New Pattern--Summer Daze

I love summer.

I've been wanting to make a summer quilt for awhile

and just finished this one--the pattern's now for sale on my website.

The checkers remind me of red-checked picnic table-cloths

and I think the colours convey the bright and cheery mood of the season.

But it took a long time for all the pieces to come together.

I'd made this quilt top a couple of years ago

because I'd wanted to make one with a watermelon garland

but I never much liked how it looked.

So I removed the appliqued watermelons from the border

and set them aside waiting for inspiration to strike

for another quilt in which they could be used.

After I figured out the design above,

I added a new border and reappliqued them to it.

 Whew!

And speaking of redoing projects, I have to share this email I received from a quilting friend in Sweden.  She says,"I just finished your lovely pattern "Around the Block" for the second time (!), as my first quilt ended up staying at my friend's house in CT, USA when we moved back to Sweden (my home country) after  couple of years as expats in CT.
Since I missed my quilt so much. I simply had to make it all over again. " 

Didn't she do a gorgeous job?



Then she said, "I also made two of your "Peaceful Valley" since one of them also got "stuck" back in Connecticut...."

Now, that's dedication!

 Thanks Villemo, and all you other faithful quilters out there!

You're why I do what I do.

Odds and Ends

Lately I've felt like I'm in a bit of a slump.

Maybe it's the time of the year, I don't know,

but inspiration for new projects isn't striking.

What to do?

Well, I guess I could clean up some of my odds and ends

left over from other projects.

So I found some sample blocks I'd made for my first book for Martingale.

This one was from "Prairie Stars".

I made the sample block into a little pillow.

I took my sample block from "Tulip Time",

added some wool applique and embroidery 

and made a little table topper.

 This block was from the cover quilt.

I added some handquilting and binding and made a...
could be a pot holder or a candle mat.


 I had a bunch of strip sets from
(no idea where).
Made them into a double nine-patch block, stitched and bound it.



This was my finished version of "Autumn Equinox". 

My first try at the patchwork center didn't turn out quite like I hoped but
I couldn't bear to throw it away.
So I added a different border and machine quilted it. 

I think I'll keep this one for now. 

The other odds and ends will go to "Creekside Home Decor",

a local shop where I sell things on consignment.

Still waiting for inspiration

but now I've got a bit more space to work in when it (eventually) strikes!



New Pattern--Barnyard Buddies

The flu hit our home this week--yuk.  Who knew there were so many places on one's body that could hurt?  Even my hair!  A good excuse to curl up on the couch with a good book and be waited on for a change!

On to happier topics.  I've actually had this quilt finished for a few weeks but when you live on the wet coast of Canada, it sometimes can take awhile for the sun to come out so I can hang the quilt on my washline and photograph it.  So the sun shone today and it's supposed to rain again tomorrow so I ran out and got the picture.

The quilt is called "Barnyard Buddies" and it will be going to the printer on Monday and will be available on my website right after that.

Like a lot of my projects, there's a mixture of patchwork and applique.

It measures 60" x 72".

I love the quirky animals!

Like the horse with his buck teeth.

The cow, not at all anatomically correct!

Mommy pig so proud of her little ones!

The fat sheep,

And Mother chicken with her brood.

Of course, I've got to stick a crow in there someplace!

Why not on the barn?

 Isn't it fun?

What do you think?