At the beginning of the year, I started a hand-appliqué project—and for the first few months, I did really well!

Then May arrived, life got busy, and the project slowly stalled.

The problem wasn’t finding time to stitch. I often had time in the evenings to sit and work on it. The problem was that I hadn’t prepared any more appliqué pieces. That required going upstairs to the studio, choosing fabrics, tracing shapes, cutting pieces, and getting everything ready.

Somehow, I never found time for that part.

There was another issue, too. My eyesight has worsened over the past few months because of cataracts. I haven’t felt comfortable with how my stitches looked, so I decided putting the project aside for a while might be the best choice.

But this appliqué project is definitely not becoming a UFO!

I have two cataract surgeries scheduled for November, and I cannot wait to see clearly again. Then, in December, I am having knee replacement surgery—which means I should have plenty of time to sit, recover, and sew.

Between now and then, my goal is to spend some time in the studio preparing a good supply of appliqué pieces. If everything is ready and waiting, I can simply pick up the project whenever I feel like stitching.

Sometimes a project stalls because we lose interest. Other times, it just needs to wait until life—and our eyes—are ready for it again.

This one is waiting patiently. I’m looking forward to picking it back up!

It has been a while since I had a “Throw-Back-Thursday” post, but I have wanted to show this one for a while.

And of course, there is a story behind it!

My friend Audrey and I both played piano, and for many years we organized worship for our church services. We loved doing it and enjoyed finding new music for our congregation.

At Easter and just before Christmas, we would hold one special service featuring congregational singing, solos, duets, and other musical offerings.

For this service, Audrey and I would both play keyboards and organize Guitars, Drums, Trumpets, and anything else we could come up with.

BUT, the offeratory was always just she and I playing a duet.

One particular Christmas, we were practicing at my house, and my daughter Jenny came in and said: “Ya’lls fingers are FLYING”!!

So… “Flying Fingers” was born…

Audrey had just organized a room in her house to be her “music room,” and she definitely needed this wall hanging!!

The keyboard was taken from a panel, and the staff and notes were machine-applique.

I just heard that Audrey and Mike are leaving the area soon and moving to be with one of their sons. As we texted back and forth, she assured me that “Flying Fingers” is going with her!!

It is fun to look back and remember quilts that we made and think about the people we made them for!!

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Do you have a stack of scraps that you want to use in a fun design?

Check out this pattern for a quick and easy scrap quilt that will help empty your bins and bring a smile to your face!!

Full-color pattern includes step-by-step instructions for blocks and border.

Click HERE for more information.