Completion

These are the quilt blocks I made for February from an online site that is posting free directions on the 15th of each month. I had to 'drop everything' to make them! I'm using Christmas colors and plan on giving the finished quilt to my SIL.

I finished making the quilt using my Batik leftovers from the Batik Challenge. I so wanted to buy some other Batiks but made myself work with what I had on hand.

Would you believe I still have more scraps left?

I think the quilt is done though. I just started by making some house blocks and letting things evolve from there. It finishes about 40 by 33 inches.

This is William, my daughter's budgie that I inherited when she went off to college. He's been sick for the past several months with cancer. It overtook him yesterday morning. He was a good little guy with as much personality as any dog or cat and will be missed.
Thanks for stopping by.

This and That

I think I mentioned before my Mini Swap in a Bag I was involved in. In fact these swaps are what brought me to blogging. I finally got a label on mine and mailed it out to my partner albeit a little late. Sorry Solidia!

I ended up adding a lot of my own fabrics to the ones my partner sent. She has 3 girls and everyone is crazy over pink. Me too!


I've been putzing around with the Batik Challenge leftovers. The half square triangles inspired me. I did not have a lot of leftover fabric as I started the Batik Challenge quilt with fat quarters.

I made a few houses, love this yellow one.

And this pink one! More photos as this project evolves.

What a life!

I Was Bad

After my dissatisfaction with my last project I stopped in at my LQS just to look and to admire. I ended up doing more than looking. Yikes!

There are so many new lines out and they all are sooo nice! I figured I'd limit myself to the fat quarters though so as to minimize the damage.

I just found I could not resist these. I love pinks, greens, browns together. Aren't they pretty?

I picked up two patterns also and thought I'd use the one on the right for these fat quarters. I like the idea of doing a positive/negative effect. I ran into one of the store's "odd" clerks. She seems to do everything in her power to discourage you from buying anything. Case in point, while checking out, she asks do I know that fat quarters are more expensive than long quarter yard cuts? Talk about dampening my fun!

I've also been working with the leftovers of my Batik Challenge. Making the blocks yielded some half square triangles. More about this project next time.

This little guy is a pest! We live on a corner lot but have a small swale on the street side of the house. It's filled with trees and vegetation and that's the side my sewing room is on. This bird has spent the last 7 years pecking at our laundry room window mainly during breeding season! When things get really noisy I resort to taping a picture of a advertisement from a magazine showing a closeup of a woman. There's one from Secret Deodorant that works well!

Looks like he's attracted some attention.

It's Done

I've been busily sewing away here on my Batik Challenge started by Nicole.

I dutifully went through my stash choosing, what I thought, were just the right batiks. If you remember I chose "Murky Pond In The Berkshires" from the book Batiks and Beyond. The author really walks you through the block- making making everything so easy with simple and straightforward directions. And the batiks were a real pleasure to work with. There is just something about the way they turn out when pressed. I think 'crisp' says it all.

I finished putting the borders on this morning, and I hate it.

Oh, I like the fact that those outer borders are 7 inches wide and I used several fat quarters that I've had in my stash for years.

I really can't put my finger on what I don't like about it which I find rather annoying. Maybe it's the limited number of fabrics I had to use. Or those really dark pinks, a bit much?

Regardless it's done. It finished at 55 by 47 inches. I have made the binding and backing but plan on putting it aside for a bit.

I caught this view with the light coming from the rear, reminds me of a stained glass window.

Quilt In A Bag Swap

A few months ago I joined an online group of quilters. We were to send to an assigned partner fabric of our choosing. They'd make a quilt, and then we'd swap. We were allowed to add any additional fabric or buttons, ribbon, lace, etc. we desired. I received mine and it is so cute! It measures about 17 by 21 inches. I am running a bit late getting mine out but will post a picture after my partner receives it. You can see the fabric I sent here.

The very talented Solidia also made some notecards using the leftover fabric. She took the fabric, cut shapes and sewed them onto the cards. The house one is my favorite.

Made a block for the Batik Challenge but progress is slow there, errands have been keeping me too busy. I accomplished a major one yesterday and had my passport photo taken. I hate having my picture taken especially by a stranger! Weird, I know.

I'll leave you with this new fabric by Robert Kaufman from a line called Forest Fun just out. I know owls are quite popular now and these guys are so sweet!