A Few More Harpsichord Blocks

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It has been ages since I’ve worked on these blocks but lately I’ve been thinking about just how much I know I’ll love this quilt when it’s done. So out came that project box and some new blocks were made. First up, a few blocks made with pink squares.

Then a few with green squares.

Some with blues.

A couple of purples, an orange and another blue.

There are still many, may blocks to be made. I’ve decided against joining them together as I go as I’d like to make sure I balance the colours in the layout as much as possible. At least by adding the outer octagon along two edges of each block, the joining should be rather quick once the layout is decided upon.

For those who haven’t followed my blog for long, the Harpsichord Quilt is inspired by both the original Lucy Boston Keyboard Patchwork and the amazing harpsichords we saw in the summer of 2008 which had the most incredible decorative artwork.

Baxter still brings his favourite toy to bed at night and sometimes leaves it there during the day. Yesterday we found out why. He likes to have it handy when he decides to stretch out for an afternoon snooze on the bed.

One Centre Done, Another Begun

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I didn’t quite make my goal of having two of the sunflower centres for the Feathered Stars done, but at least one is complete and the second is mostly done. Part of the reason I didn’t get the second one completed is that a fair amount of time was spent cutting the shapes for the spring Winding Ways. There’s still a lot of cutting left to do, but I hope to have that finished by the time the weekend is over. I think I may have to get a larger box for that project.

A couple of times I’ve left the grading of seams until the entire Feathered Star block was done. It is so much easier to do it in increments, so now I grade the seams of the centre sunflower right away.

The ring of diamonds and triangles that go around the centre of the second sunflower are done. Once that ring is made, the rest of the piecing of a sunflower block takes no time. I may get the second one finished tonight and the third started.

One of Baxter’s Christmas presents was this feather toy. I think it’s a toss-up between this and Cappy as to which toy he prefers sometimes. Last night he was playing with it, managed to get it under the couch too far for him to reach, then meowed pathetically for help retrieving it.

Feathered Star Again

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Another one done and three more to go. If I can buckle down and concentrate on stitching the three remaining blocks, I think I could have the centre of the quilt done within 9 to 10 days. Whether I can do that remains to be seen, but I’m going to try. Once the centre sunflower is done, it seems like the block is almost halfway done so today I shall try to get at least two of those centres done.

I love how easy it is to press this block. I graded the seams for two reasons. There are a lot of pieces in each block, so it really helps cut down on the weight and will make the quilt drape nicely. Secondly, I definitely don’t want the red shadowing through.

Yesterday afternoon the fog rolled in and the view out our window was quite eerie. I love how quiet it seems when there’s a thick fog.

Mr. Q.O. captioned this one “That’s the biggest bag of catnip I has ever seen!” Made me laugh the second I saw the picture.

A Trio of Pickled Ladies

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The first of the next three that are joining the group. Every time I finish one, I think it’s my favourite and then I make the next and think it is and then … well, you get the picture.

The second of the trio.

And the third.

Another 15 to go and they will all be done and ready to add to the others. Then I’ll start with the half Pickled Ladies that will go along the edges and then the border(s). I’m still undecided about how many borders it’s going to have.

Baxter likes to “hide” beneath things. When he’s found, his eyes get so big!

Spring Winding Ways Blocks

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I couldn’t resist and pieced two more of the Winding Ways blocks. Piecing a Winding Ways block is as irresistible and as much fun as piecing the Drunkard’s Path units. Lots of fabulous curved piecing that makes it seem like the blocks almost put themselves together.

These pieces are a third of the total number printed for the project. The rest still have to be cut out but that won’t take long.

The threads that will work with the hand-dyed fabrics are picked out and now I have another project in a box.

It was really cold here all weekend. We had a bit of snow on Friday but that will be mostly gone by the time today is over as it’s much milder and supposed to rain. This is the oddest winter as we seem to have one or two really cold days and then go back to the milder weather.

Baxter is 9 months old today. Hard to believe he has gone from this tiny kitten …

… to this so quickly and he’s not finished growing yet. He posed with the singing frog for his birthday photo shoot.

Fabrics for Little Winding Ways Blocks

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Only 4 of the various hand-dyed fabrics that I’ll use for the project were shown in the completed blocks yesterday. These are the rest of them. On the weekend I hope to cut and print at least 4 sets of the Winding Ways pieces from each of these so that I can get them all sorted out and ready to stitch.

This has seemed like a long, long week. I am so glad today is Friday. All that’s on the agenda today is taking Baxter to the vet for a quick re-check. Nothing major, but he still is not going to like it!

Baxter was enjoying some lounging time on the couch. Mr. Q.O. captioned this one, “Ready for a tummy rub any time you’re ready.”

Spring Is Here

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Well, okay. Maybe not as far as the weather goes, given the forecast for Friday, but in my stitching last night it was. Two little 4.5″ Winding Ways blocks. I’ve tried and tried to resist this idea for months, but yesterday these hand-dyed fabrics were absolutely calling to me and I succumbed. All that wonderful curved piecing? How could I possibly resist!

Ever since I made this pink and red top with the one of the larger sizes of the Inklingo Winding Ways collections, I’ve wanted to make something with one of the other sizes. All that wonderful curved piecing is irresistible to me.

When I went to look for the photo of the red and pink top and realized it was finished almost 2 years ago I couldn’t quite believe it. That one definitely needs to be quilted sooner rather than later. I know I’ve got the batting, backing and the fabric for binding it set aside, so it’s definitely time. I have a variegated pink/red quilting thread that will be perfect.

What will I call this new one? I’m not sure yet, but I’m thinking it looks like spring. There are more pieces ready and waiting to be stitched together and there will be more yet, as I print on other shades of the hand-dyed fabrics.

I love piecing and pressing this block. Pressed this way, the block lies lovely and flat.

I used an off-white thread for all the stitching, which is totally unlike me as I prefer to match my threads to the fabrics I’m stitching. I used a 70/2 heirloom thread that pretty much melts into the fabric but, that said, when I start stitching more of these I will get out the matching threads. For now, I’m going to get the other fabrics printed and the shapes cut out and will have them all kitted up so I can get my curved piecing fix whenever I want.

Baxter’s eyes in this photo really caught my attention. Mr. Q.O. captioned it “Is that catnip?”

Colourful Little 9-Patches

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The stack of 9-patch blocks on point has been growing. Not rapidly, but slow and steady growth. There are some evenings I work on something more complex and just want an easy stitch, and that’s when these get made. There will be 140 or so of them.

It will be a fun and colourful little quilt.

I’m grading the blocks as I make them. Even with these little blocks, it makes a big difference.

The blocks finish at 4.25″. When I was making Twinklingo Stars, I printed lots of the little squares thinking I might use them all in a border. As it turned out, I had many left over. That was when I decided to do the 9-patches on point and turn them into their own little quilt.

There’s a magical moment in the late afternoons at this time of year when the sun hits the buildings across the street from us and bathes them in a wonderful pink glow. We were lucky enough to get this shot on Tuesday.

Baxter waiting patiently for a treat.

Afterwards he looked quite satisfied and maybe ready for a nap.

A Quintet of Pickled Ladies

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The additions for the Pickled Ladies quilt are underway.

The second addition.

The third addition.

The fourth addition.

The fifth addition. Just about 20 more to go and I’ll be finished with the additions.

Baxter is fascinated by pens. If Mr. Q.O. leaves his puzzle and pen within paw’s reach, this is what happens. What isn’t shown is that shortly after this photo was taken, Baxter had the pen down on the floor. Pens and fabric, he just can’t resist them.