A Very Purple Patchwork of the Crosses Block

Now that I know the purple squares are going to work with all these blocks, it’s time to start adding them to the blocks that have a lot of purple in them already. Adding the cream long hexagons around each block takes longer than the squares so over the next few evenings I’m going to be getting more of the cream hexagons ready to add.

The back:

No wonderful pictures from Mr. Quilt Obsession’s day on Tuesday. It rained and rained. The wind was unbelievable Tuesday afternoon. It’s only in the past couple of years that I’ve noticed wind storms equal migraines for me.

However, there is a nice picture of Lester. He was happily dozing on the couch, although he doesn’t like it when Mr. Quilt Obsession is gone. He meows a lot at the door until Mr. Q.O. gets home. I’m convinced Lester knows when he’s walking down the hall from the elevator as he sometimes paces around the door.


One of Smudge’s paws.


He was also relaxing on the couch. I think they’re starting to get well into cold weather hibernation mode.

Two Blocks, One for Each Quilt

Finally, I’ve got a POTC block that has purple in it surrounded with the cream hexagons and the purple squares. There are a lot of blocks with purple in them but I seem to have been saving them. I think I wanted to see that the purple worked with some of the others first.

The back:

And another Harpsichord block. I wasn’t sure about this green, thinking it might be too dull, but this looks like it will work.


And the back of this one:


Unfortunately, I’ve had to turn comment moderation on. Hopefully I can turn it off relatively quickly. Thursday there were a number of comments on various posts that were nothing but links to rather nasty sites disguised by the use of some sort of font. I’m going to report the author of those comments to Blogger as he/she has a Blogger identity. I’m not thrilled about using the comment moderation but, in this sort of situation, I’m grateful for the option. From what I’ve been hearing, it seems this “disa” person has been hitting a lot of the quilt-related blogs lately but may only hit once, albeit on a number of posts. So for now I have turned comment moderation back off. I’m hoping whoever it is does not come back.

Another Lester paw shot, this time with a penny to show the size.

And a close-up:

And yet another close-up of Smudge.

Patchwork of the Crosses — Butterfly Wings Framed

The purple seems to be darker and richer surrounding this block’s cream hexagons. I was wondering if the purple would work with this one. It seems that the the purple truly is working as a neutral with every single block done so far.

The back:


There was a little bit of rain Wednesday afternoon, after which the sun came right back out and it was wonderfully warm and humid. These flowers have a few raindrops still on them.

This tree is definitely showing that fall is on the way. We’re not seeing much in the way of leaf colour changing around here yet, so seeing this tree was a bit of a surprise.


Showing Lester’s full ruff all combed and looking great is an impossible task. As soon as he’s combed he starts licking and chewing on it again. So this is probably the best shot we’ll get:


And Smudge up close — again.


Patchwork of the Crosses – Blues Framed

Putting the blues block together was fun. I was wondering how it would look with the purple but the purple batik seems to work with all the blocks.


There’s something about the backs of these blocks that fascinates me. I find myself staring at the photos of the backs, thinking about duplicating them in some fashion as the front of a block.


Tuesday afternoon we looked out and noticed a bird sitting on top of the stack (or whatever it is) on the theatre roof on the roof garden. It’s a peregrine falcon. There are many around here as they seem to like to nest in the high-rise buildings in this neighbourhood. One of our neighbours is involved with a group that watches out for these falcons and moves in to help if one of them is in need of assistance.

If you click on the photo and look in the middle you will see the falcon.

Smudge posing yet again for the camera.

And one of Lester in his favourite spot — on the windowsill:

Green Patchwork of the Crosses

Another block framed and with purple squares attached. This purple batik is working with all these blocks so far. Stitching the purple batik to the cream hexagons is definitely wearing the finish off the needles quickly. I can tell when it’s starting to happen now as the needle just does not glide as easily.


The back:

We had glorious weather on the weekend, although it was rather chilly Friday and Saturday nights. It was actually chilly enough that we had the heat on for a while. This week is supposed to be hot and humid again. I think we’re into the silly part of the year when we almost need air conditioning on during the day and heat on at night. I am not complaining as I’d rather have this than winter!

