Think I’ve had these fabrics long enough?
I had a jelly roll I wanted to use but I thought it was too boring so I added to it.
I still hated it so I cut the remaining blocks in quarters.
Mollie came to play. Mollie needs this much exercise every day but doesn’t get it.
See this tiny twig? She is possessed! Constantly bringing us twigs to throw – you know you can’t throw a twig!!!
Thank you Fran from Dubuque for this thimble – I’m anxious to try it.
I mowed the pasture today – can you find Keeper?
And the ultimate insult for Red –
Sigh 🤨
Kim and Mary,
After I started quilting, I knew I needed a thimble, but a traditional one didn’t feel comfortable. I tried a soft leather one, which I loved; however, it wore out quickly. After going through a couple leather ones,
I once again tried a traditional one I found in a thrift shop; it has been with me for years.
Thanks, Mary 🥰
2006 fabrics are nothing. I’ve still got ones I bought in the 1980s, mostly Concord small calico prints which I’m sure I’ll never use, unless they can be used on backing. Cutting the blocks diagonally was inspired. Makes the quilt top much more dynamic and interesting. I’ve been trying to do my gardening between days of rain here in Maryland as well. We’re getting our latest round tonight at 7:00. I’ve been trying to dig out a bed of pachysandra to make more room for interesting plants and it’s just stop and start with all this rain, and more stop than start in any event cause I can’t do as much anymore as my grand gardening ideas think I can. Love Hazel and her twigs. And Keeper hiding in the grass. One of our dogs used to stick his head under the curtain and then think he was hidden because he couldn’t see anyone. You have to just love dogs.
Karen C.
28 Matches Game quilt was just the result of making 56 blocks that were 6” (finished size) with a conversation/novelty print in the center (2 each so a match game could be possible.
I put some matches close and others far apart. Also, some identical with same colored matching frames so even the little ones can participate and not feel left out.
Used a junior jelly roll (20 strips) that a friend won, and paired it with 2.5” novelty square scraps from my stash. The top will be donated to our local small group that has a charity sew/finish day scheduled in July.
Mary,
Hello, hope you’re having a good day!
I’m continuing to plant my seedlings and almost done. I’ll be taking the greenhouse down til next year after it’s empty.
Wedding plans going ok. My son and his fiancée are less focused and less worried about things getting done compared to my daughter and her wedding two years ago. Regardless, the gardens will be beautiful.
The quilting on the bullseye quilt is really nice. Love all the quilts shown today, too. I also like the squares you cut in half and this changed the look completely.
And poor Red! Loved the dog photos.
Wanted to add my condolences to Bonnie on the passing of her mom. What a great long life and I enjoyed sending her a card, too.
Love the blog! 🌻
Poor Red!!! The cut up quilt looks fabulous now. Most of us don’t have the talent to do what you try and always make look wonderful.
Scrappy quilts are my all time favorite! Love how the bullseye was quilted. That must have been a REALLY big bird to find Red! LOLOLOL But, what critter actually did that???
Sharon – I’m betting it was FluffyBun who lives above the garage most of the time.
love the swirl quilting on bullseye
Cutting those blocks into quarters sure transformed a blah quilt into a beautiful quilt. You have a great ability to visualize quilts & that is an artistic gift. Poor red! But that is the price we pay for loving pets. I used that potting trick when I potted all of my flowers this year. Amazing! But my poor old back is still aching after several full days of garden & plant work. But you gotta work when the sun is shining.
Red’s picture brings back not so great memories of having cats in the house. They could always find the worst places to throw up. Love all the pictures today
Great read this morning. Love the quilts. And I understand about throwing twigs. Brought a smile to my face!
It’s going to get hot this weekend and I still have not trimmed hedges. I am getting closer to having a deck rebuilt, I think. I still don’t have any flowers on my front porch. Maybe this weekend I can fix that. Wish I lived where you do with open spaces and a big red barn. Love seeing pics of your surroundings so keep ’em coming.
Like the quarter square quilt the best….first quilt is meh. Even your straight line quilting enhanced it.
