This is a quilt I just finished up on Sunday.  The fabric is Aviary by Joel Dewberry.  It’s an older line, but I wasn’t able to track down any of the fabric until recently.  I made up the pattern using a plain block alternating with what I call a “chaser” block.  You can tell how I quilted it by looking at the close up.  Tony really liked the look–thought it was very modern looking. 

One of my favorite parts of the whole quilting process is pulling out the finished quilt from the dryer.  I wait to wash my fabric when I am completely done with a quilt, because it shrinks up so beautifully giving it a very cozy/aged look.  (WARNING:  This is only a good idea if you buy quality fabric!!!!) 

 

 

 

 

Here is quilt number 2 from Sunday.  I showed this quilt to you before but now it is complete.  It’s very different–my thinking with the pattern is to show how you can make a quilt very simple and show off some of the wonderful large scale prints.  This fabric is from Heather Bailey.  I added a ruffle for a touch of whimsy.  Tony is not sure how he feels about the ruffle…

 

 

 

 

I have discovered that I am a production quilter instead of a process quilter.  I quilt for the finished product, not so much for the process of doing it.  I love the beginning and the end–picking out fabric and pulling the quilt out of the dryer!

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I love holiday weekends!  (That said, I am also very aware of the reason for the extra day off work.)

Most Saturday mornings I try and make something special for breakfast.  Tony goes in early to work and then comes home around 8:15am.  He loves walking through the door, sniffing the air, and guessing what’s cook’n.  I threw a curve ball in this weekend and did homemade donuts.  Very fun and really not hard.  

  I had a letter “O” cookie cutter that worked great for cutting out the donuts.

I did powdered sugar and cinnamon/sugar.  Next time we will have to try glazed. 

 

 

 

 

The north side of my house is being taken over by “Lily of the Valley”–not a bad problem to have!  The smell is just heavenly. 

A darling little bouquet for the house.  (I do believe fairies use these flowers as hats.) 

 

 

Two more quilts finished on Sunday.  I will post pictures in the next day or two. 

I went on a fabulous bike ride with Tony this morning.  Spent the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen–6 batches of freezer jam, 4 loaves of banana bread, and a rhubarb crisp!

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A Beautiful Escape

This weekend the parks in South Dakota encouraged people to get out by waiving park fees and fishing license requirements.  Tony and I were sure to take advantage by heading off to Newton Hills State Park.  We had such a wonderful afternoon and it almost felt like we were back in MN/WI.  It is amazing how much you miss the scenery you grew up in–there were actual woods that we were able to explore today! 

 

Flowers were in bloom all over the forest floor.  I brought my wildflower ID book along and made biological observations for Tony. 

 

 

 

 

We also did a little bass fishing.  We saw them, but they were totally not interested in what we had to offer.  Tony, my personal weatherman and fishing guide, told me it was due to the cold front that moved through the night before.  ahhh…I see…  

 

I must admit my choice of bass lure has to be the scum frog.  It moves on the top of the water so I can see it at all times and it is weedless. 

 

Ticks were out in full force–I’m sure Tony and I picked 20+ off of us.

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A lot has happened in the last few days! 

Spring has come to stay in my part of the country, so Sunday I was overzealous and worked all day in the yard.  Ummm, yes, I could hardly walk the next day.  But boy did it feel good!  I hope to have some dandy garden spots this summer.

My brother and sister-in-law delivered twins on Monday.  Tony and I rushed up to the cities to introduce ourselves to the new little lives.  The new family members are both under 3 pounds, so it was a pretty one sided meeting, but a joy all the same. 

A huge roll of batting arrived on my doorstep Tuesday.  The sewing machine has a lot of quilting to do in the days to come.

Tonight, I have some computer work to do, so I popped myself a big bowl of popcorn to keep me company.  (Tony better get home from city softball soon, or there won’t be any left.)  

I woke up to the birds singing this morning…hope you are enjoying the music at your home as well!

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