WIP: Work in Progress-- St. Patrick's Day Spirit

Hi again,  It's been a busy week!  My youngest daughter, Claire, has a sinus infection, so I've been needed more as a Mommy than as a blogger.  I took her in yesterday and we got some antibiotics.  It was a real relief to know she'll get better quickly now!  She's so cute, and usually so brave, that it's hard to see her sick.  So... what have I actually worked on this week?



This week I've been thinking of St. Patrick's Day.  It was a huge holiday in my family growing up.  My grandma was 75% Irish, but acted like she just got off the boat.  She truly treasured her Irish heritage.  It made me proud to be Irish too!  She would always tell me stories of Leprechauns, Little People, and Fairies. So, I grew up with a fantastical imagination of Ireland.  (Which, sad to say, wasn't quite how she described when I visited.  I didn't see ANY of the fore-mentioned creatures.  Very disappointing!)  So, what magical transformation occurred on St. Patty's Day at our house?



When I woke up and came down stairs, there was little green foot prints leading from the front door into the kitchen.  They were all over the counter tops too!    Then, when Mom made oatmeal for breakfast it was green.  She was always so surprised it turned green while she cooked it!  Then, when she got out the gallon milk from the fridge, it was green too!  The whole gallon was green!!!  We would laugh and leap about looking for Leprechauns hiding in the cupboards waiting to play with us.  All the food that day was green.  It was hilarious.


So, I have grown up loving St. Patrick's Day.  To pay homage to the cheerful spirit of the holiday, I made two table runners.  One for my family table, and one to sell.  Fortunately, they are quick to put together.

Once they were done, I started on a little baby quilt with cupcakes.  I bought the cupcakes appliqued on from a fellow Etsian.  I was making a treasury of cupcake things when I came across these cute cupcake applique blocks!  It was so cute, I HAD to buy them!  She had cut them out and ironed them on.  That's what I hate most about applique... the cutting!  So, I was freed from that for a small price.

Then I stitched around each cupcake (with a satin stitch) and made them into blocks.  Tonight, I sewed it all into one piece, it's 4 blocks by 4 blocks.  Now all it needs is a festive, happy, cupcake border.  And of course... to be quilted.  Not my favorite thing.  But, I'm learning how to do it better.

I love this shade of pink with brown.  I think it's so festive!  I know it's popular, and at first I resisted it.  But, now I have fully embraced the pink and brown combination.  They are delightful together.  I smile each time this quilt catches my eye as I walk by my sewing room.

Cupcake baby quilt

So, that's all I've done this week.... except for shopping for new fabrics!  Today I took some much-needed time to myself and hired a babysitter for 4 hours.  I had Thai food for lunch with a good friend, then went fabric shopping.  I was pleasantly surprised by a sale there this week, 30-40% everything in the store!  I couldn't believe it.  I still had some money left-over from my fabulous Christmas gift from my In-Laws, so I could spend at will.  And I did!  I got 10-- 1/3 yd cuts of various spring colors: mostly teals, some wonderful batik horses, and a few flowers and birds.   So much fun!  I can't wait to get started on those next.  :)  I love shopping for fabric.  I think I could make a living out of it.  *wink*

I have read a suggestion to make Wednesday a WIP report for the blog.   I think it's a great idea to have a schedule so you and I both know what to expect for any given day.  Now I'll have two days with a planned schedule: WIP (work in progress) Wednesday and FAF (Featured Artist Friday).  So, if you like quilting stay tuned!  

The Quiltsy Team has a WIP sharing link to see what others are working.  Click here to see it.

Discussion:
Did you grow up celebrating St. Patty's Day?  If so, what traditions did you have?  Do you love it?  Hate it?  I'd love to hear from you!

P.S. This is the last week to leave a comment to win the fur cuffs!  (Yes, I have fixed the glitch... it should be easier now to leave a comment.)  The contest ends on Saturday--St. Patrick's Day!  Sign up now!  Pass on this blog address!  Roll the dice, and try out your luck.