Past Reflections Block 4

This month I have a Mexican Rose pattern for you.  I have no idea if there is a real flower known as a Mexican Rose....perhaps someone can tell me.  This block was amongst a collection of floral patterns I felt suited the project.

This one looks simple, but getting those petals right is a little tricky.  I found that they worked better for me when I added them every second one, then filled in the alternate petals.  Do the leaves and stems first, then add the flowers, and finally the centre.  These instructions are all in the pattern which is now ready to download on the Legend and Lace website.  As always, if you have a problem with the download please let me know and I will do what I can to help.

I am still taking photos with my phone, but I am getting hang of it now.  I have worked out how to enhance the photos and crops etc.  With my camera photos, I have always done that on Photoshop and know all the buttons to press there......so this is a huge learning curve.  These don't look too  bad. 

I finished the last of the Maltaville album blocks, the last one being the top right tulip, number 36.  As I got my Return to Paradise quilt back from basting at the machine quilters, I really would like to move on with that.  These blocks are now ready to be sewn together into a 6 x 6 quilt top.  That is plenty big enough.  I like that there is some blue and other colours in these blocks, as I have enough red and green quilts to do me now.

It is the last few days of the school holidays, and we went to the Zoo on Thursday.

 This is not a real Panda!  but we do have 2 Giant Pandas at the Adelaide Zoo.  They are a great attraction.  Skylar and Katie are having a ride.

 This Cormoran was not at all concerned about us being so close.

 Love these picture opportunities.  They are all over the place.

Next school holidays we plan to go to Monarto Zoo, which is an open plains Zoo, and you can see the animals running around like they should be.  It is about an hours drive, so a good days outing.

Revisiting old projects

When I decided that I wanted to get a few "nearly finished" projects actually finished, I turned up 3 applique quilts, including the Maltaville Album quilt from Quilt Station.  I am not going to make the whole quilt, but have decided to make either 36 or 42 of the blocks.  Have not yet decided when I might stop.  This bird is one of the most beautiful of the collection.  It took me a while to get to it, but decided that it was time.  There are several layers to it.  I took a few photos along the way.  Some were taken with my phone on my lap, so please forgive these.

To start with, you need to do all the circles for the flowers

Then the flowers need stems.  These were a bit tricky to applique.  The original quilt had some of these stems done in embroidery.  I know why now!

I use the "back-basting" method of applique, and got the trunk of the tree in place.

The stems of the tree are a bit skinny, so I needed to make sure I did little stitches and skinny seam allowances.  Luckily this fabric did not fray, so it worked well.

Finally, the bird, which is done in 7 parts, and the little green lawn.  I like this fabric as is looks like there are flowers in the lawn.

I have chosen the 36th block, and will then decide if I keep going or not.  They are 11" finished, so I would still get a good sized quilt, and it would the DONE!

Mary Mannakee patterns

The Mary Mannakee patterns arrived today from the DAR Museum Shop.  They arrived so quickly after a few hiccups getting there.   The patterns are not on the online shop. It was not real easy to find someone to email.  I searched all over the website, and finally found a weeny little link way down the bottom of one page.  My enquiry was anwered by my "new best friend" Beverley who is the Museum Shop Manager.

  The only way you can get them is to ring the shop with a credit card.  I had to work out the time difference to do this.  Once I got past that hurdle and got up with the birds, I spoke with Beverley and it just all happened very quickly.  If you are in that part of the world, you must go into the museum as they are having a wonderful exhibition Eye on Elegance:Early Quilts of Maryland and Virginia.  And say hello to Beverley and send her my regards.

Now, we are all ready to start the classes at Hettie's Patch.  We will be there on the 1st Saturday 3rd Thursday of the month - starting 15th January.  Please ring the shop on (08) 8346 0548 to book your spot.

It is Soooooo hot here in South Australia right now.  At this moment it is 41c, which is way over 100F.  We have bush fires all around the country.  We are hoping for a cool change and some rain later today.  So lets hope so for those poor people fighting the fires.