Three Free Patterns, Kaffe Table Runner, Wheel Within a Wheel Progress, Me in the Garden

The deer have been around and gnawed down a couple of hosta plants; here they eat the same one and leave all the rest. 

I've finished the impromptu/squirrel project, the Kaffe Table Runner. It finished at 13 by 25 inches. I enjoyed the hand quilting part of this project and how it used up some very old scraps.

I decided, because it was geometrical, I would try some rounded edges for the quilting as contrast. Sharing with the Purple Party at So Scrappy.

I cut a cardboard template and used my hera tool to make the quilting lines. 

Then I cut down the template to make a smaller leaf.  I think it is enough and looks okay. 

I've been sorting and cutting pieces for more of the Wheel Within a Wheel blocks. I still don't have four completely together to show you the other "wheels" that go with them. These are big at 18 inch squares and I am really enjoying working with the colours and fabrics. 

LeeAnna's prompt this Thursday was to name a favourite piece of summer clothes.  I'll share this photo with you because I am wearing my favourite summer clothing item, my straw hat. This was taken August 26, 2018 a few days past my birthday. I know this because I posted it to Facebook to thank folks for the birthday wishes. Our front walkway and I'm puzzled why the hydrangeas are the odd colour they are and yet the yellow Ligularia are in bloom which only happens in August. 

 I don't go out without my hat in the summertime to the point now I feel naked without it. It was bought in a specialty shop where the owner makes hats...quite expensive at the time but I've certainly gotten my use of it and it is still as good as new. With my Vitiligo I am very sun shy. 

Perhaps you'd like to share what your favourite summer clothing is.??

Thursdays's Three (or Four) Free Patterns

Another of the pretty chandelier quilt patterns.

This combines two familiar blocks to create a beautiful effect. It is called Le Chandelier and the free pdf is Here. I found it at a site called I Love Quilting Forever and at their link you will find a variety of chandelier quilt patterns. 

This one below is called Picnic at Daybreak and the pattern is found at Moda's huge free pattern bank.  Link to this pattern! I chose it because I'm still in a red, white and blue plus baskets kind of mode. 

Here's a definite summer time pattern.  Ice Lollies to be found at the Craft With Cartwright site. Perfect stitching for these hot July days. 

I must admit I really like this one combining two loves. Link is here.

Loads and loads of stuff there to explore including this to check out for embroiderers.

Talented and generous Ruth is the lady behind this very dynamic site offering recipes, DIY ideas, etc. in addition to the stitchy stuff. Definitely worth checking out!

I'm going out thrifting this weekend and so looking forward to that. Wish me luck! And I hope there is something fun happening for each and every one of you too. 
Happy to link with For the Love of Geese, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt and My Quilt Infatuation.

Nature's Blossoms, Kaffe Tablerunner, 83rd Birthday, Family,

 First of all thanks for the words of encouragement for what I talked about last post. I heard from so many of you with similar and even more surprising stories regarding episodes of forgetfulness. Leaving the house can be an adventure for some of us!!! A few of you are concerned and some not at all. Kudos to you who have had the gumption to take the test. I guess misery does love company because those stories did make me feel better. And on an encouraging note, dementia research is huge right now so who knows what they will find in the knick of time to help us baby boomers. 

Nature is putting on a show around the property...

Our form of Swamp Milkweed is in bloom and enjoyed by ants, I noted. 

Creeping Buttercup with its elegant shape and yellow shades is all over the backyard shaded areas

and the electric blue/ purple Viper's Bugloss is brightening up the trails.

Our  walks early morning and the night air is not clearing out the humid feel from the day before. This doesn't encourage me to pick up my step but that's okay. I take the time to try to name the bird songs.  And the dogs enjoyed all the walkabouts.

 Yes, I said dog-s. We had Abbey and Petey here for the weekend while the family took an impromptu trip to see baseball games between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals in Toronto. They have decided this is the summer of adventures for them now all restrictions have been removed. Here is Robbie with SIL's friend who is in management with the Kansas City Royals AAA affiliate.

