There's the pocket (below). The pens are there temporarily so you can see it! I will leave that area unquilted. DH and I BOTH love the pocket! I also sewed some labels on the front. Isn't that orange fabric just wonderful? I don't think that orange shirt was ever used.
I recently purchased this Creative Grids ruler (below) and LIKE it, because of it's size -- 2 1/2 in. x 12 1/2 in. - a size we use very often. I found using just that size was less stressful on my eyes. The non-slip dots on the back ??? uhhh, I'm not impressed.
This quilt took a LOT of Flying Geese. I've made them many ways, but my favorite is still Eleanor Burns method, and using her ruler. My next favorite is the No Waste method - I made a few of those also, and I DID buy the ruler, but once you know the formula, you don't need that ruler. My least favorite method was cutting a 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in. rectangle and sewing squares diagonally to the corner, trim, press, then sew a square to the other corner, trim press. It works OK, but for me, is not as accurate. However, when you just have small pieces to use, it's OK but needs care not to stretch or distort with the iron. Some of my geese were made from pieced bits. (Yes, Mom, I have learned to be frugal and "Make Do".) And some of my geese values are reversed - hey I already had them!
I broke down and purchased the Blade Sharpener, on sale. So far, I used it just once on a dull blade that had a small nick in it, and voila! not like new, but MUCH better and the nick is gone -- a good purchase.
