And How Does Your Garden Grow While Quilting?

Impatiens have always done well in my shade garden, receiving enough dancing sunlight during the day to bloom. I enjoy watching them grow until they mound and fall out of the basket. Hummingbirds are tantalized by the bright fuchsia pink flowers.

I love this woven like cement basket planter. The moss growing unevenly on it gives the appearance of antiquity and adds character. I found this gem at the local flea market for a song.

Expecting another year of rabbit invasion I raised all planters, but there has been fewer of those pesky rascals this year.

























If you look closely at the bottom of this photo this stacked planter has been raised by sitting on 4 stepping stones, another means to safeguard my precious flowers from those darn plant eating rabbits.



My clay pot is chipping away in pieces. I am not sure as to why layers are falling off.

   

Can you tell the effects of warring with the rabbits last year has had on my garden design?   

This year the struggle has been drought. I have lost an apple tree, a holly bush and 2 large size elm trees due to the extreme hot weather. 

How do you like my blue bottle arrangement?

That is a rosemary branch that is hiding the pedestal planter. All one needs to do is brush beside the rosemary to take in the fresh aroma of the herb.

My friend and shadow enjoys taking in the scenery and watching the critters. Fortunately the critter population doesn't include rabbits. Cassie would attempt to chase after them, but she doesn't move as fast as she once did having gone through meniscus surgery on her leg.

 Every garden needs a bird bath!

 So while my garden grows, and if  time is available, or I am not too tired I quilt. My tendency is to quilt heavily but not on the Scrappy Kelly Quilt. The quilting design is a dogwood flower.

 
Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

Scrappy Kelly Quilt Off the Wall

Scrappy Kelly is off she wall and now ready to be quilted!! Happy Dance!!

I began piecing Scrappy Kelly last November, and here it is 7 months later finally ready to be quilted.  I didn't even have a plan as how I was going to put these blocks together. All I knew was I needed to do something with all these leftover 2 inch squares.

In March I designed a couple of quilt designs using Electric Quilt. Go here to see the two designs.
My favorite was the on-point version but nixed that idea since I would have to diagonally cut blocks in half for the edges.

These are the leftover 2 inch square pieces. It seems as they are growing rather than lessening. The fabric is some that have been in my stash for many many years.

How many different quilt designs can be made from these 2 inch squares. Any ideas?

Maybe in a couple more years I will give some thought to it as for now I have 5 bed size quilts waiting to be quilted.

Even with chain stitching the squares onto the strips the blocks still took a good bit of time to complete.

 









 So this is what I have been up to lately quilting wise when finding time. Work life has taken up more of my time in the last year or so, all for great causes. One is administrating a large size grant that assists pregnancy centers in North Carolina. The other client sends out missionaries that took on an orphanage in Ecuador that has generated more work. If you want to more about the orphanage you can visit their website at La Casa deFe. 


 Miss all of my online quilting friends!

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework.

Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

At Long Last - Another Finished Quilt

Finished just before leaving for the beach.

I am really going to enjoy nestling under this quilt thinking of all the

special people who participated in the block swap. Such great memories and quilting friends!!

January block with swirling snow quilting.

May tulips with meandering quilting.

Calendar quilt is officially completed!! And in time before leaving for Carolina Beach!

What is it about digging your feet in the sand? Heaven!

Gorgeous colors - sky blue, ocean blue with white capped waves.

Sea Gulls who entertained us.

So happy to visit our favorite summer place!

 Happy Beach Bums walking on our last evening. Oh did we need this walk

after a nice Mexican dinner.

 Linking at:

Richard and Tanya's Quilts

Crazy Mom Quilts

Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

Calendar Quilt in the Garden

Today has been a good day!! Began it with making an omelet for breakfast, going to church and picking up a few items at the store. Jason, my autistic step son, went to church with us this morning. I fixed lunch for us,  and . . .  then it was off to my quilting/office studio quilting away with much determination that the quilting would be completed today! It is with the  help of watching a couple episodes of When Calls the Heart on Netflix! 

I did take a break from quilting to take some snapshots of the Calendar quilt since it is almost finished! Only one more side border is left to quilt as shown in this picture. Actually as I write this post the quilting is done, the batting has been trimmed and is now waiting for the binding. It is amazing how more beautiful the quilt looks in the natural light.

Each block represents a month of the calendar and each one made by a quilting friend who had participated in a block swap.  There were 13 participants, the 13th who led the swap made the topper which is so adorable! 

What makes me most happy is this has been a quilt waiting to be finished for several years - I believe it has been about 4 years.

Each block is quilted with a different design. 

Now to sew the binding on so I can celebrate another UFO completed. Oh, yes a label for the back will also be made listing the names of each who made a block.

Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

It Has Been Slow Going but I Remain Thankful!

Four years ago when I decided to jump off the faith cliff to start my own business I had no idea that it would developed as quickly as it has done. Most weeks are 6 days weeks working at least anywhere between 8 to 12 hours daily.  Lately, I hardly can take a breather to sew a bit. A couple of days per week I can squeeze in 20 minutes or so. I have hired a young woman (wonderful and sweet) to come assist me with some of the tasks when deadlines converge at the same time. What a huge blessing she has been! My husband has pitched in more with cooking the meals or takes me out for dinner. Bless Him!!

