Busy as a Bee

If we were to walk down

my driveway today,

we might stop and wonder

what was that low droning noise.

And if you stopped near this tree

 which is called a Golden Rain Tree,

and paused to look at the beautiful showy yellow flowers

 on the long stalks,

we would know where that constant buzzing sound

was originating from.

Hundreds of honey bees

 busy at work

doing what they love.

 That's how it's been for me this past week.

I've just been as busy as bee

 

doing what I love.

 Hope you have too!

  Until Next Time-

Red and White Sampler

 In the evenings 

when playtime has ended,

 I have been continuing to hand quilt

my "It Just Takes Two", 

red and white sampler.

My goal is to still

 have it finished at the end of May.

 The center is quilted.

I thought I had to be more than
half way done.

 But

there are 50 blocks in the center

 and 50 blocks around the perimeter.

Half way is good.
 It's progress.

Until Next Time-

Progress?

Some days are just more 

productive than others,

but no matter what happens or

doesn't happen

we're continually moving forward.

That is, of course, if you're not 

literally moving backwards.

Yesterday my quilting progress

consisted of this:

threading 30 needles and 

winding them onto my needle dome.

I guess I could feel some what defeated.

It's a pretty small "forward" activity.

But

 the next time I do have an opportunity
to sit down and quilt

I'll be ready!

It's all about your perspective.

Until Next Time-

Your Eyes Can Fool You

 Last week I added my quilt along block to 

Lori's Abundance Linky Party.

I had worked on that block,

I had photographed that block,

I had posted about that block and

then linked it for everyone to see.

It's funny how sometimes our eyes 

see only what we want them to see.

 Notice anything?

I have a goose doing it's own thing!

Now that's all I can see when I look at this block.

Funny how I couldn't see it before.

I was going to leave it there and

have the humble thing going on,

but I just couldn't.

I got Jack the Ripper out and 

got that goose heading in the right direction.

I have kept working on this project and 

sewed a few more blocks and 

set them together side by side.

I like the secondary patterning.

I'm thinking of making a couple more blocks

for a total of 6, adding a border,

and using it as a baby quilt.

I have looked very carefully so

my eyes aren't deceived,

But sometimes you only see what

you want to see.

Until Next time-

Strawberries, Blueberries and Chocolate

I needed a treat.

This would have been yummy, but

then I would have had to do some extra walking
or really exercise hard.

 So rather than feel extra guilty,

I did some fabric surfing, that's exercise right, and 

had Homestead Hearth send me some

of this kind of Blueberries, Strawberries and Chocolates.

By Judi Rothermel.

Delicious, without the calories.

It was perfect timing with Lori's

SAL or sew along.

Check it out.

My plan is to use these 

and if I have to add in some other pieces,

which I will, 

I have only 5 minutes to search.

It's time for fun, not for agonizing over a

couple of 2 inch squares.

Ready, set , go.....

With the aid of fast forward,

here are the fabrics I have chosen.

I think they'll work out great.

Ready, set , go....

Fast Forward....

Here's the block.

One block didn't seem quite enough

so back to the cutting board.

I'll let you see what a set of 4 looks like soon.

It's all about having fun,

and this was fun.

Until Next Time-

A Great Read

It's been a long since since I've been able to 

sit, look at and read through a new book.

When I got home on Friday 

I had this waiting for me.

I had seen the book on line recommended by someone,

sorry I forget who,

and bought it sight unseen.

And I am so happy I did!

The over 20 quilt projects in this book

 are beautiful with

a creative scrappy twist.

Linda's recipes for turning scraps into spectacular quilts

is a delightful and informative read.

Her practical down to earth approach is

refreshing and doable.

Her stories and advice make this a must have book.

I would love to start with quilt #1 and just

keep going.

 Of course, books published by Quiltmania

are phenomenal because of their quality 

of photography, layout, and yes, the book

is also written in French along side the English.

It makes you feel so global!

It's been a very long time since I've written a book report

but

If you  love scrap quilts, 

If you love antique quilts

If you love making antique reproductions

and have a ton of fabric,

Scrap Quilts (mania) 

by Linda Koenig

 definitely needs to be on your list

of 

"must haves".

 Until Next Time-

Patchwork Patterns, Ruby McKim

When I first heard about
quilting and decided to give it a try
there were very few resources available.

I remember seeing patterns printed in the newspaper,
but they looked so old fashioned.

I started my first quilt in 1973
after I saw my friend's sister was making a quilt
and she was a hippie, nothing old fashioned about that!

I jumped right in.

Here is the story of my first quilt.

After sewing a gazillion rectangles together

I figured there must be something more interesting than that.

I received a copy of this book in 1974.

It was the beginning of an exciting journey.

I never knew that squares and triangles could create so

many different patterns.

It was a treasure trove of ideas.