You were lucky to get a whole twig. I’ve seen her bring 6 strands of grass to be thrown! Hiding her favorite ball has its consequences. We have a 9 month old JRT at our dog park. For some reason her tail was docked which means she can’t be dragged out of an animal hole by her tail. Her energy level is outrageous which is why she’’s at the dog park. Very cute little white dog named Snowball that looks a lot like Hazel except she has a few brown spots and no tail. I think your chopped up quilt is a big improvement on the original—much more interesting.
Mary your quilts are very showy. What neat ideas. Your barn picture is breathtaking. Glad the dogs have play time together. Is Keeper playing Hide and Seek? I love the idea of the game quilt as I need to make another shared quilt for my grandsons. They sign and either put hand or foot prints on the back of the quilt. They do ask every time we see them if I brought it. So fun. So send the directions on how the game is played.
I have use this thimble also only in orange, works great.
Love the quilting on the bulls eye quilt, thanks for sharing.
You know getting old is not for sissies. It seems there is always something.
I’m glad Mollie is getting some exercise! So good for her. And silly Hazel with her twigs. She’s so cute! I love Bonnie’s quilting of the Bull’s Eye quilt! I’m in the middle of quilting mine but wow, I wish I was as good a quilter as she is. I’m learning how to use my “new to me” Sweet Sixteen quilt machine. I’ve done a lot of practice pieces but they’re nowhere near as big as the quilt. So, it’s kind of choppy in places. Sigh… it’s fun though! Such an insult for Red – I felt the same way on Saturday, my new to me Jeep had a huge white smear of bird s__t dripping down the side of it. I was hurt – we love the birds but not their “presents”! It’s been so fun here with bluebirds feeding their babies, they come right up to my window feeder all day. Soon the babies will be coming. Orioles are eating more hummingbird food than the hummingbirds! We’ve had rose breasted grossbeaks, warblers, and of course we’re always fighting with the starlings (or maybe they’re grackles?) who are always stealing the meal worms in the feeders. Enjoy your day everyone! Jan in MA
Wow! Cutting those blocks into quarters made such a difference! Fabulous! I have tons of 30s prints, and those blocks will be on my list.
I’ve tried lots of thimbles for hand quilting, but I haven’t tried the Clover brand. I may have to give them a go.
Thanks for sharing the potting soil idea. So simple, but brilliant!
I love your quilts. They have given me an idea for my stash usage. The dogs are all precious. I could find Keeper, thanks to my better eyesight after cataract surgeries! You are so lucky to have a day care for dogs sometimes. That would be so much fun, if only I were able!
I look forward to hearing how the matching quilt game works.
I also love the pink Clover thimble. It fits comfortably over my arthritic knuckle. Your potting idea yesterday was brilliant.
Ann – I agree the potting idea is brilliant but I found it online so don’t give me credit.
The Clover thimble you were gifted is my favorite and I tried quite a few. My size is the pink. Hope you like it.
Poor Red, that is an insult. I love how green everything has become on your piece of heaven. Nice to see the green grass and such a pretty blue sky against the red barn. We are going to be covered in dark smoke for the next few days from the wildfires in Canada so I will stay inside. No need to make my allergies kick in even more than normal. Maybe I will get some time to sit at my machine and sew. I have never mastered a thimble so I hope you tell us how you like the clover one.
Kim – I have never mastered a thimble either so maybe I’ll find some appliqué to practice on – oh! I have Pokeberry, don’t it? Yes, there’s no place so green as Iowa in spring – vibrant shades of green everywhere you look. This is the first morning I’ve been able to sit in the porch and drink my coffee!!
I have a lot of 30’s prints too. Not as fond of them now as i was when I purchased them. I have a few ideas for them-just not at the top of my bucket list right now. Hazel is such a cute girl and so full of get up and go. I like the quilting on the bullseye!
Cindy – there are times when her get up and go are very irritating. She will NOT quit with the twigs!
Cindy,
I was gifted many 30’s from several friend over the years. The two inch square were mostly sewn into over 400 4-1/2″ nine patches. The rest and 2-1/2″ and 3″ squares were good for what I call checkerboard quilts. So far about seven quilts worth. Postage stamp baskets (4-1/2″), sawtooth stars, and four patches may use up the rest.