Planning the Finish - Celtic Tree of Life

The rest of this month I will be working on the top and bottom rows. This pattern will be available from now until the end of the program as it will end up being the last pattern of the month with border options.

I now how I will frame each of the appliqué blocks but have been a bit stuck with what I will do with the celtic knots, but I came up with an idea in the shower this morning (where all brilliant ideas are born).  It incorporates the finished border which until this morning I wasn't sure there was going to be one but I think now there will be and as with Flowers with Alison it will be huge.

So stay tuned.  The top and bottom rows will give me an idea of the size of the two narrow side blocks for the centre row which will be the patterns May and June.  Then there will be no more patterns until the border is finished.

 
Blocks all trimmed ready to frame.

Centre Block Complete

The centre block is complete and I have updated the pattern on the Celtic Tree of Life Page so download the new version.  

Progress Report and a Template

Sorry this block is coming in dribs and drabs, but I am wondering if I am meant to finish it the way I am going.   I did something to my back getting out of the car last night and I'm not sure if sitting or standing is better at this stage the only way I'm not in pain is I lie flat on my back.

I have decided to release the next lot of templates which are the leaves and the critters.  At this stage I don't plan to add any bees but the templates are there if you want to use them.  The plan is for 4 birds, 3 dragonflies, 4 butterflies  (2 different types of butterflies).  Once the block is all complete I will update the instructions with the finishing detail and add the photo of the finished block.

Thank you for your patience.

Managing Expectations Again Sorry

Hi everyone, I've been pretty quiet on the blog front.  I'm working away on filling in the centre block and it may be a few days late.  As you can see from the progress photo below I still have a few leaves  to stitch and then I can start on the critters.   I have prepared the templates for these but have to pull fabric and stitch there are lots of tiny pieces which may prove to be a bit scary but we will see how it turns out.  I could post the templates on the 15th but I would prefer to have a finished block picture to post with them so it may just be a few days late.

Last week I was fighting a sinus infection and narrowly missed having to go to the Dr's to get antibiotics I was giving it one more day on sailine treatment and then I was going to make the call when it righted itself.  During that time I couldn't wear my glasses and my eyesight is getting worse and I can't see enough to sew at night without them.  I have that problem where my arms aren't long enough 😆.  Sorry for the excuses but I really was under the weather and every time I put my head down the pain.

I've been thinking long and hard about my next BOM program and I have decided that once this BOM is finished I think this will be my last free BOM for a while and I will change it up next time.  I know we all love free stuff however in order for my business to continue I need to sell patterns, so next BOM the block's will be on sale for half price for a month then go up to full price.  That way I can cover the cost of the running my website and maybe actually pay for the fabric to make the quilt.

As I will be selling the patterns from the outset the lead time for the next BOM will probably be a little bit longer as I will want to get most of the quilt finished before we start.    I know that this will mean I will probably lose a lot of subscribers but in the end this is my business and I need to make enough money to keep it going which sadly isn't happening at the moment.