Monday, April 6, 2015

The Weekend Wrap-up




And what a fabulous weekend it was, too.  The weather started out more like winter, but it ended up very spring-like.  And it was a productive weekend, with a nice chunk of T-time.

Friday morning came dark and early, but the up-side was a longer day spent with my needle and thread.  I continue to make more progress on the quilting and will be going back to add some more quilting to accentuate the secondary design, in hopes to draw it out.  This quilt reinforces what I read over at Kathy’s blog that each quilt is practice for the one that follows.  I’ve learned some lessons with this quilt … even after quilting for 30 years, I still have a lot to learn. 



Saturday was a busy day.  After putting off some housecleaning, I finally bit the bullet and got some work done around the house.  I didn’t do *everything* that needs to be done, but I did make good progress at getting caught up … only to realize (once again) that with housecleaning, you NEVER get caught up.  <sigh>

I also baked the carrot cake for Easter, something I do every Easter.  I laugh every time I pull out the recipe because the description reads: “a moist, healthy and nutritious cake”.  Seriously?  What about the 2 cups of sugar and the 1-1/2 cups of vegetable oil?  or the 3-1/2 cups of confectioner’s sugar in the frosting?  Surprised smile  On a side note, is there really any difference between frosting and icing?

While the cake was baking, I cleaned our hardwood floors.  And as the cake was cooling, I cleaned the bathrooms.  I know … I was a regular Susie Homemaker.  ha! 

But that wasn’t the only thing I did as the cake cooled.  I also cut and sewed together the April BOM selected by the Facebook quilting group I belong to.  It probably took me twice as long as it should have, as my seam ripper got quite a workout (I sewed two pieces together wrong – two times! Grrr).  This block provided another lesson learned.  While it wasn’t perfect, it turned out much better than I’d expected, especially my HST squares.  I’ll wait to reveal the block at the end of the month after I’ve shared it with the group, but I will share the fabrics I chose.  IMG_1399I’m hoping to be able to use that neutral in every block, with blues and reds from my stash … we’ll see if I have enough. 

While keeping DH company as he was cooking our dinner out on the grill, I noticed that our cherry tree had finally started to bloom.  It’s official: Spring has sprung!IMG_3356



We celebrated Easter with our favorite people.  Red heart  We attended worship together, hunted for eggs while the ham and potato casserole baked, had a fabulous lunch and enjoyed the nice weather outside.  Easter 2015DSIL’s sister and her foster child (thus the photo editing) were able to be with us (her hubby was on the road for work and wasn’t able to be come up with them). 

We finished up our weekend, watching the Cardinals and the Blues win (yes, we switched back and forth ... and were amazed that we able to tune in to the Blues game in time to see both goals).  



And while neither one of these were delivered over the weekend, I want to share a couple of upcoming quilt projects.

IMG_1406This is a 45” round holiday wholecloth.  After seeing Kathi use colored threads on her wholecloth quilt, I saw wholecloth quilts in a new light.  No offense to any wholecloth quilters out there, but I always thought that they were rather boring … all the same color.  While handquilting is my favorite part of quilting, I want a pretty quilt when I’m done, so I’ve always preferred a patchwork quilt.  I’m envisioning this with green and red threads, with maybe a yellowy-gold for a few accents.  I think it might make a nice tabletopper for Christmas.

And before I took up quilting lo these many years ago, I did a lot of embroidery.  I’ve been seeing a lot more quilts lately that have been including some embroidery, and I decided that I wanted to make a quilt with embroidery.  It took me a while to find a pattern I wanted to make, and every time I’d search, I’d always find myself going to Crabapple Hills’ Over the River and Through the Woods.  I plan to use navy thread and fabrics instead of black … at some point I need to go through my stash as I have a lot of navy and see if I might need to add some more.IMG_1404



I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

21 comments:

  1. With each stitch and each quilt I too learn something new. And I am sure that I will always learn new things along the way with all my crafting. And I am thankful for that. I love the colors you have pulled out for your Block of the Month club. Look forward to seeing your block all together. Your tree looks so pretty with its new blooms. We still have a while here before seeing Spring. Your Easter sounds so nice with Family, Food, and Celebration. I am excited to see your wholecloth quilt and I love too that you will be using more than one color on your quilting thread. And the quilt with embroidery on it. Another fantastic choice. I am excited for you to get all these new things going. And you are so good about finishing up what you are currently working on.

