Monday, May 28, 2012

The Flags are Flying in Preston

Since Memorial Day got moved around from its former fixed date of May 30, we never know which actual date it will be - just that it's the last Monday of the month.  But the flags are flying, thanks to the Boy Scouts in our area.  Everywhere, the streets are lined with flags to commemorate this day of remembrance.  The day promised to be bright and sunny, but another storm has blown in, but the flags still look bright - red, white, and blue - the best color combination in the world!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Posies for Mother's Day

It is so appropriate that my Mother's Day flowers have blue iris and pink tulips.  These came from Dorothy and Sara, and they are beautiful.  I always think of iris and lilacs when I think of my mother.  No matter how difficult it was, there were the blue-violet iris lining the path out to the shop, the corral, etc., and there were always a few seed packets of flowers for the garden.  She instilled a love of gardening and of flowers in her children (and Dad was a great appreciator and, later, a participant in the choosing of iris, gladiolus, and other flowers for the gardens and flower boxes.)  It teaches us to do those things that are necessary to brighten our day and our lives with beauty.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

A Different Kind of Baby Quilt

This quilt is not quite finished - I finished quilting it yesterday, and still have to get it bound.  That should tame down the wrinkly edges.  This one is for Suzanne's new son-to-be.  I made a very baby-like quilt for the first son with Peter Rabbit fabric.  The second one got a cute quilt with critters of all kinds dancing.   The two older boys have proved to have a profound interest in trucks, tractors, etc. - in other words, all kinds of machines that make noisy sounds, so when I found this Buggy Barn pattern, it seemed like the most logical quilt to make for the third baby boy.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Quilting This 'n That

 Remember the friendship quilt blocks, where 15 of us make a block with the same pattern, take it to guild, and draw names for it (I won the shamrocks - still don't know what to do with them.)  This month was a fun one - sailboats.  Time for summer.
 And this quilt is a take off from a known pattern.  We built three-part flowers, cut them in 1/4s, and then exchanged.  I chose to sew my four flowers together, and then centered another flower in the middle.  Makes a fun, (although unfinished) table topper.  Picture dark blue binding, and you'll get the complete picture.  I didn't realize until Ilooked at this picture that the leaves look like wings.  They are a violation of the law of design that says that odds are better than evens.  Oh, well, another time when I feel a little more fussy.  This project was fun - didn't worry about precision work.