First Block Done... and Signs of Spring!

It's been a pretty quiet week, but that doesn't mean that work on my quilt blocks has been quiet.  But generally it's been uneventful, which is a good thing!  However...... drum roll please......  Yesterday I completed the first block of the Bountiful Life quilt!  I was so pleased with the end result.  What do you think?  The block is called Bluebell Bouquet.

I typically don't plan out all my fabrics when I start a block... I am more of a design-as-I-go kinda gal.  So I never really know what the block will look like until I am done.  I re-drew the birds in the pattern.   These look more like birds to me.

The pattern is on the left, my bird on the right.  I need to add a french knot for his eye.

I am very pleased with my applique leaves.. which is good because there are plenty of them on this quilt!

I also sewed together the first two rows of the Sweet Sixteen quilt.  They look great together and I like the different backgrounds, which I tend to do in a lot of my quilts.  Seeing them together tells me I really need to focus on getting that last block done.  

Suzi seems totally disinterested.  Probably because I am taking up room on the bed, which she occupies most of the day.

Finally, someone was very happy that the back door to our deck was open. This is a much welcomed sign of Spring.

Nothing better than rolling in the sun!

This little pot of basil on my kitchen windowsill reminds me that Summer is not far away!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Sweet Hearts Update!

Just an update on the Sweet Hearts blocks.  I am about a week behind with my hearts, but have the next row sewn together and ready to go onto the quilt.  But look at Dawn's progress!!

Here is her granddaugher, Emma, helping her to layout her blocks.  Now you can see what her plan is - Rainbow!!  I just love the way this looks so far.  Great job, Dawn!

Here is the my next row of hearts sewn together and ready to be added to the quilt.

Abby seems to like these little hearts.  She may be wondering when they will be done so she can lay on the finished quilt.  256 hearts to go...

Here is the quilt with the next row sewn on.  It is getting so big!  The quilt it is pinned to is a Blackbird Designs quilt called Frost on the Ferns and hangs in my dining room.

These three hearts will be made in honor of the three victims (Lu Lingzi, Martin Richard, and Krystle Campbell) killed this week in the Boston Marathon Bombings. Rest in peace.

Deb

Happy Birthday to Me!

I celebrated a birthday this week which typically does not get me too excited except this year my husband bought me a wonderful gift - the book, A Bountiful Life.  To be more accurate, I bought this book at the quilt show last month so he could give it to me! : - ).  So I decide to mark my special day by starting the first block of this magnificent quilt.  This week was also marked by some unseasonably hot weather.  Last week when I said cooler temperatures still prevailed, someone must have been listening.  The first three days of the week were remarkable with temperatures well into the 80's.  On Tuesday my car registered 88 degrees when I got into it!  Whew - it was an unexpected blast of summer!  But very welcomed after the cool Spring we have had.  Everything is now blooming!

 I have decide to size my blocks down to 12" from the 14" in the book and piece the backgrounds.  I have not decided whether I will include the groom in the quilt or not.  The original quilt, The Bird of Paradise, does not include the groom block.   Some speculate that perhaps the intended of the bride was killed in the Civil War.  However, Karen Mowery did include a groom in her adaptation.

Karen Mowery's A Bountiful Life quilt.

I also picked up this little stack of quarter yard fabrics at a shop on Saturday to use in this quilt.  Love the colors!

The Octopus's Garden and Goddess of the Deep

This week I also packed and shipped my quilts for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland.  I only had to get them to Illinois, luckily avoiding the cost of shipping them to Ireland!  I guess I won't be seeing these for a few months!

Sea Gem

Each quilt has its own bag to keep it clean.

Also this week, I finished the Sweet Sixteen block from last week.  This little kitty is Lucy's understudy. : - )

 

 So sweet!

The best of all - were all the cards!  It was a great birthday!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Spring is Finally Here!

I am happy to report that I finally saw my first robin this past week... an absolute sign of Spring here in the Northeast!  While cooler temperatures have still prevailed, the sunlight has definitely changed and it looks more and more like Spring in the yard and in the flower beds.  Flowering bulbs and trees can't be far behind!  In my own inside garden, I have been working on flowers and leaves in the 8th block of the Sweet Sixteen quilt.

Here is my progress so far.  I am really going to enjoy stitching those tulips!  Lucy, of course, always has to inspect my work!

I was also able to make a path to my sewing machine (can't keep quilters from their tools!) and made this little clutch.  It is perfect for putting a few spools of thread, some scissors, and a small block together to take with me wherever I go.  The gathered clutch pattern is online from Noodlehead.  It was pretty easy to make - except I haven't put a zipper in anything in years!

The hearts table runner also is finished!  All set for next Valentines day!  It is based on Moda's Heart to Heart Fellowship table runner.  I just love it!  

It is big stitch quilted by hand with perle cotton and then machine quilted. 

Also, I spent some time Saturday morning before going to a local antique show with my husband, putting the next batch of Sweet Hearts together.  

This little embroidery picture hangs in our house.  I think it is time to stitch!!!!!!

Happy Stitching!

Deb