WIP Wednesday...Yay!

I am still here and I am finding that I am still enjoying sewing, although not as prolifically as before. Just plodding along really. And for now, that's okay by me. The mojo is still there, just turned down a bit. For today, this is what I have for you:

 Remember these? Back in January I picked these great spring greens from my stash. I was really wanting to make a small quilt for above the mantle that was really spring-y. I let this sit and gel for a bit and finally came up with a plan.

 A single, large Dresden plate in spring greens, with a sunny yellow center to represent, duh, the sun! I wanted a very pale blue Kona solid to represent the sky in the spring. You know, those days when the sun still feels so thin? I think this one is Bluebell. It looks really grey here, but that is just the indoor lighting.

I am debating the quilting of this. Any thoughts? I have already decided to bind in one of these great spring greens too. Should finish at about 34 inches square. Lovin' it so far. Happy Wednesday to you. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday...Buzz Buzz Buzz

Hi! It's been awaile since I have participated  in WIP Wednesday, but as I was perusing the blogs this morning, I realized I had something to share. I started this last year, just before Christmas and then it sat until January. It is moving along slowly now.

 I bought a yard of Tula Pink's wonderful bees in this light aqua and pink colorway. It really called to me. Then, I pulled a bunch of coordinating fabrics from my stash and just looked at it for a few weeks.. I saw a snowball and ninepatch on someone's blog and knew that was it. So I began.

 As is typical for me, I began without looking up to sse what measurements were to be used for the pieces. I made a couple of blocks and the size was off, so they will end up on the back of the quilt. My next attempt was better.

 I love the way this looks. It will be a fairly small quilt, either a baby size or a wall hanging. This photo is with the camera flash. While still not true, the colors are a bit darker and closer to true than above.

My daughter and I decided that this needs a border. I have ordered and just received some Gail Kessler Dimples in a sort of peacock aqua. I plan a one inch finished border followed by one more row of 2/5 inch squares like the nine patch blocks. I think that will look perfect. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

Dropping In to Share a Finish

Hi! I know that I spent all last year trying, and mostly succeeding at being here more often. Now this year rolls around and the huge curve ball life has thrown me. I did plan ahead in anticipation of this and took a bunch of photos of things so that I could write posts occasionally. Truth is, I find it hard to make myself sit down and do it most days. My commitment to this blog and to you, my dear readers, is to make an effort to say something at least every couple of weeks. Know that I will try. I may not always feel like it. Sometimes I just can't. Okay, enough about that.

I finally finished quilting and binding a small quilt that I made out of a couple of charm packs and some scrap pieces from my Retro Flowers quilt.

I used a couple of charm packs I had sitting around. One was Oh, Deer. The other I can't recall, but I started with a simple patchwork idea.

 Then, I took the scraps from the Drunkard's path blocks from my Retro Flowers quilt and stitched the curved edge together, turned and pressed.  I pinned them into the corners in an alternating design and stitched the blocks together.

So it appears that each block has a small pocket in one of the corners. It's different. I like it. But is it just a quilt? Is it art? I don't know. It defies classification.

 For the back I found a big stack of 10 inch blocks from a swap and I pieced them together.

For such a scrap happy quilt, I took a bunch of binding scraps that I of course, had saved, and stitched them all together. I love the look. My daughter says that with all those tine pockets, this quilt could never live at her house. She can only imagine the crumbs and other things the boys would put in there. Have a great weekend. This is one of my Quarter 1 finishes for Adrienne of On the Windy Side 2015 FAL. Linking up and here is the original list.

Group Hug!!

I know that many of you who read this little blog were a part of this, and I wanted to have a chance to thank you for your overwhelming show of support. This was a GIANT group hug! My daughter got the idea to see if she could get people to send me lots of cards to have after my surgery. She hijacked my facebook friends and as many of my blogging friends as she could reach. She asked them to spread the news. She had them send everything to her house. All this was happening before and during the holidays, when we are all overwhelmed with busy-ness anyway.

And boy, did you all reach out and hug! When they came to see me the Saturday after I came home, they made me shut my eyes while they carried things in. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I know how wonderful and generous quilters are, especially to one of their own. I have been a part of this community for a number of years and have participated in many such things and it always makes me feel so good. To be on the receiving end was an amazing feeling.

 I received cards, both funny and supportive. I got letters and some lovely little fabric and quilty gifts.

 There were store bought and handmade, both equally as touching and beautiful.

 They came from all over the world, which was truly amazing to my daughter and son-in-law. They had no idea of the reach of the long arms of the quilter's community.

And many of the children who touch my life, near and far drew pictures that were sent to me. That was most touching of all. So many rainbows.

My recovery is a long way from complete, but I will take these out and look at them any time I am feeling blue and need a pick-me-up. It reminds me of how much I am loved and how much I have to look forward to when I can fully participate in quilting again. I love you all and I thank you more than you could ever know for this group hug.
Love,
Charlotte-Grammie Q