Mr. Quilt Obsession has been busily snapping photographs. This one of the dragonfly is another one where, if you “embiggen” it, you can see the wings. Better him than me getting so close to the bugs! I love seeing the photos, but don’t know that I’d be too comfortable getting so close.


A flower in one of the planters that are out in front of many buildings in our neighbourhood.

Lester in a kitty bed:


And, for fun, a real close-up of one of his paws. It’s impossible to put a quarter or anything on his paw when it’s like that and expect him to stay still, but they are enormous paws.

Smudge, partially in a shadow. I love this shot of him:

And this close-up of one of his amazing green eyes:


Another Patchwork of the Crosses Block Framed

Getting the purple squares around another of the POTC blocks was my goal Thursday night. I wanted to see how they looked surrounding a block that was very pink.


The back:

Looks like our wonderful warm, dry weather may be about to end. What a lovely couple of weeks we’ve had.

A close-up of some of Lester’s whiskers — they’re so long that we can’t get a close-up of them with the macro setting. Both the boys have long, long whiskers. Sometimes I call them our crayfish kitties. Lester’s are about 4″ long.


And, of course, Smudge’s.


Patchwork of the Crosses – Yet Another Framed

The rotation seems to have gone out the window this week. Getting the cream hexagons added to the POTC blocks as well as the purple joining squares seems to be calling out, as do the Harpsichord blocks. The black music fabric I was waiting for arrived on Wednesday, so I’ll be printing as many octagons as I can this weekend.

But for now, the dark blue POTC block has been framed and a start made on joining the purple squares to it.

The back:

We are having the most glorious weather — probably better summer weather than we had for the majority of the summer! The nights are quite cool, but the days are gorgeous. Sunny and warm and lovely.

Lester is enjoying time by the window, although I’m not sure what he was looking at in this shot.

Smudge, on the other hand, is enjoying an afternoon snooze.


Patchwork of the Crosses — Two with Setting Squares

After realizing how much nicer it will be to have added the setting octagons to the Harpsichord blocks as they’re made, and given how much I’m dragging on the POTC blocks, I decided to add the little purple squares to 2 sides of each of the framed POTC blocks now. This will give you an idea of how the setting will look — the corners where 4 blocks meet are a great opportunity for some more fussy cutting/printing. I’m getting really excited about how this top will look when it’s finally together.

One of the reasons I’m dragging on the POTC blocks is that the cream fabric I’m using for the connecting long hexagons has a painted-on stripe. Although I’m using the “wrong” side of the fabric as it’s more of a subtle stripe, I’m finding it’s slower to stitch as the needle doesn’t glide through the painted-on bits. It’s worth it in the end, as I do love the look, but never again do I buy a fabric with painted-on bits. I find that I’m now avoiding white on whites as so few of them have woven-in designs rather than painted-on ones. My needles are being disposed of after an hour or two of stitching as that painted-on design really does wear the finish off rather quickly.

Lester on the windowsill Monday. It was a very cool day, with a real hint of fall in the air although they do say we’ll have a mini heatwave by week’s end.

Smudge curled up in the chair.


Patchwork of the Crosses – Another Framed

Finally, another of the Patchwork of the Crosses blocks with its outer hexagons added. I learned I just need to get started on one and then I’m motivated right away to finish it off.

I have a nice little stack of the cream hexagons ready for the next few blocks and another little stack of the connecting squares that will be used when I start setting the blocks together. When I made my Quilted Diamonds quilt I used these glassine envelopes to keep the pieces for each diamond together. Now I’m using them to hold the little pieces for the POTC and for the Harpsichord Quilt.

In the reorganizing of stash, I came across this FQ. I absolutely love it and am thinking that I don’t want to cut it up at all but rather use it in its entirety in something. I’m not quite sure how I’ll accomplish that. Mr. Quilt Obsession thought it might make a great shirt.

Lester was, as usual, on the windowsill Thursday.

Smudge — in a box. An open empty box has to be investigated immediately.


Patchwork of the Crosses – Unnamed Block

Absolutely no name ideas come to mind for this one. I look at it and love the effect I got with the middle fabric but can I think of a name for it? No! Any ideas?

Thursday was unbelievably overcast. We had lamps on from first thing in the morning. Smudge didn’t much care — he was comfortable.

Lester tries to make sure Mr. Quilt Obsession can’t go out by lying on his sneakers.