Gone To The Beach: 05.07.2024

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Early May Quilt Updates ~ Bramble Blooms1: 03, Silent Night, Christmas Planning!

Hi everyone! I missed last week's post, that has never happened before. I had a plan w a friend to do nature walks and take blog pics at the nature preserve and surfing beach. But high winds and driving cold rain , and severe back pain put a stop to that plan. Was so hoping to see baby birds and wildflowers, disappointing.

I more or less met my Silent Night goal! All 24 white stars are sewed, tho I am lagging in the trimming challenge with the hip and back pain.

I also resewed that section of removed applique bottom section, tho the borders that will go on last are still a mystery to me. I know what to do---but what was I thinking four years ago?

Then I have to cut the upper spacer blocks, 6 light, 11 dark snowmen/ stars prints 8 1/2" squares..

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Bramble Blooms 1, Part Three is to create patchwork surroundings to make the central medallion into a ''quilt''. If you check out Audrey's posts and the SAL Linky, you'll see how beautifully many of us/ others accomplished that. click here

But I am with blog friend Julierose, saying maybe I should quit after part two. As it is, it's a perfect size to hang on a cupboard or blanket chest. Maybe a May Day door hanger?

I ordered some KF fabrics to encourage myself to at least try.

Aren't they wildly inspiring!

I love the rainbows!

below: Could this be a no sew way to emulate the part three Patchwork?

And this is so cute, called Fish Lips, tho I call it Chicken Lips or Chicken Kisses instead, I'm bad with names, hahahah.

Auditions: tryouts along the left on the pics.

Backing:

Binding:

I was sent this purple dot in error but FQS told me to keep it and that they'd immediately send the right block and white, intended as contrast to the charm square brights. The witchy dot will be great with my Halloween string quilt, that exists only in my imagination.

Or, very off topic, this is a screenshot from IG; a complex pattern like this would truly make the painterly medallion step back, refocus the project into a true quilt.

And I also auditioned a variety of ideas using finished small quilts. These are not for specific design, but for color and effect.

I will probably stick with my idea from eBay, of the bright random 9-Patches.

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Meanwhile I bought this darling tiny quilt pattern from designer Julie Porter. I just love it! I plan to make for a couple of friends who sew; stuffed with sawdust and lavender maybe, like pin keeps or bowl fillers.

Yes the design is so similar to TQC pumpkins I made a few years ago---and I could draft it myself for free. But I prefer to buy creative patterns now and then, I feel it's important to support fellow quilters who share their creative talents as a career.

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This week I also got sidetracked because a friend asked for one of my hand drawn bookmarks for her birthday. I think it came out well?

It's so much harder to produce an acceptable painting for a special request; the scribble journal notes come so easily and always look the best.

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Mo had a spa day. Look at that face--he knew something was going on, a slight schedule change alerts him every time.

He loves the groomer, the person, but hates getting his feet wet and nails done. [Most pugs are pathologically aghast at having their paws touched, even just as a pet or shake-hands.]

Right now Mo is enjoying the blue sky out on the deck. Tail unfurled, he is still miffed here. Betrayed and bathed.

I had planned to replace my big old very old pots but the lilies and coreopsis shot up in April's cold and rain. Too big to transplant now.

My friend brought me two beautiful ceramic pots from a house cleanout he did.

I wonder what this plant is in both of them. It's quite pretty and dainty---but is it a weed?

edit, w thanks for readers for ID : ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy, coliseum ivy, Oxford ivy, mother of thousands, pennywort,

Tonight I have pot roast and polenta from Trader Joe's for dinner and leftovers. Not in a cooking mood. Tuesday is the only day I watch TV [and knit]: HGTV Farmhouse Fixers and PBS Finding Your Roots. I love the historic old Massachusetts houses featured on FF, some dating from the 1600s.

Have a good week.