More done than I thought

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How can I NOT finish this quilt?

Mandolin musings....

So a couple days ago, probably right after I wrote the previous entry, I considered using six-point diamond papers from my Mandolin pattern for Alexandria, which is in desperate need of diamonds. I've been pondering the Mandolin EPP quilt-in-progress, as well as the Myrtle design, Lavender, Ice Cream Soda, ummm... Lots of English paper piecing WIPs, and sometimes I rob Peter to pay Paul, so to speak, to keep them all supplied as I don't have exact kits for each. The Mandolin quilt, blocks pictured above, is my second version of this pattern, and the first one I actually use the proper kit to construct, lol. Why not steal some diamonds for Alexandria, then get to work on that, I blithely considered.

Until I found I had finished eight Mandolin blocks! I thought I had maybe five, six tops. But eight, out of the dozen I had planned, wow! Slight guilt crept over me as I examined them, all made from autumnal Art Gallery fabrics, Karen Nyberg's Earth Views prints, and random Kona solids in earthy shades. I found another block just needed to be basted and stitched; that would leave three blocks, plus the connecting sections, then Mandolin #2 would be DONE.

I have made the executive decision to set aside Alexandria (once again, poor thing!) to complete this Mandolin quilt. The kit came with enough paper pieces to configure twenty blocks, but that's a LOT of large blocks, for a large quilt, and honestly I'm too in love with Kawandi to put that much effort into an EPP project. Also curtailing my enthusiasm is that while the fabrics I chose are very pretty, I prefer primary hues, also a more scrappy vibe. This Mandolin isn't for a particular recipient, but if I choose not to keep it, that's absolutely fine. Yet I can't give it away until I finish it, so....

So now I'm on a different mission, unplanned but just as pleasant as working on something else. Which is often how life goes, like when you're searching for something, but discover a different missing item. I don't even know when I started this version of Mandolin, at least a couple of years ago, and when basting the papers last night for block #9, I was a little cross with Past Me for not cutting the fabrics with a more generous seam allowance. She huffed, noting that when those prints were cut I seemed JUST FINE with a scant allowance. Future Me smirked, adjusting her glasses, while I basted very precisely, noting to all listening that when I design the last three blocks, the seam allowances will be nice and WIDE.

Meanwhile, the chicken plan continues to gain steam. We've found a style of brooder we like, and will purchase it with enough time to test it out for proper heat output. And...I think I have shingles again. I endured a mild-ish case in spring of 2019, got the vaccine later that year, had a tiny touch of it in spring of 2020, then nothing until this year. The Shingrix vaccine is allegedly good for up to seven years, so I wonder if having Covid last summer messed with my immunity. I'm seeing my doc today for confirmation, but dangit, this is a BFD (big fat drag).

Happy Thursday everyone, no matter what's happening in your sphere.

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