Block Three

I must say I have caught the needle turn applique bug! This block is called Currents and Coxcomb and  was designed by Janet Treen of Quiltsalott blog.  Her work is spectacular. She is working on a quilt with this block repeated on point with some wonderful trapunto on the alternate blocks that she designed, so inspirational.
This block was a joy to stitch, and I am thankful to Janet for sharing it with me.  With this one completed, I need to choose my next block.  I am torn between the oak leaf and acorn block and the cotton boll.  Living in Arkansas, cotton and oak trees are all around, so I guess either one is appropriate and will be in my finished red and green quilt.  

Block Two

Block two is complete! I love stitching the little birds on this one. Now to choose block number three. I think it will be a block that was designed by Quiltsalott a blogger I follow.  If you want to see some beautiful work check out her site. 

Medallion Block

First off, I must apologize for my photography. I probably should have spent more time trying to center the block. I also didn't take the time to press the block, I figure I will do that before trimming the blocks to their correct size so they can be assembled into a top.

The medallion block of my red and green quilt has been completed.  It is a thirty-two inch block the rest of the blocks for this quilt will finish at sixteen inches.

This block is far from perfect, and one of the reasons I like to needleturn applique is that homemade look.  I think I captured it, don't you?

Most of this block wasn't too complicated, although I did alter the ends of the carnation petals.  I must also admit, I wasn't real careful with  placement, close it good enough for me.
All in all, I will move forward and start a sixteen inch block.  The first one I have chosen is called  Coxcombs with basket and birds! 

Garden walk 2

I put this little slideshow together for my grandson Xander. He is growing his first garden this year.  I am growing tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, asparagus, garlic, potatoes and peppers. In the herb category I have rosemary, thyme, flat leaf parsley, oregano, and chives. My garden is just a small kitchen garden, but I sure do enjoy piddling in it everyday.

Garden Walk

knock out rose

weeks tree rose

knock out tree rose

hybrid tea rose

faded flower on knock out tree rose

strawberry plant blossom

white azalea

future hydrangea blossom

azalea blossom

My two favorite hobbies are quilting and gardening. There are so many quilters that are also gardeners. I think the photos tell it all, its all about color.   As long as weather permits, I usually start my day with a stroll through the yard to see what has changed over night.  This morning there was so much beauty, I just had to run inside and grab my camera.  Hope you enjoy the beauty too!

Temecula Quilt Co's Blessing Baskets

I finished assembling this cute little mini this morning. It was fun to make and I actually worked on improving my piecing. Of course, all the points are not perfect, but I have improved.  I want to hand quilt this, but that won't happen till later this summer.  Too many other things in the works, and I want to give it the time it deserves.
I still need to pick out the fabric for the binding, maybe a red or pink, not sure,  What do you think?

Then there were five

This has been such a beautiful week. The weather has been more than gorgeous, and I have spent a lot of time planting my garden and enjoying the contrast of the green grass with the  flowering azaleas in my yard. The bird feeder has hosted many birds some of my favorites are cardinals, yellow finch and red finches, and the first hummingbird of the season.

What could top all of that, well I was able to finish the final block of the Blessing Baskets Mini offered by Temecula Quilt Co in the month of March. Today I am awaiting the final instructions to see how to assemble these five blocks into a mini!

What's red and green?

Well, I have started my red and green quilt. Ever since I learned to needleturn applique, I have wanted to make a traditional red and green quilt.
I found a used book on Amazon called Red and Green An Applique Tradition by Jeana Kimball. The pattern features a large center block and it is surrounded by twelve smaller blocks.
I started collecting fabric for this quilt over the Christmas holiday when my husband and I visited my sister and her family in Rochester, Illinois.  I discovered a great quilt shop in Rochester called Peace & Applique Quilt Shop. If your ever in central Illinois you need to stop there. They have four rooms filled with gorgeous fabric, the variety was unbelievable.  Then we traveled on to Cookville, Tn to see my inlaws and of course I had to stop at Hancock's of Paducah to find a few more fabrics. So, after finishing my king size Double Irish Chain, I am finally starting my dream of making a red and green applique quilt.

This is the center block, although it is not completed.  I still have to add four pineapples and some swags. So far, I am enjoying the applique, and everything that goes along with learning a new technique. I find it a great way to quilt throughout the year since the summers are too hot down here in Arkansas to be under a quilt quilting. I am not sure how long it will take me to get all the blocks done, but I do know I am really looking forward to the journey.