Friday, August 26, 2016

RSC16 week 35

FALL IS IN THE AIR AT LAST

It's so nice to be able to breathe fresh air and feel a bit of a cool breeze now and then.  All you eager quilters are working on Christmas projects, but not me.  I feel a lull in my spirit and am waiting for September..

So I wound down on my purple completely.  My last block for the month was my improv and I decided go for black and white, but two bits of color did slip in there; however, they did feel right.  


Actually, the pointed bits of blue and black were from a piece that showed up in my scraps and I knew it would find a place someday.  I used just half of the width here, because my block size is limited to 8-1/2 inches.  The other half will have to wait, but I hate to part with all of this fine bit of piecing that some talented person made.

My second block this month for Modern HST Sampler was the Whirligig, 12-1/2 inches.  When I laid out some of my blocks, one did not seem to have a mate to help it blend in for a sampler.  It's my beachy cabana block from June. 


So  I gave it a bright companion in Whirligig colors and now they make me happy, one last bit of summer.  It reminds me of carnival rides and parades.


Finally, my group of 16-patch blocks at the halfway point:


I have been stocking up on more sale fabrics, mainly solids, which will never go out of style; at least that's what I tell myself.  So that's all for now, friends.  See you in September.

I link up with RSC16 at soscrappy

Friday, August 19, 2016

Pets On Quilts 2016

POPPER MEMORIES


This black and white female cat was my son's pet who was found in an old barn near Seattle.  My son, Chris, took her home and loved her for some 17 years.  She was small and gentle, a good match for Chris, who was a big and gentle guy.  


In 2007 we moved to Wisconsin to be near our daughter and her family.  Later Chris moved to join us, driving with Popper for five snowy days over mountain passes and blizzards in his small truck.  Popper had to move in with me and my husband because Chris could not  keep her.  Roger passed away in 2010 and Popper kept me company with frequent visits from Chris, as above.

Over the next few years Chris's health got worse and a year ago in April he passed away.  Popper also left me the following week.  I still seem to see her out of the corner of my eye.

Popper had her own chair right beside my recliner, with a great view of the comings and goings outside.


She loved to go out on my second floor deck.  She was much too wise to consider jumping and loved to lie on the warm floorboards in the summer.


Popper would watch the birds land on the railing but, being older, usually decided that the chase was not worthwhile and they often perched above her without a glance from her.

I have collected old quilts for years, so Popper always took every chance to curl up on the softest spot around.  I think she was also able to smell their years of history and perhaps other cats. Here she is exploring a thrift shop purchase for any good scents.  


Popper had her sly and mischievous side too.  One day I was looking at some new fabric buys and left them on the recliner for a minute.  I did not see Popper perched above them.

 

I heard a loud thump and turned to find this on the floor.


There went the culprit slinking away without a backward glance.  "Who, me?"


Popper loved to be petted and cuddled.  She had the softest coat I've ever felt on a cat, just like rabbit fur.  I will always  remember her in Chris's lap as he lovingly brushed and smoothed her silky coat.  


I'm thrilled to have this wonderful Pets On Quilts Linky party to share my memories of sweet Popper.  She is entered in the CAT ON QUILT category at
Lily Pad Quilting>
If you can't comment, you can reach me at pbudinger63@gmail.com.  Thanks for stopping by.

RSC16 week 34

 MORE OLD AND NEW PURPLES

Here is another pair of old lavender quilts from my collection.  They are my vintage 1930's dollhouse bed quilts.

These are the tiniest quilts I have ever seen.  Don't recall where I got them, probably about 20 years ago.  Some dear person made this Trip Around the World pair for a lucky girl with a dollhouse.  They even have fussy cut peach flowers in the green squares.  The front and back were stitched right sides together and turned, so no binding was needed.
They are the highlight of my antique doll quilt collection.  I hope these whet your appetite for the rest of them, which I will be showing every few weeks or so.



My latest purple block is Windmill for the Modern HST Sampler directed by Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts.  I've been doing these 12-inch blocks in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge colors.  I was pleased to find a nice soft green with the look of trees for the highlight.



  These single blocks week after week do add up so its time to show some of my progress.  My fleet of sailboats is hoping to get enough members to take off on a world cruise (or something more within my budget).  


If I did have that kind of budget I would already be on my way and blogging from some exotic isle with Wifi and nice cool breezes.  

Wishing you all cool breezes this week.

Linking up with 
Rainbow Scrap Challenge at


Thursday, August 11, 2016

RSC16 week 33

GETTING THINGS DONE

In the hot weather it's slower going for me.  I'd much rather take a nap.  But I did get several things done for August already.

My first RSC16 block is my sailboat, actually a sloop like one my uncle owned until he upgraded to a schooner.  The sloops have only a single mast, but often fly the mainsail and a jib.  In my purple stash I found a very rich regal purple.  It had to have equally regal golden sails for its important owner.




My 16-patch block resulted in a good range of dark to light purples.  The exact definition of purple eludes me, so I include some red violet hues as well for variety.


My Twinkler star block just called out for the lovely floral at its center, even though I had to cut the fabric in half just to get the best piece.  


Oh well, now I have more scraps and a bit less yardage.  I always like to fussy cut as close to the edge of a stash piece as possible.  This one, however, was worth the sacrifice.


For my improv block I'm trying out black, gray and whites this month.  I've never worked with this combination so it's going to be interesting.  I've seen some excellent examples of b/w used by some terrific quilters, so I might as well stick my toe in the water.

This past Monday I went to my quilt group to show my finished pair of  Pinwheel Row quilts.  Both will probably end up as Project Linus quilts, but maybe I'll hang one on my bedroom wall to enjoy for a while.


I hope all of you are doing okay in this hot weather.  Keep cool by quilting!

I'm linking up this week with
Rainbow Scrap Challenge at
soscrappy 
Modern HST Sampler at
Blossom Heart Quilts