Kim Diehl and Sandy Gervais

 

A while back I reserved a pack of Kim Diehl's new line of fabric, Chocolate Covered Cherries. Got to love a name like that, don't you. I got an email it was ready to ship, and it arrived this week!

 

I was looking through this book for a project to use that beautiful fabric.

 

I was intrigued by this pattern by Sandy Gervais, "Spring Mosaic". 

 

Here are the first few blocks made with that new fabric. I think it's going to work quite well! I'm thinking about adding sashing, though it's not in the pattern.

 

 

I cut most all of the pieces with my Studio die cutter. I love how much easier it makes it for me to make quilts!

 

We've still had no appreciable rain, nor has a "nor'easter" whipped through here, so it's hot. But air conditioning is a wonderful thing! And so is having something to do that does not require going outside. God is good!

 

I hope all is well in your corner of the world and that you are having some fun!  I am thankful for our blog world where we can share our interests, frustrations and happiness!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

Two Baby Quilts

 

We have two friends who are about to become grandparents. 

I saw a fabric called Bramble Patch by Hannah Dale in one of the quilting magazines that arrive here regularly. I just fell in love with it and had to have some. I found it at Fat Quarter Shop online and bought enough to make me happy. 

This first little quilt is made of four patches and framed five inch charms.

 

This one is a framed panel from that line. I love the little forest animals. They are so sweet!

 

I quilted both at the same time using the same solid gray for backing and binding.

 

You can't tell a lot about the quilts here, but they are fresh from the washer and dryer and so wonderfully cuddly! I hope each baby and his parents will love them as much as I do!

 

This is the plaque we placed in Ruthie's garden to commemorate our friend Dawn. 

 

 

Ruthie would like it.

 

The tumblers I cut from batiks have now been assembled into a quilt top. The backing and batting are all ready. Now I just have to get it loaded and quilted!

 

Isn't it good to have plenty to do inside on these so hot days. I seem to forget how hot it gets here in the summer, but I have remembered now! The very best thing to do in Houston is hibernate in the summer and go out and about in the winter!

 

I hope you are finding ways and means to stay busy and happy where you are.

I'm thankful for so many things and for so many people. I'm thankful for you!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

A Quilt for My Friend

 

More years ago than I care to remember I met my friend Carmen. She and her husband lived in the apartment right next door. They had a son the age of our son. Needless to say we became friends and have remained so all these years, even though we seldom see each other in person.

Carmen has a milestone birthday coming up next month and I wanted to make a special quilt for her.

 

 

I like it a lot and I hope she will, too.   

 

 

Mr. Muddling had a birthday last weekend and of course I made a cake for him.

It was delicious.

 

So many pretty things going on. The second from left photo on top is an orb weaver spider who was here for a couple of weeks. The photo to the right of it is the egg sac she left when she moved on.

 

Our daughter Ruthie had a friend in the UK, Dawn. They met years and years ago in an online support group for chronic pain. Though they never physically met, they talked and video messaged and typed a lot and ended up being great friends.  The stone on the lower left is Dawn's latest gift to us. She has always remembered to send us some sort of sweet remembrance on Ruthie's birthday and Christmas. We adopted her after Ruthie left us and she was so proud and happy to be a part of her "Texas family"! We had a sweet message from Dawn's daughter on Tuesday telling us Dawn had passed away last Friday. I know she is no longer in pain and I am so happy for her. I know that she and Ruthie are still catching up. But there is a big hole in our hearts knowing we won't hear those sweet messages of hers. I miss her.

 

This is now a queen size quilt top. Sooner or later, it will be quilted.

    

While I had all those batiks out I cut a nice stack of tumblers. I've been sewing some of them together in between other things. And I'm pretty sure I'll need to pull those batiks back out and cut more!

I really have been busy even though I haven't been telling you about it! One thing I can tell you for sure is I am ready for some cooler weather! 

I hope you are staying cool (or warm as the case may be!), and that you are finding lots of things to do and for which to be thankful. God is still good. And He is good all the time. If you don't already, I hope you get to know Him.

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine