Easter Chick

Any excuse I can find to do foundation piecing is good enough for me. 

I was planning an Easter week visit to Denise, a young friend in Taylorsville for a long overdue visit with her, and to see her rooster and hens, and her new baby chicks, just two weeks old today.

I found this pattern in the "Wee Ones" patterns from the Silver Linings website, and it came via email the next day. I decided to make it as a little Easter gift for her.

It had nine parts, and went together very nicely. I was able to use some of my hand-dyed blues, and some of my favorite yellow fabrics.

I enjoyed working toward a deadline, and after I finished the piecing, I still had time for some machine quilting - a little threadplay to simulate the fluff that baby chicks have. And at midnight, I decided to add a few beads  for a little sparkle.

We had a very pleasant visit - the weather was the best it's been all week. After a delightful lunch at the Tea Cup in "downtown" Taylorsville, we went to the house, and I had a few Kodak moments with the beautiful rooster, the six hens, and three darling little chicks.

A surprise bonus for me was being given a half-dozen of the freshest eggs imaginable. I watched while Denise collected them from the hen-house.

 Can you say "free-range?" Can't wait to try them for breakfast...

Feeling under the weather...

FEELIN' KIND OF "BEAT" TODAY.

HOPE TO BE BACK TOMORROW.

Another Challenge

Here's another finished challenge. My friend chose these wonderful fabrics, and issued the challenge: It was to focus on a poem, and at least some of the poem's words needed to appear in the finished product.

I knew immediately which poem I would choose - A delightful poem about a puffin, which  a friend had recited to me before I went to the Isle of Man about five years ago. For years, I have been fascinated with puffins, and have wanted to see some in real life. I thought I would see them on the coast of the Isle of Man, but we missed them. 

Last summer, I just missed seeing some tufted puffins on the coast of Oregon, but they flew behind a huge rock, beyond our view...

Although I still hope to see some in Maine during their season, I have contented myself with sewing this little book, and capturing their images in cloth.

        ( CLICK ON THE PICTURES SO YOU CAN READ THE POEM )

Of course, I used some more of my stash of Ultrasuede scraps, did a lot of fusing, and I bought some shiny fabric for some of the fish.  I couldn't resist some decorative machine quilting, and sewed on lots of  beads and buttons.

We have several more challenges on the table, with no deadlines, so they are getting pushed aside until some inspiration hits me. One is Kimonos, and another is using some silk which another friend's husband brought back from some exotic country.

Coming or Going ?

Do you ever wonder if you are 

coming or going ?

Another Challenge

I have mentioned how much I enjoy doing quilt challenges. A year or so ago, I had a challenge with one of my very traditional quilting buddies. I got to define the challenge and choose the fabrics. How could you not enjoy these delicious colors and batiks?

The challenge was simple: you had to do something you had never done before, and the result could NOT be a rectangle or a square.

I decided to do a self portrait, and used two  similar photos of me that had been taken on a delightful monthlong vacation on St. George Island on the "Forgotten Coast" of Florida. 

After I did the piecing and quilting, I sewed beads on it right up to the deadline. In addition to never having done a self-portrait, another thing that I had never done was prairie points. I like their effect on the border.  My non-rectangle shape was a trapezoid, and I have used that shape several times since then; I like its symmetry, and except for the beaded kimono, the quilt can be reversed, top to bottom.

My friend's result was wonderful, all curves, and very much "out of the box." 

It was her turn to issue the next challenge and choose the fabrics, and I will talk about that soon...

Something I've always wanted

The full grown Weeping Katsura Tree that I have been admiring at Hidden Hill Nursery for years is not in bloom yet, but it has a beautiful shape. I bought one that already has some growth on it;  we will plant it as soon as the weather permits (we're expecting more frost next week). I know it will be fun watching it develop. When I say  "we" will plant it, I use the term loosely. I will point and Bob will do the planting.

I also saw some beautiful hellebore plants. The

 subtle colors are so appealing, and how cool would it be to have flowers blooming as early as February. (Did I hear that right???) 

So those will be my next purchase.

There are several wonderful nurseries here that often feature outdoor sculpture shows. Another beautiful one is Yew Dell Gardens, in Crestwood. It was started by Theodore Klein, who I think was responsible for getting the Weeping Katsura Tree here.

Beautiful day to fly a kite!

What a glorious day to be outside!!  We visited the Hidden Hill Nursery, in the tiny river town of Utica, Indiana. They were having their grand opening, and a kite-flying event, along with a tour of the nursery.




The kites were beautiful, and gave me some ideas for quilts.
Great colors and designs, what's not to like?
The nursery also has a lot of outdoor sculpture, some whimsical and fun.