April 2024 monthly recap..........

Three quilts were finished in April.  The Bear Paw quilt is 68" x 82", Charley in the Forest is 65.5" x 87", and Friendship Star is 62" x 71".  The 2 largest ones were quilted by Robin Diaz and I quilted the third one.

I finished 3 quilt tops that were either cut or started several years ago  The 4th top was started from scratch in March.  The blocks were all made for the neutral 16 patch so it just took a design wall session and stitching it together to finish this 55.5" x 72" top in one day.  Top center is the oldest (1996) with blocks sewn and squares cut with just 2 more rounds needed to be cut to finish it.  It is 36" x 42".  Bottom center was die cut pieces in a box since 2009 so the blocks got sewn and the top sewn together.  It is 39.5" square.   Ah, that felt good to get 3 oldies sewn into quilt tops.  On the right is a 9 patch value study quilt finished at 40" x 49", created March - April.

I spent a lot of time outside yesterday.  In the morning I decided to go ahead and plant my porch pots.  I usually wait until mid-May but the weather predictions for two weeks are warm, even at night.

I tried to hold back and put less plants in my pots this year.  Last year the Lime Sweet Potato Vines just took over and turned into giants so there aren't any this year.

I did get a couple of the black sweet potato vine for 2 of the pots.  The Petunias are supposed to be the wave variety so we'll see if they wave for me this year.

The top of the Red Geranium is cut off on this shot, but I went with red, white and purple with a dash of orange in 2 of the pots.  I saw a butterfly in the front garden yesterday so maybe there will be more butterflies visiting the pots.

Here are the Pansies in the center of the pot I showed yesterday.  The purple is a little darker in real life.

I took some more outside photos but will save them for tomorrow.

In the afternoon yesterday I dug up 13 plants and potted them to give to others.  They will be planted in the ground so I basically just put a little dirt in the pots, put in the plants and then covered the roots and watered them to keep them healthy before I give them away.

I haven't decided whether to plant the tomato plants yet.  I can easily cover the pots if we happen to get a frost warning but covering the tomatoes becomes a chore.

One last quilt top for April.............

I am so happy I finally finished this quilt top, started in 1996 while teaching a class.

It is 36" x 42", another one I won't have to piece a back for.  I have enough of the parasol fabric for the back and binding.  I'm glad I kept the fabrics together all of those years.

I rarely make quilts with just 5 fabrics but this one turned out great, those wonderful 1990s fabrics in it.

I have to document those last blooms on the cactus because I'm not sure I have ever had one bloom this late in the spring.  I remember several in mid-April over the years but not one that will still be blooming on May 1.

I spent a lot of time outside yesterday.  After watching the weather forecast I decided it was safe to plant the first garage pot of Coleus.

Next I planted the Pansies in the pot that sits on a small table on my front porch.  The tag on the yellow ones says they are Wave Pansies.  I'll believe it when I see it.  In the center is one little group of purple ones with golden centers.  After they revive a little I'll take a closer photo of them.  This is the pot that the squirrels and chipmunks un-plant.  I need to find some plastic forks to line up all around the edges.

I dug out a Hosta that got sunburned in this spot last year and gave it to my son.  I bought a Coral Bell that that the tag says gets large to put in the hole.

I started preparing the 3 pots that sit on the porch steps but decided I had done enough for one day.  

I'll work on my monthly recap today and post it tomorrow.

2 finishes......................

This Friendship Star quilt is one of a series of quilts made with solids and prints, inspired by Lynn (check out her blog - she gives cutting and sewing directions for all of the quilts).  It is  62" x 71".  I have finished a couple of the others, zipper and framed 9 patch.

I used a lot of novelty or conversation prints in the blocks so it could be used as an I Spy quilt.

There is one panel down the center of the back and 2 narrower pieces sewn to the sides to make it the right size. 

I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and beige thread to quilt it.  I chose a light color binding and I think it worked great.

