Garden Club

Our Prim Group is making the Garden Club quilt by Country Threads as a block of the month at our local quilt store, so I'm working on the prep for the first block.  Decided to use backgrounds that remind me of 1940s aprons.  The original quilt doesn't have the sprigs and buds on the sides near the bottom of the vase, but I thought the block needed a bit more so added those.  Was inspired to choose electric blue for the dragonfly when I saw several in our garden this weekend.  May add more flowers to the top of the vase, what do you think?

 

Just purchased these little applique scissors designed by Karen Kay Buckley, and highly recommend them - they are wonderful!  They are really sharp and the little tips are just right for trimming a seam or clipping into a little corner while appliquing. 

Fruit is so plentiful and tasty at the farmer's market this month.  We made strawberry freezer jam and peach cobbler - soooo good...the jam is perfect to stir into a cup of plain yogurt.  Thinking of all of you on the East coast who are weathering the storm this weekend - hope everyone has time to get a few stitches in and thanks to all who stopped by for a visit!

Orange Peel Petals

Started a new project in Spring colors called Orange Peel Petals.  The quilt is designed by Temecula Quilt Company, and its a really fun project that can be picked up quickly to get a few stitches in with easy, peasy needleturn applique.  Most of the fabrics are from the Little Pink Stars line.

We visited this lovely place about an hour from home recently.  Its called Daffodil Hill, and is located in an old gold rush area.  The weather was perfect that day!  Its well worth the visit if you get a chance.

Always appreciate those of you who stop by to visit my blog, and hope you all have time to get a few stitches in!

Project Rotation

After two weeks of piecing spool blocks, think its time to do something new, so got out these appliqued pieces from the Birdsong quilt (Jan Patek's pattern) which have been in a drawer for a couple of years.  All the appliqued strips are made and need to be sewed together with the connector pieces.  

 

The spool blocks will be tucked away in this bowl for a while until I feel like hand piecing again.  I'm a firm believer in project rotation, and eventually they get finished.  This works, in theory, as long as I can resist the urge to start something new!    Would love to hear your thoughts on this - do you work on a single project from start to finish?

Spencer Museum Quilt - Crown of Thorns Block

This block took a little longer to make as it has more complicated pieces, but I'm happy with it.  Had to piece the background, but I don't think its too noticeable.  Love the pieced fabrics that are used to make pieces in blocks in the old quilts - I think they add so much character.   Finishing this block means the Spencer quilt is 1/3 done!  Going to head in a different fabric choice direction with the next set of blocks.  Hope it works out!

Planted five different heirloom tomato plants, some basil, and a Japanese maple tree last weekend.  Also need to plant a bay laurel tree, but not sure where it will go.  Very excited about this as we use a lot of bay leaves in our cooking.  Reading Frida, a novel about Frida Kahlo written by Barbara Mujica, which is told in the voice of her sister, Cristina.  So far, its very good!

Primitive Birds & Baskets

More applique blocks finished - its fun to pull out old projects - they seem new again!  These blocks were so fun to applique and love looking at the older fabrics.

Had a fun day in San Francisco on Friday - visited with Holly, the world's best hair stylist!  Even if I wasn't her Mom, I would still say that!  The weather was beautiful and we had a delicious lunch afterward - turkey, cranberry and brie sandwiches.

Early Applique

This is the first block I made while learning to needleturn applique.  The pattern is a modification of one of Blackbird Design's blocks.  My wonderful applique teacher, Gretchen, explained that with all the time I was spending prepping blocks with freezer paper and basting the seam allowance under, I could be making two blocks!  I still like to trace the pattern with a trusty General's white chalk pencil though.  Don't we all rely on a safety net from time to time?

Cherry Basket Block

Finished a cherry tree block for a friend this morning. Spring is bursting forth in the backyard, and soon the real cherry tree will be blooming. Hope for bowls of cherries this year, with plenty to share with the birds, of course.

Oak Leaves and a Pineapple

This week I received two more wonderful applique blocks - this time from Julie in Tennessee! Julie's blocks are so charming and will find their way into a sampler quilt that I will always treasure. The applique swap has been so much fun - now I need to get busy on Julie's block for November!

Christmas or Not?

Here is the Christmas or Not quilt all sewn together. I put it on my bed to see how big to make the borders. Thinking about what kind of borders to add... Suggestions are welcome!

Dancing Currants

This red and green appliqued block named "Dancing Currants" was made for a block swap and is on its way to Israel! There are six of us participating in the international swap and next month is my turn to receive appliqued blocks. Can't wait to see the beautiful blocks that fly my way!