Tulip Basket...

It started with this...

A Pattern(that has since been chewed up by Ripley). I made it for my Mom a couple of Christmas's ago.  I loved it-- Bought it as a kit.  But it was small by my standards.

 I got this great Idea about blowing it up to 125% size and making one for myself.  That's what I did.  But when it came time to up a 16 x 24 pieces of wool for the background-- I just couldn't do it.  Call me cheap...but I couldn't.  Plus I was afraid my version may fail... So I took another approach:

I really like it.  It gives me hand stitching at night when I'm too tired too work on the machine.  I haven't decided whether I am going to cut, curve or scallop the ends-- but I really like the difference.

Sunny Morning...

Do you ever have days you just feel like this????  Sometimes a make lists and run on autopilot because I'm  afraid to be caught doing this.... But some days you just need do....

 I don't want to go through life and not realize how great it is....

before, during, and after the snow....

Reasons to Take Your Guys To A Quilt Shop....

That trip to Traverse City with the guys had a payoff... Aside from the jokes and laughter --they were really paying attention...

And they love me....

Chelsey came for a visit and my guys sent this....

Spring fat quarters and Audra's Iris Garden by Brannock & Patek.   

Buttons and Bows...

The season change is taking it's sweet time where I live. in an effort not to waste a day--- on the snow flurry days (yes-- we've had them) and the rainy ones(more than I like to talk about)-- I put this together for my table.

Easy and fun--- the wool applique left me with handwork in the evenings after work.

Hopefully I will get it quilted up tonight and it will be on my table tomorrow.

As always when I make a project without a pattern -- there are blocks and pieces left over.  As I worked on it I would take four or five blocks to work every morning for the corner of my desk.  While being 'on hold' on the telephone or contemplating how to get  a vendor to return a call.. I would study them.

I explained to a coworker that they were' bowties'  ...

'see the bow?!?!'

  'Dog bones --- looks like Dog bones to me'....

Not exactly what I was going for.. but for some insane reason it has stuck with me.  So I'm thinking the leftover blocks coupled with about 475 more will make a great 'dog bone quilt'.  So I'm saving the pieces and maybe keeping a few together to work on day I can't be outside.  Sooner or later the number will be reached and I will have the Bowtie/Dog bone quilt to keep me warm.

Saturday....

The weatherman had predicted rain and 50 degree temps all weekend.  But it was sunny and in the 70's.  For once I'm thankful he was wrong.  I raked and  and uncovered perennials.   

It's still way too early to plant but Don and I have been playing the the garden department of every store.  I saw a clay pot with metallic branches and birds on it.  I flirted with it a little-- twenty bucks.  Don said, "You ought to get it...but a really creative person could do something like that for less than half of the ridiculous price."  The wheels started turning.....

Painted and sealed -- Here is my creation.... Both sides have a crow --- waiting to be filled with a geranium. Quilting will have to wait  for a rainy day --- 

It's what the picture tells you --- no snow in the background.  Shadows from the sunshine....

An Ivy sunning in the corner...

It's Spring...

Giving----

Thanks for giving me a copy of this book.  It arrived Saturday from the mailman. Carolyn shared with me. The envelope was tattered but the book safe and sound.  Jennifer Chiaverini's books are always too good not to share.  So I pass them on after I finish them --- My Mom can't wait.

Quilters are special people.....

Pinwheels and Spring...

While the snow melted I worked on half square triangles

It felt like a million of them...... I ended with enough to make 230 pinwheels..do the math...

The pieces with white fabric made me nervous, but I kept thinking I could always tea dye them.....

Well spring got here... My bulbs I planted are coming up.  There's plenty of yard to rake-- I don't care... any excuse to be outside.

I'm at a stopping point until I get border fabrics but they're still fun to play with.....