More catching up

Gooseberry Patch

I haven't worked on this in a year, I think.

But I got things to work on this weekend.

The cool weather was perfect for sewing inside. 

This block is the center of the quilt and 30 inches in size, which is hard to see from the photo.

There are 5 different Kansas Troubles greens of the 60 leaves which were cut out and as many red berries for the 50 little berries. 

Then I cut 2 of the other blocks adding the very same holly leaves to  6 by 30 inch pieces. 

To finish these pieces, I just ran a small single seam around the edges using my free motion foot.

I really felt that I could not do a successful solid tight zigzag on these weird shapes.

It feels so good to get some things done and make progress on old projects,

Next, I worked with my wool applique and got the last 2 blocks ready of Henrietta's Fall.

This is such an old project. The original pattern was a free block of the month from Bunny Hill.

The date on it is 2011. 

So now I have some hand sewing for car travel over the next weeks.

And in the evenings I have been doing some outline stitches for some bowl fillers.

This is my 2nd one. 

Summer: what a feeling!   

Winterfest and blocks

Winter celebration. My husband and I had a fun afternoon and evening in Lake Geneva.

We saw snow sculptures, ice sculptures, lazer light shows and more.

  Oh, and yes it was outdoors and cold.

We had fun, despite the cold noses.

But today is the palindrome of the century: 02-02-20-20

And the groundhog saw his shadow. 

Spring is around the corner, right? 

All week I have been plodding slowly through projects. 

Here are my first 6 blocks of Frolic. 

And here is my 3rd block for the Blockheads 3.

 I liked Lisa Bongean's twist of the tiny triangles.

It really is nice to have different examples of the same block. 

Darned if I could get the aqua to look right. 

At the beginning of the week I took out my UFO for Valentine's Day. 

These are 1 and a half inch blocks placed on grid work on an  iron-on pellon.

You lay out your squares, iron to secure, and then fold them together and sew 1/4 inch seam.

Below is a block half sewn. 

And here it is completely sewn. 

I have 3 more and am making it into a wall hanging. 

I spent the Superbowl, taking the smaller ones apart which I did not like.

But I think I will use them as frames around the blocks.

Henrietta: Squirrel!

This is an old UFO  ( not even on my July/August  list).  Squirrel!  Literally.

I don't expect to finish it right away, but keep the handwork going.  As you can see in the weathered paper copy of the layout: the pattern is from Bunny Hill Designs from 2011. At the time is was a BOM free download, and I started it with regular applique.  Those ears and points did me in, just too much detail to hand turn them precisely; so I transferred  to using wool instead.   

This is my lay out of 7 blocks done, so far.  The blocks and thread sit next to the end table where I watch TV. I pick it up when I have the concentration to blanket stitch the edges.  And I finally finished the 3 blocks that were prepped.  So I have 2 more blocks to complete, and then the  border which has additional crows and stars. It also needs various words and buttons for eyes and necklaces.

And, I am not just a one project girl.  

So here is the beginning of my 4th of July Stars and Geese. 

And lastly, the other project I  laid out is my Kim Diehl Simple Friendships 2 QAL. 

I don't like some of my colors, so I am going to redo a couple blocks and piece the small patchwork tucked here and there. And then I can put it together.  It is small. the little blocks are 2 inches finished and the largest in only 6 inches.

Wool applique

 School is out for SUMMER!

Which means time to do lots of fun things like:

Go to the zoo with my grandsons: We had a fabulous day at the FREE  Henry Vilas Zoo and park with the boys. A picnic lunch, a beach, and playground were highlights as well. We treasure each day with them. Of course, they were out cold sleeping on the way home.

Sew, sew sew. Here is the last blocks of week 4 for Kim Diehl's QAL mystery.  These blocks are 4 inches. Now to put it together

Stitching galore:   But I thought I would share the wool applique I have been doing.  I joined a small subgroup of my guild devoted to wool. And I am enjoying it a great deal.  So here are 2 blocks from a Bunny Hill BOM way back to 2012. You can still buy the patterns called Henrietta Whiskers. It has some nice patchwork between the blocks.  I have 2 more of the 9 to prepare. And these couple to put the finishing touches to. 

 We are doing a sharing hexie project which passes to each member in the group:

This one is based off of a Sue Spargo pattern. I learned several stitches for this. My bullions need more practice. There are tiny beads around the edge where the blanket stitch is.

 Here is it added to the starters.

 And the month before, I had a grand time with beads I had.  Funny how most of us chose spring themes. We were just so frustrated with the long continuation of winter weather.