THEE Quilt!

Here is the quilt that resulted from the blocks I share in this post. The finished size is about 42" square. There are 36 blocks.
Here's a closeup shot so you can see my swirly quilting. I used a variegated blue thread and was surprised that it showed up so prominently on the quilt. These are the two pieces of hand-dyed fabric that I used to make the quilt. The first one isn't quite as pink and green as the photo suggests, it is more blue and purple. The pictures of the quilt are a better indication of this fabric.

This one was my first attempt at a one yard spiral. It came out ok, but I think it looks better all chopped up!

I forgot to get a photo of the back, but it is pieced remnants of these two fabrics plus a third hand-dye because I didn't have quite enough. I really like this pattern and will probably use it again.

Sweet!

This is my new autumn candy dish ... what do you think?
The talented Leilani led a challenge on Fiber Art Traders, and this was completed in 5 easy steps.

If you look closely, it has "inchies" with beads and shells stitched to it. I think it looks terrific and very festive, sitting on the side table, holding goodies.

The problem is ... I can't seem to keep it filled up. So I guess that means my family likes it too!

The End is Near

Our year-long house front swap on Textile Challenges comes to an end this month. I just completed my last house front for Pam in the UK. Her theme was "In Need of Repair".
Turn down any country road in central North Carolina and you will see bits of the old south ... simple homes, once painted white, with tin roofs and wayward vines still in glorious bloom. These homes have always intrigued me. They are quite modest, but always boast an inviting front porch and I'm sure these homes saw many a summer day with rockers creaking and neighbors stopping by to sit a spell with some sweet tea and biscuits. I am sending a bit of the old south across the pond, to sit a spell with Pam.

Minor Breakthrough

I have figured out how to use the scanner with this borrowed computer and so now I can finally share some of the things I am working on. I should have a new computer soon, but until then, at least I am not totally cut off from the blogging world!
I am working on a baby quilt for a dear friend of mine. Her baby shower is this Friday ... at MY house ... so you know what I will be doing this week. I promised her a baby quilt, and although I'm sure she'd take an IOU, I'd really like to give it to her on Friday. These are the two 6" blocks that will make up the quilt. I have 14 of them done. Not sure how many I want to make, but I know I need to make more!!!

I tie dyed two pieces of fabric. One is a spiral done in Cayman Island Green, Bright Yellow, and um, I don't remember the third color, but it's an aqua/turquoise type. The other was done by banding portions of the fabric and dyed with orchid, caribbean blue, and aquamarine. I love how the different colors show up in random ways when the fabrics are cut up. I think it's going to make a really nice quilt. She doesn't know the sex of the baby, so hopefully it will work for either a boy or a girl. I think it will.

Today's Agenda

Painting Painting Painting ... no not me (I wish!). Today is day 5 of the great house painting adventure. They guys have been working hard and squeezing out every ounce of daylight. There were a lot of repairs that needed to be made, so that took care of the first few days. We've been fortunate that the weather has been perfect this week. Rain coming tomorrow, but I think they will finish up today.

My front door is being painted red as I type this - I think the color is called Fireweed. It's a red with some brown in it. I think I'm going to love it! The house already looks so different.

In the meantime, I am dyeing a color run from Musk Melon (Prochem) to Sky Blue (Dharma). I hope to end up with some nice browns in between. I have never been successful at achieving an even color in my dyed fabric - usually I don't want an even color, so that's fine, but in this instance it would be nice. They just started batching, so we'll see what we get later on.

I am also down to the wire for planning my daughter's "eco-friendly" birthday party, which is tomorrow. I need to make the cake, buy snacks, rent a movie, figure out lunch, etc etc, but I don't really want to leave home with my doors hanging wide open, so I'll get out later. We are going to tie dye silk scarves and make some recycled creations. It should be a good time. Hopefully it won't rain too much! there's always the garage...

I hope you are enjoying your Friday, and that life brings you joy!

A Sweet Autumn Treat

Still no photos - sorry! I am working to build up my bottle cap supply for fall sales, the first of which is in early November. I also learned I have until the end of the month to get those ten little pieces made for the show - so of course, I am procratinating!

We are having some faulty siding replaced on our house this week and soon it will be painted! The new color ... Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay, a soft gray with a blue/green tint. I can't wait! The current color, called Moonlight, is a buttery yellow, so it will look like a new house when it's finished! I'll share photos when I can.

I thought I would leave you with a recipe for a quick autumn treat that is warm and filling and not too bad for the waistline .... enjoy!

Take one apple, core it and cut it into wedges. Put it in a small microwave safe bowl. Top with a small bit of butter (about 1/4 tsp), a sprinkle of brown sugar (about 1/2 tsp), a few raisins and a few chopped walnuts. Microwave 1 minute on high (1.5 minutes if the apple was in the fridge!). Let cool just slightly and enjoy! You could dust it with cinnamon, too, if you want. Mmmmm...

My First Priority: Alzheimers Quilt Sold!

I can't access my photos right now :o( so I have nothing to show you, BUT I recently donated two small quilts to Ami Simms' Alzheimers Art Quilt Innitiative. It is something I've wanted to do for a while. These quilts went with 1000 others (yeah, 1000) to Houston Texas for the International Quilt Festival. All these little quilts are for sale, with proceeds going to fund Alzheimers research.

Ami is sending out "tweets" as quilts sell, and one of mine sold today! I'm so pleased with this! I thought I had a photo of it on my blog, but I can't find it, so if you want to see it, go HERE and it is way down at the bottom - quilt #4428. The other one, which is still available, is the first one that you see on this blog post HERE. I hope it will sell soon!

It must be something else to see all those quilts together!