Backyard Bees

David took these pictures of the bees in his backyard this afternoon.  Spring is so pretty!

New Project - a Spring Quilt

Nine blocks of the flying geese quilt are pieced together and the backing sections are ready to be assembled......but that's been put aside now for another day.  I am ready to start something new! 

In the April 2010 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting is a pattern call "Flying into Spring" by Eleanor Burns. I like the layout of the quilt  - Flying Geese (again?) with applique flowers and vines - but I'm going to make it in these pinks, yellows and greens from my stash.  I love this colour combination. I'll probably modify the size a bit too - I'd like the quilt to be slightly wider than the pattern.  I'm also thinking about including a few more applique shapes.

I didn't have enough yardage of the small floral print for the background or the large floral print for the backing so I've ordered more from Shabby Fabrics.  While I wait for that package to arrive I've started on the applique shapes.  There are lots of them to make so this part of the project will keep me busy for a while.

Flying Geese - Progress

This is a week off work for me so today has been a full day in my sewing room.  I'm making great progress on the flying geese quilt - six blocks completed so far.  But I don't think I can stay focused on this project much longer.  There are so many other quilts I want to make.  My plan now is to complete three more blocks and finish this as a large table topper.

Ted was supervising my efforts this morning, as always.  I don't think he liked it much when I used the camera flash to take this shot....closed his eyes just at the right moment.

Almost Easter

It's been way too long since I last posted on my blog - but the truth is I haven't been in my sewing room for the past couple of months. Life changes got in the way and I just didn't feel like sewing. That does happen sometimes.

Now I'm feeling back on track though and have been busy in my sewing room today. I finished another large flying geese block and lots of flying geese strips are sewn together ready to be assembled into more blocks.

With Easter just around the corner, I've been out shopping for new rabbits to add to my collection and brought this very handsome rabbit home.

I also worked on this new look for my blog. I've been looking for a new background for a while and finally found one I loved on Scrappin' Blogs . There are some very pretty backgrounds on this site.

Although Ted won't readily admit it, I think he likes rabbits too ;) - curled up with that old bunny I made years ago.

Flying Geese - Finished Block

I completed one block today.... only 15 more to go!

Instead of using the paper piecing templates given in Fons & Porter's magazine to make the flying geese blocks, I used the "Quilt in a Day" small flying geese ruler. It's a super easy and fast way to make the flying geese, but then they finished slightly larger than those in the magazine pattern. My finished complete block measures 22.5", so my finished quilt will be larger too at 90" square.

Flying Geese

Progress on my first quilt of 2010.....

I've made lots of these flying geese blocks and I'm excited about the way I see this quilt coming together.

Of course, while I was laying out the flying geese to sew into sections, Ted decided I needed a little help. If he gives me some space I should have a couple of full quilt blocks done this weekend.


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A Lovely Christmas

It really was a lovely Christmas this year. We had family here on Christmas Eve and again for dinner on Christmas Day. Lots of good food and great company!

I think now though we're all feeling a little like this.... a few too many Christmas treats, right Ted?

Since this is a week off work for me, I'm going to spend as much time as possible in my sewing room (oh, that makes me so happy!). I've gathered a bunch of fabric from my stash and plan to start on this quilt from Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Jan/Feb 2010 issue. Looks like fast, easy piecing....perfect for my first project of the new year.

My Christmas Trees

We set up two trees this year... one in the living room and one on the family room.

Ted thinks under the tree is a great place to hide.

A few of the other decorations around the house.

Starting to feel like Christmas

With December just one more day away, I'm really starting to feel like Christmas (which is a lot better than feeling like the flu for the past couple of weeks).

.... we've put up lighted trees and reindeer in front of the house and evergreen wreaths on the front door and backyard gate. Now we just need a little snow. Next weekend we'll be setting up the Christmas tree in the living room window.


.... Sarah's and David's quilts are ready to give to them in time for Christmas.

(Thanks to Mary Lyn for the lovely quilting and the
super fast turnaround on Sarah's Snowmen Quilt)

and .... our package of lebkuchen arrived from Germany! Lebkuchen are German cookies made with ingredients like hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, orange peel, honey, chocolate. Absolutely delicious! They are a family tradition for us - it wouldn't be Christmas without these treats.