For the Birds Blog Hop and giveaway

Thank you Madame Samm for putting together another fun blog hop and to Mary for being our cheerleader. 

It seems quilters really like birds and I’m no exception.  DH and I enjoy watching the birds at our feeder for about nine months of the year and the migration of different species through the area is fascinating.

We have had so many birds hang out this winter and new ones coming through in flocks in the last few weeks.  Red Polls, Mountain, Black Capped and Boreal Chickadees, and the Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are our winter staples.  We have been blessed this spring with flocks of Junkos, Pine Siskins and White Crowned Sparrows and a visit from a beautiful Varied Thrush. 

And these beauties are back in town along with numerous other water birds.

But we’ve put the last bag of seed in the feeder for this spring.  There is so much for the birds to eat in the wild all summer that we don’t feed them when it is warm.  So time to make some cloth birdies to brighten up the yard!

I started out with a few bird flags for the To Boston with Love gathering of prayer flags to show the world’s support for Boston.  Quilters from all over the world are sending flags and they will be displayed at The Museum of Fine Arts Boston from May 23rd through June 16th.  To me birds are a symbol of peace and unity.  Here are my birdie contributions.

You’ll notice a few Boston crabs in the last one  

But then the birdie fun really started!!  I have a clothesline and an indoor drying rack.  I didn’t own a dryer until about five years ago and I still use it only sparingly.  I decided this year that I needed a new package or two of clothespins….  And how about a new clothespin apron sporting birds in the garden…

The bird on the left is a Vireo; I know because they swoop around a pond up  the road in May – mating season I think.  I’m not sure what the other two are… Here is the apron in action.

I am thrilled with how it turned out!!

A big thank you to Sophie from Block Lotto for this fun and easy bird block.  I noticed that others used it during the hop.

And thank you to Leslie from the Seasoned Homemaker for the apron pattern. 

And a big special thank you to M-R from whom I won the wonderful background fabrics in her Fugly giveaway back in February 2012.  They are from the English Country Garden Collection by Rose and Hubble.  Perfect colours for my colourful birds to hide in!!

I do have a giveaway.  A birdie giveaway in fact.  My friend Linda and I were down to the Alaska coast on the weekend and visited the quilt store.  I picked up two 1/2 yard pieces of nice bird fabrics.  The winner can choose the owls or the loons.  And I have a little package of sweet bird buttons as well. 

Everyone is welcome to participate.  Leave me a comment letting me know if you use a clothesline or not.  If you have previously commented on my blog posts in April or May I will give you a second entry.  I will close the giveaway on Saturday, May 18th at noon Pacific Standard Time. 

Please hop on by and check out what others are doing on this last day of the For the Birds blog hop.

http://cariboucrossingchronicles.blogspot.ca  This is me

www.notionnanny.blogspot.com

http://crookedgulleyartquilts.blogspot.com

http://Karamino.blogspot.com

http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.com

www.sewmolliesue.com

http://devotedquilter.blogspot.com

http://mystitchin-n-stuff.blogspot.com

www.quiltscapesqs.com

http://kocanquilt.blogspot.com

http://createinthesticks.blogspot.com

http://terrysquiltingtime.blogspot.com

http://Sewwequilt.com

Janet

The Year of the Finished Project for April - EDITED–I just realized this should be for MAY!!!

Here is my progress for April.

1. Six inch quilt block swap – 2 per month – Done!!

2. Bee Balm block swap – Done!!

3. Block swap adventure – 1 - 12.5 in block – mail by the 25th. Done!!  I was late with this one but got it done before the end of the month.

4. Inchy hexagon swap – 2 hexies per month  Done!!

5. MMM Round Robin – mail by April 30th.  Done!!  Here is a sneak peek.

6. Simply Solids block swap – Done!! 

7. Mystery Muse – finish the second item, which is about half done. Not Done…. in fact no progress at all on this. 

8. Get your Hex On bee – mail by April 30th.  Done!!

9. Charm Pack Table Runner – mail by April 30th - for Terry. Not done.  But Terry is understanding….

* Finish the baby quilt!  Done!!  I finished it at the retreat but I have decided I want to do a little bit more quilting on it.  I will show it once it is really done  

** Put together FIVE blocks for Easy Street! Done!! I only did four, but I’m happy with that! 

*** Finish the table mat I started for the Stitch Me Up blog hop.  It is a gift.  I need to get it mailed.  Not done….    and now it is late enough that it doesn’t matter.

