Morning Meditation

Quiet mornings are one of the delightful benefits of retirement. Sitting with a cup of coffee, I usually read, pet Callie cat, talk to my sweetheart and plan my day. Sometimes I just breathe and enjoy the stillness.

Morning Meditation

I designed this lap quilt back in November with those relaxing mornings in mind. Calming blue, cream, brown, and beige squares are set in window pane blocks. Finished size is 42” square, so it could also be a wall hanging or baby quilt.

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When you arise in the morning,

think what a precious privilege it is

to be alive -

to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

~Marcus Aurelius

Tropical Dash

All this warm weather in winter has given me some tropical inspiration. Back in January, I paired brilliant turquoise and coral fabric prints into churn dash blocks set in rows of three to make a colorful, cheery quilt.

For quilting, it seemed right to use bright coral thread in a scallop pattern that looks like waves. The back is one long row of scrap strips, set off center in dark turquoise.  

Finished size is 43” square, perfect for a wall hanging or table topper.

Tropical Dash

Instead of hot chocolate, this 2017 winter calls for coconut rum on the rocks. Hmmm, maybe that's another quilt idea. 

 

True living is

finding paradise

wherever you go.

~Unknown

Find things that shine

and move toward them.

~Mia Farrow

Happy Valentine's Week!

 

Inspired By Chips & Salsa

Chips & Salsa

One of our favorite snacks became the inspiration for my latest quilting project. It started when I ordered some red fabric called tomato. Scraps of yellow batik print and a dash of lime dots gave me the classic colors I needed.

Now for a pattern with triangles. I found Grandmother's Puzzle, a vintage block that takes on a modern look with these fabrics. The multiple sized pieces are time consuming to cut and sew, even with a few short cuts. I'm glad I didn't plan on a bed size quilt for this one! The diagonal overall quilting was the  right finishing touch for this 15” x 27” table mat.

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You can find inspiration in everything.

And if you can't, look again.

~Paul Smith

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Don't waste time waiting

for inspiration.

Begin, and

inspiration will find you.

~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

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