And then there is Charley in the Forest.  I have to say this one is near the top of my favorite quilt list.  I started out with the Arboretum directions for the trees by Anne of Springleaf Studios.  After making many trees I got the idea to use my Charley Harper bird fabrics mixed in.  Then I made some larger trees and mini trees to give it a little more character.  It is 65.5" x 87.5".  The trees are all made of Kaffe Fassett Aboriginal Dot in a lot of colors  and the tree backgrounds are Kaffe Fassett collective fabrics.  I think there is one Martha Negley fabric background in there too.

I was lucky enough to find a half price sale on the Charley Harper fabric on the back of the quilt.  I love woodpeckers so it is perfect for this quilt.

The batting is Hobbs 80/20 and the binding is a red/orange Kaffe Fassett older fabric.  Did I tell you how much I love this quilt?

 

A good sewing day..............

We really didn't get much rain yesterday except in the early morning but I had decided I was going to sew since the end of the month is creeping up and I have my self imposed quotas to fill.  I finished the binding on Charley in the Forest in the late afternoon.

Next I cut the setting triangles for my 1996 quilt.  I need to cut 2 more of them and also the corner triangles today.

After that I cut the binding for this star quilt and got it all finished by machine.

There was still a half hour left of the third TV program last night so I started sewing the diagonal rows on this quilt.

Today I'll hang the finished quilts on my double design wall in the basement and take photos.  There are 2 NCIS shows on tonight so I'll keep sewing diagonal rows while I watch them.
 

Inside and outside..............

I spent a lot of time outside yesterday but first, inside.

I hand sewed about 45" on the Charley in the Forest binding.

I trimmed the prints and solids star quilt.  The backing is 3 fabrics.  The one in the middle is a limey green with pink circles.  Since they are opposites on the color wheel I don't know how to describe the color with the mix.

I pulled some fabrics as possible binding.  I'm not opposed to having a light binding because this quilt will probably be for a young person and the darker fabrics may be too dark.

I have narrowed it down to three of the five fabrics I showed.  

Fabric #1

Fabric #2

Fabric #3.

I think any one of them will work so I just need to make a decision.

I forgot to take any photos while I was outside so I took this one from the kitchen window.

One of the garden centers had $15 pots planted with an assortment of annuals so I got 2 of them and put the contents in my hanging pots.  I just had to fill in around the plantings with a little dirt and they were ready to hang.  I'll get a better photo outside some day.

While outside I dug 3 coneflowers and 2 Lungwort and planted them in pots.  They will go to my granddaughter's house at the end of May.  I need to dig more but that was enough for one day.  I also did more cleanup in the front garden and dug out some dandelions.  I'm wondering if I'll be stiff and sore or if my body is adjusting to outside work. 

Another round of squares.............

I cut one more group of squares to add to my 1996 project.  It is the same fabric that is used in the center 9 patches.  I think I have enough of the lightest fabric to cut setting triangles and then I can sew this together.

Another 110" is hand stitched on the Charley quilt.  There is only 108" left to stitch.  I may spread that over 2 days.

The last 2 cacti buds are finally blooming.  I think I can safely say these really are the last blooms.

The Redbuds are in full bloom and now the rain will probably knock a lot of the petals to the ground.  We got a little over a half inch of rain yesterday by 7:30 p.m.  It rained again after dark and more rain predicted for late today and tomorrow and 80 degrees.

Lots of progress................

A new needle finally made it into my longarm machine after days trying to avoid doing it.  I loaded this solids and prints Star quilt and got it quilted.  The thread broke 3 times but it is the So Fine which I hadn't had any luck with for a couple months, with it breaking 5 or 6 times while quilting a small quilt.  I may try adjusting the position of the needle and see if the next one goes even smoother.

I decided one loop in each square would be an easy way to quilt it.

I used a beige thread so it shows better on this block.

After I finished quilting I cut the binding for Charley in the Forest, sewed it on the quilt and got 85" hand stitched last night.  This one will take me at least 3 more days to finish.