I Like Thursday #143 Birds, stitching, a book, and a hike

Welcome to my weekly post of things I've enjoyed over the week, and thanks for visiting!

You know we are birdwatchers at our house, and enjoy all the bird activity in our yard.  There have been tons of baby flickers, and they are hilarious to watch because they whine like crazy for mom to feed them.  I caught a couple of them out the window the other day.

The "baby" is the same size as the parent!

Our friend, Mr. Great-Horned Owl, slept in our big tree in the backyard all afternoon last Saturday.

Mike caught this photo just when he was waking up.

Each time he (or she  - we can't tell if it's a male or a female) visits, he leaves us a present in the form of scat.  I think that means he's been digesting his morning meal up there.

Now probably only an old science teacher like me would think this was neat to look at, but it really is!  I promise I didn't touch it, just poked at it with a stick...  

You can see bones, feathers, and teeth in the scat.  It's dry and doesn't smell bad - another promise I will make you! 

I liked finishing up some red, white, and blue stars for Covered in Love's summer block drive, and getting them sent.

A few years ago, one of my local quilty friends passed away due to cancer, and her family asked our group to take her stash and make things with it.  Among other things, I got a baggy filled with big, leftover HSTs.  I pulled out the r, w, and b ones, trimmed them to 3.5 inch squares, and used the leftover small parts to make the centers of these stars.  I think my friend would be pleased to know her hsts will end up in Kat's beautiful quilts.

I've enjoyed stitching on another embroidered basket this week from my Gail Pan book.

Time to trace another one!

And I've been working on turning my "mistake" triangles into something!  Read my last post HERE if you want to know about the mistake.

I'm hoping to have a finish to share on Sunday.

I loved this book that I just finished up Tuesday.  Such a good story - I couldn't stop reading to get to the end to find out what happened, but at the same time I didn't want it to end.  You know - that good!

Here's a link to the Goodreads blurb about it, 

if you want to know more.

And, finally, yesterday we went on a favorite hike up in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I'll just share a couple of pictures today.

The view from the trail - 

The trail is called Lumpy Ridge.  Can you see why?

And a close-up from the trail.  The wildflowers were just beautiful!

Hope you're having a great week!  Be sure to visit the other "I Like Thursday" bloggers at Not Afraid of Color.

Quilty Confessions

I like to try new-to-me quilty things.  Sometimes that new block becomes a quilt, sometimes a mini, or even just a mug rug size.

But sometimes things don't work out quite like you expected!

I'm a total novice when it comes to sewing 45 degree triangles, so when I saw Sarah's (Confessions of a Fabric Addict) tutorial for making a sample block from her upcoming Christmas in July quilt along, I thought I'd give it a try.  (Thinking, "Oh yes, I have a 45 degree ruler!)

These pretty fat quarters came in the mail recently from Sarah for participating in her Hands2Help charity quilt drive, so I thought they would be perfect to play with.

The top fabric is much more pink than the orange it comes 

out in the photo - as usual my camera seems to want to change its color!

Sarah's tutorial is very complete and detailed, with lots of tips and photos that make it really clear.  She has you cut some of the pieces larger than they need to be and then trim them to size after sewing.

So far, so good!

I happily sewed up the 8 bigger triangles that I needed, and laid them out together on the table.  

Unfortunately, this was my first hint that something wasn't quite right.

Seven triangles seem to fit together, but what about the eighth one?

But, on I plowed, sewing together pairs and then fours.  Now this really isn't right!

After looking things up online and rereading and figuring, 

I think I've been using the WRONG ruler!   My ruler is the Tri Tool part of the Tri Recs rulers.  I *thought* it was the same one Sarah used in her tutorial.

Oops... 🙄    Evidently the 45 degree triangle ruler is different than the Tri Tool.

I actually took one triangle off and sewed the seven remaining ones together.  (Can you tell that I've already been using the scraps from this ill - fated project in my Bright Hopes blocks?  At least there is a bit of "hope" lol!)

There's only one problem with the block as it is now...

Nope, that's not going to work either...

So, what next?  How about using the Tri Recs rulers the way they're meant to be used?  (That was my light bulb moment!)

Oh yeah, that's going to work better!

These blocks will turn into something!

But that's not what I originally set out to make.  And I'd still like to actually make the original block...  Guess I'd better go find the right 45 degree triangle ruler!

Sharing at Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap!

Bits and Pieces of Pink

I've been having so much fun with my pink scraps and stash this week!  They've been out in all shapes and sizes.

1.5 x 2.5 inch pieces for Tiny Rails -

The bottom block was made last year.  

I've decided to make three of each color, 

but only have one pink block so far.

Here's a picture of these blocks, taken in May, the last time I had them all out!

Then there are the 2.5 inch squares - 

This is a squirrel project, started in June.  

Just a "Can I do it?" kind of thing.

I made two blue blocks like this last month, and then have tried the gradient technique with red, green, and pink since then.

These are so fun to play with!  

It's interesting to look at the photo of these blocks - 

I see pieces I would have changed around before sewing.

Of course, there is a new Tiny Tuesday block.  Love, love, love this one!

Thank you, Angela, for this week's bear paw block tutorial!

And, here and there, in between the others, I've continued making the Bright Hopes blocks.  These are also fun to play with!

And, interestingly, hard to photograph! 

Hope you've enjoyed your bits and pieces of pink this week!  Sharing at Soscrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday!

