Leaves, Leaves and More Leaves!

Phew!!  The leaves for the inner portion of all four of my Block 4's are done!  Two blocks stitched down - two to go!  And...I started on those leaves on the stems that hang into the border and the bordering block (which I think may be Block Two).  Two blocks of those done...one stitched and one (this one) glue basted in place.

That large flower you see  at the top of the picture is not part of the block.  I was laying it out on the background fabric next to Block 4 along with a portion of my scalloped border to see how I liked it.

Here's a better look....remember, glue basted together and laid out on the background fabric with the scalloped border.  There will be four of these in the outer border with the scalloped edges.

(*** so sorry about the poor quality of the pictures...my camera batteries were on their last legs! ***(

Coming Together

Slowly, very slowly, it seems, my Block 4's are coming together.  I finally have a second one with some of the leaves...Notice, I said "some."  There are still leaves to be attached to the curved stems extending over the borders.  Still needs the little bit of embroidery as well as the three tiny circles above each flower.  When you first see the block, you think, "How pretty...not too much work."   Well, think again!  Did you see the little tiny thorns on the stems?  (only 20 on each of these blocks!)

 The paper pieced borders have found their home, as well as those squares with the circles.  I am considering a button for the center of those large circles.

Now ~ to work on the remaining two!

Have I Told You Lately That I Love....

ahhh...you thought I was gonna say "You!" (you know, like the song....)But what I was going to say was Have I told you lately that I love Kansas Troubles fabrics?  I got hooked on them when I started using them for my Patriots in Patchwork blocks.  When Esther came out with Heart's Desire...I decided to use them again.  I just received an order of fat halves of their Wrapped in Paisley line (from last year) this afternoon. 

Most of their fabrics are quite dark in tone, so I ordered some of the "lighter" colors that were available in this line.  I have decided to use the one with the little swirl for the background on my outside borders for Heart's Desire.  I cut out a few of the scalloped borders in the black floral (another Kansas Troubles fabric) I intend to use.  These borders will have those baskets I mentioned previously in the corners.  Here's a peek...again not stitched together yet, just laid out to see how I like it.

A Tisket, A Tasket

I love my little basket! :))

Not stitched down yet, just starched and pressed, ready to go.  There will be a vine with some flowers wrapped around the handle. Each basket will occupy a corner of the outer border of my Heart's Desire Block 5.  Once again, a lot  of pieces and work for this part.  I haven't finished all four of the Block 4's yet...but I'm workin' on it!  I couldn't resist starting at least a small portion of Block 5.  Lots of scalloped borders and little flowers to come for this one.

Thanks for stopping by!  I really do appreciate everyone's visit. :^)

Ladybug, Ladybug

Fly away home!

Three very cute little ladybugs have come to live at my house.  This is the second block from Shabby Fabric's Blessings of Spring BOM.I love the colors that have been chosen for this project.  And the packages you receive from Shabby Fabrics for this are fabulous.  You get a color leaflet with all the fabrics to be used in the quilt...a separate leaflet with pictures showing how to do the spray starch method of applique as well as a separate color leaflet each month for the block.  (** not affiliated with Shabby Fabrics...just love their stuff!**)

Friends for Christmas

OK, OK....this one has been done for a while.  But ~  now it has been machine quilted!  My first one ever....no, no.....I didn't quilt this one.  It is the first time I have actually had someone else do it for me. There is not an extensive amount of quilting....mostly outlining of the shapes, some random stars and a string of Christmas lights in the three penguin block.  The dark brown border has holly leaves.  All in all, I am pretty happy with it.  I am sure that there could be a lot more quilting done on it.  For me, for now, it's just right. :)

Block 5 and 6

Henrietta Whiskers' time again!  I am definitely a bit behind, thanks to my work on Heart's Desire.  The blue version of Blocks 5 and 6:

Here is Block 5.  Cute. :)  This is the central block in the entire quilt.  Henrietta and her little baby.

I know what everyone will think...black squirrels?  Most squirrels are grey or brown, right?  Well, actually, here in Harford County, Maryland there is a small area where there are black squirrels. :))

So, I guess these little guys are my tribute to them.  They sure do look as if they are having a good time, leaping around, don't they?

And a general idea of the overall quilt.  There are only three blocks left to go, as well as the top and bottom borders. 

~ Tangent ~

Yep....I went off on another one today...tangent...that is. :)  I was trying to be good and straighten up one of the piles where some papers and quilting books were accumulating.  What do I find at the bottom?  The 12 Days of Christmas pattern I had printed out after I had ordered it from Esther Aliu. 

I had already pulled some nice green fabrics for the diamond log cabin blocks to be used for the background/tree part of the design.  And, I had already printed out a couple of the pattern pages for the paper piecing on said diamonds....you know what happened next. ;0)

Yep....that SADD (stitcher's attention deficit disorder) or should I say, QADD (quilter's attention deficit disorder) kicked in, and I was off!

I told myself as I was piecing these that I really should be working on my block for Heart's Desire....it's sitting there, all ready, waiting for me to applique. B U T, I merely want to see if these greens all worked together.   Just one more strip, then I'll work on it, I kept telling myself.  The results of these 'inner discussions' are below, two diamond log cabin blocks,  placed on the red background fabric I intend to use for 12 Days, too. ;))