Whimsical Garden Block #1

This is my first block in the Whimsical Garden series by Piece 'O Cake Designs. Marlene is making these blocks, and I have joined her. She has two blocks done already, and I am just finishing my first block. When she mentioned that she wanted to make these blocks, I said I had purchased that pattern a while ago and also wanted to make some blocks. I had not decided how many of the 20 blocks I would make. Looking over the pattern again, I realized I liked all of the blocks and could not decide which ones I would make and which ones I did not care to make. They are all darling designs.

Originally I thought about a nine block wallhanging. When I started making my first block, I really looked at all the other blocks. At that time I decided I wanted to make all 20 blocks. Now my little wallhanging has become a larger quilt.

I have wanted a quilt to hang on the wall that would depict spring. My first thought went to flowers. When I was making my Baltimore Album blocks, I found a beautiful floral basket pattern about the right size for my needs. It had lots and lots of flowers and a wonderful basket. Needless to say, that project has not come to pass. I still would like to make that wallhanging, but I have found that these whimsical flowers would do the trick nicely as well for my spring quilt. I do not have Victorian style furniture. It is more like early flea market, so the whimsical garden style designs would work much better for me.

I believe Marlene has at least two blocks done so I need to step up the pace if I am going to keep up with her. When she mentioned this design to me I thought if I worked along side her making block for block, I would get this quilt done. If left to my own devices, I would not get it done. Working with Marlene gives me motivation to keep going. As long as she is making blocks, I will try to keep up.

When the Applique Cafe website was up and running, along with Crispy I joined a group to make the Aunt Millie's Garden blocks. I sewed four of the twelve blocks, then the website shut down. Crispy continued to make more blocks, but unfortunately I did not. I do want to make the additional eight blocks. I thought if I could get going with the Whimsical Garden blocks, when I finish those I could start making the AMG blocks again. Each of the AMG blocks has four quadrants. They are larger blocks and take a lot more time to complete. The Whimisical Garden blocks are smaller, and faster to complete with fewer pieces.

Now that block one is done, I need to get moving on starting block two. Wish me luck.

Happy Quilting

A Baby Quilt Finish

Early this morning I finished the binding on this baby quilt. I feel it is rather large for a baby quilt, but the fabrics and colors I selected are for a baby or a toddler. It will be a good size for a toddler to drag around, and it will fit on a baby crib. Usually my baby quilts are smaller, just big enough to wrap around the baby.

I made this quilt from a pattern borrowed from a friend. It uses six fat quarters, and believe me, you use every bit of each of those fat quarters. I had the six blocks sewn together, then I went on a hunt for the border fabrics. I love this turquoise dot fabric (it has purple dots). I purchased enough to use for the back as well as the borders.

Now I can place this UFO into my "finished" list. The Pick-It Fence top still needs its borders. That is my next "To Do" project. I want that quilt in the finished top stage so it does not become another UFO. I do not consider a top "unfinished" or a UFO. I think of it as being in the first finishing stage.

Our weather is a bit cold, but the sun is shining so nicely today. It is predicted that rain is just around the corner, but today is beautiful.

Happy Quilting

Pick-It Fences

All my friendship exchange blocks are sewn together. This picture only shows part of the center portion. The borders need to be added yet. I am going to my Saturday Sampler class tomorrow. The quilt shop there has lots of the new "designer" style fabrics. They are bright and cheerful. I am hoping I can find one I like with my quilt top.

This quilt is going to be larger than I had originally thought it would be. I laid it over my king size bed and it almost covered the entire top of our bed, and I haven't added the borders yet. I am so glad to have these blocks sewn together.

I want to sew any new exchange blocks together as soon as possible after I get them home. I don't want them to become another UFO project. This year I am determined not to produce anymore unsewn block sets or UFOs. I figure if I do not add anymore UFOs to my list, then any UFO I complete will put me on the plus side. Eventually I will have only a few unsewn projects left. Many of those will never become quilts as I took the classes to learn a new technique, not necessarily to produce a new quilt.

A few years ago I took a class from Doreen Speckman. From that class I produced two fish blocks. I learned her Peaky and Spike method. I wanted to take a class from her and it did not matter what the subject matter was, I just wanted to experience her as a teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed the class. I have a signed book plus two darling whale/dolphin (?) blocks completed. I may never put those two blocks into a quilt, or a wallhanging, but I have great memories of Doreen and her fun class. I do not consider those two blocks as a UFO, maybe orphan blocks, but not UFO blocks.

Happy Quilting