KatyQuilts

Don’t laugh! I haven’t turned into a gardener. But I have to share the beautiful work hubby has done, with a wee bit of help from me.

This planter in front of our house was put in by the first homeowner and it was supposed to be a fountain, but the HOA nixed that idea. So it became a planter. That big prickly pear was shriveled and dying when we arrived. But look at it now! It’s even getting new pads! I did a lot of trimming on this.

This oleander wasn’t much better. The drought last summer took its toll. But it is lovely now after a severe trim and some water.

I love lavender and this variety is gorgeous.

This is a Pygmy Palm.

I can’t remember what this is called. Something needles. It is very cool looking!

Moroccan Mound.

Pincushion!

I think that gardenia up front might go back to Michigan with us.

Look at those tomatoes! This plant is going back too. Every year the hubs and Daughter #1 have a contest to see who gets the first ripe tomato. I think he’s got it in the bag this year.

These tiny things are mandarins! I have no idea when they will be ripe. Daughter #2 is staying at our house while we are gone and will keep an eye on it.

Have a great day!

I’ve sewn together all the little strips that I had and trimmed my pieces to the nearest quarter inch. Here they are, widest to narrowest.

I started hunting for inspiration and found a quilt by Mary Elizabeth Kinch in her book, Small Pieces, Spectacular Quilts. Based on that, I took my strips and made blocks.

My blocks are cut 9 1/2 inches, because I had a square ruler that size.

I had some leftover bits which I made into one long strip, 2 1/2 inches wide.

I’ve got an idea for that now too.

Stay tuned.

I had these scraps on the table after trimming my improv curve blocks and decided to do something with them.

I ended up with this little piece.

I machine quilted it on my Bernina 1030.

I think this would make a great zippered pouch, but I don’t have any zippers here. I guess this is another project on hold. Oh, well.

Hold the presses!

I have procured a zipper for the princely sum of twenty-five cents! Thus my creation is finished.

And the inside. No lining.

I have no earthly idea what to use this for, but it is done.

Have a great day!

This is a photo of our house when we moved in.

That tree in front of the door had to go. So we had it moved to the other side of the driveway. I loved it!

Alas, the tree did not. I didn’t take a photo of the dead tree, but we were back to this, which I’m sure my neighbors considered an improvement.

Yesterday, we welcomed Jack into the family. He is a seven foot saguaro spear (no branches). I would have preferred one with arms, but it wasn’t in the budget. Did you know it takes 50-100 YEARS for a saguaro to grow arms?

He’s 60 years old! I’m smitten with him.

Have a great day!

Here’s my fabric pull for a new project.

I cut pieces that are roughly 11 inch squares.

I layered them in pairs and freehand cut two curves.

Then I switch the middle pieces.

This is what they look like after piecing.

And this is how I press. I just go in the direction the fabric wants to go. They will get trimmed up later.

Four done!

Have a great day!

I have four of sixteen rows done! It’s amazing what a difference quilting makes.

I’ve replaced a few triangles here and there.

Here’s another look at the back.

Have a great day!

I found more bits and pieces hidden in with my hand dyed fabric. This first group has a lot of potential.

Not sure what I was thinking here.

Or here….

Hmmmm…..this gives me ideas….

I’m glad I saved these pieces and can look at them with fresh eyes. I think there is a lot of potential here.

Have a great day!