It's Official

March's Little Quilt is officially done. Machine pieced...hand quilted, washed to a lovely crinkle and bound.
Thank you Cheri Payne for giving us Apple Brown Betty as your blog project for March. I loved making it, complete with planned Cheri- like "mistakes". There is even a make-do in one of the star blocks. Can you find it? Pam Buda would be proud!
I am still trying to work up the courage to grunge my Betty up a bit. I know Cheri would approve; I just want to make sure I will do Betty justice with my staining technique. Now on to next month's challenge(s). What will it (they) be??

March Project is Decided

Over at the Kathleen Tracy yahoo group there is a monthly challenge to make a small quilt. I have basically jumped on board, but don't always make the chosen monthly project. Last month you'll remember I opted to make the alternate February quilt.

Well, the decision is in and on the blog today the challenge for March is Civil War Baskets! This little quilt is from the book Remembering Adelia, one of my favorites by Ms. Tracy. I have them all, but this one just really makes me happy. Better yet, the baskets are one of the quilts from the book I did NOT make yet! Even better yet, my friend Mary Ellen gifted me with a lovely packet of 25 beautiful fabric squares that I think I can use to make these little baskets (keeping my fingers crossed), not that my stash is without choices mind you!

I am so pleased. Time to get planning...my work for the day is done and I have a few hours of me time. Let the basket making begin!!

Meeting Goals and Spring Time in NY

Saw my first fat and very happy robin yesterday on the morning dog walk. Hopping, chirping, finding lots of goodies in the barely frozen ground. Winter never really came to New York, and since it was going to hit 50* I came home and decided that I was going to banish winter from inside too. Living Room shades went into "summer position"- the tops went up followed by half of the lower shade- exposing sunshine streaming through the lower panes. It was heavenly. The dog found Mr. Sunshine- like the little tyke in that newspaper comic "Hi and Lois"- and basked happily. The husband watched golf on the telly, and I found the warm spot on the couch and worked on hand quilting my February Little Quilt project. My hope for today is to get the binding on, and then show it off via a photo. Phew...it is only the 23rd of February and I am looking forward to the March project!

And in other news, Lynne did me the honor of naming me for a Liebster Award as she paid her nod forward. Go visit her, it is a lovely blog!
Of course, I need to pay this forward myself, so here goes- blogs with less than 200 followers that are worthy of recognition:

my dear friend, Noel is quite the artist (and writer). She was one of the competitors in McCall's Design Star contest, she paints and she writes beautifully. It is always a joy to read her posts.

Sharon always has something fun and will time and again give me a smile!

I've followed Nancy for a very long time, and enjoy her primitive style as well as her wildlife photos. The stories of her (wild) animals visits are sometimes quite funny- not that I am sure I'd want a huge black bear munching at MY bird feeders!

Linda shares my love of wool work and has a delightful blog

and then there is Annie who can be counted on for some fun. I feel a certain kindred to her as our lives sometimes leave us missing in action. *smile*

I have others that delight my reading times, but they are tres popular, and have large followings!! I'm sure many of you have already found them. I am also sure you will enjoy some of my (above) lesser known blogging (and personal) friends if you have a look.

And now it is time to officially start the day. My coffee cup is empty, and I have a little quilt that is calling my name after I reacquaint myself with the dish towel and the vacuum. Have a wonderful day, one and all!

Karen

My Workspace

Once again, it is not technically Wednesday, thus the omission of that word from today's post title! You know the old adage: A day late/A dollar short? I'm one up as I'm not a dollar short for a change, and I think any one reading this blog can forgive my being a day late. Life happens, you know!
So without much more fanfare here are two of the current projects on my work table (and the ironing board- which accounts for the weird angle of the quilted piece).

These little (5" finished) blocks are a group challenge from Kathy Tracy's yahoo group. She had collected floral FQs and decided to do some "Romantic Stars". They will be quite lovely. I don't often do lovely, and had a charm pack of Miss Jump's Scrapbag I had forgotten about. I pulled some of my favorite pieces and set to work making Miss Jump's Stars:



I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to set them yet, but I do know the piece of fabric they are lying on will NOT be used *smile*! Stay tuned.

Next up is a little quilt- frankly just a cute square in a square. I had a small piece of a bucolic farm toile and wanted to do something with it other than just sit and pet it. Since I've spent the summer playing at city farming. and being somewhat unsuccessful- darn squirrels. I thought I'd just throw it into the center piece of a little quilt. I love playing in my sizable stash. It's about time I did so. Collecting fabric for years is great- but if it never sees the light of day,it becomes a waste. I get that now!! Won't stop me from collecting, but I've promised myself I will use it not just love it from afar. This little goodie needs only to have the binding finished; I think it needs some defined quilting in the outer border as well. I'm not sure what just yet. It can live in it's present form for awhile, don't you think??



And there you have it! Workspace "Wednesday" on a Thursday no less! But I'm sharing...yes indeed, at least I am sharing.

Karen