1857 & Little Hazel

Over the last month I have been glad to have many book reviews already reviewed and scheduled. A cold virus was wrecking havoc on my system, moving from head to chest to throat. I did not accomplish very much on my quilt projects but here is what I did get done.

I made the sawtooth outer border on the center of Little Hazel by Ester Alui. Twice. It didn't fit because I was impatient and querulous while ill and did a lousy job. I had to tear it apart, resize the pieces, and sew it together again. I am about halfway through appliquéing the circle to the background square.

Little Hazel center

The 1857 Sampler blocks of the month from Sentimental Stitches had motifs that did not speak to me: woodworking and carpentry tools. I switched them for a quill pen and inkwell and sewing tools on another block. I inserted a toile print in the center of one block instead of a cross. Nothing against the religious symbolism, but I thought it was a perfect frame. I need to size the blocks and add the corner motifs.

I also sewed together blocks I had made before our move nearly two years ago, and intend on having the quilt machine quilted--a first for me as I have always hand quilted. The blocks incorporate shirts from my father-in-law, culled from his closet after his passing to make a memory quilt. I don't have a photo yet!

While looking through old photos I chanced upon these from 1973. We were living on campus while my husband was in grad school and participated in the community garden. While cleaning up we found a rabbit nest. My husband and I raised them until they could eat grass. Every two hours we hand feed them with an dropper. All but one survived.

Seeing this photo my brother asked, "who is that hippie chick?" Lol, I was far from being a hippie but today all my generation are called 'hippies.' 

 

Hope your spring is warmer than ours in Southeastern Michigan! The bird feeder froze solid for two days. Brrr. 

Some New and Old WIP

I have many projects going. Of course, Love Entwined by Esther Aliu, but I also made the first part of Little Hazel, a new quilt by Esther Aliu. She has a great tutorial on her blog and I gathered up my courage to make the star center.

I also have Kona Fox Kits in process. I have the tree leaves done and am ready to start the fox.

Shiba owners love foxes because Shibas look fox-like.

Kamikaze and Suki

And I am going to do a modified version of Vintage Baseball featuring the Detroit Tigers. I am reverse appliquéing the "D" and have reversed the colors to blue on white. I will use those big white corners for some embroidered Tiger Hall of Fame stars!

I am still machine quilting a row by row quilt. (Ran out of thread!)

Of course I have loads of blocks waiting to be made into quilts and quilts waiting to be quilted. Pretty normal situation for quilters! Like my Redwork Alice in Wonderland and Pan American blocks, some Wizard of Oz embroidered blocks, and American History embroidered blocks.

Mirkwood Studios Alice in Wonderland Redwork blocks

Pan American Redwork blocks

Love Entwined

Love Entwined First Border

FINALLY! I finished one border of Love Entwined! The pattern is based on a 1790 coverlet found in Averil Colby's book Patchwork Quilts, and the pattern was designed by Esther Aliu and is available on her Yahoo group.

I am about half way through appliqueing the second short border. The long side borders and corner block patterns are already printed and waiting for my attention. I used some preprinted fabrics for the floral basket.

I cut my applique shapes, thread baste them into position, and needle turn applique. My shapes are not perfect. But it was either tear out, restart, or embrace the wonkiness. Well, I decided to embrace the wonkiness. My colors and use of polkadot fabrics already started me on the wonky trail!