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  2. when I got my embroidery pattern for the one I am doing the pattern you chose is the other one I was looking at. I love it too. Sounds like you had a perfect Easter. Your whole cloth will be gorgeous. I have thought of doing one too but as you know I have way too many projects going to even think of another! The way Kathy is doing hers is so pretty that I am sure yours will be too.

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  3. I finished my block last night Kathy! I too impressed myself. My accuracy must be getting better, I did Over The River and it was a whole lot of fun! Can't wait to see how your additional quilting changes the look of your Kisses quilt. Happy Stitching!

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  4. Don't you love having your next quilts planned and lined up waiting ahead of time?! Maybe that's why I always feel like there's so much to do! Have a great week. ~Jeanne

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  5. Good morning! It sounds like a wonderful week-end! Happy you had such a good one! I am loving the colors you picked out for your block and am looking forward to seeing it. I am in the middle of making a rag quilt for the baby. I decided to embroider on it as well....though I did use the machine to do it. I've been thoroughly enjoying myself. Hope I get A LOT done on it today as I am running out of time. Enjoy your day!

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  6. It sounds like it was a wonderful weekend - even though it included lots of manual labor!!!!

    The embroidered quilt will be gorgeous. I've seen that pattern done up and it is beautiful.

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  7. Great post--very news-ey! We are recuperating (enjoying quiet time chez Julierose! ;-)) ) after Easter's hulabaloo day! Great fun, but really, exhausting. I also have "Over the River and through the Woods" and need to take it out and begin working it. Perhaps we should give each other a little nudge (wink, wink!!) to begin. I am using blue also--just not sure yet what hue. Are you doing regular embroidery floss or specialty ones? Hugs, Julierose

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  8. Love your BOM fabric choices.
    Looks like a happy Easter crew--and your tree blossoms are so pretty.
    That whole cloth quilt will be amazing in Christmas colors.
    And I really like the "Over the river" quilt in blue/white. I've seen it done that way and it seems more snowy looking to me.

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  9. I take out my Crabapple Quilt pattern at least once a week. I just need to bite the bullet and do it. I love Whole Cloth quilts. It looks like you had a wonderful weekend. I really need to get to that housecleaning today too.

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  10. Ahh - look at all the kiddos :)
    I now want carrot cake. Just send me a piece down, ok? :)

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  11. True, we never to get caught up with housecleaning. I bet your carrot cake is delicious. Sweet picture of the kids. Sounds like it was a lovely weekend and Easter Sunday.

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  12. Kathy, You had a very busy weekend, productive as well. Love hearing all about the different quilts-is the BOM from the handquilting group I belong to on FB? I'm stitching so much on my quilt, hope it is done by summer. Hope you have a fantastic evening!
    Hugs, Noreen
    p.s. your grands are so adorable.

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  13. Love, love, love carrot cake!!!!!!!!!!
    Frosting and icing are the same thing. Like cupboard and cabinet.

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  14. What a great Weekend Wrap up Kathy! I am so excited about the quilt you are working on now too :) I am so glad you got lots of family time in including a little extra family too! Great Easter kid shot you got for sure.. excited about both your upcoming projects! I really like BOTH of them !!!! I also have an embroidery project in my future :) Have a blessed week Kathy! Kathi

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  15. Embroidery is everywhere I think. I just looked at a white blouse with embroidery on it today. It was so pretty. I always enjoy keeping up with your quilt projects. And, I love the fabric in the picture. Happy week!

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  16. You've read about the things I've learned with different quilts. Sometimes it sounds better in my head than it looks in real life.
    I love carrot cake.I wish I could have had some of yours. Hubby thinks it's the worst stuff in the world. He says vegetables don't belong in cake. We all have our thing, I guess.

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  17. I enjoyed catching up with you. My, you've been busy! I laughed at what you wrote about the carrot cake! Ha. So true. Glad you had a good Easter, with family :)

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  18. Sounds like you had a wonderful Easter with your family, Kathy! Don't you just love cherry tree blossoms? Just wish they stayed around longer.

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  19. I'm so glad you had such a nice Easter with your family! Love your upcoming projects and looking forward to seeing them come to life. I'm doing Crabapple's Winter Wonderland embroidery quilt - which reminds me I need to go find it and get back to working on it LOL!!!

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  20. Another crammed full weekend! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

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I am SO glad you stopped by! No proving that you're a robot here ... I want to hear what you have to say! ;-)