Chrome Sweet Chrome

 At Last....🎶🎶🎶🎶

She is 66" x 66" and I'm naming her "Chrome Sweet Chrome"  In the future it will be noted that I worked on this quilt during the Covid 19 pandemic.  I included 20 for the year.

It has been a long and fulfilling quilt to make.   I thank you all for the continued support and encouragement through the years!

If you look carefully you will see 2 sparrows quilted within the feathered borders.  I will be adding one to the back next to the label for good measure.

I pulled fabrics together for this quilt in March of 2017.  Can you believe I saw my inspiration quilt at the New England Quilt Museum just a couple of weeks ago?   Kismet 

I started the first block a year later in March of 2018.

I started the hand quilting in July of 2020.

I finished the binding on Saturday.  It is a funny feeling when you finish a long term project.

Sunday was wash day.   I wash my quilts in my big bathtub because basically I soak them to remove lint and pet hair.

I used a little Blue Dawn Dishwashing liquid and a little Borax. 

I rinse it several times.  I used a few color catchers and they seemed to catch some chrome.

I wring it out by hand getting as much water out as possible, then I transfer it to a laundry basket to take down to the washer.

I put it through a rinse and spin cycle with cold water, medium spin to avoid creasing.

I put it in the dryer on low for about 20 mins.  I then lay it out on a bed sheet on the carpet.  I gently block it with my hands.

I often set up an oscillating fan to help it dry.  I flip it over to dry the back.

and Voila'!

Today is my 59th Birthday and I'm so grateful for my family, friends, home, health and to you blog readers who have been part of my life for so long.

xo

Merry Month of May

 Cherry on Top is what I think I call this little liberated basket quilt.  I finished sewing the top yesterday.  

Here are a few other design ideas that I auditioned. 

I like the side element in the last photo and I'll use that in a future project I think.

At long last I have finished the machine quilting on Chernobyl.   I have decided to add embroidery stem stitching to the lettering to make them a little tidier.  Then on to binding.

Hand quilting is competed on my Whig Rose Quilt!  Just need to make and attaching binding.....and a sleeve......and oh yeah a label.  So you know still some work to be done.

Things have been pretty wild around here.  I spotted this beautiful male Oriole trying to drink my hummingbird nectar.

I quickly put an orange out and this sweet couple were coming every day for a while.  The male always went first!  

Coco and I spotted this juvenile fox on a walk this week in our neighborhood.  The photo isn't great because it was far away.

And this wild thing?   She went outside and stayed out for about 5 hours.   What's a mother to do?  She was quite pleased with herself and took an extra long nap.

Have you ever made a liberated basket quilt?  I'm thinking of offering it as a workshop because they are so fun and each one is unique.

Here is one I made many years ago.

And some blocks with African fabrics.  

And one of Gwen Marstons'.

Well that is all the news for now.  Have a great day!

xo

Here Comes the Sun!

Whig Rose Update - almost finished with the third border - YAY

I appreciate all the support that keeps me encouraged to finish.

I sent this little house quilt to my friend, Diane for her 2021 Birthday.

  I made this house block during a liberated house demo for my guild.

 The back is almost better than the front.   I adore this fabric.

Last weekend I taught my Pretty Pineapple ZOOM workshop.  I had 14 students and we had a great workshop.  Thank you, Oxford Quilters of Canada!

Here is one of my new blocks.  I plan to make a runner.

And some of the students blocks.

Gail:

Lois:

Lynn's - this is a hybrid block, flying geese pineapple (a small trimming error) then traditional pineapple.  I like it!

If I were to give this workshop ala carte, would you be interested?  I could pick a date and take sign ups.  Let me know and I'll consider it.

I have been working on my fitness this year following my leg issues last fall.   Anyone using Apple Fitness can identify with this, haha  When you miss closing your ring by 1 minute.  Of course I did close it right away.

Who can resist tulips a the grocery store this time of year?  I came home and said to Rich "I bought these because I knew you'd want me to have them".  he did.  😀

Spring is almost here!  

xo

Ever Onward

 That's a little how I feel with the Pandemic still with us all.   But there is hope and we will overcome it.

I always feel lucky when I spot a pretty sunrise while letting Coco out in the morning.

Nature is a balm that soothes the soul and replenishes hope for me.

I've been working on my Whig Rose, which may have an official name soon.

The borders are slow going and putzy.  I am doing them out of the hoop.  You can't really see it, but I've sew basted through all layers.  I had also stay stitched the edge so it wouldn't stretch.

There are ALOT of edge triangles, so I am doing them as I finish a side.  If I wait until the end......who knows what might happen.

Nutmeg is all too happy to guard it when it is parked on the couch.

I have been making pom poms for a mantel design.  My friends are a little concerned about my slight obsession with them lol.

I added some driftwood from the beach.

I got the LED snowflake lights on Amazon.   It is very charming at night and is almost making up for the fact that we have had such little snow!

I was working on a hat for my son on zoom sessions and miscounted and made it WAY too big.  I ripped the whole thing out

Ripping out is fun.  Anyway it came out great in the end.

Speaking of Andrew; he is a Covid nurse at St. Raphael's Yale Hospital and got his first vaccine.  Yay!

I pin basted my guild mystery quilt yesterday so I 'm ready to go with that "intention" this week.

I made two loaves of honey wheat bread.  Is there anything more comforting than warm homemade bread?

I passed this noble tree the other day and stopped to admire it.

It made me think about the nature of time and how it has withstood every drought and storm. 

Take care of yourselves and those you love.

xo