Before they left we got in a little party to celebrate Hubby's 83rd birthday! And his brain is still sharp as a tack! Chinese food and special cognac for toasting and a giant cake from daughter. More about that later.  It was fun. 

Robbie decided to stay over for a sleepover. He's a very easy guest, is not picky at all and brings his own things to amuse himself, mostly drawing supplies as he loves art. Here he is enjoying his morning boiled eggs. I love what he is wearing and want one. It is a Baby Yoda cosy fleecy top. 

I'm absolutely loving my stitching projects I have on the go at the moment! Moving from my Basket Case piece with its more traditional colours to the red, white and blue Wheel Within a Wheel blocks to this one below with its bright, cheerful fabrics is fun. 

I don't usually work with such vibrant colours. Someone once jokingly said Kaffe should give out sunglasses with his fabrics. :D

Speaking of which, the Kaffe runner layout got finalized and sandwiched up on Friday. With so many colours in these fabrics, it is easy to find a perle cotton that will match for a little hand quilting.

For the backing...This is the pretty fabric I decided not to cut further and use what I had left as is. With a couple of solid purples on each end, it fit perfectly.

That fabric for the binding was last used in a Halloween project. This was a block of the SAL, Sew Spooky, run by the Facebook group, Quilts by Cheri Friendship Group. It was fun to make these primitive style appliques.

This, as well as moving along those other two projects, is on my to do list for this week. 

Hope your week is fabulous and filled with enjoyable activities too.

Sharing this post with Texas Quilt Gal, Alycia Quilts, Floral Friday Foto, Creations Quilts Art and Quilt Fabrication.

Kaffe Flower Frenzy, Liberty Kit, Free Homespun Hearth Patterns, Hydrangea Love

Apparently there is a Flower Frenzy happening right now. And I'm not talking about anything to do with Kaffe Fassett though we all know how much he loves the flowers and how they have inspired all his work.  This is his latest collection called Darker 2023. 

                     

I just had to show you this.  It is Kaffe's needlepoint kit called Pink Chinese Peonies and it is available at Ehrman's.  Gorgeous. I did just needlepoint for a couple of decades of my life and I may return to it at some point when my cross stitching becomes a challenge.

I came across the 'renewal of a flowers trend' when I borrowed an Instyle magazine from the library and it made such a big deal about how flowers were so "in" for clothing this spring.  For some of us they never go "out". I remember well my Laura Ashley skirts and I still love flowers in clothing.

Shakespeare mentioned over 200 flowers in his various plays so clearly flowers have been "in" for quite some time.
         
                                 

When I think of quilting and flowers, another name that comes to mind is Liberty of London fabrics which use flowers more than not as their sole motif.  And they are considered timeless and classic.
                     

Purl Soho offers a wonderful kit called Little Peaks to make this wall hanging featuring Liberty prints.
                     

The kit includes absolutely everything you need to make it.  I like that.
                                           

I like how my hydrangea blossoms have made it through the long winter as a dried flower.

The bushes  bloomed beautifully last summer and I was so happy to read they would 'keep' inside in a bouquet.  And they did.

Now I did prune them back hard in the fall because that hadn't been done for a while.  I hope I didn't overdo.

Because summer is really going to happen this year...please tell me it is!!

Mug mat quilting is a great way to use up scraps and this little project featuring fussy cut flowers and log cabin pattern is especially suited to scraps.  This is a cute pattern I came across on Homespun Hearth but be forewarned...that site is teaming with tempting patterns, kits and what have you!

                                        
 And in my garden this week...spring is trying valiantly to occur. Isn't it amazing how these little growths try to push through ice here literally to get to the sun.  What a delicate shade of green; I wonder what name could it be given- celery ?

Also in my garden

He's not a flower but his antics are delightful to me.  I like how this little red squirrel is so ambitious and  tenacious.  He tries this day after day and doesn't give up.  If only I had half his gumption...

If not flowers then I hope there is something else lovely in your day!

Join me in visiting LeeAnna's pretty Not Afraid of Color for lots of positive likes and Michelle's Thankful Thursday at It's A Small Town Life .