Little Bit of This

Little bit of this going on.

And a little bit of that.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes it feels like it takes almost as long to cut out a simple quilt as it does to sew it?
(especially if it's a scrappy quilt)

Rabbits Prefer Chocolate

I finally got the gumption to peek under the lid of that UFO bin, and guess what I found?

True confession time:

An old applique project that just needed a small amount of work to be completed.

Really.

What was I thinking to let this one get set aside?

Over the weekend I was able to finish up the little bit of applique needed on one border.

And then to do the embroidery work on the individual blocks.

Most of the bunnies just needed their eyes.

By Anne Sutton

Rabbits Prefer Chocolate is my most favorite pattern from Bunny Hill Designs.

Anne is such a terrific designer, and I remember absolutely falling in love with her work when I first saw it.

There are a few more details that will be added once the quilt is quilted.

The wheels will have buttons for spokes.

And the original pattern shows quite a bit of ribbon work that is best added later, too.

The bunnies remind me so much of the chocolate bunnies I gave my children each Easter morning in their baskets.

I loved picking out fabrics to make each bunny unique from the others.

So many beautiful chocolate brown fabrics.

Quilt complete and now ready to be quilted.

I figure I'm either veerrry late to decorate for the last few years of Easter, or I'm quite early for Easter 2012.

Happy Quilts

Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

(From the Tokyo Quilt Festival)

I have been thinking lately about how amazing it is to surf the net and be able to find the most beautiful quilts to view while in the comforts of our homes.
Quilts that take our breath away, and inspire.
Thank you to all of you who share your talents with the world, and are kind enough to post pictures of your work.

Doesn't this quilt just make you happy?

Hugs and Kisses

Remember yesterday when I mentioned I found another quilt that had been hidden away on a top shelf with Garden Fence, and all it needed was the binding to be finished?
Hugs and Kisses is now complete:)
I'm not sure if I should be doubly embarrassed, or doubly happy, or maybe both.

Hugs and Kisses was made as a mystery quilt a few years ago at a retreat with Quilts, Etc. in Sandy, Utah.
We did not know the quilt we would be making or the fabric choices.
At the beginning of the retreat each person is given a number. When your number is called you have about a minute to run up to the table and grab a bundle of fabric.
Then you run back to your sewing machine and start working on the first instruction page. Once that page is complete, you go back and get page #2.
By the last page, you begin to see what your final quilt will look like.

Can you see the X (in white) and the O (in orange)?

It also looks a little bit like Tic Tac Toe.

I went to these annual mystery retreats for about 10 years with a group of my girlfriends.

Happy memories.

This summer I have set the goal to seriously work on UFO's.

Most of my unfinished projects have been placed in a big plastic bin.

With a little fear, I've peeked under the lid.

I admit I suffer from a case of Quilters ADD, and seeing those unfinished projects has brought forth twinges of guilt.

I've decided to change my attitude and to think of them as new presents instead!

And I remind myself of the projects I HAVE finished.

Or as one reader commented "Better late than never!"

More this next week of those little surprises in the bin.

Garden Fence

I'm a little red faced about Garden Fence.
Several years ago I finished the top, had it quilted, and then tucked it up on a shelf.
With the best of intentions, I'm sure I was thinking I was just being organized and the binding would go on very soon.
But, you know that old saying:
Out of sight and out of mind.
I'm sure I'm the only one this has ever happened to :)

Maybe I should title this The Forgotten Quilt.
Such an unfortunate occurrence because I really love this design and beautiful fabrics.
I am happy to announce the binding is now on, label attached and the quilt is complete.

Garden Fence by Fig Tree Quilts

I love Joanna's fabrics.
So soft with a vintage feel to her color palette.

Timeless.

And while I'm on the verge of confessions, I have to admit that there was another unfinished quilt in need of a binding sitting right on top of Garden Fence.

Oh my.