love love them.
Then I signed up for a new BOM (block of the month). This one is Jen Kingwell’s pattern Golden Days. It is a fun quilt and the best part is I signed up for it from Jen’s own shop in Australia. I’m getting awesome fabrics chosen by Jen herself for this project and some lovely Liberty of London fabrics thrown in. So excited. Here is my first block. Going to be a fun project. It will be challenging having curved piecing involved. I might have to do a little hand piecing. Haven’t done that since I made a Drunkards Path quilt.
I’m off to enjoy my day with a little yard work and quality sewing room time. Have a Blessed Day everyone.
Sissy Malone
Appliquenut 