RSC16 week 22

GOODBY TO A LOVELY MONTH

Not only have we had good spring weather, but I also had a weeklong visit from a dear friend from Seattle.  The highlight of the visit was a trip to the University of Wisconsin arboretum, where we got to see and smell the wonderful lilac collection, all of varied size, color and fragrance.  We also saw some fauna, namely groups of wild turkeys munching grass near the road.  We even had an encounter with a snapping turtle which thought he owned the road.  

I also took her to our Monona Quilters group, which she really enjoyed and remarked how everyone was so encouraging to the other folks at show and tell.  My contribution to that was my Pinwheel Row quilt top.  Since she left I have been catching up on my blocks for May.  I finished the Fasceted Stripe block for Modern HST Sampler for Blossom Heart Quilts like without any more ripping.

I am most happy with my green Twinkler block, the first one I've been able to finish with NO RIPPING!

In addition, today I put together my 8-inch slab block featuring doves of peace.  So I managed to complete my monthly goals for the first time this year.

I hope you have all had a pleasant month of May.  

I link up with RSC16 at soscrappy   and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts

RSC16 week 21

PINWHEELS BLOWING IN THE BREEZE

It has been sunny with a lovely breeze lately and it has put me in the mood to finish my Rows of Pinwheels quilt top.  I completed attaching the rows together and was done sooner than expected.

After this photo was taken I got the sides trimmed up and am working on a plain white border. I have no idea what to use for backing because I intend to do a second version with the extra pinwheel blocks, so I want to use the fabric on hand for that first. It will be the same color scheme, so my orange and blue scraps will still be around.

As for my Modern HST Sampler block called Faceted Stripe, it called for a single color plus background.  I found another beautiful Wiliam Morris green leafy fabric with stems in lavender shades. So I chose to add a lavender dot print down the center instead of white background.

I still need a lot more practice.  While just joining units of two, I had to rip five seams, and this is as far as I got.  

However, my friend Sharon arrived from Seattle and we will be having a wonderful reunion as soon as she arrives from the airport. Don't expect to have much stitching time this week.  We will be showing her the sights here in Monona and Madison.  The weather is supposed to cooperate also.

I hope all of you have a great week.  I'm linking up with Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy and Modern HST Sampler at Blossom Heart Quilts

RSC16 week 20

SPRING GREEN

Happy, happy springtime!  A friend picked me a little bouquet of lilies of the valley, my favorite flower with such a delicate fragrance.  I can enjoy it every time I pass by.  And out on my deck a little house finch is perched on the railing, singing his heart out.  Bird songs are very special to me also.

Here is my May RSC16 16-patch block with a happy dancing bear just out of hibernation.

I chose green also for my Modern HST Sampler block Diagonal.  I have some beautiful green prints from Barbara Brackman's William Morris Jewels collection.  Since this one is a floral I also chose a lime green tone-on-tone floral to give a springtime effect.

My next WIP is the pinwheel row quilt I started last year.  To use more of the fun fabrics I had gathered I made this braid strip.  It was too short so this week I added a couple more strips and trimmed it all up.

The highlight of the week was Monday.  Our Monona Quilters group of about 50 members here in WI  held our semiannual charity quilt collection.  A total of 172 quilts of all sizes were collected for local charities such as Project Linus, a local veterans group, homeless transition housing and others.  Here are the quilts before we posed with them for photos.

I'm very proud to be a member of this active and generous group which meets weekly for show and tell.  They give a lot of encouragement and support to all the members.   We also have a giveaway table after the meeting where we can find many goodies and many of these reject fabrics are turned into lovely charity quilts.

I linked up with Rainbow Scrap Challenge at 

soscrappy   and Blossom Heart Quilts at Blossom Heart Quilts  

Blossom Heart Quilts, May 10

MODERN HST SAMPLER

I chose green for my Diagonal block this May, because it is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color.  I had some beautiful green prints from Barbara Brackman's William Morris Jewels collection.  Since it is a floral I also chose a lime green tone on tone floral to give a springtime effect.

