Spring Fling, Improv Experiment

Ornamental cherry trees blossoming at the pool.

Closer view to lift your spirits.

Experimenting with improv. blocks.

I'll border this with 1 1/2" gray then a wider border of muslin.

Monday, happy Monday!

The birds are insisting it's spring around here. The hawthorns, crabapples and ornamental cherries are making a big push for spring too. Excitement is in the air.

I've been putting together a small quilt to see the possibilities of the improv. block I decided on. I used scissors for most of the cutting and I liked using them. When I first started sewing and quilting there were no rotary cutters or mats. We all used scissors and it worked out fine. This little quilt will have a 1 1/2" border of gray and a wider muslin border, the binding will be the yellow  fabric I used in the blocks.

Speaking of excitement, Barbara Brackman's, Civil War Quilts blog 

is full of great ideas, quilts and fun bits of history, check it out!

I'm linking up with Sew Slowly AHIQ #6 .
Visit to see beautiful color and designs. Thanks for hosting Kaja, I hope you get well soon!

Remember to let your light shine!

Happy Friday! Amish Crib Quilts book review...

Fair weather here...

Sewing border on...

My copy came in the mail!

Happy Friday already?

Wow, that went fast. I was busy with work and a family birthday.

I managed to squeeze some time in to sew borders onto two 'Piece of Cake' block quilts and plan for finishing them up.

Then 'Amish Crib Quilts from the Midwest' came in the mail and I have been reading through it in all my spare minutes. I highly recommend it, so classic with plain simple design. Back to our roots! I found out about it on Nifty Quilts blog by reading her article, 'Amish Quilt for a Modern Baby.' Such a great quilt.

Also, Missouri Star Quilt Company, has a new tutorial using Victoria Findlay Wolfe's new fabric line, 'Mostly Manor', very colorful. The title of the tutorial is The Sashed Half Hexi Quilt. Fun to watch. 

Have a happy Friday, share a smile, it's healthy!

Butterfly Colors for February, Finished hand quilting, Improv Log Cabin Blocks

My butterfly calendar, February colors.

I finished the final round of hand quilting on Citrus Rose.

The back view, I love the texture of hand quilting.

'Improv' log cabin blocks in process.

Here's my 'What's up Wednesday'.....

The butterfly picture on my calendar is just lovely, I had to share it for color inspiration.

Then, my Citrus Rose quilt is totally finished, I put off hand quilting that final round, but it's now done.

I'm still adding to the 'improv' log cabin blocks and arranging them this way and that. Maybe another round of blue, I'm thinking. Slow and steady. Really what's the rush?

Also, don't miss this; over at Nifty Quilts, the post, 'Amish Quilt for a Modern Baby', is fabulous.

Her inspiration is from the book, Amish Crib Quilts from the Midwest, by Janneken Smucker.

This is an amazing book, full of 'modern' inspiration for all kinds of art and design. 

"Keep your eyes wide open, you never know what you'll find," Dr. Seuss.

Log Cabin Blocks "Wonky' style and Crochet Scallop Blanket

My Log Cabin blocks 'wonky' style.

They will have another round of 'logs' before I'm ready to sew them together.

I'm crocheting this blanket for my 'Grand Muffin'.

Yesterday the sun came out and I had to dive into color! I added a few more rounds of 'logs' to the log cabin blocks I had set aside and sliced them askew to spice them up.
I'm linking up with Ad Hoc Improv Quilters today, check out the great ideas there.

I loose all inspiration when I try to work with color that doesn't excite me. I tossed out some dreadful patch work I had put together having heard somewhere it was good to use up scraps. Notice to all colors that don't 'work' for me, you will be shipped to the local thrift shop where, someone, with a different taste for color will buy you and love you. It will be a relief for both of us.

I've been working on the Baby Brights Scallops blanket, a kit I bought from Herrschner's .

I started it a year ago for one of my grand daughters and then found out they were moving to Florida. I was sure she wouldn't need it there so I put it aside. Then I found out they will soon be moving north where the temperatures are very cold. So I got it out and I'll finish it up knowing it will be useful. 

That's my creative adventures so far this week.

Happy Wednesday!

Pinafores, Rain and Wonky Stars....

Little Miss modeling her pinafore.

Lots of rain here.....

My daughter has been busy sewing and finished her project. My grand daughter is modeling the finished project above. Pinafores are adorable on little girls aren't they?

There's been rain and wind around here, good for filling up the reservoir and blowing away dead leaves and branches. Nature's housecleaning.

Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company has a super fun tutorial on You Tube, Jenny's Tiny Wonky Stars 

Happy Friday, be daring and share a smile!  

Scrappy Three in a Series, 'Liberated' style, and a Finish....

'Liberated' square in a square blocks framed with sashing and borders.

Three in a series, 'Liberated' style using scraps.

My daughter finished her quilt for my 'Grand Muffin'.

 I've been putting together three small quilts 'Liberated' style, nod to Gwen Marston. In the top photo, I've framed square in a square blocks with sashing, cornerstones and borders.

The second photo shows all three quilts in this series of scrappy 'Liberated' style small quilts. Small quilt #1; rail fence blocks, #2; square in a square blocks, #3; four patch blocks, soon to be bordered. Working in a series does three things for me. First, I get faster at the process and second, I have more time to play with contrast. Third, I make small quilts to experiment with ideas for bigger quilts.

The third photo is my daughter's finished quilt, just right for Miss Muffin.Congratulations!

Happy Friday!!

Did you know birds still sing in the rain?

Borders, Hemming and Mushrooms....

Sewing hems on linen kitchen towels...

Experimenting with borders...

Mushrooms up after rain...colors, textures...

Magnolia cones, exotic textures and colors...

The sun was out today after several days of rain so I went outside to see what I could find. Mushrooms were up every where, coming through landscaping bark. Talk about patch work.

Then taking advantage of the light I went inside and I took some photos of magnolia cones I'd collected last summer. Their colors and textures are works of art.

Earlier I finished hemming linen kitchen towels and sewed together some experimental borders for a medallion piece I'm working on. It's being planned as I go, a 'liberated' quilt.

Tomorrow is Friday! Have a great day and remember to take time to explore and experiment. You never know what you'll find.