Batik Challenge Progress

Finished this homespun quilt I was working on.

When I started cutting the fabric for the sashing, I thought it looked way too dark.

But I like it now that it's done. It finished at 70 inches square, the individual blocks and sashing at 3 1/2 inches.

I've been working on the Batik Challenge that I am doing with Nicole, Lisa, and Kristin. Dug out my basket of Batiks (had more than I remembered, I do think they multiplied!).

I thought color sorting things might be called for. I wasted quite a bit of time oohhhing and aahhhing all the pretty ones.

After reviewing my inventory, I've decided to do this pattern. Mine will be using bright fabrics though.

These are the ones I chosen. I just love that fabric I am going to use for the border, the one with all the colors in it. They are all beach-themed and just so summery and cheery. I guess I will have to come up with a new name, Bright Pond in Florida?
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How I Spent The Weekend

I promised Jackie in December I'd make some pillowcases for a charity she supports.

So I spent Saturday afternoon cutting and sewing. I figured this would be a good project as I am also caring for a pet who is terminally ill with cancer. While I am in no way equating sick children with sick animals, my efforts seemed to dovetail nicely.

I've made 8 so far and I must say the instructions she sent are easy to follow and produce a great finished product. You first sew the body of the case to the cuff which also hides the seam. Quite ingenious! Then you sew a French seam along the sides which makes everything so tidy. Ingenious again!

Here's my stack.

I had to share a picture of the selvedge on one of the fabrics I used. I love the typo!

On Sunday afternoon I cut out some homespun for making cornerstones

for this quilt that's been on my design wall too long.

Here's a look at the sashing fabric I'm using. Darker than planned but it's out of the stash!
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New Challenge

Nicole issued a challenge to make a quilt by April 24 using batiks and a pattern from either the Batiks and Beyond or Batik Beauties books by Laurie Shifrin. I've decided to play along! I have quite a number of batik fat quarters in my stash and about a year ago decided to make a quilt using them. I say about a year ago because my quilt is finished but I neglected to put a label on it. {sigh} I liked working with the batiks. They have a different feel, crisp, smooth and tightly woven. And the colors are just so wonderful.

I am going to use the Batiks and Beyond book and am leaning toward either this pattern. Don't you love the name? Suits me, I think!

Or the cover quilt.

A few people asked about the pattern for the sewing wallet. It is in this magazine that was on the newsstand around Thanksgiving, Fall 2008 issue. The pattern was designed by Penny Sturges and it finishes at 5 1/2" by 9".

Success

Tried a new recipe yesterday straight off the King Arthur Flour sack! I just started buying this brand and really like it. The loaf turned out nice and moist with a fine grain to it. The rising was a bit lengthy, don't know if it had to do with the dough being all whole wheat flour with no white, or the chilly house.

I did finish that sewing wallet I made for the Black and White Challenge Project and am pleased with the results.

That fabric with hearts where the yellow flower head pins are is the replacement for the Andover black dots on white that I had problems with bleeding. No problems with this fabric with the Pellon Fusible Fleece. In hindsight I guess the other fabric just had an excess of dye that did not wash out entirely. I actually think I like this fabric choice better.

Here's the back.

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Farewell

"As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before Nine-Eleven. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our Nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe."
Thank You, President Bush, well done.

Visitors

Sunday morning I managed to talk myself out of walking and was rewarded by an interesting sight. There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these Bank Swallows flying all over my back yard and lake! We must be in the migratory path as they fly down to South America for winter. What a sight to see and hear!

They would land all at once in the pine trees and after a bit take off with a resounding swish!


While I was having those problems with the sewing wallet yesterday, I looked out the window and a Florida bobcat went strolling by! This was a real treat as they are very elusive. The picture is fuzzy as I snapped it through the screen. A minute later and she was in the nature preserve abutting our yard and out of sight.