Friends, I had an exhausting weekend.  The flu got us good.  But much worse, a pair of negative pregnancy tests combined with ongoing ambiguous pregnancy symptoms is seriously messing with me.  I'm fairly certain (in my head) that I am not pregnant, but my emotional self is roller-coasting, trying and failing to stay clear of the yucky places.  Sorry to complain, but if I'm a bit off this week, you'll know why.

Today I'm trying to keep myself distracted from all the annoying "what if... could it be?.. what next..." questions.  I'm telling myself a normal week is just what I want.  A normal week with no flu, days at home to enjoy my work and the return of joyful gratitude for the good life I already have.  So, in the interest of moving on with life, I'm back in this space today and hope you'll have me.

March is my month to lead the Love circle at do. Good Stitches in our collaborative quilt.  As I hinted in February, I'd like to take some risks this time around by leaving the prompt rather open ended...

I'm asking my bee mates to make a traditionally pieced block in the color scheme represented by this fabric pull:



We all work from our own stash and scraps. I'd like a light, bright feel to the colors.  No purple.  Minimize orange.  Avoid grassy and limey greens.  Other than that, most anything goes!  There are lots of cool greens, cool pinks and aqua/teal blues, plus yellow (always yellow!).



My mariner's compass block is the first inspiration piece I made for our March quilt.  I think it'll be focal point in the quilt, but you never know.  Bee mates are invited to make traditional blocks in any size(s).  Non-square blocks or series of small blocks are particularly desired.  I'm thinking maybe a string of flying geese or some English paper pieced hexagon flowers.  I'd like to receive some 6" finished and 10" finished blocks, as well as some rectangular works.  Variety is the goal! 



Today I finished these wee Penny Candies as my second inspiration piece.  I don't know how I'll use them - strung up in a row, floating in negative space in one group or scattered around the quilt like bits of jewelry.  I plan to join the blocks from our bee in an improvisational layout with lots of negative space. 



Since my prompt is so vague this time, I've gathered some quilty inspiration too. 

ONE.  Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches.  This quilt has the airy, improv feeling I have in mind.  One special block or series of blocks from each bee mate is all I need!

TWO.  Carrie Strine.  The colors in this work are more my speed. Still light, but more saturated than my other examples.  The medallion has layers of lovely traditional piecing.

THREE.  Lindsey of LR Stitched.  I love the perky personality of this piece.  It might serve as inspiration for some of my bee mates' blocks.

Ok, Love circle.  Tag!  You're it.