Back in my Happy Place!!

Computer issues sorted and new blogger working OK for me,

so yes, here I am in my happy place

ready to look through my Kaffe books and re-visit quilts flagged

as possibles to make some time ago, my patchwork notebook from my husband for jotting

ideas, a Laurel Burch mug gifted to me from a local

patchwork shop many years ago, packed with pens and pencils and last,

but not least  my beautiful bright mug rug gifted from 

Wanda at Exuberant Color

a little while ago. She said she thought I would like the colours and she was so right!!

I have all the books by Kaffe apart from two, my first love when I came to quilting 

were Amish quilts, then I discovered KF fabrics and books and my fate was sealed!

However, I'm also a fan of other designer fabrics and above a few new ones

 from

Kathy Doughty

and the top three from

Heather Ross

I'm still making progress with Green Diamonds and my Postage Stamp squares

and also using up some of the strips shown in my last post I've made a start
on a Lego quilt, three blocks only right now.

In the planning stage is a quilt from this book

by Kathy Doughty

this particular quilt has the title 'Madness'

and you can see why

there is no pattern but ideas for

materials, preparation, elements to include and assembly.

On the subject of books I made a purchase last week of the book below

by Sue Ross

first glance at a review had me thinking it was going to be totally focused on
applique/broderie perse

but looking at the few photos shown there I was wrong. 

I have now added four more quilts to my waiting list.

It's an expensive purchase  published by Quiltmania but I''m sure

it may be possible to check with your local library, they may have it on their shelves soon.

Apologies for this long post, I think my mojo is back again and you are all

suffering the consequences in this post.

Following a a medical appointment on Monday at the surgery

 husband and I called in the delicious book shop in the main street,

we are regular visitors and customers but our intention that day was to just browse,

plans are sometimes made to be broken, mine were because heading back to the exit 

I came upon the most beautiful book I think I have ever seen.

Adriana is a botanical artist and each page not only

has a particular flower but the opposite page is given over to a wealth

of information about the plant.

The cover just gives you a tiny hint of what you find inside the book.

I think I had better disappear now but I have two more photos, one of a camellia 

and one of a naughty tuxedo kitty who is very curious and decided to

spend a little time in the laundry room

and this is what I found!

Don't worry, she wasn't in any danger,  no power connected

and I am always very aware of checking out the dryer and washing machine doors

before using. This is the first time I have ever seen her do this.

Last photo, the first Camellia Japonica to flower in my garden this Winter

and goes by the name of Dr Clifford Parks.

To those of you who have managed to make your way to this point without

falling asleep enjoy the rest of your week.

Keep safe and well.

Maureen

Another squirrel and Colorwash 360 Online Course

No sooner does one squirrel escape my little

studio than another appears!

I've begun a quilt using pretty large half hexagons, pattern by

Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession, featured in a copy of

Quiltmania Simply Moderne.

Some of the fabrics are coming from large scrap pieces, others

from fabrics awaiting storing in their respective places.

Just playing with the pieces here on the design wall.

I took the plunge and bought the Hex N More ruler

by Jaybird Quilts, I didn't want to spend the time

copying the pattern pieces from the magazine and cutting from those, the

ruler is fantastic! 

The pattern is called Chain Link Horizons.

I've enrolled for the

Colorwash 360 Online Course

with

Wanda at Exuberant Color

lots of you will be familiar with her stunning

colorwash quilts,  couldn't pass up on this chance.

The nearest I have come to trying to create a blended feel in

a quilt is the one below,

Red Sea Sunset, an HST quilt along a few years ago.

Inspired by sailing through the Red Sea in 1962

on our way to New Zealand from England.

Using mostly batiks and the reverse side of many fabrics

to achieve the b lend from one colour to another.

My Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs fabrics will come into play

with Colorwash 360. first module is on Monday.

Somehow I need to fit in actual quilting and headed for a Tula Pink

quilt top, made last year and basted and backed all ready to go.

Opened the drawer of neatly folded quilt tops and had to take a 'phone call,

when I arrived back someone had found a cosy spot to relax.

I'd like to finish off with a photo yesterday of one of my 

favourite early morning sights at this time of year, the moon with Venus

sitting high above.

Whenever I look at the dawn sky and see the moon, in whatever quarter,

I think of my favourite few lines by Isak Dinesen /Karen Blixen in

'Out of Africa'

“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a color that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?”

Maureen

Colour, colour and more colour........

In the past two weeks I haven't been sewing, not on my own quilts

at least, but I have been quilting and binding a small colourwash piece

which I bought last year from
Wanda at Exuberant Color

I've always loved the stunning colourwash quilts made by Wanda and when
I saw this on her blog I quickly sent off an email!
 Just quilted vertically, the emphasis being on
the colour and placement of fabrics rather than the quilting.

I just had enough of the batik for binding but made a stupid mistake with the scissors
when I came to join the two ends together so
there are a couple of wonky bits, I am waiting for more of the
fabric to arrive then I'll resew.

In the package was a surprise gift of one of her
mug rugs

and what a beauty it is!

For a little colour co-ordination

this day lily is out in the garden,
it doesn't usually flower until August/September,
how come it's putting on a show in March is a mystery.

In the mail today

this will make good bedtime reading tonight and would
have looked a lot better if the postie hadn't
folded it in half when leaving it in the box!

Thanks to all for your good wishes, hope I've not missed
replying to anyone!

Orange Scraphappy Saturday - "H"

The last Saturday of the month for our colour Orange.

 Over this month I have made 10 orange cats so this week thought I would post a shot of the start of a quilt mentioned  yesterday the "H" quilt to be known now as the "H for Heywood" quilt. This  will be made during the Choose Your Own Block Along -  my first link-up on Monday  (see the button on my sidebar)  - and these first two blocks, whilst not totally orange (no surprise there) do have orange in there. Yes they are bold bright colours but there will be a mix of different contrasts in the blocks as I go along. Thanks again to Wanda at Exuberant Color who designed this block and shared the directions for making it on her blog.

H for Heywood

H for Heywood

NOTE: I have been having problems with my camera, the settings seem to have a mind of their own at the moment so please bear with me if there are one or two issues with my photos this should be sorted by my next post Monday. Ther next fun bit will be to see if I get the distortion when I link up with RSC 2014, fingers crossed - again! See what everyone else has completed in orange  here at RSC 2014.