I Like Thursday #142 - Mail and other Happy Things

Happy Thursday, friends!  How's your week going?  I received some happy mail the other day, a new Gail Pan embroidery book!

I had checked her Christmas book out of the library and made several of the designs back then, but this is the first one I've owned.  I took it to Office Depot and had them cut off the binding and put a spiral binding on it.  That is so helpful!

Of course, I want to make everything in it, like this one - 

But I decided to start with these sweet little baskets.  

After I embroider a few, I'll add some patchwork like the pattern shows and make a little wall-hanging.

These will go into the queue of hand-stitching projects that I'm enjoying these days!

Updated on Saturday - one little basket finished!

Sharing at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.

In other happy things this week, we loved seeing this movie!

A fun story line, good acting, a little romance, and lots of our favorite music - perfect!

I took my new little camera to the fireworks on the 4th and tried out the fireworks setting.  It was fun seeing what I could capture!

I love Rainier cherries!  So yummy!

And I liked this meme that I saw on Facebook the other day.

I definitely have a lot of ideas laying around in my sewing room!

Thanks for visiting today!  Don't forget to check out the other I Like Thursday posts at Not Afraid of Color.

Playing with Pink

What better way to celebrate a new month and a new color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge than to start a new project?!  (I know you're laughing at me!)

I've had a Low Volume quilt on my quilty bucket list for a long time, and after reading this post from Cathy at Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting, I knew I wanted to make some Bright Hopes blocks just to see how I like them.    Cathy found these blocks at Red Pepper Quilts and shared the link where there is a tutorial for them.

Although they do have a partial seam involved in their construction, these blocks are really simple to make, and once I made the first one, I knew what to do.

I've made just a few so far, playing with fabric placement, and trying to answer the question, "Just what is considered a low volume fabric anyway?"

My plan is to stick with fabrics that have a white background (rather than cream or beige) with pops of pink and aqua.   Some stash enhancement may be needed, lol!  My blocks are the 6.5 inch size - 2.5 inch center square and 2.5 x 4.5 outer rectangles.

Meanwhile, I also finished up some Tiny Tuesday blocks.  Last week's kitten in a basket got its gray sashing.

And Libby from Life on the Hill shared a sweet and simple block to get us started on pink!

Thanks, Libby!

I've made 33 Tiny Tuesday blocks so far, which is more than the weeks in the year, I know!  Anytime there was an extra, I made it, plus I've made two blocks twice.  Those duplicates may or may not make it into the final quilt!

But here they all are.  Lots of pretty color!

I have 13 blocks set on point and 20 with the straight setting.  That's something I'll have to pay more attention to as the year goes on as it will definitely affect how I lay them out for a quilt.

There are lots more pink scraps laying around on my cutting mat and sewing table waiting to be sewn up into blocks, so I'd better get back to work!  Looking forward to seeing how the other Rainbow Scrap Quilters got the month started with pink.

Linking up with Soscrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday!

Finished!

Edited to add: Linking up my favorite 2019 finish with purple in it with Sarah Goer Quilts' Show Me Something Purple link-up!


It's not often that I have a finished quilt perfectly timed to share on Friday, but this week I do!

Wednesday afternoon I put the last stitches into my Beothuk Star quilt, "Flowers for Shanawdithit."   I threw it in the washing machine and dryer, and then took it out for some photos.  It measures about 41 inches square.

I quilted it with a pale yellow thread to match the background Kona Butter in wavy lines that intersect sort of like orange peels, and I'm very happy with the lovely texture it gives this quilt.

Backing and binding are this pretty purple.  I don't sew with purple very often - I even had to go buy a new spool of thread to match for sewing the binding!  :)

I think this purple is perfect with the purple flowers in the star design!

I even remembered to make a label, and used up a few scraps doing that.

Thanks, again, to Sandra at mmmquilts for sharing her beautiful design and organizing the QAL!  I truly enjoyed participating and seeing all the beautiful quilts that were created!

Sharing at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday!

And at Quilting is More Fun than Housework for Oh Scrap on Sunday.

I Like Thursday #141 - It's all Good

Happy Independence Day to all of you in the U.S!  What do you have planned for today? 

I'm starting right here -

My favorite morning spot, with my favorite morning beverage, and my favorite view of the birds out the window!

Later on, we'll throw some hotdogs on the grill for dinner and walk down to the park for our city's big fireworks display.  Definitely a favorite tradition!

We've been enjoying all the baby animals in our yard lately, especially the bunches of chickadees who all try to feed at the suet at the same time.  I haven't successfully gotten a picture of them yet, but we did spot this little guy the other day.

Exploring this new universe that he finds himself in!

I love this time of year!  So many things to enjoy.

Sitting out on our back porch with the fountain burbling along.

In spite of my not-very-green thumb, things are growing.

Yay, a tomato!

Pretty flowers that just sort of volunteered right there!

I've enjoyed a bit more sewing with red, white, and blue this week.  The summer block drive for Covered in Love is for R, W, and B stars.

I had a baggy full of leftover HSTs given to me by a friend, and thought I'd see what I could do with them.  So far, so good!  

If you're interested in participating in this block drive, check out Kat and Cat Quilts for details.

I'll leave you with this rock, found in the grocery store parking lot sitting at the base of a light.  A fun surprise!

Have a wonderful day!  I'm joining in, as I do each week, with "I Like Thursday" at Not Afraid of Color.