quilted comfort

 A comfort quilt made using the Done For Love Pattern 

by Deb Wendt of Wendt Quilting.

The original pattern calls for appliqued hearts, but I was pressed for time so I left them off.

It works up quickly and can made with or without a border. 

It would look great with some of the new, modern looking fat quarter packs.

To add interest a large medallion diamond was quilted in the center 

with freehand fillers in the open space.

focus friday feature

Dicentra Spectabilis

Bleeding Heart, one of my favorite plants.  

A shade garden gift

that keeps on giving.

Did you know inside the flower are all sorts of treasures?

Mom, remember when we walked the roadside from Gramma's to Place's,

 there were big bleeding heart bushes? 

I think they belonged to the house next to Gram's   

and we weren't supposed to pick the flowers. 

But I did it anyway.

When the flower starts to open it looks like a princess with pigtails.

Pull the flower apart and find some of her magical treasures.

two pink bunnies, 

or sometimes they looked like pink swans 

or even pink whales

a pretty pendant.
 when the pendant is pulled apart and you get it just right
you find
a musical lyre with silk strings

i couldn't get it this time

 i got her earrings

and

ice skates.

 sometimes they look like silk slippers

or even a pair of garden shovels.

the best is her magic wand

look closely at the tip-

it's a tiny star!

 perfect little shade garden treasures

when you see a bleeding heart plant

go ahead and pick a little flower, 

(i won't tell)

see how many hidden treasures you can find.

you can find a story about the treasures here

i don't remember this story,

but i'm guessing i liked making my own up anyway.

Happy Shade Garden Planting!

neutral confusion

Made for the Neutrals Fusion Exhibit 

for Machine Quilters Expo East this past month.

A challenge quilt to use the pattern given and only neutral fabrics.  The neutral fabrics were provided and you could add other neutrals as well as the 1"colored fabric mini border.  

Quilt as desired.

It was a small exhibit, 2 handfuls of quilts or so; all different and unique. 

It certainly was a challenge to use only the neutral fabrics. My border was a little darker than I would have liked, and the opposite side of the fabric was used at that.  

It was what was on hand and I didn't want to purchase anything extra for this piece.

The five flowers on this quilt represent 5 lives lost between the time I received my challenge kit in December, to when I was able to work on the piece in March.

I'll admit-this was a design on the fly, but it was fun to work on a piece of my own.

It's quiet and peaceful and it looks nice where it's hanging in my sewing room.

Celebrating

Jack, Christopher, MaryJane, Georgia and Maizey 

more art to mail

I wanted to see if I could try a new way of bonding silk fibers to silk fabric.

I cut my practice sample into post card sized pieces and finished stitching using a variety of threads.

Now I have quite a collection of postcards to mail when needed.

 I'm thinking I'm going to combine both techniques on the piece below . . .

stay tuned

focus friday feature

... this week was spring break in MA,  i took a spring break and spent it in my sewing room, not the quilting room.

it felt good and i got some fun things accomplished while periodically checking on what was happening outside the window ...

... to celebrate the spring-into-summer weather 

was the return 

of this ...

* * * * * * * * 

 ... i puttered around with the depth of field on my camera to practice shooting through 

the window and screen. 

this tree is right outside the window and by the week's end it was in full bloom.

 and loaded with more bees than I've ever seen

or heard, for that matter ...

* * * * * * * *

 ... and, thanks to the neighbors for planting tulips. i haven't planted tulips in about 12 years; the squirrels always dug them and took them away, so i gave up. 

this year the squirrels dug them from somewhere else and buried them here ...

... so, thank you neighbors ...

and squirrels.

... we are enjoying your handiwork ...

* * * * * * * *

...  thanks for visiting the blog ...

... and thank you for all the kind emails i have received recently.

i'm glad you are inspired by my work and the things i enjoy.

... have a nice weekend and i'll see you back here next week ...

art to mail

painted and stitched

some with crystals and some with beads

 and lots of thread.

focus friday feature

textures of life

off the cuff-

 is a steampunk bracelet

inspired by a collection of vintage sewing stuff,

 upcycled leather from an old pocketbook and a vintage buckle.

Stitched together and zig zagged with brass metallic thread. 

Lined with red felt.

 Then clipped with a repro clasp.

focus friday feature

good

old-fashioned

fun

inching into spring

The inchie  display at our quilt show was a popular attraction.

We gave guests an inchie

explained how to make them

 and encouraged swapping

 If you attended the show, received an inchie 

and were inspired to host a swap,

 let us know!

Check here for inchie info.

It's fun!