Bird in the Berry Tree

Hi -
Here is the third and final challenge quilt of this year.  It is for my guild, The Brownstone Quilter's show which will be this fall 11-11-11.

The challenge rules were this:

Circle was the theme and needed to be represented

You needed to use the challenge fabric, i used it for the branches

You needed to represent 11 somehow in the quilt

The quilt could not exceed 22 (2x 11) on any side.

I have 11 of each of the berry colors, which are also circles.

I quilted circles.

There is that sparrow again - I really do promise to tell the story soon.

Nothing too flashing on the back of this one.

Okay, I have a new man in my life.  But it's okay, my husband bought him for me.  I have a thing for vacuums.  It's true, there, I said it.

They say the first step is acknowledging that you have a problem.  Mine comes in the form of balls of brown dog fur.  The solution; my new man.

I'm in love.  I call him Dyson, isn't that dreamy?

As I've gotten older and softer, I find that I'm way more picky about undergarments than I used to be.  I purchased some wonderful new undies and the tag said it all.  

Thank you Warner - seriously, for the underwear and the tag.  I love when life hands you what you need and makes you laugh out loud at the same time.  (Kohl's, and don't forget your coupon.)

Playing in the Dirt

Well, I'm late and I'm not done yet, but I've been working on this years garden plantings.

First, I'll give you a couple of sneak peeks at Hanna's college quilt.  Can't reveal it until after graduation later this month.

What do I hate more than pinning?  trimming!  But I love this self-retracting blade of the Fons & Porter rotary cutter :)

Here are my practice pieces for machine quilting.  I use scraps and then test the stitch every time I first start and after any needle or bobbin changes.

Seriously?  After measuring.....seriously???

Okay on to the gardens.  The white garden is getting some pink and blue this year.  It's year 3 so the roses (and all the perennial plants) look great!  This one has a sweet scent.

Peonies look and smell good too.  The white bleeding heart is fading fast, but it was good this year.

The knock out roses took a hard hit with the ice storms and coco this past winter.  She actually chewed on them  over the winter - duh, why?  I cut them all back except one, now I wish I had cut it back to - next year.

Just planted the area around this tree this morning - it's magenta coleus and mixed impatient.

I picked up this pre-planted hanging shade basket for $30.  A little pricey, but I got a second basket at 1/2 off and this one is chocked full of great plants.

Hooray - after about a three year shock rest, this gigantic lime green hosta is looking great.  Look at the pansy for a size comparison -

This is the garden I can see from the dining table in the family room.  I think I may have something like 60-80 hostas.  I haven't counted, but I did a rough estimate.

Leaving the yard on the side.

I didn't get a photo of the azaleas, which are hot pink, but the side yard looks good.  I planted this from total scratch about 4 years ago.  Me and home depot.  The ivy is totally grown in now.

This is the back of the garage, and I wish it was a koi pond - I really do.  It will get a shot of color in the next couple of days.
I like inserting pots of coleus and impatient in these shade beds.  In the front of the photo there is a bleeding heart that self seeded and grew between rocks in the wall - a nice surprise.

Herb garden, waiting for more herbs.

These are my new pots for the front of the house.  We destroyed 2 with the car this past winter in the garage.  They are the light weight ones but I think they look like the real deal.

They have tall yellow daisy like flowers which better start producing again or they're out.

Thanks for  coming on my garden tour!  Have a great week.

Garden State Show Part 2

I'm having a little trouble with Blogger which accounts for the delay.

Here are some other quilts from my guild's recent show-

This quilt has everything I love in a quilt!  great colors, lots of movement and that lightening streak.  Very fun Deb!

I love this pattern and since my husband and my son love sailing, I'd really like to make it one day -

Here is another one, this one is really small - no offense ladies, but the ribbon has impeded my view ;)

I found this quilt mesmerizing!  I love the contrast of the colors.

An other great color and form study.

what a wonderful hex quilt - love it Barbie! and the quilting is fabulous.

And what a delight this piece is.  It reminded me of a doll house.  Very cute with the details.

Well, th th th that's all folks.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Garden State Quilters 2011 Show!

Garden State Quilters put on quite a quilt show this past weekend!

As usual most of my favorite quilts to see and study are not chosen by the judges for ribbons.  But they are real winners in my book!

Here are some of my favorites in no particular order - please, I'm lucky to get them uploaded and centered :)

Hooray!  this is my cupcake friend, Susan's Lincoln Challenge quilt - isn't it awesome?  I love it, Susan and congrats on the ribbon!

Wow - isn't this great?  Love all that color

This is Barbie's version of a Bonnie Hunter quilt - it is beautiful!

I loved this modern, graphic quilt.  I went back several times to look at it.

 

This is Debbie Krakowski's quilt:  "Counting Crows"  I was so busy admiring it I forgot to photograph the story card - doh!  Love it, Debbie - great colors and technique.

This quilt just glowed with silk.  So lovely!

This is Dawn's amazing quilt.  It has won many ribbons and I've showed it before, but it deserves another look.  

My good friend Lori's - I love this one!  Congrats on the ribbon, Lori and a great show - again!

I was mezmerized by this beauty!  Love it, Alicia!

This quilt was made by a reader that I met at the show - love your Baseball Quilt!

Another quilt by Susan McD - I love the setting.

I had several recent quilts in the show, and my Eagle quilt won a 2nd place ribbon.  You've seen them so I'd rather show you my friends quilts.

I'll be back for part 2 soon.  Have a great Monday.