Fishy!!!

I've been wanting to make this fish since I bought a book containing the pattern (I'll edit the post with the name, I promise!) at a little quilt store in Queenstown, NZ.  I've been afraid of machine applique forever, and even cram-dyeing the fabric and putting all the supplies in one bag did not cause me to get over myself and start it.  Until last week.

When I put Fishy on the dining table he looked tiny! Fish is approximately 40" long and about 12" wide; technically it's woven, and then quilted. Do I need to make a larger fish, a humongous cotton representation of all the ones that got away? Time will tell!

I promised the final picture of my dress; here it is, all ready for presentation to the class. Too bad it's two sizes too small for me (at least); but it did fit the model, and that's what counts.

On other projects:

• I'm still listlessly knitting away at skirt... it's slow! And I'm bored of it. It may need to rest for awhile.
• I brought out the quilt I started in February, and finished another block; it took me a while, and I ruined a small bit of it, as I'd forgotten the method. I think I've got it down now, so more blocks to come before the end of the year!

Food wise, I've had 3 adventures...  I made a duck, andouille, and shrimp gumbo combining a recipe from Epicurious and a recipe from Paul Prudhomme; I decorated cookies with my knitting group at S's house and learned all about edible spray glitter; and I made 3 batches of macarons one afternoon with my friend J and managed to get her to take them all out of my house!  It was perfect. I'd like to combine my new-found love of edible spray glitter with macaron making...

I'm looking at 2018 goals for the studio and other than getting the new loom up and running, I'd like to be more focused, and finish some of the long standing projects hanging around in boxes and bags, as well as work through some of my stash. Most of the cabinets are a little tight, and this should help. Towards that:

• I'm taking another Judy Niemeyer quilt class (clamshell) out of my hand dyed fabrics.
• I plan on starting the Persian Dreams blanket out of primarily stash yarn; I'll need to order a background color to be consistent.
• I'd like to make some quilts (mostly baby and toddler) for donation; I've already identified a stack of free patterns I would enjoy, and a couple of locations where the donations would be welcome.
• I've got my list of currently planned or started projects as well;  I'm still looking at it.