What I'm working on this week

I'm so glad it's March! This has been a challenging winter with more snow than usual and lots of kid illnesses as well. I really need spring to come soon; I'm glad it's sunny and warming up a bit today!

I've been working on a couple projects, one with a deadline:

This is for the KCMQG "no prints allowed" challenge--it needs to be finished next week!
Here's another peek at what I'm doing:

(These are some of the sewable scraps and will be part of the back.) I'll reveal the whole quilt after our meeting next week (crossing my fingers that I get it done, I'm afraid I'm hand quilting again!)

I've also been working on this blouse for my girl:

I need to get buttons and ribbon for the front still but decided to get started. The bottom ruffle is ready to attach, and the gathering stitches are sewn in the sleeves too. It was a bit tedious marking and making all the pintucks, so I stopped after finishing them on the back. They aren't pressed yet because I want to remove the water soluble marker first.

My computer speakers bit the dust so I was listening to Pandora on my phone while I sewed. :) Makes it a little more fun, I think.

And these books came in the mail today:

I've looked through them both and there are some great projects in them. I am looking forward to making the little knotted jumper top or dress and probably a skirt from Little Girls, Big Style. Also I think I'm finally going to dive into shirring; I've only tried it a couple times before. I have a huge cone of elastic thread and I love the shirred look on some of the blouses in this book. And Amy's done a great job with Modern Basics; maybe I'll use one of her patterns for my sister's new baby who's arriving at the end of summer.  

How about you? What are you working on? Are there any signs of spring where you are yet?