Anyone Can Quilt

Non Spring, thrifting loot, and fabric love!

So it snowed yesterday.  What the........ 

And today showed promise for some sun!  Until.............

The hail came.  But, we did get to visit these sweet babies at the feed store!

And I did get a little thrifting in.  Here's my loot:

That was fun, and now, for some fabric that will be made into a quilt in the near future.  It's called Shangri-la, by Moda.  I looooooooove this fabric!

And now I leave you, my dear people, with an example of what is not helpful, while I paint the sideboard..........

oh yes he did........

Ready for Spring

I am so ready for Spring weather.  It's been cold and rainy here, and my flowers don't like it one bit.  My tulips are at a stand still, just waiting for warmer weather so they can show their beautiful faces.  And the others just look a bit sad in the shadows.

Where's the sun?

A local woman makes these beautiful garden ornaments out of vintage glassware.  I just love the colors of this one, I think it's sick of the rain too.....

Now brace yourselves for this next picture, it's not for the weak of heart.  It's Mr.Naughty Precious .   Playing with his favorite toy, twisted up pipe cleaners.

Shocking isn't it?  And he can be such a well mannered boy...

Evening stitching...

I recently found this beautiful fabric at my little quilt shop on Main Street.  I fell in love with it!  It's 100% cotton but is very thin and has such a silky texture.  It's so delicate.  It also has a secondary pattern woven into the fabric that shows in the light.  It reminded me of this over at purl patchwork.  When I saw this post I knew I would enjoy making these little hankies! 

These were so easy and fun to make.  The tutorial was great.  The only thing I changed was the monogram stitching.  I decided to use a chain stitch rather than a cross stitch.  I may do some with the cross stitch as well, I just happen to love making those little chains!

I see many more of these in my future.  I think they'd be so sweet tucked into a gift.   Oh, by the way, the fabric is called Summerset Rose, and it's by Moda.  While I was stitching these last evening, my daughters asked me what they were for.  Well, I explained to them that before Kleenex was invented, people would carry a hankie instead of tissues.  That totally grossed them out.  "You mean people wiped their noses with it?!"  They wanted to be assured that this pretty new hankie would not suffer such a fate.  I assured them that I'd only use it to polish my sunglass lenses.  :)

Fuzzy travelers.

Look who arrived all the way from England!  Meet Primrose and Ava.  They've had a long trip and arrived just in time for Easter.  They are handmade by Nicky of the Vintage Magpie, one of my favorite blogs.  Now I would love to put a link right here to her site but I'm having issues.  Let me try again....... ok, this isn't working for me.  She is on my list of favorite blogs to the left there so please pay her a visit! 

This is Ava.  Look at her little sweater!  Hand knit by Nicky of course.  I can't get over how precious and well made these little bunnies are.  They are made from vintage mohair and are packed nice and firm.  They also smell of lavender!  Ava is sweet and silly, and when she does something naughty she hides and giggles.   (And yes, I know we need new windows, don't judge me, it's on the list....)

Here is Primrose.  She is shy and a bit emotional.  She traveled all the way with her little felt bear, and gets very upset when a certain someone hides it from her. 

The girls were so overjoyed to receive their new bunnies and have had so much fun showing them around.  My youngest has already made her bunny a bed out of a cracker box and popcicle sticks, she's working on finishing her quilt.  We have plans of skirts, aprons and monogrammed pillowcases for these little darlings.  Thank you to The Vintage Magpie, your careful work and thoughtful extras are so much appreciated!

"Mama?  I think handmade toys are the best toys in the world don't you?"
Absolutely.

Quilt finished!

I can't wait to send this little quilt to my precious nephew.  It is made with mostly Civil War reproduction fabrics and some shirtings.  The pattern is simple half square triangles.  I sewed them into pinwheel blocks and then added a couple of borders.  The small one is only 1/2 inch, the next one is 2 or 2 1/2 I think.  I don't always remember my measurements!

I quilted this fella with a freemotion swirly pattern.  Very technical hugh?  Here are a few closeups of some of my favorite fabrics.  I think my most favorite of all is what I used for the backing.  Tiny grasshoppers playing pool!  Love them.

And now it's off to Montana to snuggle up with a precious baby boy!