Sunday, March 22, 2015

Tree Bird Blog Hop

Tree Bird Blog Hop

Welcome to the Tree Bird Blog Hop!

Imagine my excitement when I came
across this blog hop months ago!

We live in an area where nature is up close,
and birds are a big part of our lives.

Wild turkeys visit in flocks.

We feed seed and suet throughout the cold weather,
and the birds are our constant entertainment.


We often attract more than just tree birds!





This little nest with birds made from radishes has 
been in our home since the children were little.
It was said to be a sign of good luck, and I have 
been known to buy the same for friends moving 
into a new home of their own.

My daughter's hand raised flock is down to 
four, but we've had their sweet 
chirping for 8 years.


The project of this hop was open-ended, and
we could use any bird fabric we chose.
I had a small stash of Charlie Harper's 
birds, and had already made my
in-law's a dog bed out of it for Christmas.
My mother-in-law loves both the 
artist and birds, and I fell in
love with it, too!





 I racked my brain for a month to come up with
something that would be unique, and
also be a good way to show the fabric.
I tried to do a pixelated scene of an
Ohio winter as I saw it from my window.
The squares were too large, and it
really didn't work well.


 I had recently done a quilt with half-square triangles,
and started to play with that idea. I even took
it along on vacation!


In the end, it all came together.


The ground feeders remind me of 
our own window scene.


I had to add the squirrels in, too.
We are in a constant battle to keep the 
squirrels out of the feeders. We
have a Yankee Spinner these days!




This is Ohio, and we might have rain, snow, and sun
within minutes of each other. In it went.




The free-motion quilting was very experimental
for me, and I used a variety of threads
from Aurifil to King Tut.


So many friends were solicited for advice on
this little project, and I'm so grateful. And
many, many thanks to my dear Bee Mate
who spent her afternoon sewing my 
binding on so beautifully, and 
chatting away with us.

Here's a list of todays blogs to visit to 
see more tree bird quilts. 


Friday, March 13
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
Thursday, March 19
Friday, March 20
Monday, March 23






I'm in awe of array and talent in 
this group, and honored to present 
among them.

 Thank you to both Lana and 
Mdm Samm for hosting the 
Tree Bird Hop.



Until tomorrow..
Come on, Doxie Girls.
Let's go sew.

Linking this post with~
Hug-a-Bit Quilts
Cooking Up Quilts
KISMIF
Making Monday
Sew Darn Crafty
Show and Tell Tuesday




Friday, March 20, 2015

Short, Sweet, and Done--Pet Project Show #12


This quilt took me a year to 
complete, and more than once I was tempted to 
not finish it at all. I'm glad I kept at it because 
it forced me to grow my skills. I overcame the fear 
that I would mess up the FMQ beyond repair.
You all told me that the mistakes I knew were
there were not seen by others, so I kept on.
Thank you!



The last post here will give you many details 
of my process.

Now for some show and tell about my
NEW TOOLS.
I went shopping with my husband to
our local mega hardware store. I was 
seriously complaining about my scissors
picking up all my pins. I frequently use a
giant magnet to 'sweep' my floor area, or
skim it over my tables for a quick pin pick up.
Unfortunately, the pins can become the
tiniest bit magnetic.


$1 bought a demagnitizer that fixed my scissors!

Next was a too small, and slippery ruler problem.
I was looking for gripping material to put on my
ruler backs, and came across this 36", heavy-duty
ruler with an anti-slip backing. It has a place to 
keep my fingers up and off the cutting bed, and
it works like a dream!
$20-WOW


Guys have cool toys, and some are way
cheaper than the quilting tool vendors.




Don't forget tomorrow is the Pink Doxies
Pet Project Show. I'll open up the Link Party
just before I go to bed for all you folks living
'Over the Pond.'

Lots to do today, and get ready to show you
next week. I've already been to Miller's Dry Goods 
(my FLQS- favorite local quilt store) early this 
morning, and it was packed with happy 
quilters on the Quilting and Cuisine Shop HopIt
continues through tomorrow.

Time to finish up another quilt top.
Here's a sneak peek at some blocks
so you can see the fun fabrics.
I'm so excited to get it all together!


Come on, Doxie Girls.
Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
Richard and Tanya Quilts
A Quilting Reader's Garden
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Quilt Shop Gal
TGIFF
Planet Penny
and 
Sew She Can


It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 


Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules


Do we have to have rules? 


No worries! It's EASY.



1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left) 
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your 
blog address. It makes it easier for someone 
following your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in 
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show 
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject


Either way you link up, remember it's a party 

here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 
Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until 
Monday, March 16th at midnight. 
Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will 
feature several of the Doxies and my 
favorite link ups.
By linking up, you are giving permission for me 
to post your picture with a link back to your 
blog or Instagram account. 












Wednesday, March 18, 2015

One Day Closer to Another Finish


I started this lovely quilt just about a year ago.
I'd made several for other people, and decided
I wanted one just for me. Something a little
vintage-looking, feminine, sweet maybe.

I started it one day without a pattern, and soon
found myself in a pickle in how it was all
put together. I was pretty new at this yet.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Sewing with Abandon a.k.a. Guilt Quilting



I couldn't resist jumping ahead, and did the middle
block of the Modern Tradition Quilts Charm
Square Quilt Along 2015. It's my favorite!
I kept in the spirit of the tutorials, and 
finished the other 2 blocks provided.

The yellow electrifies the prints, and gives
these blocks a very tropical feeling.
I keep referring to this mentally as
the Casablanca quilt.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Join for FREE! Pet Project Show #11

Compassion
                                                                            
What do you think when you see a sign
with "Free" on it?

I have a tendency to think there's got to be
a catch, or in the case above, 
it's going to cost me a lot. 
'Cuz nothing is free! 

Really?

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Quilts for Guys: Modern and Man-ly & Vintage


 My dad's baby quilt--1930's

I kept my hand in the photo for a size reference. 
Tiny, precise stitches, oh my!


Monday, March 9, 2015

Happy Baby Snapshots Finished



 Yes, it is March, 
and, Yes, we still have snow in Ohio.

Keep the faith! Spring is on it's way,
and this quilt is all ready for a new baby!

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Pet Project Show #10


It's Saturday, and time for the 
Pink Doxies
Pet Project Show.
I'm so glad you're here!

 

Let's look at some of the Doxie Girls
favorite link ups for the past month.

Melissa made this wonderfully scrappy quilt that

appeals to me for it's improvisation, but I love
for it's beautiful story.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Floriography Quilt Finale


Floriography is defined as 'the language of flowers.' 

In times past, sending certain flowers referenced specific things, possibly secret messages or hidden meaning. We've heard of the different meanings of rose colors. Yellow for friendship, red for true love, and so on. Flowers mark milestones in our lives today, and I love both sending and receiving. Give me a bouquet of mixed wild flowers any day over roses, though. I'm all about color, you know?

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

What Would Happen If....?


Today is purely play. I think I've said before that
while I enjoy books and demos to learn how to
do things, my favorite way is to just play with 
fabric and blocks to see what happens.