**** Work on the new X and + quilt that I started cutting out blocks for. Done!!  I finished ten blocks at the retreat, but nothing more since then. 

And here is my list for May…

1. Six inch quilt block swap – 2 per month – to be mailed by the 15th.  Michell wants any block in blue and white.

2. Bee Balm block swap – No instructions on this one yet.

3. Block swap adventure – 1 - 12.5 in block – mail by the 25th.  Agnes wants a traditional block in creams, brown, red, gold, green.

4. Inchy hexagon swap – 2 hexies per month – mail by April 30th.  Kathryn wants bright cheerful colours.  This I can do!

5. MMM Round Robin – mail by April 30th.  I haven’t received my block to work on yet.

6. Simply Solids block swap – Mail by April 26th – Shena wants an Alberta Triangle block.  Looks like fun. 

7. Mystery Muse – finish the second item, which is about half done.  This has top priority!!

8. Get your Hex On bee – mail by April 30th.  Yvette wants a hexie flower or two for her Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt.  I have one set of hexies all cut.

9. Charm Pack Table Runner for Terry. This one has to be high on the priority list too.

10.  It’s for the Birds…. I am participating in this blog hop which starts tomorrow.  My day is the 15th.  I have something to show but I would like to make something else.  Like finish my cardinal….

As well I am going to:  

* Finish the baby quilt!  Like get the little bit of quilting I decided to add done…

** Put together FIVE blocks for Easy Street!  Yes five blocks is my goal for this month. 

*** Finish the table mat I started for the Stitch Me Up blog hop.  It is a gift.  I need to get it mailed.  This one also has high priority!

**** Work on the X and + quilt .  My goal for this month is ten more blocks.  A modest goal.

***** Work on the new project that I started…. A postage stamp quilt made with 2.5 inch squares.  It is my new leader and ender project.  I almost have one block of 100 squares finished already!

****** Make a dress for DGD’s doll.  This is to try out the pattern that I won from Lilac Lane.  If it works out well, I will make the same dress for my two GDs. 

That is all.  I would say that is enough!!

Janet

Fun at the Retreat

First a quick update on the concussion.  Although it is not as bad as it was two months ago, I don’t seem to be able to get past the stage where I can do normal activity for about three hours, then have to have a nap.  And if I push it to four or five hours then it takes a couple of days to recover.  I am off work for two weeks and will not be going in at all, am limiting my computer time to three one hour sessions a day and trying to rest, rest, rest.  I am sick of this!!

My new blog header photo is of a volunteer viola that popped up in my pot of chives.  Good thing there is a little bit of spring showing up because mostly it is hiding out.  This is what it looked like here on Thursday.

But the sun is out today and the snow is starting to melt again.

I was thrilled with how much I got done at the retreat despite having to nap and being overwhelmed several times.  First up, my Simply Solids swap block for April.  This fairly simple paper pieced block designed by Lisa just about did my brain in, but ta-da… I did get it done…

Then I made this two very easy blocks for Caroline in the 6 inch block swap.  This block is called Liberate.

In the big bag of scraps I acquired recently there were a number of ends from kaleidoscope quilt cuttings so I made these kaleidoscope hexie flowers for Joke for the April swap.

I put together ten blocks for the X and + quilt.  I am so not sure about these blocks – because there is so much beige and brown in the fabrics.  I am going to finish this quilt regardless, but I’m sure hoping it will brighten up as I make more blocks.  Or I might have to use a sashing…

And I made FOUR blocks for Easy Street…. and put together all the pieces for parts two and three.  This quilt is on my design wall now and is staying there until it is done. 

And lastly I started a new project – just a little one, a fun one. But I can’t show it yet. 

Janet

Sunday evening coming down….

