Catching up

Some times I feel like I am always "catching up".
It has been a great Spring so far,  but requires a lot of things to do outside.
I have been working in my little gardens.  Time to plant seeds and add to flower pots.
I enlisted my husband and son to help me paint the railings on our front porch.

I recently took a class with Bonnie Hunter. The class I signed up for was "Tulip Fields."
For me, tulips mean red for Spring.  I decided to make my quilt in all shades of red.
I pulled out everything I could find in my scrap baskets that was red, or had some pink, purple, and orange mixed in it. Did not have to cut any fabric.
When the picture on top was taken, I had 8 blocks done.  The one below only shows 4.
I am going to sash my blocks with green fabric, in all sorts of shades.
As of today, 16 more blocks are done, need to add the sashs, and sew to the row that is ready.

Went to a guild banquet a week ago, and wore a gingham shirt to match my gingham shoes!

I am going to like this quilt!

Peonies are in bloom. They are looking so good.

Also, working on the Splendid Sampler.
Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson have been offering a series of 6 inch blocks.
I am still pretty far behind.  It is not about speed.
I collect the patterns, and when I have time, cut fabric for the blocks.
As you can see 14 are done, but fabric for several more is pulled and cut.
The "Tulip Fields" has taken first place for now.

Have gotten quilts quilted that I showed in the beginning of the year.
This is my version of "Gracies Baskets."
I love this quilt.

As you can see, these half squared triangles are from 2009.
There was a triangle exchange at our local quilt shop, and Monique Dillard designed several
patterns for use with them.  I love basket quilts, and these filled the bill.

Wendy Yates, did a beautiful job of quilting it.

The other quilt I recently got back from Wendy is this of individual Hawaiian blocks.
My friend Jo Sheppard actually made all of the blocks.
She had asked if I would like them. Now who am I to turn down appliqued blocks.
I had Hawaiian fabric that was begging to be used with these blocks.

Wendy did an amazing job of quilting this one.
She said she had gotten a couple of books to see what Hawaiian quilters did for quilting.
She hit it spot on.  

I am so impressed with Wendy's work.

I am keeping busy.
My husband had his right hip replaced the end of April.
He had arthritis so bad that he could barely walk.
He is doing pretty good.  Does look like the left hip will have to be taken care of, too.
Getting old is not a lot of fun.  Slowly but surely, I am getting things done.

Hope you are having a great Spring.

Mary