Just piddlin'

It is spring break. The boys are home, actually, they are in and out at odd hours, but they are mostly home. Gilbert took the week off.

Yesterday we took my baby to be groomed. We took her in the little truck.

It was a little bit snug.

But the de-fluffing was totally worth the trip.

Between loads of laundry and visiting with kids I finished this today

It is the Bluebird of Scrappiness! He, he, he. He loves a quilters stash habitat, noshing on fabric worms is his favorite thing, AND he doesn't mind a little acupuncture now and again.

I also put together this mini top. I used bits from a charm pack of Salt Air from Moda. The pattern is a result of trying to remember a Japanese Cross block...and not quite getting it. I guess you could call it a "Not Quite Japanese Cross.

I'm playing with ideas for a quilt for my son's favorite professor. This is the man responsible for the amazing scholarship program that my boy gets to participate in. Evidently, he has a colorful way of speaking. Noah regularly Tweets "#Shit Doc Says", and tells me not to read them.

That in mind....I'm thinking he needs a quilt that implies those little marks we make when we don't want to actually print out what someone says. Visual bleeps. Check the out....

I started here. Howard's school colors are Red, Grey, and Black.

 

Then I tried it with scrappy blocks from Sweetwater's Reunion for Moda....but I lost the + signs.

This one moves the scrappiness to the big patches used to make the x's, keeps the + signs the same fabric throughout its construction, and adds the red centers. Again, I used Reunion for the scrappy fabric.

What do you think?

 

Ta-done!

It was a lovely weekend full of finishes....made sweeter because they are all original patterns.

First finish - a bed sized quilt started at the retreat last weekend. I made this for the older sister of my boys best friends. My two oldest sons have been best friends with brothers since they were little. The brothers each got a quilt when they turned 16. Their big sister teasingly asked to be a member of the quilt club.

I so seldom get asked to make a quilt, especially one for a girl, that I couldn't resist.

I delivered it to her Sunday morning.

I just have to say....I love, love, love giving good presents. It is the best thing ever. Jessica and her folks were thrilled.

Second finish -

I've named it "In & Out" because of the optical illusion that the sashing makes. I made it with a charm pack of "A Stitch in Color" and some yardage of Kona black and white.

I am totally taken by the bold graphic nature of this little quilt. It is fresh and clean and loads of fun. The pattern is my own design and inspired by the fabric. I wanted to show off the wonderful patterns and colors in the line.

I quilted it in "Fairy Wings" by Anne Bright with King Tut "Cleopatra" thread.

Third finish -

A large-ish mini based on a soon to be posted Quilty Friends block. QF Friendship Stars will be offered as the block of the month pattern on Quilty Friends during the month of April.

And one more photo of my boy. Ben is the youngest of my boys. He is 13 1/2 and full of fun. I had to tear him away from a lovely cinnamon roll and spring break laziness to take these pictures. I don't think he realized that he was in them....I was taking pictures of the quilts. He, he, he. He hates to have his picture taken.

 

Whoooooop!

Oh happy day!

My boy will be headed home soon!

This is my oldest son. Noah. (I know, what kind of parent names their kid Noah? That is the sort of name that used to get kids beat up. I thought the same thing, until I met this little boy 19 1/2 years ago. From the moment I laid eyes on him he could be no one else. He wears it well.)

He is a freshman in college and attends school in a tiny town about 6 hours away. I haven't seen him since the end of December. He is studying to be an athletic trainer (you know the guys who tape ankles and torture athletes) and has been assigned to the girls basketball team. He spent his winter break traveling around the southwest with the team.

I understood that when basketball season is over he was being reassigned to baseball. (his very favorite game). I thought he would have to spend spring break traveling with the team. Yeah for him. Not so much yeah for me. (I can't believe how very much I miss my #1 pig boy. Yup that's right, it says "pig". I love my Noah, but he is severely challenged when it comes to organization.)

I got a text from him saying he is headed home next week. Blaaaaaaah! Coach says it is his roommates turn to give up a holiday. Eeeeeeeeeek!

I am so excited to see him that I don't even care that he will probably bring home a truck load of stinky clothes, spend his time visiting friends, and leave his junk strewn from pillar to post.

This and that....

Spring break is over and my boys are back in school.  They weren't particularly thrilled about getting up at 6:30.  Neither was I.  We managed, with bleary eyes, to get them all out the door on time.

Noah is driving again.  He stopped driving because he broke his left clavicle.  At first it was the pain meds - he couldn't walk straight, let alone drive a car.  Then it was a mobility issue (ha!  not that kind of mobility)  He was wearing a sling and still taking things slowly.  Now it's an "I can't stand being stuck at home all of the time and wearing this stupid sling!" thing.   He isn't traveling very far, and I think he may be wearing his seat belt funny (else it would snap across the offended bone), but he is doing fine.  Thanks for all of your prayers as we traveled through this adventure.

Quilting for others is back in swing again...here are a few quilts that I have done in the past couple of days.

Purple & Turquoise "Gumball" quilt by Kay Moulder



"Kay's Flowers" by Kay Moulder





"Deborah's Quilt" by Janell Hobbs

 

"Solar System" by Paula Keiser




I've also gotten to quilt one for myself.  That is a treat!  My box of tops to quilt for myself is starting to overflow.  It will overflow if I finish anything new.

This quilt pattern is called "Floating 4 patch."  It is made completely from 5" charm squares.  I used several packs and fabric lines from the same designer to get this scrappy effect.

The pattern was shared with my local quilt guild about a year ago.  I'll share it with you...as soon as I find which safe place I put it in.  (Aaaaargh)

Spring Break!!

It's spring break for the students and teachers in my town.  It is a beautiful time of year in North Texas...just a bit chilly or a bit warm depending on the hour, the trees are all in bloom (except the Crepe Myrtle and Oaks they like it warmer) there are perenials in all of the public flower beds.