While tearing myself away from taming kitties, I've managed to finish three quilts for Dr. Kaufman.
This is actually the second one of these BQ3s I finished for Pat. The twin of this one was for a neighbor's quinceanera. Nice sized quilt for a teenager.
This is a beautiful four patch posy from Tove.
And last but not least this fun quilt from Patty E.
I also quilted another BQ3 for Pat's niece's baby, which I don't have a picture of. Needless to say Pat's baby quilts are usually just shy of lap or twin size. Kids do grow pretty quickly and aren't babies for long.
I haven't complained about the cooler spring. Putting off the heat of summer is fine with me.
The best flowers are those planted by nature, and this year the primroses are loving the cooler weather and rain.
My good friend, Rosie, reminded me of the name of this delicate little flower (weed)...scarlet guara. It's also having a good year.
Olive and her four kitties (which we mistankenly thought had perished) are coming around regularly now. Have yet to get close to one, but am working on it.
There is nothing more entertaining than watching kitties play. Now back to laundry and quilting!
Pat and I attended Fiber Arts Fiesta on Friday. I had entered my summer quilt despite its developing a serious issue with bearding of the silk batting. I spent a few hours defuzzing it before taking it in for display. Thankfully it is most visible on the dark backing.
On a lark, I also entered my scrappy sweatshirt in the sewing (wearable art) category. I was really surprised to see it displayed with a first prize ribbon! Woo-hoo, and there was even a money prize to go along with the ribbon. (I think it helped that it was the only entry in the category!)
There were so many beautiful quilts. Judith Roderick was the featured artist, and I have admired her work since the first Fiber Arts I had attended when we moved here. I love her use of button embellishment and am inspired to use some of my collection.
It was a great show. Another inspiring piece was Studio Spirit by Pat Moorman. I think Pat needs one for her new studio.
Our migrants have arrived. Not a great picture, but we had this beautiful male western tanager come by for a drink of water. This picture doesn't do it justice from the kitchen window.
After remarking that we had yet to see black-headed grosbeaks, we had a pair come to the feeder, and they are hanging around for now.
Pat picked up a bountiful basket because they also had boxes of apricots, and we split a box. I was able to replenish my larder with two batches of jam and froze enough for another batch.
Made my first ever upside-down cake...apricot of course. It was very tasty.
Pat, daughter Lindsay, and I delivered a dozen quilts to Dr. Kaufman, who was thrilled to get them. Thanks again to all my friends who have sent me tops!
I finished these two Wednesday just in time for Thursday's delivery. Tove pieced these and we needed some smaller quilts since the majority of the quilts we had were larger. I was able to load them consecutively on one bright backing with giraffes that Pat found.
Tove also pieced this one. She is quite the prolific quilter and I hope she'll be able to get back to sewing soon.
Meanwhile I have tamed a little tabby kitty, dubbed Pimento, Pim for short. We had been feeding wild Olive, so dubbed because of her sour puss personality after we watched Olive Kittredge on HBO. (She would hiss and attempt to scratch me while I insisted on petting her as she ate--she's much more receptive now.)
Pim
Olive
My hibiscus which we inherited from Dale's mom has been blooming continuously for over a month now. It's having a particularly good year.
The yard is ablaze with color--orioles are here!
I'm getting quite a load to take to Dr. Kaufman. I originally quilted this one for Yetta. She didn't use it much and offered it for donation, which I gladly accepted.
This is another one from Tove. The panel is really different, and I liked how she added to it.
I thought about doing freehand on this great quilt from Patty E., but I do so much better with pantos. I thought the Frothy Seas panto fit well with the ocean theme.
Thankfully the sun is shining today. We've had a few days of rain, (small, non-damaging) hail, and more rain. We still need the moisture to get out of our drought status, but I missed my sunshine.
So long since I posted. Our peach tree blossomed beautifully. I don't know if several recent overnight freezing temperatures have eliminated our chance for any fruit. I know our lilacs will not be blooming as a result.
I've finished some more quilts This one from Patty E.
Judy H. made this great quilt with oriental fabrics.
Judy also started Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion mystery but gave up on it and I inherited the blocks. I sashed these blocks to make this bright girl's quilt. There are more blocks to put together into good sized kid quilts.
Tove had me quilt her finished Grand Illusion quilt.
Happy to be productive again, after a succumbing to a flu/cold virus which really took a toll.
I've been plugging away on the pile-o-quilt tops my friends have donated for me to finish.
This one is from Tove. The thread kept breaking, but the variegated color was such a good match that I persevered and managed to get it done.
This bright and happy quilt is from Patty E.
Pat put these blocks from Judy H. together with African animals print for this great quilt. I still have a number of tops to plug away on.
Thanks again to all my friends for helping me continue to keep Dr. Kaufman supplied with quilts for newly diagnosed diabetic children.
I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. Lots of things happening, including attending QuiltCon! I thought it was a great show, particularly the Gee's Bend Quilters' keynote speech.
I've been inspired again and am happy to be delivering quilts to Dr. Kaufman. I actually put together this quilt from the last of the lotto blocks I got at the 2014 Phoenix retreat.
Tove sent me a number of finished quilts along with a number of tops, including one to finish for her.
This top was from Judy H. who dubbed it Canada from above, lots of lakes and farm fields.
This is one of the many tops Patty E. sent with Pat when she came through Oklahoma. I still have a pile-o-tops ready to be quilted which I'm working on. Most of them I've already readied with backings.
Jackie and the boys made a trip down to visit us for our upcoming birthdays. We had a great time. We got some nice snow that we had to get out in and enjoy.
The boys much preferred being pulled up the hill in the sled than walking up on their own power.
It didn't accumulate too much or last long. By Sunday it had pretty much all melted except in shady spots, which made for an easy drive down and back. Sisters!
Yesterday in our once again, quiet house, there were little reminders that four-year old boys had been here...
A little hand print on the early morning condensation on the living room window...
A shark getting ready to take a bite out of a walrus...(Although Mason informed us that walruses live in colonies to be safe from sharks!)
I've been knitting and finished a second pair of boot cuffs for Jackie. The first pair I mailed before taking a picture.
