Guidance & writing continue...

The latest installment for "Divine Guidance"

"Divine Guidance" block Emerges

Many of the quilt block designs and inscriptions on Baltimore Album era quilts had religious symbolism. It is a good reminder for day to day living! (Click image for close up).

I loved this block the first time I saw it on Jane's blog (esp. color choice!). It is quite daunting with those sharp points. I have studied about how to do them, but I think it will just take lots of practice. This is my best so far - much room for improvement :)

Here is the latest on the Rose Lyre Wreath...I continue to make progress on my writing each day and that means quilting time at night. .P.S. Missing DD who is on vacation out of state. It is not quite the same with just DH & DS here all the time

Summer work is going GREAT! (Close-Up Added)

My reward for working hard each day --> Quilting and Blogging!
So I get to post (AKA brag) often :) Didn't my red paper cut design turn out nice? It was so fun and carries many happy memories of places and travel times with family as I worked on it. The design idea was inspired by Leaving Baltimore: A Prairie Album Quilt and looking back over the past few months (has it been that long?!) you can see it taking shape. 14x14 size.  Click for detail.
Another red block is getting started soon...Can't wait to show it.

4pm in the shade

This is how my window boxes looked a couple weeks ago. No telling how they will fair with the windy Oklahoma oven-like days upon us.

Lyre Rose Wreath Progress...

This applique is about the most fun I can imagine right now! It is a motivational reward for the end of long days at the library and keyboard.

Jacob's Garden has a new home

Since I am having so much fun with Baltimore style applique, I cannot face going back to applique Jacob's Garden and I don't think I ever will. I really like look of the pattern. I modified the borders slightly so there would be no gaps between applique motifs on each side. (Dolly, compare plastic border overlay template with pattern). However, I would really like to see it finished! So, I "handed it over" via USPS to a good friend who in is a quilting lull. I hope she enjoys it and I look forward to seeing the finished quilt on her blog sometime :)

Baltimore Rose Wreath

I just traced off this pattern for future work...then just had a little more time so based it to background...then it really was calling me to just try a stitch or two...next thing you know I was hooked!! It is a very intricate design from Elly Sienkiewicz's Baltimore Beauties and Beyond Baltimore Album book.

I have been so inspired for months by the beautiful blocks made by Jane. Thanks Jane! Her applique is exquisite! Take a look...(Jane's Threads and Treasures Blog) I knew I would eventually give it a try. Later on I bought the book used online. I viewed a few other historical books on Baltimore quilts from the library and book swap and have been reviewing them often before bed for sweet Baltimore dreams! (no dreams really except day dreams :)

The original pattern that caught my eye on her blog was the Divine Guidance block. It is absolutely lovey! I like it so much but it seems intimidating with the sharp points plus I am not sure of the fabric for it. So, I decided that this block would be the place to start since I have plenty of green that would look the part.

The sewing was completely fun for me and addictive. I began tracing and cutting the pattern then next thing you know I was sewing it while doing a "family movie night" at home on Friday. It was hard to stop even though the movie was long over, I kept going. This represents about 3-4 hours of late night sewing (with some interruptions). It was challenging, but I am sure my skills will improve. I can't wait to work on it some more.

I will post more work in progress as I go as a chronology of my progress (until we are sick of seeing it probably :) It is such a motivational reward to know I can sew on it in the evening after the daily writing work I must do during this summer.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Tantalizing Tomato Finish! (finally posting pic 16x16")

P.S. Yes, on close inspection a few tips/edges of the outermost leaves are not appliqued down. This is intentional - they will cross over on top of the sashing and be stitched there.

End of spring beauty & A small quilt finish

The lilies are fabulous to see every day out the window :)

Krista's baby boy quilt (1 year old now) finished - front & back. Machine sewed on bias binding for the second time on a quilt. It seemed to be a good choice for this purpose (likely lots of washing) and was a challenge to myself to improve skills. Worked on it with moral support (and a reminder how to connect binding ends together) from Mary at a sew in at Quilters Corner. Glad to be finished! They are amused by me as I say I only bring things I don't want to work on to the "sew ins." This is because I need moral support and no distractions or place to divert my attention when I run into snags or just plain don't find this aspect of quilting any fun at all. (Like bindings!) Although I am pleased with the final result and look of the narrow binding.

School's Out for the Summer!

Sneak peek at Simply Pears basting - 2nd to last Simply Delicious block. Tantalizing tomatoes were finished up several days ago. Photo to come.

Lots of changes around here with DH job, the track star/v-ball diva's car, rearranged third bay in garage to fit DD's car, and son home to mow each weekend and do other assigned tasks around working some switchboard shifts.....

It is getting too hot too fast for June (mid 90s)! However, the window flower baskets are looking great - Three Roma & cherry tomato plants have little green tomatoes - a few more hostas planted, much mulch spread in flower beds and around trees - lots of weeds pulled and random bushes that have spouted have been dug up. Working on the BIG paper 2 days so far (in between appearances at the office for various meetings and many family necessities. LOTS more to do to keep on target to work toward finishes for 2011.

Hand applique is something I look forward to most nights. Baltimore style is my current passion.

The iris have faded but violets are all in bloom as well as pink lilies in front. Need a photo of that too :)