I’m back from the retreat.  I had to rest a lot and I’m exhausted today but it was tons of fun.  Look at this sea of quilts that were made…

I arrived home to find many little parcels waiting for me… So fun!  Here are a couple of the items I received…

My March hexie flowers from Gemma in England.

My April 6 inch blocks from Carolyn in Australia.  She sent three lovely ones.

My 6 inch swap partners will be happy to know that I finally have enough of these Cathy’s Campfire blocks and I’ve changed my ask to something new. ( Many people have struggled with making the little flying geese)

I’ll be back when I’m not so tired to show you what I worked on at the retreat.

Janet

My March finish, a new bird and off to retreat`

I was so tired when I posted the other night that I completely forgot what I wanted to post about.  I am getting better a little bit more every day, but I tend to push myself too hard and then I get dizzy and very tired.  But you may notice I am spending more time on the computer and I have driven into town twice.  I worked today and won’t go back again until next Tuesday.  I’ll be at retreat Thursday through Sunday!! Yay!!  I bought a foam mattress and will take a pillow and blanket so I can go in the back room and lie down whenever I feel overwhelmed.  We are staying at a hotel that is about 8 minutes walk away but I don’t want to spend time when I need a break going over there.

We have had this “new to our yard” bird hanging around for about a week, but he has been very elusive.  DH managed to get a great photo of him today.  He is a Varied Thrush.  So pretty!

And here is my finish for March – a table runner that I made for DD # 2 for Easter.  Of course it didn’t reach her in time for Easter but she can use it all spring if she wants.

I used a pattern that I won from Janet at Threaded Moose.  A lovely paper pieced star. 

And fabric that I received from Kate Spain.  I blogged about that here – I won two little 2 1/2 inch charm packs and received a huge parcel of her fabric ends as well.  I used a solid purple in the border and a navy that matched the navy in the flowers for the binding.  Here is the back.

I like it as well as the front.  I love Kate Spain’s fabrics.  Here it is on my table at Easter, with the plate of Ukrainian eggs my guests made.

I quilted in the ditch around the stars and a cross through the centre of them.  And the scribble around the outside border.  All in all I was very pleased.  And my daughter likes it too. 

Janet

Weekend progress and some more lovely wins

We have had a lovely weekend weather wise.  Sunny and warm in the day and cold at night.  There were fantastic northern lights last night. I didn’t see them but a friend who photographs them posted a full green sky photo on Facebook. 

Here is a daytime photo of three red Crossbills (two males left and front and a female on the left) and a Redpoll, all enjoying sunflower seeds on this fine spring day.

Most of my activity this weekend has been cutting pieces for the X and + quilt.  There are 19 pieces in each block and I’m starting with 80 blocks.  That’s over 1500 pieces to cut.  I am close to being done.  I have about 120 pieces still to cut. 

And then my grandkids were here visiting and they wore me out.  They are so active.  Besides spending most of the day fishing with their dad – they actually played on the beach – they were both keen to sew.  Here are the pieces they made, both unfinished.  A cape for a stuffy and a blanket for a small doll.  DGD is learning how to put on a binding.  DGS learned that you have to put the foot down before you start sewing or you get a bit of a mess

DGD showed off her prowess in the kitchen by making sandwiches to take fishing…

And her skill with the bow.  She played Little Liza Jane at her Rotary Club recital the other night.  Since we couldn’t make it there she did a replay for us here.

And DGS showed his skill with a bow of a different sort… Can you see how important the set of the mouth is to the aim

I received two more lovely prizes this week.  I had forgotten that I had so much loot heading my way.  Thanks ladies!!

Diana had these three fabulous laminate bags and additional pieces of laminate up for grabs in the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop and MOI won them…

There is a small tote bag, a medium size zip bag and an envelope bag that is just the right size for my kobo.  They are so well and thoughtfully sewn that I feel I can examine them a bit and learn something about how to sew laminate.  Maybe I won’t be too nervous to try sewing up a little bag or two from the pieces of laminate she sent. 

And also in the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop I won a runner-up prize from Marjorie.  She wanted suggestions for using up her jelly roll and charm size leftover batik pieces.  Go to her post here to see all the suggestions she got.  What I got was a nice short stack of green batik squares.  Yummy!

Ta for now…

Janet