Yesterday our Monona Quilters group of about 50 members here in WI  held our semiannual charity quilt collection.  A total of 172 quilts of all sizes were collected for local charities such as Project Linus, a local veterans group, homeless transition housing and others.  Here are the quilts before we posed with them for photos.

I'm very proud to be a member of this active and generous group which meets weekly for show and tell.  They give a lot of encouragement and support to all the members.   We also have a giveaway table after the meeting where we can find many goodies and many of these reject fabrics are turned into lovely charity quilts.

I linked up with Blossom Heart Quilts and Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy.

soscrappy soscrappy

RSC16 week 19

,MAY DAY WEEK

This little paper basket filled with some Hershey Kisses was hanging on my door early in the morning of May 1st.  Some kind person makes these for all 60 apartments in our senior housing every year. I've been here five years and this unknown stranger never forgets.

I have done very little quilting this week, but have treated myself outrageously.  Here is the sum total of my work this week.

Due to unexpected happenings I got only this little sailboat made.  The other two green fabrics have been cut for the Modern HST Sampler block which I hope will be done by next week.  The dark print is from Barbara Brackman's William Morris collection. 

I think spring fever has gotten to me with tulips, magnolias and crab apples in bloom.

Also, because my birthday ending in a 5 came yesterday I simply had to do some online shopping at those convenient Mother's Day sales.  

This wild bunch arrived from Hancock's of Paducah first.  The one on the right is Mexican Poppies and the other three are from another designer, so fabulous on black.  I've no idea what I'll use them for, just to gaze at and dream for a while.  All half price, of course.

That was followed by the arrival of this pack of 17 fat quarters from Connecting Threads, for about 24 dollars.  They sure are better than candy and yummier looking, aren't they?

The final saving opportunity (splurge) were two gift certificates pour moi at Missouri Star's one day sale   price.  Also my granddaughter called to ask what kind of cake I like best for birthday/Mother's Day.  She is becoming an excellent baker and dark chocolate is her favorite as well as mine.

I hope you all have a happy Mother's Day for yourself and/or your mothers or other wonderful mothers you know.

NOTICE:  Thanks in part to Kate at Smiles from Kate and a session with a local techie, I now have ACTUAL LINKS to Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy and with Blossom Heart Quilts at Blossom Heart Quilts 

Blossom Heart Quilts, Home Time, May 3

There are two items I completed this year for my family.

The first was a Zigzag Rainbow quilt for my granddaughter Sarah's fourteenth birthday last July.  She was a new Beattles fan and chose a rainbow for her room.  Here she was presenting it at our quilt group show and tell.  I loved making something she enjoys so much.

My second choice was a table runner made for my daughter for her Christmas dinner.

This was a kit from Connecring Threads, the first kit I had ever made.  For backing I used a reclaimed valence with an African feel.  I bound it with the same stripe.  This meant a lot to Beth because she had spent time in Ivory Coast as a nurse on the Mercy Ship, assisting in surgeries on people who had no other hope for their severe disfigurements.  

I machine quilted it and it looked elegant on her Christmas table.

.

I link up with RSC16 at soscrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts . 

Blossom Heart Quilts, May 3

MODERN HST SQMPLER BLOCKS FOR MAY

My first project this month was the Modern HST Sampler block called Pointed, which I managed to muddle through, having troubles with matching seams.

For the eight HSTs in orange I used a different method called The Eight Square Method by Honey Bear Lane on Pinterest.  You end up with straight grain on two sides and only the diagonal on the bias.  I don't want to mess around with stretchy edges and it is easy to do.  

This was the second Modern HST Sampler block for May, so again I used the colors for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in orange with brown or black.  

This block was titled Intersection, using 16 HSTs.  I did not like the pattern arrangement when done in my fabrics, so I just moved them around to get this block.  I don't know if it has a name.  If any of you know it, I would appreciate you telling me.  All you quilt history buffs and Dear Jane followers must know hundreds of them. 

I'm really enjoying this Modern HST Sampler challenge and am becoming more confident with them, which is my goal.

I link up with RSC16 at soscrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts