French Reel

Technically this probably counts as a completed UFO, I bought the kit in October 2010.

I enjoyed making it, was being fussy about the backing and had trouble finding it, then it sat for a long time waiting for its turn on the long arm.

Here are the details:

• Fabric is from the French General line by Moda, kit sold by Hancocks of Paducah. I bought it on sale.
• Backing is a discontinued Marble Mate also by Moda. I had a yard of it and willingly paid through the nose for yardage for the back from an online shop which still had stock . I would call the color raspberry or cherry but I am sure that neither is its real name.
• Binding is bias cut 2-1/2" applied and meticulously hand finished by Lori who claims to enjoy the process. Bless her!

Click any image to enlarge

• Quilted in the Lime Tree pantograph pattern by Australian designer Keryn Emerson. We like her designs and own several of them. This is my current favorite.
• Finished size is 47" by 64". 
• It is my nap quilt and looks lovely as a coverlet on a twin bed.

Pictures were taken using my low tech (two large cuphooks, a section of 'found' aluminium channel and three wooden clothes pegs) quilt hanger off my front porch. The geranium peeking out the side is "Firecracker". The fact that Firecracker coordinates with the quilt is a happy accident.

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Design Wall Monday

I have the attention span of a flea these days. This simple project has been very soothing and I am enjoying it.

This is a controlled palette scrappy square in a square throw. It will finish to 58" x 76" including 2" borders.

Greens and blues only and 80% from stash, both mine and Lori's. The blocks are 6" finished and it is made from 2-1/2" strips.

As usual, my obsession is to make no two blocks alike, which is why I had to go buy a few FQ. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

The ugly blocks at the top are from a pattern called Nana's Squares and they are my current leaders and enders. Made mostly from fabric rescued from the trash box, which is why they are ugly. The block is pretty cool..

See lots of other quilters' design walls at Patchwork Times

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There Is An Alley Behind My House

Most blocks in this little town have an alley way that runs behind the houses for the length of the block.

Boysie and I like to walk the alleys. I prefer them to the sidewalks, and he is very busy sniffing all the interesting smells.

I love the look of these bright yellow metal chairs against the white paint. Very minimalist and almost Scandinavian.

Click any image to enlarge

A bit farther down the alley is a delightful playhouse, complete with tiny rain gutters on both sides. I think the child it was built for is probably long grown, but the planting of bright orange day-lilies and Sweet Williams are charming.



This person is ready for winter!
I find beauty in the meticulous way he has cut, split and stacked.

It looks engineered, and I admire it each time I pass.

I notice Boysie gets struttier when there are dogs confined behind their fences, almost like he is saying " I'm going for a walk and you're not!" but then, he is a terrier and they are sometimes a bit rude.


Just a few more steps and we will be back on the street.

Boysie is learning to "sit" at the intersections. I am sure he thinks it is perfectly pointless, but I insist. He sighs, and complies. It's the price a fella has to pay for a walk.

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