The Straw Needle: More Birthday gifts,Jo Morton leaves and Paper Pieced Pineapple block

Okay, off we go. First picture: My wonderful hubby fixed a friend's garage door opener. As a thank you my friend gave me this quilt kit which included a wonderful basket to store it all in!!! I decided, however, to make the table runner and table topper, which are pictured on the back of the pattern booklet! Aren't the fabrics yummy? I am an earth tone girl:) And the cool wire basket everything was in..... I love it, love it, love it! She is probably reading this so Thank You Mary!!!

Then, my First Wednesday Dear Jane group met and the ladies had a little birthday party for me! Woo Hoo! And look at the goodies I received! A beautiful hand fan(because I am always HOT), lovely fabrics, and a gift card to one of my favorite quilt shops. Now that big, giant thimble you see in the middle I actually bought for myself at JoAnn's at 70 percent off!!!!! I really didn't need one more sewing knick knack but I just couldn't resist this one. After I find its new home I must take a pic of my knick....knacks !

Okay, third picture! Tonight I was naughty. It was the Second Thursday Dear Jane meeting night but I have made all the blocks and triangles that I wish to make for right now. I have been stumped on what color fabric to use for sashing and borders. I have decided on reproduction blue, and I want to use a Jo Morton blue, but haven't had a chance to shop for it....yet. So.... I decided to make the 32 leaves that I need for my Warm Wishes at Christmas quilt. Hence a photo of 32 leaves. I forgot I wanted to turn one over so you could see the back. I trace the leaf on to freezer paper and then iron the freezer paper to the back of the fabric on the bias. I then cut it out adding a 1/4 inch of fabric all way around. My next step will be to turn under that extra 1/4 inch and baste the fabric to the paper. The last step will be to applique the leaf to my background and remove paper from a small slit I will cut in the back! The fabric I have the leaves on is the actual background fabric for my borders. My next step at this time is to cut out fifty-two berries! Woo Hoo! I love applique!

And finally, this is my completed paper pieced pineapple block!! I think it turned out rather well. I did not have two pieces large enough to make the corners so I had to do some piecing, but that's okay. The light colored stitching you see in the corners are just basting stitches to hold fabric in place until I am ready to attach it to the pillow back. That is scheduled for next month's ASG Quarter Incher's quilt group meeting!