Children, En Provence, and Daddy's Ties

Games and storybooks kept Georgi, Talya, and Delta entertained while their parents were out for the evening.

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I finished up clue #2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt "En Provence."

I had fun trying different arrangements with the units.

And now I have started working on clue #3. I'm a bit leery about the light purples being too dark; but I'm tired of second guessing myself and decided to just go for it...

...and use my original pallet of fabrics.

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The quilt I'm making for 'Pea Picker' of his "Daddy's Ties" is in the quilting stage now. Here I have matched up 'frames' for the smaller rectangles.

This is the finished top that is ready for quilting. I like the luminosity that the silk ties provide.

'Pea Picker' brought some of his daddy's shirts to me and I thought to use them for the back of the quilt. After I got it all pieced I decided that it just didn't go with the classy silk front. So I found a better suited backer. This back would be great for a more casual top.

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Good morning -- through the kitchen window.

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Ashton had Darren over to play on Saturday morning. After having fun around the muddy pond out in the cold, they were glad for the laundry tub and warm water.

En Provence and Pea Picker's Daddy's Ties

I didn't get very far with the sewing of clue #2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt "En Provence." At least all the pieces are cut out. I opted for a more subdued magenta with gold. The background fabric here is what I plan to use as my light purple.

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Paul learned to know Pea Picker from driving truck. He asked Paul if I would make a quilt from his daddy's ties who had passed away sometime earlier. His daddy was a funeral director and dressed up a lot; so he had a big assortment of ties. I spent many hours carefully picking out the stitching and getting them ready to use. Then I decided I really do need to wash them on a very gentle cycle. So I did ... and then I had a big mess of mangled ties. My new washing machine twists and mangles so many things, even jeans. (I think I'm ready for another brand. Maybe Speed Queen.)

So then I worked at ironing them out and fusing a lightweight woven interfacing to the back of the ties to stabilize them and cut out rectangles.

I'm alternating a whole block with a smaller framed block and will decide on placement when I get most of the framed blocks sewn.

Poinsettias and Egrets

The challenge for our Southern Fiber Artist's group was to make a piece that measures 8"X11" and use the color red and the theme flower. I call my piece

Poinsettias.
$125 Sold

I made this sample to try out thread color and placement and then decided to finish it instead of throwing it away. It only measures 4"X6" but will make a nice gift.

This is printed on the back of the black mat board.

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The leak in the pond is finally fixed and we had rain; so it's filling up again.

The egrets found the shallow water to their liking.

Linking to:

En Provence Mystery Quilt - Week 1

It's that time of year again when Bonnie Hunter shares a mystery quilt with her readers. This year the name is "En Provence" and is inspired by her recent trip to France. She is giving us one clue per week until the grand reveal which usually lasts from 6-8 weeks.

These are the fabrics I have pulled for my quilt.

I decided to go with one constant fabric for my neutrals instead of going scrappy. I only have about 1/2 yard left after cutting the required squares. I hope that will be enough.

Last year two of my sisters, Emily and Polly, and my niece Jolene all joined in the fun of making Allietare. We are all doing it again and hoping another sister and friend will join us.

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The sunset this evening was so beautiful. As it got darker it also got more red.

Sunflowers in Quadrants

The challenge for our Southern Fiber Artists was to make a sunflower in four quadrants; and then we will exchange 3 quadrants with other artists.

I was a little late getting mine finished but here it is now. We will do the exchange at our next meeting in February.

Here are some of the sunflowers that were brought to our last meeting.

  

And then we mixed some of them up just for fun!

I started my piece by preparing the background and quilting it.

I printed off a pattern on paper and glued it to a piece of fabric. Then I cut out the sections of the pattern and glued the sections onto another piece of fabric leaving a space between each piece.

It was tedious work and easy to get mixed up; but finally it was done.

I cut the circle out ...

... and laid it on my prepared background.

Then I proceeded to sew it carefully down to the background removing the paper as I sewed.

  

The center all sewed down.

Then came the scary part of cutting it into quadrants.

I then added the golden yellow petals and finished it by twisting fabric into a thin rope and zigzagging it in place.

I'm afraid now that my center is way bigger than it should be. I guess I could cut off the two center edges but ...

Thanksgiving Company and a Sunflower

Life ...

We had a fairly quite Thanksgiving day. Then in the late afternoon I fixed a pizza supper for Paul's folks, his sister Jeanie & Galen Schrock, and their daughter Jennifer & Marvin Lapp and children. Craig and Angie and children also came so we had company after all. Most of our children had other family events to attend.

I think my dishwasher is 'toast' !!!

... as a Quilter

I worked on a 'sunflower' piece of art. It was tedious work and hard to keep all the pieces in the correct order.

I'm leaving the paper on the top patches until it's time to sew them down, just in case they come unglued.

Cypress Queen

I have finally had time to work on a piece for SAQA's 2017 Trunk. Here is my submission of an egret perched on a cypress stump.

  

Cypress Queen

7" X 10"

Materials: commercial cottons, Superior Thread, and other thread

Technique: fused raw edge patches and bird and then heavily quilted

Statement: One of the objectives of the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge is to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds. This egret stands as if queen of the surrounding lowlands.

The back.

Linking to:
Crazy Mom Quilts
Nina Maria
Whoop Whoop

Cypress Queen

I have finally had time to work on a piece for SAQA's 2017 Trunk. Here is my submission of an egret perched on a cypress stump.

  

Cypress Queen

7" X 10"

Materials: commercial cottons, Superior Thread, and other thread

Technique: fused raw edge patches and bird and then heavily quilted

Statement: One of the objectives of the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge is to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds. This egret stands as if queen of the surrounding lowlands.

The back.

Linking to:
Crazy Mom Quilts
Nina Maria
Whoop Whoop

The Pond and a Lost Quilt

Life ...

I got to keep Joel & Sheila's children for a day and a night. While Georgi was in school Talya and Delta used the high chair as a desk to color.

I have enjoyed our pond out in front of the house so much. We get a little wildlife and then the morning sunrises are magnified by the reflection of the sky in the water.

The pond has been leaking for some time now; and finally we are getting it fixed. Yesterday they cut a hole in the dike to drain the water.

Itlooks different from over here on the levy.

With the water draining out there were thousands of small fish locked into puddles of water.

... as a Quilter

Yaaay. The lost is found. Paul brought in my "Ugliest" quilt the other day. He said he found it in the farm Pete.