Lusciuos Lemons Finish!!

That makes 12 blocks the full set finished! Also progress on CCCQ block below. Very fun!!

Lucious Lemons progress!

There's nothing like appliqueing a few leaves while riding in the car on the way to dd's away games. I just love it! Senior year! It's a very fun ride all the way around and college "spec's" are looking good too for dd! She's amazing! ds is also doing well! He's making it to his 4:45am job and decided to add a few college courses as well - on his dime this time. (Maybe it will stick :) We are so proud of both! They are a blessing!

At last, lemons begin to take shape

Lovely Lemons!!

Simply Delicious Apples!

Apples began in Aug. 2011 - completed in May 2012 with lots of life in between! I love how they turned out. Now I'm starting work on the last block: Lemons! So much fun!

Next is to finish a few selected pieces for the Spinning Spools Quilt Show in Sept. (one needs to go to the quilter before it's too late on time). I will also prep a few blocks for the volleyball and college road trio! Truly enjoying this quilting season of my life!

Invite to West Coast!

This beautiful quilt hangs on the wall in Coral's quilting studio. She is the master of 1/2 square triangle design! Take a look at more photos of the New England quilting weekend to see projects we worked on Coral's blog A Fine Line Studio Her photos of us and our work are much more flattering them mine (which I did not post) since I seem to have caught people with their mouth open, eyes shut etc!

Did you notice the LOVELY Sumac quilt hanging on the wall in her photos? It is her own creation inspired by colorful leaves in her yard a little over a year ago (see tiny photo next to hanging quilt) and brought to fruition during Ruth McDowell's Western Mass. "Designing from Nature" workshop in Western Mass. where Coral and I started our quilting friendship in Oct. 2009.

After reading about my New England weekend, my dear cousin on the west coast assured me that there was fabric and food to be found there too! YIPEE! I have plans to attend a conference in Anaheim, CA in October - right down the street - so to speak from her and she has lined up some great outings while I am there. Can't wait!

I began on the second to last of the 12 blocks of Simply Delicious by Piece O' Cake Designs (an 1996 pattern) before the traveling last week. Applique is always a joy!

Plentiful Pears Photo Finish

Pears are now complete. Pattern is from www.pieceocake.com older pattern "Simply Delicious" 1996. I lack apples and lemons (the two blocks that seemed the easiest) to complete the 12 block set! This is truly a pleasure to create.

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.

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 :)

State Track Meet

Simply Delicious Tantalizing Tomatoes are getting their tops sewn on.







This photo is from last week's regional team win! Today began the State Track Meet ...A great day with the high of 80 degrees and oh so windy - of course - it's Oklahoma! - Thankfully NOT so hot as last weekend. The girls team is doing great and our Track Star Diva made finals in all three events she ran in - without maximum effort (that is saved for tomorrow!)
Go team!
A days worth of the strawberry crop from the little garden by the front door. They pretty much grew themselves! They are on the small side but oh so sweet and tasty!

Simply Delicious Tomato leaves

The iris continue to bloom and the Simply Delicious tomatoes are leafing out too :)

Sweet Pea - Simply Delicious

Just thought I would post this so I could admire it today...while awaiting upload of photos from more recent work. Pattern is from Piece O'Cake deisgns, and it is hand applique. It looks like someone else did it, not me. HA! I love it! These are my my "Baltimore" blocks.
Happy Day Everyone :)

"Sweet Cantaloupe"

Here is the first block I hand appliqued of the Piece O'Cake Design, Inc. pattern "Simply Delicious" (1996). I made it in summer 2006. I am working on my 8th block these days. The patterns have been out of print and before the designers made all the patterns available as downloads, I spent a few weeks tracking down the patterns one or two at a time from quilt shops across the country (online of course!)