Time to Retreat!

Assuming the roads in Michigan are plowed, I'm packing for retreat.  Here's my project stash:

The batiks in the back are for the Athena's Puzzle block, good for brainless sewing.  The front piles are for a new project, a Mary Lou Weidman style "story quilt".   It's for a guild challenge:  the punch line of a joke.  Now there's a challenge!  But I do have an idea, and while it will stretch my drawing skills to their pathetic limit, I'm giving it a shot.  This weekend I hope to do some of the wacky border blocks, and then develop the center later.

I'm also planning to finish this little thing for Alzheimers'  quilts.

In my stash was a scrap of fabric with faux blue-work flower designs that I've always thought would make a sweet little miniature.  So here it is.  Miniature, or potholder?  Will curved bound edges help, or just add to the potholder look?  You can cast your vote here.

As soon as I finish organizing, I'm off to the grocery.  In case you haven't heard, we've had a massive snowstorm, and I'm afraid the choice of fruit for the fruit salad I'm supposed to make may be slim.  We'll see.