Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Back in the Saddle...

And so glad! After unpacking, picking up clutter, washing kitchen floor, etc., etc., I sat down at the sewing machine and pieced this top, using the inspiration I blogged about last time. The center Birds in the Air blocks are leftovers from a quilt I made six or seven years ago, and several months ago I put them together to be a center medallion for a guild service lap quilt. But then I was stuck as to the next step. I somehow didn't want to just add borders, and I was also stymied by the bold graphic look of the center. It seemed to need to be square, but lap quilts have a size limitation. This solution seems so simple to me now; I just needed a push I guess. Stunning, I say--sort of Amish in Outer Space. But will a nursing home patient want this on his/her lap? We'll hope so. I'll do some grid quilting later this month when I go to a retreat.



While staying with Mom, I sewed the binding on the French fabric/friendship block quilt, so that's done too. It will probably stay on this chair to be used as a lap quilt this winter. I did not quilt it myself; I decided I didn't like it well enough to make the effort, so a quilter from my guild did a simple edge to edge which looks fine.



Kathy of Finishing Lines posted some beautiful photos she called Mother Nature's Coloring Book. That reminded me of this photo I took last wek. I can't remember what this weed is (poke, I think), but it's everywhere around the farm where I grew up. The colors are beautiful, although the whole scene makes me sad.


9 comments:

Debra Dixon said...

I definitely see a glow! Nice to have you back in blogland!

Vicki W said...

Welcome back! We have those poke berries at our house too. Love the colors but hate the mess that the birds make when they eat them!

*karendianne. said...

It's funny. I was reading this post and let myself imagine what was to come. I couldn't. Then I was happily surprised and said outloud: "Now Hey! That's Neat!" so there you have it live... I remember the French Fabric (that was actually kind of a funny post as I recall) and to tell you the honest truth - I like this quilt. I love the photo of where you grew up. Isn't that the way to have a start in life? It is. It was. (even though I complained about all the ways it ruined my teenager life)

Finishing Lines by K.Sperino said...

Pretty lap quilt, warm looking and happy. Someone will love it. So that stuff is called poke? I was looking at it again over the weekend. I was tempted to pull it off the vine and try to squish it up and make a dye as an experiment. Maybe...

Rian said...

It's good to be home.

Libby Fife said...

I really like both of those quilts but that top one really does glow as you said. Amish in outer space. Quick, call NBC...

PS-loved the photos of the farm where you grew up. Very different from where I grew up so that was a treat to see. Thanks:)

jenclair said...

Always nice to come home! I'm still in love with French blue, and the quilt is lovely!

Nellie's Needles said...

Welcome back.
I like both lap quilts ... the boldness of the one and the prettiness of the other.

Those poke berries are wonderful looking, but do make a horrid mess.

Granny Fran said...

Isn't it great that even as the summer plants are giving way to winter, they still provide beauty to our world? Fantastic color scheme.