A Very Pink Patchwork of the Crosses Block

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A mostly pink block is now done. I wondered about the purple surrounding this one, but it works. I think purple is definitely my neutral for these blocks.


The back:


Mr. Q.O. saw his doctor Wednesday afternoon who, after listening to the symptoms, said we have classic H1N1 symptoms. After thinking that we were over the worst of it, Wednesday was a bit of a setback. The flu headache came back and the fatigue and weakness are definitely still evident. But, compared to many, we have had a very mild dose of it.

One thing’s for sure, I am very glad I had printed so many pieces for the various tops I’m working on. There is no way I could even think about precision cutting right now. But I can grab a spool of thread, a couple of needles and one of those little envelopes with the pieces for a block, and curl up on the couch and piece.

Smudge:


Lester curled up in one of the kitty beds.


Mail, Mail and More Mail

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One thing that made the flu last week more bearable was the mail.

The first thing that arrived last week? A blog giveaway I won from Rachel at Country & Cozy. Three pieces of beautiful linens and two glorious hand-dyed skeins of thread. The only linens I’ve used to date have been cream or white, so I’m really looking forward to working with these. And the threads are absolutely gorgeous!

Next to arrive was this Schnibbles pattern from Mary at Quilt Hollow. I saw the pattern on her blog and mentioned it looked like fun. Next thing I know Mary offered to send it to me. I love making small blocks and these little pin cushions are something I know I’m going to have fun with.

Third to arrive was this package of squares of beautiful fabrics from Nanette at Freda’s Hive. Nanette has some of the most interesting fabrics and shows some almost every Friday. There are some gorgeous ones in this package, along with the cute button.

I couldn’t resist showing a couple of them. This one is absolutely adorable.

As is this:


Smudge, showing how he starts to shape the kitty bed into an oval.

Lester with a very funny look on his face.


Harpsichord Quilt, Row 1

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So that I’m not just working on putting rows together of the Harpsichord Quilt when all the blocks are done, I decided to join the blocks into rows as I go. This is the first 7 blocks of row 1. Four more blocks and that row will be complete.

No border will be added to the China Plates quilt. I’d like to get it quilted fairly quickly, so am hoping to baste it tomorrow. I keep thinking of quilting a spoon, knife and fork on each plate but will probably end up quilting a circle around the centre of each plate.

Simon, a friend who is an amazing photographer, went to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and got some fantastic photos. He was kind enough to allow me to grab this one of an owl to post.

Our home wildlife having a nap:

While our house lion was giving us quite the look!


China Plates Almost Finish

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The plates are all joined, the setting triangles added and, as it stands now, it’s about 26″ square. I’m not altogether sure whether to add a border or not and, if I do, what colour.


The back of the top:


We are, I hope, over the worst of the flu. The headache is finally gone. I don’t think I’ll ever complain about a migraine again. The relief being rid of the flu headache is enormous.

Smudge having a snooze Sunday night.

And Lester on the windowsill, although there’s not much left to see. Most of the leaves are gone, although the odd squirrel makes an appearance to keep him entertained.


China Plate Blocks Done

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All the plates are done. Now it’s just a matter of joining them and adding the black connector squares. With any luck, I’ll have the top finished by the time the weekend is over.

The worst part of this flu has been, for me, the never-ending headache. I fall asleep with it, wake up with it and it’s with me all the time. Compared to what some people have been through with this bug, I shouldn’t complain but I’ll be very glad when it is over.

Mr. Q.O. got this shot of Lester’s paw. Cracks me up.


Smudge showing that he definitely knows how to relax.


China Plates 5 to 22

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There are now 22 of the 25 plates done. They go together in a blink — with continuous stitching around the centres they’re super quick blocks to put together. Stitching these together is about all I’m capable of doing right now. Three left to do and then I’ll press them all and start putting the rows together.


Lester resting on the windowsill after another busy afternoon of leaf watching.


And Smudge absolutely crashed.


China Plates

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When I saw the larger hexagon and square shapes in the new Inklingo collection, I knew I had to make something using the Asian prints I so love. So out came a selection of fabrics.


Which rather quickly got reduced to a pile of patches for 25 blocks:


The first block was made.

And then another three. Black triangles for the outer edges have been printed as have the black connecting squares. For some reason I’m thinking I’ll call this mini quilt China Plates. I’m already playing with ideas for how I’ll quilt it. The top will be done relatively fast, perhaps even by the end of next week. Each block goes together in next to no time.

The backs:

This bug, whatever it is, really packs a punch. Even using the keyboard feels like a workout. Hopefully I’ll be back to reading and commenting on blogs within another day or two.

Lester on the windowsill:

And another of Smudge with his reflection:


Another Pair of Harpsichord Blocks

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Two more done. I can’t wait to see the first few rows of this done and put together.

The backs:


Monday was somewhat better than the weekend as far as how we felt goes. The worst of this bug is the headache and muscle aches. Even sitting at the computer feels like work!

There were lots of leaves drifting about for the boys to watch. First Smudge:


Then Lester:

Black & White POTC Block Framed

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I wasn’t sure this block was going to work with the cream hexagon frame. I’m happy I was wrong on that score. I love the look of this one.

The back:

My POTC blocks have all been made with the Inklingo 1″ long hexagon shape collection. Sunday a new Inklingo collection for these blocks was released with 1.5″ shapes. The first thing I did was print out the shapes on various sizes of paper to use as my window templates when choosing fabrics. I was amazed at the difference that .50″ makes. All the fabrics I had picked out, thinking they’d work for blocks using that size, were prints/stripes that were just too small. So back to the stash for me to find some larger prints and stripes.

The weekend plans went out the window as both of us have come down with some sort of mild flu-like illness. Picking up the iron feels like I’m trying to lift weights, so my plans for ironing fabric and printing all the Harpsichord Quilt pieces is on hold for a few more days. Now I am ever so glad I have that box full of pieces all ready to stitch with no prep work necessary, so I can just pick out an envelope and stitch.

It was incredibly windy Friday night and Saturday so the cats were very busy. There are very few leaves left on the trees on the roof garden now. Lester resting after a busy weekend of leaf watching:

Smudge completely crashed.


Pink Ice Block #15

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… is now finished. Ten more blocks to go and then I’ll have enough for the lap quilt I have in mind.

The back, after pressing.


Thursday was a very busy day for the kitties on the windowsill. The gardener was here early in the morning with the leaf blower so they had to watch that. Then it got a bit breezy in the afternoon and leaves were falling off the branches at a rapid pace. Lester’s eyes got enormous every time a few leaves would fly by.


Smudge can’t just sit and watch. He has to be pacing back and forth along the window and sometimes batting at the window. He had to jump into a chair beside the window and have a bit of a rest at one point. It’s hard to get a good shot of him on the windowsill as he’s usually in motion.