Looking for motivation

Hi all!  Just checking in because it's Friday and I haven't posted all week, probably because I've done nothing exciting sewing-wise all week.  I'm in a little bit of a slump, where I just can't get motivated to work on things.  What can I say?  Sometimes you've got it, sometimes it's got you.  I'm sure this will not last too long and I'll be back at it soon.

All I have for now are a few updates on current projects, and just so we have a fun picture at the top of the blog, here is one of the autumn leaves that I actually managed to finish this week:

These leaves will be part of the alternate blocks for the fall flowers quilt that I'm slowly working on.  Here are the flower blocks at this point:

If you remember, I had a couple of orange squash blossom blocks that I ultimately decided didn't work in the quilt, so I took them apart and made the mum block (with some odd accents because I just reused the block parts instead of cutting new) and also another block that is something like an aster.  I'm much happier with these.

I have three more blocks cut out and they will just about use up all of the fat quarter bundle.  To make the quilt big enough to use as a lap quilt, I'm making some leaves to put together into alternate blocks to fill in between the flower blocks.  Got a bit of a way to go yet, but pretty soon it will be ready for  assembly.  And I do really like the leaves with the flowers.  The leaves that have fallen into my flower beds are not nearly as festive and colorful.

I also made a few more of the black blocks:

I have another dozen of these cut out, but I just haven't stitched them up yet.  I was thinking about a pieced sashing, but looking at this I think the cornerstones will be enough.  It will certainly make a nice secondary pattern across the quilt.

I did make a start on quilting the t-shirt quilt, which was no problem at all until I looked on the back:

Apparently the basting came out of this part of the quilt, and I got a big wrinkle in the backing.  Thankfully, it was really close to an edge so I could pick it out, smooth it all down and straight, and then re-baste it.  Not a huge problem, but just plain annoying.  (The rest of the back is fine!)

Finally, last weekend the hubs and I went to the AQS show in Virginia Beach to see my quilt hanging:

It was very exciting and a real thrill for me.  Plus, the very first quilt I saw when I went into the show was Julie's free-pieced barns:

So many great details to look at!  There were so many beautiful quilts that it was a little overwhelming.  It was too hard to pick a favorite, but I really loved this quilt:

Improv Village, by Marva Beaver

This was Improv Village by Marva Beaver of Urbana, Ohio.  It was such a happy-looking quilt in person and had such great colors.  The picture really does not do it justice.  Once I saw all the quilts, I may or may not have purchased some hand-dyed fabrics and a bunch of new brands of thread.  I did get to meet Vicki Welsh, which was also a real thrill.  She had a booth full of gorgeous fabrics and was very, very nice.

After the show, we stayed in Virginia Beach because it was not only a quilt show, but also our anniversary and mid-semester break.  We had great weather and didn't want to leave the beach at all, which was surprising because we're not really "beach people."  It was just a wonderful, perfect short vacation, even if I came away with a small sunburn.  I'll take it, because the sunshine was terrific.  Pretty sure I soaked up enough vitamin D for a month.

Neptune Statue at Virginia Beach

Here's hoping you all have the same kind of weekend this week!  I will be searching for my motivation and cleaning out a closet.  Not the same as relaxing on the beach, but life is all ups and downs, right?

Sharing at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday.