Storms are Good and Bad

We needed the rain.  So, I really can’t complain when the normal thunder storms move through each day.  But they are really cramping my sewing!  I’m getting tired of unplugging the machines …  This is what’s in the works:

 

Aren’t those lighthouses wonderful?  That is another “center” that I was sent to finish up with my fabric.  I am making the pinwheels for part of the border and I’m really liking how it’s looking (the above is just a sneak preview).  These are made with the Lazy Angle Ruler instead of half-square triangles - just a little different look. 

But I was able to get a walk in today and check out what’s blooming.  It’s getting really hot and humid, so the begonias and petunias are long gone.  Now it’s marigolds, pentas and foliage plants.  I did see lots of magnolia blossoms bursting out:

 

And the elephant ears are happy with the extra water:

 

And the coleus are colorful:

 

So even with the grey skies, there’s always something to see!

 

Hope to have more of the pinwheels sewn tomorrow …

Just a Work in Progress

I was almost set to finish one of the quilts that I was sent a “center” to work with and I heard the thunder in the distance.  So I had to stop and unplug the machines and go comfort the dog.  She hates lightning and I love my machines too much to take a chance on a power surge!

 

The borders are not done being quilted so they look a little wavy, but they will be fine when I finish.  Next time I take photos I'll try to remember to include the batik backing.  I love this little quilt!  The center fabrics are so soft and huggable and I love the look of the batik.

Some quilts are just harder than others to give away!  If Sarah says it’s ok, this one might go to Russia with Quilts Beyond Borders.  Maybe I can finish it up tonight when the showers pass…

Still Catching Up

Either I have fat fingers and I accidentally hit the "Publish" button or Blogger hiccupped and published my last entry before I had quite finished it.  Either way, this is the last note I was going to make on that post:

I was able to finish sewing together my Mystery quilt from the yahoo group called MysteryQuilts4Military and take it to my Quilts of Valor meeting in May.  They all loved it, of course, because it was a wonderful design!  I think it is going to get to go to Hawaii, but more on that later.

 

And I had this Rail Fence quilt on the frame to quilt:

 

I usually try to have the pieced part of the quilts fun and interesting and the backs more subdued and restful, but this one got the stars all over.  That bright star fabric was at a great price and too good to pass up, so it’s the backing, too.  It will go into the box for Quilts Beyond Borders.

I hurried up and finished the quilting today because we are expecting a Tropical Storm.  Doesn’t look too bad – just lots of rain and probably localized flooding at the usual low spots, but I can’t count on being able to use the machines if there is lightning.  So this is the WIP.  Still have to quilt the borders on the desktop machine and bind it, but it’s another one designated to go to QBB.

 

I’m also working on two “centers” that I received from a fellow Sunshine On-line Quilt Guild member.  I had just the right fabrics to finish these up to QBB-size, but that’s going to be a surprise that I won’t show until they’re finished … hang in there and let the suspense grow!

Gone Fishin’ ?

No – but I wish I could say I was out fishing somewhere.  I have been able to dabble at quilting, but I hope that this time I can really get back into the swing of things and back to blogging regularly.  I have so many quilts to finish … but I’m sure every quilter can say that!

First, I have more news on a mystery that a friend and I were wondering about.  These orange bicycles are appearing all over in our region and we were suspecting a “watch out for bicyclists” agenda, or maybe an upcoming big bike race?

 

Well, back in 2011 it was a marketing ploy for a new fitness center to be opened in 2012 called OrangeTheory Fitness.  But either they are opening another center and not advertising yet, or these were leftover and are now being used to promote Tampa’s new Bike Sharing that will be available in 30 locations this Fall.  Still not sure of the answer, but getting closer …

Since I had to travel back and forth down to St Petersburg so much recently, I took a few pictures of the trees blooming:

 

The yellow is a Golden Rain Tree and the purple are Jacarandas.  They are a very popular tree and bloom magnificently before their leaves come out fully in the spring.  Although we also have them in Tampa, it is just that much farther south down in St Petersburg that they are more prolific and hardy down there.  Just about every block has one or two.  The pictures don't do them justice - they are grand to see.  They are almost bloomed out now.

This was a quilt on the frame for a long time before I finally had a moment to finish it up:

 

I call it “Who’s in the Jungle” because I like to get goofy with names.  I love the ethnic look to the prints.  The backing is a simple polka dot - and now I'm so glad to say that it's done!

 

And I also got around to this Scrappy Hearts quilt.  The heart blocks were from a 30s reproduction fabrics swap from way back in 2009.  Can you say “Elderly UFO”?!!  Glad to see it done and going somewhere – It’s the right size for Quilts Beyond Borders, so I think it’s destined for Russia.

Finally Back to Quilting

I had a wonderful afternoon of quilting today.  I had been working on a red/white/blue mystery quilt along with this Yahoo Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MysteryQuilts4Military/

This has been a fun mystery to put together, but I fell a little behind in getting the clues cut out and sewn together.  The final clue (#6) came out last Friday, so I’m not so very late.   I expect to be caught up to the point of having the blocks laid out by tonight.  Then sewing them together in rows will be a breeze.  This is my progress to date:

 

No, it won't always look like a house!

Did I look ahead to the finished assembly to solve the mystery?  You bet I did!  And some of the participants have posted their pictures and they are gorgeous.

And here are a few pictures that I snapped while moving things out of my mother’s assisted living apartment.  First, a very pretty Golden Rain Tree in full bloom.

 

And the baby ducks that my mother liked to feed.  I think these were born in this unused door-well (an emergency exit only) – the mother has since moved them on to the nearby pond.

 

And the osprey on the nest on the parking lot light pole.  I’ve been watching for baby’s heads but haven’t seen any peeking out yet.  The large lake is just across the street, so a fish dinner is readily available!  The daddy osprey was sitting on the next pole, but I didn’t get his picture.

 

More on my mystery quilt tomorrow!

Frederick Law Olmsted’s Birthday

Are you familiar with the work of Frederick Law Olmsted?  He was born on this date in 1822.

Oil portrait by John Singer Sargent

Olmsted essentially founded the profession of landscape architecture in America, and even if you don’t know his name, I’m sure you know some of his works.  He co-designed both Central Park and Prospect Park (both in NYC), one of the first planned communities (Riverside, IL), and many coordinated systems of public parks and parkways across the US (e.g., Buffalo, Milwaukee, Louisville, et al). 

Central Park, NYC

Olmsted was innovative and vitally interested in conservation.  His efforts resulted in lands being set aside for the first national park at Yosemite Valley and aided in preserving the natural wonders of Niagara Falls.  Definitely, a man before his time.

Niagara Falls

Olmsted also had a career in journalism.  He wrote and published a book entitled Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in England after visiting public gardens in England in 1852.  Olmstead’s friend described his work as follows:  “An artist, he paints with lakes and wooded slopes; with lawns and banks and forest covered hills; with mountain sides and ocean views”. 

As we move into Spring, it is fitting that we pause to remember the contributions of visionaries like Olmsted and enjoy the parks and urban oasis that they were instrumental in setting aside for us.  It kind of of makes me want to make up a floral quilt right now!

To learn more about landscape architecture, see this site: http://www.asla.org/design/

 I found the links on that site about Therapeutic Gardens and Public Gardens particularly interesting.  Here are some more examples of Olmsted’s work:

Capitol grounds, Washington, DC

Reflecting Pool at UC-Berkeley

Columbia Exposition of 1893, Chicago

Spring Means Babies

Our resident Limpkins have had a family.  These wading birds eat freshwater snails, mussels, frogs, etc. and the mom and dad are teaching their four offspring to find their own food along the edge of our pond.  Due to the decline of their favorite delicacy, the FL Apple Snail, they are seen less frequently in Florida (their only range) and becoming a “species of concern”.

 

Mom with 3 of the babies

This guy is also a temporary resident of the pond (they move around in the spring), so the parents must be vigilant.

Wally Gator on Patrol

 So far they’ve done a good job and the babies are growing and developing wing feathers.

