In the Garden

Another heat wave here and I am looking for cool colors everywhere.  My white hydrangea has a little visitor.  I hope you can see this baby bug hiding at about one o'clock on this cluster.  He (or she) looks like a daddy long legs or maybe a grasshopper...not sure which.  We all need to stay in the shade today.

Surprise!

Look what I found in my mailbox today.  I am totally surprised, overcome, and deeply grateful for this gift from a quilter I've followed and admired.  Couldn't be happier if I'd won the lottery--really!  I should add that I've been in love with Bow Tie quilts for a long time now.  Have made several, but none so lovely as this little beauty.  Life is good...very good, indeed.

Challenge Block #12

Mint green this week.  I picked these fabrics for my mint leaf block when it was 102 degrees in my quilt room.  They were the coolest I could find.  Apparently it did the trick, for it's 62 today and I am cuddling under a lap quilt this morning.  

Color Challenge Update

Here are my latest blocks for V's 15 minutes play color challenge....Grape and Bubble Gum Pink  ( aka Cherry Blossom Pink)

Have Pizza, Will Travel

I know, this has nothing to do with quilting, except I happened upon it on my way to the guild meeting in the city.   But I was tickled by the clever idea....also happens in quilting.  You may not see the sign on the back.  It reads Custom Built by PizzamanMike.com.  Was not open for business at the time, but I will look for it again.  May be a long trip, tho.  Has an Arizona license plate.

A New Toy

Linda Warren came to our Empire Guild meeting on Saturday.  I was mesmerized by her circular designs.  The batiks are rich and varied, but the block is not difficult to machine piece... especially if you use her special Learning Curve ruler...my new toy!

This stunning version uses a single gradation fabric + black.  

Moving Right Along...

Am moving right along with Victoria's color challenge on 15 Minutes Play.  Every week we get a new color to play with.  This week it's Grape, and I immediately thought of Nehi!  Off to dig up some more memories in my scrap basket...

Try

My inspirational word for the year is Try.  This little quilt is the result of a Modern8create challenge.  My first attempt at pieced lettering reminds me of my first grade penmanship class...ink blots everywhere!  I quilted the "crayola" border with perle cotton in Big stitch style...another first for me.  Heck, it goes a lot faster than those ten to the inchers that used to take me forever to finish, and besides I like the way these look, too.  Am reminded of Brenda Papadakis' comment on making Dear Jane quilts..."Done is better than perfect!"