WIP Wednesday, some Random things, and a new Quilt-Along

Can't believe it's Wednesday already ... so I guess it's WIP time.  The main only thing that's really consumed me this week is Christmas tree skirt #2.  The piecing is finished and I did the basting yesterday ~ started out by curvy pin basting (not good for the brittle nails) and ended up spray basting with 505 which most of the spray-basters out there seem to love!  I really haven't had much experience with basting yet, but I was happy with the way I was able to really smooth out both sides using the 505.

I made the binding on Sunday using a little less than 1/2 yard of fabric and this continuous binding tutorial (which has some great charts to help you determine fabric needs and binding lengths).

So today, I started on some straight-line quilting.  I really hope I learn to love the actual quilting part of making a quilt ~ at the moment, it's not my favorite.  Since the tree skirt is going to be 8-sided, I started with  that shape in the center, and I'm doing kind of a sun-burst pattern from there.  It took a while to decide exactly what to do, but so far so good (and no puckers ~ Yay!)

I managed to do a couple of small charity things this week ~ a Christmas pillowcase to be sent over to Afghanistan for the troops ~ and four blocks for a charity quilt being put together by our local quilt guild.

Finally ~ Good news!  Rachel over at Stitched in Color is hosting a Penny Patch Beginner's Quilt-Along!  I planned on doing a patchwork for Christmas tree skirt #4, so this is perfect for that project.  I grabbed the button for my sidebar ~ I'm ready!!

Linking up with Lee for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.