 

Dad with the 4th chick

Speaking of baby animals, this is my latest finish:

 

I wrote in an earlier post about sewing some elephants upside down on this, but I recently told my On-line guild about how the troubles just kept on comeing in constructing this simplest of quilt designs:

1.  As mentioned, I sewed some elephant strips on upside down and had to rip them out and sew again

2.  Then I quilted some feathers – the first row of them was wonderful – the second row was an oopsie since the loops went opposite directions

3.  Then when I went to take it off the frame I discovered the backing was 2 inches too short – bummer – fortunately, with this design I could cut off a piece of the top to match the bottom in length

4.  And finally, I forgot to change the thread color when I was eagerly putting a fancy stitch on the binding – it is sewn with white thread instead of tan.

I’m guessing a kid won’t notice!  And BTW, this quilt is modified from the design called Quick Strippie at MaryQuilts.com.  I’m not going with “easy” next time … LOL.

Yardwork and Quilty Progress

Into each life some yardwork must fall … and it’s mulch season around my house.  The weather has been so weird that I’ve been neglecting my yard (great excuse, huh?).  And it sure did need some work done.  So yesterday and today I went to town on the yard, so to speak.  I pulled weeds, cut back bushes and put down lots of mulch.  I still have half of the front to do, but it is looking so-o-o- much better that I’ll bet the neighbors are cheering!

 

It's getting there!

I love the African Iris in bloom!

I also dusted the entire house, finished up through Clue 2 of the red/white/blue mystery and laid out the fabrics for my next child’s quilt.  What a great day!

 

Mystery in progress - all cut and labeled for the next clue

This panel has lots of animals - the green is not true-to-color

PS  I think I need a nap …

Following Directions

When I take a class or try something new, I usually follow the directions to a “T”.  In between working on children’s quilts, I’m working on a mystery quilt now and the instructions call for ironing all of the seams open, something I've seldom done.

 

Lovely pressed seams

I’ve actually been doing this and the blocks are resulting in exact squares and lay nice and flat.  I don’t know why I’ve resisted ironing seams open in the past!

 

Mystery Block A - I now have 24 done

This one is red/white & blue and will be donated to Quilts of Valor.

 

Ingredients ready to go when clues arrive!

Can’t wait to see how this mystery is solved!

Something Simple

Sometimes you just want to use up a few fabric leftovers and make up something quick and easy.  That’s the theory anyway.  I have used the Quick Strippie pattern from MaryQuilts.com before with great success.  No matter what novelties you use, this design always looks great - and you can modify it to fit the fabric pieces you have available.

So I blissfully cut up the leftover smallish pieces from the tote bag I made for Sadie’s Dream for a Cure (see this post) and began sewing the strips together:

 

See what’s wrong with the above picture?  Those darn elephants on top are standing on their heads!  I knew the jungle print was directional, but I thought that the goofy elephants went every which-away in the other fabric .  Well, no they don't - sure, it's easy to see now.  Glad I own a seam ripper (don’t we all have that old-faithful tool readily at hand?!) …

 

But now the strippie is done, the fabric is all used up, and it’s on the frame to quilt.  Simple can be made simply after all – LOL!

I did make up some star block kits for my Quilts of Valor group meeting later this month.

 

~25 kits for star blocks

sample star blocks

Maybe that’s why my brain was tired!  A star-in-a-star pattern can be found at McCall’s Quilting:

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/patterns/details.html?idx=8332

Where this pattern has an internal star, we will be using the pinwheels that result from our leftover triangles from snowball blocks – waste not, want not they always say!

 

One More Quilted

I finished quilting the last of the three tops I received from a fellow member of the Sunshine On-line Quilt Guild.  This one was great fun to work with.  I have to confess a weakness for calico fabrics and this one was a showcase for them.  I did small meandering in the white backgrounds and a ring of hearts in the centers of the blocks.  That made the monkey wrenches pop out.  I wish I had a better camera to take pictures because the quilt is marvelous in real life!

 

Detail of calico



Detail of ring of hearts



Beth's Quilt

I have one more quilt to bind and then this box will go off to Wrap-a-Smile and then on to children having cleft lip/palate surgery.  Sometimes older children and even adults get facial repairs, so this quilt is sure to find the right person to snuggle up to it – it’s perfect for any age!