Step By Step

  

Spring is arriving, step by step... I'm ready!  I wish I could say it was a steady and gradual shift into spring, but that's not the case. One day we'll have beautiful almost-summerlike days and the next we're plunged back into a day that's cold and blustery, winter still has a grip. 

I've dug out my wintered-over geraniums and potted them up to enjoy the warmer, sunnmy days and get a head start. This year I am also trying my hand at pre-sprouting the dahlia tubers. I hadn't ever done that before but after watching a few youtube videos, and feeling fairly confident that I can succeed, I'm giving that a go. Wish me luck. 

We gathered for the funeral of Phyllis, our dear DIL's mother, on Saturday. I believe that it was one of the most beautiful, music-filled, personal send-offs that I have ever attended. I  am truly blessed to have known her, she was a lovely and accomplished woman in every sense. The service was held at a Methodist church, this hung in the Fellowship Hall there. I am well-acquainted with this style of watercolor quilts and wallhangings. Remember when these were all the rage in the 1990's? I just know that Phyllis would have directed my attention to this when we entered the room, had she been there. She is deeply missed already.

I'm plugging away, on schedule with week #2 of the R,W & B Scrappy QAL through RedRainbootsHandmade and her Sparklers quilt constructed from the strips received in the recent scrappy swap. I am appreciating the relaxed pace of this quilt-along and enjoying the process fully; one step at a time. Stay tuned; this beauty lives up to its name!🎇

And so, after a sedentary winter I have decided to kick my walking regimen into full gear. Sunday's progress as shown above is pitiful, somehow I contracted a short term (thank goodness!) stomach bug. But, yesterday I was feeling great again and back to hiking the neighbohood hills. It's all good. 

Oh, and Augie has a new friend. 

Life is Good!

Amarillo Skies Revised and the Long Distance Runner

I participated in an online fabric swap last year hosted by redrainbootshandmade. I loved the wonderful variety of all the 5" blue squares that I received but struggled a bit with how I was going to use them. Julia, the swap host, offered a pattern to go along with the swap, her pattern was called "Amarillo Skies". It is a great pattern but revised my version a bit to include a blue/gray sashing (stashed fabric that's at least 35 years old!) and stars at the block intersections.  I'm happy with the results, now to find that perfect backing fabric. "Amarillo Skies Revised" measures 62" X 74". While I was stitching ASR I was also piecing a runner, L-E style. 

This is the result, a long distance runner for sure! Made up from long ago pieced 4-patches (1.5" squares) set into a square-in-a-square setting, this runner will serve those sitting at the kitchen island. It measures 113" X 17" and has 1,222 pieces (but who's counting?!?) that all came directly from the stash, nothing was purchased special for this project.

I even managed to piece a backing (and batting) from what I had on hand. Waste not, want not! 

And, just like that, quilting has begun! It's too hot to do much outdoors right now.

How are you staying cool this summer?

Life is Good!