Sunny Snow

I like how the colors all work together in this block. The decision to make this 1st quilt for myself has birthed some new ideas. One is that I'm going to make a nose to toe size lap quilt. And I do have some ideas about the overall design of the quilt floating around that I need to think about some more.

We woke to blue skies as we are between storms.

The snow is already melting and falling to the ground.

If you click on the photos and enlarge them,

you can get somewhat of an idea of the glistening beauty

of the sunlit snowy branches.

Kristine's dad is giving her a lesson

this morning in driving in snow conditions.

And they are going to buy

a quilting magazine for me after she attends class.

Pretty neat!

Smiles

It's A Block!

I needed a fabric fix.

I couldn't stand waiting anymore

so I took some of the scraps and matched colors and sewed.

I feel better now that I know

this is the way I feel most comfortable piecing quilts.

I'm a liberated quilter!

Well, a very new liberated quilter,

but piecing fabric together in such a way that pleases me

is what makes me happy.

I appreciate quilt patterns, but I like piecing this way best.

How about a block a day?

Every other day? Two a week?

If I make some blocks,

I will get to know how the fabrics should go together.

Sounds like a plan to me.

All these rocks were hiding under the leaves.

My brother and sister-in-law made the bridge.

The pavers don't really belong because they are not natural.

I'm thinking of moving them to the garden.

It is covered with leaves too.

Peaceful.

I would like a solar powered water feature.

The chickens like to wander around and over the rocks.

They check out the basins and have a drink.

Time to lock up the chickens

and go in the house and warm up by the wood stove.

The ladder is there so we can climb up

and clean the chimney cap when it gets clogged.

Doesn't happen very often. 

If you click on the photo

you can see the leaves are still on the garage roof.

As soon as it stops raining I need to get up there

and rake them off.

Smiles

Fabric For Quilt Number Four

My older daughter wants me to make her a quilt. So, I promised that the first quilt I make in the new year will be for her. ( I need to make a quilt for my younger daughter, too.)

My older daughter loves Japanese fabric

and I must admit

that the more I see and handle

these fabrics

I too am falling under their spell.

I am not at all sure if any of these come from Japan,

but they are surely inspired by Japanese art.

Today I picked up a quilting book I had ordered that deals exclusively with Japanese fabric and quilting. It is titled: 

                        

Quilting with Japanese Fabric

by Kitty Pippen

ISBN 978-1-56477-297-8

Click on the underlined title of the book and it will take you to a page on amazon where you can leaf through a few pages and see some of her quilts.

Kitty was born in China and was 80 when she wrote her first book. The quilts in the book are lovely and they have given me lots of great ideas.

Although I would love to take some photos of the book 's cover and the quilts inside and post them, the book says that no part of it may be reproduced in any form... so that's that.

Just now, when I was finding the link above, I noticed that she has another Asian quilting book. I think I will have to order that one too!

Here is the fabric

we have! 

Aren't these carp

beautiful!

Be sure to click on the photos to see as much detail in the fabric as you can. 

Blossoms, Cranes and the Moon

More fabric with scenes of the moon, flowers

and grasses

These fabrics have a silvery frosty sheen to them.

And these are extra gorgeous!

Unfortunately, my camera skills

don't do any kind of justice

to these fabrics.

They are vibrant with color, gold and silver!

And here are my first attempts at making a design for the 

Japanese quilt.

For some reason blogger is trying to be helpful by turning

this photo on its head.

I keep turning it right side up, but this is the result.

Silly thing.

I made these patterns for the quilt

before I got the book.

I like my overall plan.

I'll keep you updated on

my progress

with the "Japanese Quilt."

Smiles