I purchased a sewing machine for my step-son's mom hoping she would step up to the plate and repair her son's clothes that he rips up and take it off my overwhelming schedule. Not only that I really believed she would enjoy it as she has spoken of sewing in years past. Being it has a computer doesn't make it whole lot different than the old time sewing machines as they basically operate the same. There are more bells and whistles which does take time to learn. Sewing machines though are basic when it comes to sewing straight lines or repairing clothes.


When I purchased mine I taught myself how to utilize different functions as I went along. I am sure there is more that I can learn about my current sewing machine. Funny, I have a needle down, needle up feature that I didn't know I had for years. Oh my how I love this, especially when free motion quilting or chain stitching!

So as I show you my current progress it isn't much but at least I have been able to squeeze in some sewing.  I had planned on setting it on point but have changed my mind. The reason being that I would be cutting into these blocks that take quite a bit of time to piece together. So without further ado I am going to work on this quilt without feeling guilty of not repairing another torn coat instead! It is Saturday evening and I am tired and in desperate need of quilting therapy.

I am hooking up with Quilting is More Fun Than Housework. She is hosting Oh! Scrap! Check it out to see all the other scrappy quilts.


Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

Calendar Quilt - A Long time UFO

Not exactly a picture for Spring is it? What you see are two quilt blocks of a calendar quilt. Pictured are October and November blocks to be exact. The Spring blocks are further towards the top.

It feels so good to be working towards finishing this quilt. The blocks were made by twelve participants, each participant making 12 blocks for a particular month. I was the August gal.

I can't wait to show you December block with free motion quilted swirling snow.

You can see the corner of the August block. It was determined that lime green was the neutral color at that time. I may have over done the lime green in my block. When you see the entire quilt the lime green illuminates.

When not free motion quilting the calendar quilt I have been making blocks from my scraps - 2 inch left over squares. While all the blocks are not completed I have been thinking about how to put them together. I know I want to sash the blocks. . . .

so I purchased 6 yards of this fabric called Dots Right by Faye Burgos  (Marcus Fabrics) at Thousand Bolts for the sash. Prices are also great for many popular fabric lines. They are not necessarily the newest fabrics on the market. They have a great website where you can find fabric that matches colors in a particular swatch.  I love the color but now wondering if it isn't dark enough.

So what do you think?










I have designed two different quilts designs. My blocks have 25 color squares with off white sashing rather than 9 squares.

  


I rather like the on-point. Notice I am using the actual fabric in the design. I scanned it and uploaded it to Electric Quilt.


Oh now I have  to decide on what colors and design to use.

Linking up with:
Quilting is more fun than housework





Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

Something Spring on a Cold Wintery Day . .

Do cold wintery days put you in the mood to hibernate in your favorite quilting studio/room or place? Does me! Since I am such a project gal I love burrowing in sometimes to my detriment. Yesterday was such a day when hubby extended an invitation to take a spin in his new car. I was too deep in my hole and had absolutely no desire to come out of it. Smart man he extended yet another invite early this morning before I became too involved. He wants to take me out to dinner and so we are.

Since I was like a rabbit in my hole yesterday I finished a quilt and I am quite hoppy happy today to present the completed Posie Quilt.

 But baby! It is still cold out there!! We need Spring weather with some flowers. Here is just the thing to stir the heart in hope of warmer days will soon be here.

                                       Posie quilt is finished! 

                        And so now I am doing more happy hoppies! 

Not only am I happy about a finish but that the colors didn’t run on the quilt when washed. A long time quilter friend has often talked about using color catchers. A little googling and I found that this was a product that could be purchased at WalMart. It is called Shout Color Catcher with 24 sheets per box. It can be found in the laundry detergent aisle. There is also a recipe for color catcher if you have the mind to make your own at One Good Thing by Jillee.

I hope you can see how densely it is quilted. There are several quilting patterns. Swirls and circles in the inside borders and a loopy design in the checkerboard border. Flowers are quilted with a posie motif and the leaves have stems and veins. The inside sashing has on point squares with ribbon in the center with stippling outside of the squares. The spaces above and below the posie block have a 3 lines of various loopy and circular designs.




Doesn't it look good on my love seat? That isn't home for it though. This is intended to be gifted to a very special person.




Since I am so happy hoppy I am wanting to party. Linky Parties here I come:

My Quilt Infatuation

Live a Colorful Life

Let's Be Social 
Lizze Leonard's Vintage Sewing 
Richard and Tanya's Quilts 
Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Thank God It's Finished Friday Linky Party 
Crazy Mom's Quilts 
freshly peiced

Showing off the quilting

Quilting the Flowers

Bottom Border

Frontal

Borders

Backside

Just because I think it looks so pretty hanging in my pine tree.  What a moment my son just sent me a text message to tell  me he proposed to his girlfriend!!

A huge big thank you to Richard and Tanya for featuring Posie quilt!

Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!