Friday, March 28, 2014

Friendship X and + Block Exchange

Here it is the last Friday in March. So it is time to reveal the blocks Carla and I are exchanging each month. Apparently, I worked ahead and now I'm confused as to which blocks are for March. Did I not take a picture of the four of them together?  Hmm....

I think this is one of them (if only my photographs were more organized, then I would know for sure....)
And here are all the blocks I have made so far:
And the combination of all my blocks along with those I have received from Carla. Aren't they so pretty together?
This is going to be a beautiful quilt!



Thursday, March 27, 2014

2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge: Let the voting begin

 Have you gone to see all the beautiful entries in the Radiant Orchid Pantone Quilt Challenge?
There are really lovely entries in all the categories. And you can place a vote too! Just go here. Voting is open today until 11 p.m. PST.

My quilt is in the mini category. Just in case you were wondering.... :)

Really Random Thursday: 3/27/14

So...one quarter of the year is nearly gone. I don't even want to think about it...

My neighbor brought over these beautiful daffodils.
And our first rose bloomed, the best rose EVER--double delight. If you are looking to purchase a new rose bush, let me repeat. This the best rose EVER.
Naturally, I had to run it through the waterlogue app. Do you have that app on your phone? I confess to being addicted...
Do you pay attention to March Madness? I filled out my bracket this year--based on the mascots, deciding who would triumph in real life.  In the beginning rounds there were two instances of Wildcats playing Wildcats. Tough to choose. Then I had to go with ranking. And how do you choose between the Minutemen and the Volunteers? That was a hard one too.

This bracket was on ESPN--cupcakes for the Sweet 16. No one is a loser here, right?
We had a few drops of rain yesterday. But before that, I got to spend some time in the back yard.
Later in the afternoon, this treat was in the sky. Gorgeous.

Your turn. Remember--at least one random thing should be in your post. And please link back here.







Friday, March 21, 2014

2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge: Radiant Orchid

This is the first Pantone quilt challenge I have entered. It happened on kind of a whim. I was cleaning up my sewing room after a project and started looking at some of my scraps. That very afternoon I decided to recreate the Pantone color card for this year's color of the year. It is a combination of Oakshott and Kona solids.


It's small, 10 x 14 inches, but I'm really happy with it. I also had fun photographing it at my local Lowe's.
 
Category: Mini
Size: 10 x 14 inches
Fabric: Oakshott cotton, Kona solid
Handquilted
Backing and binding: Designed by Saffron Craig
I had to buy a roll of tape at Lowe's, and it proved not quite tacky enough to keep the quilt positioned. But I was able to capture the photo as the quilt fell to the floor...
I had a great time creating this so I hope you enjoy my little quilt.

You can see all the entries here.

I'm also linking up here and here today.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Really Random Thursday, 3/20/14

There was no Really Random Thursday last week. For one thing, we were at the central coast of California. Warmer at the coast than in Fresno? That was weird.
But still...
This happened last week. The mileage on my car turned over to (only) 45,000 miles. It is over six years old. Maybe I don't get out enough.
This is how we water trees in California.
An addition to the wine glass gallery.
A fun purchase. Hey, official baseball season is just around the corner. And you can never start being a Dodgers fan too early.
This is out of currently of stock. Insert sad face.


Maybe...
Seriously...
Full reveal tomorrow.
Self-explanatory.
Your turn.









Wednesday, March 19, 2014

WIP Wednesday: 3/19/14

Do you have a quilting "signature"? I have recently taken up big stitch quilting again, after a lengthy hiatus. It has taken me awhile to get my quilting muscles to work again.

After reviewing numerous tutorials, I picked up my needle and thread again. But we were out of town. I forgot my thimble. I forgot my hoop.

I viewed tutorials to brush up on the technique, and then quilted a few rows. Ripped them out, quilted again, ripped them out again, and repeated the cycle, comparing my stitches to the instructions recommending the goal of the same length, top and bottom. And ripped them out again.

Then I remembered. Each of us has our own quilting "signature," our stitches are unique to us.

When I came home, I put the quilt top in my hoop, put my beloved metal thimble on my finger, did a few rows. It felt finally felt right. And there they were: my stitches, my signature.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Friday fun


Since about the only thing I have to show is what I showed on WIP Wednesday, except that now all I have left to sew are the orange and teal strips, I thought I would show blocks being made by other people.

Not too long ago, after Lindsay's book came out,
a lot of "moderninstabeehives" started popping up on Instagram. I don't even now how many hives there are right now, at least 14 I think. One of them is doing the "neon ninja star," my contribution to the book:

 Here are some of the blocks that I've seen on Instagram so far:

It's so much fun to see other versions of this block!

This happened. I joined as an individual.

And for no particular reason...not that this ever happens to me.
Have a lovely weekend.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Nine


For all you Randomeers and random readers, there is no Really Random Thursday this week.

Our first grandchild, Caleb, would have been 9 today. It hardly seems possible that nearly a decade has gone by since his brief three days with us.
My plan was just to post the picture of my bracelets, a picture I took last year, along with a link to my post from two years ago. But again, I knew I had to add the beautiful song by Laura Story, Blessings, because, to me, it will always be "Caleb's Song"...

In case the video doesn't come up on your device, here is the link.)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

WIP Wednesday: 3/12/14

Well, hello Wednesday. It's been a long time since I've been here.

A while back I read about the Peppered Cottons challenge by Studio E Fabrics. The challenge began in September 2013, with the deadline of March 31st. I had a "lightbulb moment" about two weeks ago.

My plan involved making 288 (!) 3-inch cross stitch blocks. I have worked like a madwoman for the last week. I ordered more background fabric. I ordered the backing. I have no plan on how to quilt.

Finally, last night, I realized that with all things considered, I'm going to have to pass on the challenge. I am not a sweatshop. I would rather enjoy the journey. It will be finished when it is finished. And then I will send a picture to Studio E Fabrics and hope that they like it.

As of today, this is my progress, 202 blocks in various states of completion.

And it gives me time to complete my Radiant Orchid challenge, with a deadline of March 21st. Much more realistic....
I'm linking up to Lee. It's been so long she probably doesn't have a clue who I am anymore.