A Complaint, Advice and a Querry

Hi - thanks for visiting, despite that dubious title.  I really try not to complain, after all I don't call this FUN with Barb for nothing.

It's official:  I'm an empty nester.  It's true.  Happened on Tuesday when Andrew moved into his dorm.  Rich flew out to LA Monday for the week, so it's really empty!

Who knew in June, when I made this little quilt how soon it would be true.

The only thing more disappointing than 2 cluttered, dirty kids' rooms are 2 clean, empty kids' rooms.

I took advantage of the newly cleaned out fridge (thanks, Irene) and the empty house to attack my diet with this.  It is not easy, but it does work.

Complaint:
My machine is STILL at the shop.  It's been about 7 weeks.

Advice:
Ask more questions than I did.  How long will it take?  What if it needs a part?  Can I have while you wait for the part?  When did you order the part?  Are they making the part?  You get the idea.    All they tell me is "We're waiting for the part, there's nothing we can do.....".  I could tell them what to do.

Question #1 - Hand Quilting:
How do you handle flowers and other stems off the main stem when outline stitching?

Skip it like this:

Or stitch it like this:

Skip?

Stitch?

I've tried studying old quilts, but it's just too hard to see.  It's probably an opinion question, but I'd love to know your opinion.  My Mother's Garden Quilt is half and half now.

Questions #2 - Machine Applique'
After fusing:
What do you use?  invisible thread?  matching thread?
Do you use a zig zag, hem stitch, or button hole?
Do you stabilize.  With what?

When I get my machine back I need to get going applique' my elephants down on my Passage to India quilt.

When I say empty nest, well not quite, coco is here for company.  She looks thrilled, doesn't she?

So, is this my fault because I left my open sewing box unattended?  Or coco's because she couldn't help herself?

Have a Fun Weekend Everyone!  Thanks for any suggestions!