Sea foam and Snow

Now that my degree program is officially finished (graduation is May 15), I have more time to do some quilting. Here is a simple design made from my stash, now on the machine. The quilting will be done today. It is about 80" square and will likely go to Quilts of Valour. The quilting pattern is like ocean waves, so it is "Sea foam."

And this is what I woke up to yesterday morning. It snowed all day, but started to melt in the late afternoon, so now it is just very wet out there! We need the moisture. Today the sun is shining even though the temperature is chilly.

Termination Dust, Hearts and Log Cabins

In Alaska, the first snow is called Termination Dust. This is the Alberta version and the view out my bedroom window this morning. Gasp and dismay - the leaves are not even off the trees!

On a happier note, this is a UFO from a class I took in 2005. The applique leaves/hearts are now fused to the border. They need to be stitched. I did the inside ones in a satin stitch, but am feeling lazy. Should I or shouldn't I just lightly zig-zag these in place? Finished is better than perfect?

The stem is sewn. It is purchased bias tape. I opened it and sewed one side with normal straight stitch, then closed it and used invisible thread in a hemstitch to catch it in place.

I'm thinking of quilting it with lines in the background that line up with the logs in the log cabin blocks. This one also needs a name, so Susan, if you are listening... 

Another top done

This one is ready to put on the EQ-16. The sashing is one of the fabrics in the blocks, but the binding is not. This method (see previous post) uses up all the fat quarters, but one fabric was a bigger piece that looked good in the mix, so I had enough for the sashing. Unfortunately, it was about 4" short of having enough for binding, and rather than fiddle with piecing the binding, I found a darker piece that looks okay. It blends better in real life than in the upper left of this photo.

We had a lovely spring day yesterday, and today it is snowing. What is that? I put away my winter coat, so must have caused the whole thing! Since my DH is in Arizona golfing (how rude - smile), I have to clear the driveway myself. Sigh. Of course I'd rather be quilting — or loafing in the sun in Phoenix.

Snow, Stripes, and Skinny

The days fly by when you are having fun! Photos below are my "fun," at least one of them. The snowy picture is Friday morning. We expected a spring day and had 6" snow in three hours, starting with gigantic flakes about 3" apart so it was hard to see across the street. By the time I found my camera, it lightened up a bit. This is out the front window. Since then, winds have made huge mounds everywhere, and travel is exciting, to say the least.

The second one is from all the leftovers from the quilt I made for my brother and his wife, "A Garden Path." Someone suggested that I call this one "By His Stripes" from an Old Testament verse about Christ. Since it is only about 32" square, I decided to quilt a Rose of Sharon motif on it. Well, I've learned that formal quilting and I do not get along very well. It came out like my usual quilting, which I affectionately call scribble quilting. I like it, sort of sketchy. Anyway, the design covers the quilt.

Then I got the brain wave to try a Shiva paint stick on it. The photo looks better than the real thing (I think) and I did the middle only, since I don't know what I am doing. I wanted to highlight the entire Rose of Sharon, but am not sure that I like it. Since this will be an Easter table center... and I can always put a big pot of something on top of that center. Opinions and advice are welcome.

The third picture is my skinny mountains landscape. It shows the little sketch, the bigger one (in which the left tree needs to be re-proportioned) and some fabric choices. This was a week or so ago. I've since put those fabrics in place and have the water sewn down.

The design on the bottom part is pickier, but I'm having fun with this, making up my construction techniques as I go. So far, no fusibles. I don't like "lick and stick" so will see if I can assemble it without any. Not likely. Those marsh areas in the water are two picky - unless I applique them. Anyway, a photo will follow, but right now, I've too much else happening. I hope to be back in a day or two... but I am not totally off the radar. I am reading blogs every day!!