Well, what do you know?

 I don't think I've taken this long of a break in blogging in the 15 years since I started this blog.

I have to admit I've been bogged down with the hand quilting of  my Blackbird Designs "Love Letters" quilt.  I started quilting on January 1st and just finished on June 30th - WHEW!

I did tight rows of echo quilting in the center (that took a whole month) and then decided to do something different from diagonal lines so I would stay interested.  I know me and I get bogged down with the same thing over and over.  I absolutely love the diagonal grid when it's done but I sure don't like actually sewing it.

So, I made a cable template and used it to quilt up and down in the North and South blocks, side to side in the East and West blocks, and diagonally on the corner blocks.

The cabbage roses block is quilted up and down

The pomegranate block is quilted diagonally.

I used my blue water soluble marker to to mark everything and so I had to rinse out the whole quilt when I was done.  I'm a little disappointed - after all that work - the hand quilting doesn't show up very well at all.  

The sun is pretty bright so the colors are bright too.

Sigh, it's done and ready to use.

In between times I have been working on other things.

I finished my Moda Blockheads IV quilt top using Minick & Simpson fabrics, primarily Prairie Paisley II.  I sent it to Ray LaGrange for Quilts of Valor.  He sent me a lovely thank you note that made me feel so good.

One day I felt like sitting at my sewing machine and I didn't have anything to sew.  I had this pattern sitting out on my sewing table.  It is one that I cut out of a Quiltmaker 2002 magazine.  It just looks homey.

 

So, I gathered some OLDIES, a bunch of UGLIES, and some definite HAS BEENS and started cutting out a new quilt.  It took a while to put together and it is no beauty but I enjoyed putting it together (if you don't count all the ripping out).   I'll probably tie it for a car quilt or a picnic or a camp quilt, .

  It will be made to be used and used.

Judge for yourself  ~

The bright sun makes it look a lot prettier than it actually is.

I made the tiny quilt from the Temecula quilt Co.  I think I must have been on Instagram because I can't find the directions on her blog.  It measures 6 1/2" X 4 1/2".  It was really fun to make.

I'm also working on the border (finally) for the Roseville Album quilt.  I didn't like all the Monkey Hands in the original border.  I wanted something much more simple.  So I just appliqueing a scallop. 

 

 

So I've been keeping busy, quilting is never far from my mind

Robin

I'll leave you with some pictures of our trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico at the first of June.

First up is the most amazing bathroom your have ever seen.  I just can't get over how delightful it was.  And I think it's right up at the top as the cleanest bathroom I have ever been in.  I know, I know. . . I went to Sante Fe and I'm talking about a bathroom.  Unbelievable on both counts.

The bathroom was located inside Adelita's.  The food did not disappoint either, I ordered it Christmas.

It was actually that green.  Copper perhaps. . . 

We'd go for miles and miles and suddenly a rock formation would appear all by itself.

It was a rainy day on the way home.  Doesn't this formation look like a early American sailing ship in the ocean on other side of the bank?

Well, it should,  This is Shiprock.  The formation that Shiprock New Mexico is named after and located  right smack dab in the middle of the Navajo reservation.

We saw a lot of rocks that had tumbled down,  I assumed it was because of all the snow last winter and the freeze/thaw cycle.  It went on for miles.

Well, if you've lasted this long - you're a real trooper.  All I've got to say is that I went to Santa Fe New Mexico and was so caught up by all the sights that I only got pictures when I was holding still.  There's so much more to see.

Be sure and check out Design Wall Mondays on Small Quilts and Doll Quilts to see what beautiful things others have made.