Peonies

My first peony.  This is from Esther Aliu's free BOM entitled Forget Me Not.  You are able to get two flower patterns each month and decide which one you would like to use.  I had decided to use the sunflower.

But...(you know how that goes)....the peonies kept calling out to me, too.  On the block example, Esther has used some rich pink batik fabrics.  One, I do not have that many pink fabrics from which  to choose my flower.  I also did not want to go out and buy 'pinks' as they are generally not something I use in my projects.  So I 'googled' peonies to look at all the different colors.  I decided to try and convey the idea of a cream colored peony.  I am not sure I succeeded, but I do like the flowers. 

I also decided to go a completely different colorway for this block, as compared to the sunflower.  Blue greens, a natural grey-toned linen and the cream fabrics. Also, since the fabric is a linen, I decided to try and cross stitch my little bee, which is a little critter I decided to use (not a part of the original pattern).  I used the little bee graph from Flower Power by Crossed Wing Collection.  I really like how it came out.

Here's a close-up of the second peony, as well as the label I created using my printer for the lettering.

Finally, the entire block, with some fabrics placed around the perimeter with the shape of the arch, so as to give an idea as to what the finished block may be.

Liebster Award

First, I want to say "thank you, Ineke!" for nominating me for this blog award.
Liebster is a German word meaning favourite, dearest or beloved. The Liebster Blog Award is awarded by bloggers to other new bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to help spread the word about their blogs and to help them gain wider recognition.
The Liebster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:
1. Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award.
4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

OK, #2 and #3 - done.  Now choosing 5 blogs...very difficult, but I will give it a try:

1.  Anne Marieke
2. Giovanna (although I am not sure how many followers she may have)
3. and here is where I got stuck.  Evidently, out of all the blogs I read, there are none that have less than 200 followers.  This is the best I can do for now..sorry.:(

Now five facts about myself...
1.  I love white chocolate (I know, I know, it's not really 'chocolate'...but it sure tastes good!)
2.  I hate lines...at the grocery store, the bank, etc.
3.  I am half German.  My mother was born in Berlin, and married my father during the Korean Conflict.
4.  I went to art school for one year.  (Would have gone longer, but that's what my parents could afford at the time.
5. I have a very good friend I have known since Kindergarten. (Waving 'hi!' to Helen!)

OK, that's it for now...that was tougher than I thought it would be.

Block 3 Harrington & Hannah

Can you believe it?  We

already have the third block for The Adventures of Harrington and Hannah from The Raspberry Rabbits!  Cute little birdhouses and birdies just in time for spring1

Going Gangbusters!

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the first applique block for Forget Me Not by Esther Aliu.  Another freebie BOM!  I had to make a choice between a peony and the sunflower.  I really did like the peony, as well.  Both are gorgeous. 

This is sort of a 'rough draft' as far as the outside border goes.  At this point, it is unknown what the frame of the block looks like, since this is a mystery BOM.  However, in the pattern sheet for the blocks, it shows an arch.  I made a temporary kind of arch, so I could get an idea of how the finished block might look.  The fabric with the block at this point, is not the one I intend to use for the frame.  These were leftover pieces from cutting the sashing. 

The scroll with the flowers' names remains to be made.  I am trying to decide exactly how I want to do those.  I almost forgot!!  I did try to take a few close-ups, but they did not turn out too well.  Look at the little 'extra' on the leaf.  Esther had said on her blog that she considered adding a few little things.  I decided to try one on my own. :))

Here's a close-up of the second sunflower:

A close-up of the second cornflower (I added the extra stitching between the flowers and the base.)

And...the second sunflower:

What happened?

I did not realize until I looked at the date, that it has been a week since I posted anything!  The reason, however, is because Esther Aliu's newest mystery BOM, Forget Me Not, Block 2,  came out this week.  Actually, the project started in February, but did not have any actual 'work' involved for Block 1, other than deciding on fabrics for the various borders and background.

For my block, I chose the sunflower.  Sunflowers are pretty abundant here in Maryland.  I have always had a fondness for them, so my choice was simple.  The block is not complete, as yet.  However, here are a few shots of what I have accomplished as of today. 

Yes, I did say Sunflowers, didn't I?  There are some little cornflowers in this block, too.  You can see the petals of my sunflower on the very edge.   The little flowers were made with two different colors of wool felt; tacked down and then a few beads were attached.  The bud is held in place with all the backstitching. 

Here it is!  A little bit of brown braid to accentuate the center, and some pretty beads scattered about, as well.  You can see the top of the second cornflower below the sunflower.

A closer look at the beads for the center.

There is still a second sunflower, slightly larger to be completed.  It's all ready for the applique as of this morning!  

CountryCottages - Block 3

Here it is!  It is hard to believe we are already on Block 3 for Shabby Fabrics free BOM called Country Cottages.  This one has a very cute shamrock topiary.

Off to work on another one of my Block of the Month's!

Busy, busy

Maybe it's the hint of spring in the air; it has certainly perked me up a bit.  I worked on quite a few things the last couple of days.  I finished attaching the binding for my Bewitched quilt.  I still have to take pictures, but will  have to take Blessings of Spring down off  my quilt rack/shelf first. :)

Since it's release I have been working on Raining Cats and Dogs by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. I am up to date on this one, with only the applique remaining for Block 4.  Here are a few pictures.  I (once again) have to apologize for the wrinkles.  I have had these put away since completing them in the past few months.  I kept forgetting to take pictures for this project.

Block 1.  I did change the style of the wording in the window and added a few little paw prints.

Block 2....love the little plaid doggie!

Block 3...another cute little plaid doggie, plus a plaid kitty!

Another update for my Christmas quilt.  I seemed to keep stalling on this one; every time I start to do another part, I change my mind about what I want.  Remember those funny little reindeer?  Now they are in their own completed block!

Another small section of a different row...my Santa key.  You know...not all houses have chimneys.  So your children will ask you, "How does he get into our house on Christmas Eve?"  The Santa key, of course!  It's the one he carrries with him that magically opens any and all doors, so that he can deliver the presents.:))  I actually bought one of these keys to hang on our doorknob at Christmas when my sons were small, since our house does not have a fireplace or chimney. ;)

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments and encouragement.

~ S w o o n ! ~

I absolutely, positively LOVE picking up a finished quilt from the quilter!  The only part left to be done was the binding....took me a day and a half, for some reason,.and...Drum roll, please........
My Blessings of Spring:

I know, I know,  not showing the entire quilt.  But there are portions of it to follow:

Notice how the glass beads for the water from the watering can sparkle in the pictures.  Little star buttons; little heart buttons; ribbon rosettes, to name a few of the over sixty (that's right SIXTY) buttons embellishing this quilt.

The ladybugs!  The one part of the design that immediately attracted me to this quilt. 

And, of course, pinwheels galore!  One of my favorite blocks of all time, two of the larger ones shown here with the cute little umbrella with the heart buttons on the tips.

My "Bewitched" quilt has been quilted, too!  I still have to attach and hand stitch the binding in place for it.  I have to say it again...I LOVE picking up my "quilt" when the quilting is done! :))