Everyone got pillows for Christmas

so I could experiment with all of these patterns.

Do you notice how different this book looks from the books

and patterns we purchase today?

Simple single patterns,

the pattern pieces didn't include seam allowance,

no finished ideas,

and no color photos.

 Ruby McKim did include value placement ideas

with the simple black and white drawings.

This was actually a wonderful way to start

creating quilts and designs.

There were no preconceived ideas of what

was possible.

It was totally up to my imagination and creativity.

It's very easy today 

to make quilts

only the way a pattern shows

and with only those fabrics.

I admit I've lost some of my creativity.

 But look what's also in the pamphlets

I'm giving away.

"Something New, Ready Cut Quilts"

 Quilts kits for those who wanted it just that way.

Don't you love the prices in 1931.

Quilt kits are still big business for a quilt shop.

There are a lot of quilters, myself included at times,

 who want it just that way

even today.

 ****

Don't forget to leave a comment

on Monday's post.

 I'll be drawing on Saturday for

the winner of these

original Ruby McKim booklets.

 They could be yours,
to spark your creativity.

 Until Next Time-
 

Tomorrow's, today?

When I'm working on a project,

 I try to mentally divide it up into doable sections. 

 I never have large segments 

of time to just sew.

 So I gather small slices of time through

 out the day and

 try and get my quota done.

 A typical day is NOT

completing the planned part

 and

then moving  it forward to another time.

 

 As Scarlet says, "There's always another day".

I don't put pressure on myself.

 But sometimes I do finish what I've had planned!

 Then I'm in a quandary.

 Do I do tomorrow's, today? 

Or do enjoy a serendipity moment? 

Does that make sense?

 What I mean is, 

do I keep going forward on the project of the day 

knowing that I have more days

 when I don't get what I want accomplished 

so for a moment I would be ahead

or

 do I celebrate the fact 

that I completed my stint for the day

 and can work on something I hadn't expected to? 

What's your approach?

 To be honest, 

I usually take the first road, but

yesterday I took the path least traveled

and it was a nice thing.

  Until Next Time-
 

Just Takes Two

 I love going from this...

To this.

I've been working on the 

Just Take Two blocks.

I still have plenty to make,

but the first section is complete.

Well, almost.

I'm adding a little more redwork.
I figure if I don't do it now,
I'll never get back to it.

While I was sewing I worked
on my red half square triangle (another project)
as "Leaders and Enders."

So without any extra effort

That's a good thing.

Until Next Time-
 

Baby and Quilting - deja vu

It's been a very interesting 2 weeks.

A new job can be exciting, challenging, tiring,

and can keep you on your toes.

Hey, 

I feel like I've had this job before.

Granted it was 27 years ago, but it feels like it 

was only yesterday.

 

But now instead, I get to be the 

Nana.

But I'm still trying to balance my obligations and

my desire to quilt.

I had forgotten how broken up my day was

going to be.

My little guy is not a good napper, but I have

stayed connected with this.

My I pad, obviously something

that didn't exist way back when I did this job before.

It's helped me talk to friends, listen to music,

and watch all kinds of programs.

Have you watched the first episode of

Why Quilts Matter?

Check it out if you're a member of The Quilt Show.

My music genre has been changed to 

toddler radio, the Itsey Bitsey Spider,

the ants go marching, and the wheels on the bus!

It's funny how the words are still embedded in the 

wrinkles of my brain.

When I did this job a long time ago,
I was very strict about using nap time as quilting time.

So far I've found hand work has been my quilting outlet.

Bindings has been my start and stop

kind of project.

It feel good to grab that needle during the day.

It's my Ahhhh moment.

So I have been sewing, 

learning how to use my I pad,

but mostly giving baby kisses to those sweet baby cheeks.

Until Next Time-

Stolen Moments

Last week my house was full.  My family including

this new little guy.

Sanford, 5 weeks

Despite the fact that all of us were prepared to

take care of him...

I occasionally stole away to my sewing room for

a bit of fabric respite.

I have been slowly working on gathering, cutting,

and refolding fabrics for a scrappy red and white

Ocean Wave. 

This pattern is from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com

I decided to use only reds and white fabrics

so I have been rooting in my reds

cutting 2 inch strips

matching them up with white strips

topping it off with a Thangles strip,

and sewing them into half square triangles.

I'm going to use Bonnie Hunter's idea of  "Leaders and Enders" and

stitch these units together during the year as I work on 

other projects.

Did you notice back under the picture of Bonnie's quilt the number

of half square triangles required to make the 91"x 104" quilt?

2124 stitched pieces!

I probably wont' make it that big.  I'll just have to see

how far I get.  You never know.

So even though the family was here and there were lots of meals

to make and a baby to hold and Christmas to enjoy

I stole a few moments for me.

Happy New Year, friends!

May all your new projects bring you joy.

Until Next Time-