new project

Yesterday I had a bit of a surprise to find a photo from my blog appear on Barbara Brackman's blog. I had been thinking about that bowl of cherries quilt because last week we were on vacation and spent a morning picking cherries with my Mom. I thought they were just gorgeous and they taste even better than they look :0)
I do want to make a bowl of cherries quilt one day.... But this week I started something else :0)

I have always liked this signature/chimney sweep block. Last year my husband and sister threw a birthday party for me and I thought it would be an excellent time to gather some signatures. They've been sitting in an envelope for a year and a half. Yesterday seemed like the perfect time to dig them out and get going!

So it works out perfectly - I have all the fun and excitement of starting a new project but technically I can still call it a ufo - lol.

Happy Quilting!

flowers

There is still some stitching going on here in the evenings :0) I finished another block for my Bird of Paradise quilt.

It's block #12. I have to confess it's not my favorite but with 20 blocks in the quilt every block can't be a favorite.

My garden is starting bloom - roses, bellflowers and peonies. It makes me smile every time I look out the window :0)

Happy quilting!!

paper piecing

I just love flowers on the deck in summer. It makes me wish it was summer all year :0)
I had a little gift to make last week. I hadn't done any paper piecing for a long while so this was a fun, quick project.

I popped it in the mail the next morning. Happy Birthday Mom!

And since I have so few quilting pictures I thought I'd include a couple from our recent family trip to Lethbridge, AB.

At the Japanese gardens with DD#1 and DD#2. I remember visiting here when I was about 11. It was just as I remembered it.

We went to the Birds of Prey Nature Centre as well. We all got to hold owls! Even DD#3 got to hold one - here a burrowing owl. It was so interesting to see these magnificent eagles, hawks and owls up close.
I just love summer... :0)

Happy Quilting!!

double lines

I'm still working away at quilting my 4 block applique quilt. I basted this on July 1st last year never thinking it would take longer than a year to quilt. Those Bird of Paradise applique blocks have been a big distraction :0)
I decided to go with double parallel lines in the borders to try something new. They are 1/4" and 3/4" apart. I really like the texture that is created.

I decided to change the direction of the lines as I go around the corners. I got this idea from looking in books at the quilting of antique quilts. Here is the first corner. Together with the feathers it does make the corners a bit busy. Oh well - I'm learning :0)

The kids finished school for the summer yesterday. I suspect posts could be few for a couple months. I'm looking forward to a busy and fun summer!
Happy Quilting!!

dresser runner

I got right back to working on ufo's again. This is a runner for my dresser that I started over a year ago. I got the center part and the end appliques finished and laid out the 3 pieces on my dresser to see how it looked. And somehow - I left it there - enjoying it in all it's unfinished glory for months - lol.
Finally this last week I did some simple machine quilting in the center and I echo quilted around the applique with my walking foot (LOTS of turns :0)

And now it can go back on my dresser so I can enjoy it - finished!

I started with a lovely pattern by Marcie of Patchalot Patterns. Now that I've finished my variation I want to make it again only this time make the actual pattern with all the borders and cornerstones :0)

Here it is back on my dresser. I'm sure it will do a great job of protecting the finish on the top of the dresser. At least that's what I'm going to tell my husband it's for :0)

I haven't forgotten about the giveaway. I'll get to it soon. I just have a rather busy week this week.
Happy Quilting!!

Sweet Carolina

I took a break from working on ufo's and made this little top.
It's from AP&Q's latest magazine. Before my copy even arrived in the mail I knew I wanted to make it after seeing the picture on the blog Quilt Hollow. It sewed up pretty quick. My leaves ended up being the reverse of the pattern because I just did the applique by hand. A small mistake :0)

Happy Quilting!!

quilt show

The quilt show was over a week ago and I finally have time to post some of my favorites from it. DD#2 and DD#1 accompanied me to the show. They've never come with me before and it was fun!
This one had cherry yo-yos :0)

This one was tiny and just gorgeous!!

These owls were fun - they had googly eyes sewn on :0)

I was pleased to find mine hanging in the bright sunshine. It was a beautiful day!

This one was hanging in a very prominent spot on the upper hotel balcony. Hand quilted and hand appliqued - I thought it was stunning!

I loved the fabrics in this one.

I thought the quilting was cool on this quilt - the full picture is below.

This next one was just lovely but it was hanging in a large tent and the lighting was poor. The chintz panels at the top and bottom were from Paris.

Another charming traditional quilt.
The show was wonderful - it never disappoints!!

The next day I had a big surprise!! I won the prize from a draw held at one of the guild tables.
The Big Hill Quilters put together a beautiful box full of goodies!!

This box is full of patterns, kits, notions, fabric, pincushions... WOW! I was amazed when I dug into it! I'll have to have a giveaway next week sometime to share some of it. I was completely blown away by their generosity.

Happy Quilting!!