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

Brain Freeze

I am tearing my hair out right now with the darn computer

and my photo editing system!

New Blogger isn't helping either.

It's taken me ages to put together the simplest of posts

and in the process I've forgotten half of what I had intended to write.

However this was the start of my day

beautiful sunrise with Venus still hovering in the sky.

So on with my intended day dedicated to more stitching on

Green Diamonds

and the colour is still off plus I now see I have the letter j in Quilter,

I am not going to begin the whole process again so it's going to have to stay.

This new system  is far more time consuming loading up photos.

There is now a grand total of four Postage Stamp blocks

picking up these tiny squares plays havoc with arthritic fingers

and I'm now using tweezers  and the process is

much less painful.

I am overwhelmed with my tubs and other containers

of scraps, something has to be done because they're bugging me,

 some will be given away and the remainder will be

assigned to a variety of scrap quilts.

First up I have a number of plastic boxes which hold a mix of 

1.5" strips and now I need to decide what they will be used for.

A Lego quilt is a possibility,  lots of these around right now,

Julie at Quiltdivajulie

has a whole series of Dumpster Diving quilts, the original was based on

a Lego quilt,

 go visit and you'll see some beauties!

So these are my strips below, boxes are 11" x 14"

and,  apart from the third box, they're mostly Kaffe Fassett Collective

fabrics with a few others mixed here and there.

The strips in this last box are a mix of widths

but I'm happy to haul out the Accuquilt and reduce them all to 1.5"

Any ideas for simple strippy projects gladly received.

One camellia and one rose photos before I go and make a much needed cup of tea,

if I was able to drink alcohol  (doesn't mix with my medications) I'd be 

slicing a lemon into a stiff gin and tonic!!

Sadly I can't remember the name of the camellia below

but this rose is

Buff Beauty

and has a delicious perfume.

All from me, hopefully my next post will be written in a much

calmer frame of mind and with computer, photo and blogger

problems all sorted.

Keep safe and well.

Maureen

Little Bits, Stash Enhancement and Desert Rose

A little while ago I posted about a quilt pattern which I thought

I would like to make - 'Long Time Gone' - I shelved that idea

but it would have made a great title today as I have

been a Long Time Gone with my blog posts!!

Ill health is the reason but I think I'm now recovering

pretty well and moving forward.

Little Bits Quilt

I now have all the strips and triangles cut so shouldn't be long

before this is together, just the first two rows here.

Stash Enhancement

Julie over at  justjulielou blog
posted a photo showing  a piece of Jennifer Paganelli
fabric, I've been trying to track down a shop here in Auckland
which stocked her fabrics, Julie kindly
passed on to me details of one which had a sale on, the above
was the result.
Two Jennifer Paganelli fabrics are in the pieces above and that was really
all I intended buying but they had a few end of bolts on sale,
the purple and lime green came home with me!
Five and a half metres in this piece, I can see a border for a future
quilt.

Desert Rose

was the first QAL I ever took part in - it's still not
finished and that was four years ago!
I've designated Friday as my day to work on
any WIP quilts and this one is first in line.
Only the centre block is true to the original pattern,
I baulked at the applique in one border and from then on
I went my own way! Two more rounds will be added.

Linking up with
Linda at kokaquilts
and
Julie at justjulielou
 for
sew,stitch,snap,SHARE

Happy Quilting

Maureen