I Like Thursday #269

 It's time again for Thursday likes! A bunch of us bloggers post positive and fun content every Thursday. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more participating blogs. I was so happy to see our daffodils sprouting. I know for sure Spring is here. Sort of! It's still cool and wet today but I'm hoping our weather improves. 

I received this card from my daughter for my last birthday. I love it! This kitty is surely enjoying life! I lover her outfit too. She's very cool as well as stylish!!

I just started reading this book and so far, I like it. It's a new take on Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but from Jim's perspective. Jim is a slave but not all is as it seems. Jim is putting on an act. He's smarter and more intelligent than he lets on. It's an interesting read.

The prompt this week asks about our Easter as children. Well, we always got a new outfit. Since my dad was a tailor. he made us new coats for Easter in this picture. I think I was 5 years old here and my brother is close to 1 year old. I always got a new hat, shoes and pocketbook as well as a dress. My mother made a huge dinner which usually included my grandparents. We always went to church and had our dinner early in the afternoon. Such great memories and so fun! I feel Easter is much more casual now and not as religious. We got chocolate but that's about it. 

I hope you had a good week and enjoy your weekend!!

Checkerboard Block - Laurel Ridge BOM

The April directions for the Laurel Ridge BOM came out a few days early. This month, we'll be making the Checkerboard Block. I was a little nervous to make this block since it looks complicated. After making 4 blocks, I found out it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. These blocks finish at 5" square.

I started out by cutting everything first. (I don't always do that!) The squares are made by sewing long strips together and then cutting down. The triangles are added to the start of each row as well as the other side of the 4th row square. After sewing the 4 rows together, I trim the ears off the triangles. I sew on the floral triangle and my block is complete! Not as bad as I was thinking! I have to make a total of 32 blocks this month. 

I Like Thursday #268

It's time for Thursday likes! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more blogs posting fun likes. My two cats, Lily and Molly, don't always get along so I always like seeing them sitting together and not fighting. I think Molly is jealous that Lily is in the little house but Lily is just staring right back. No hissing or flying paws! They actually stayed like that for awhile. Quite surprising!!

I bought these cute Easter fabrics a few weeks ago. I think I might make a table runner. I doubt I'll have it ready for this Easter but the fabric was just too cute to pass up!

I made this banana cream pie last week and it was very tasty! You can find the recipe here. It uses a ready made graham cracker crust so it's quick! I hope you like it as much as we do!

This is the latest paper pieced block for the Frightful Fun Block of the Month. The background is actually much lighter than the picture. This one took a while to make but it's wasn't too hard. It measures 12.5" X 24.5". I'm waiting for the next installment of Laurel Ridge from The Quilt Show. I heard it will keep me busy most of the month!

 Have a great weekend!! We're expecting a rainy weekend. It's better than snow!!

Frightful Fun BOM Update

I'm not sure why but the April blocks for Frightful Fun are already up! I made these blocks in an afternoon. These are quick and easy! (Which I love!!) They finish at 6" square. I used a different orange for each block but all the other fabric was the same.

These are the rest of my blocks before April was released. I love using the different color backgrounds. This is one of the most fun quilt projects I've made. Such fun!!

Quilted Log Cabin Star

 

My husband and I both had doctor appointments in Boston on Thursday. We got there early for my appointment but then had to wait around for 1PM for his. It's nice not having to go into Boston twice but it certainly makes for a long day! The traffic was awful when we were ready to come home. I've been sewing and quilting but didn't go on my laptop once! I did finish the Log Cabin Star. I really like how it came out.

Here's a closeup of the quilting. I have the binding all ready to go. I went to the quilt store for the binding fabric and bought a few more things as well! I can never just buy what I need when I visit a quilt shop. There are too many nice things that I just can't leave behind! I'll post pictures when I decide what I'm going to do with my bonus purchase!

Quilting Log Cabin Star

 I started to quilt the Log Cabin Star table topper. It measures about 36" X 31". I had a backing left over from a previous project that has lots of pink in it. I thought it would work out well. I found a batting that I had had for years. I don't usually use polyester batting but I thought it would be okay for a table topper. I found it easy to quilt with after the 2 blocks I quilted. I quilted arcs in the center diamond. I quilted small arches, candy ribbon and wishbone in the three layers surrounding the middle.

Since this top isn't very large, I decided to float the top and not pin it to any leaders. I think it's small enough to be okay to do this. I'm so used to pinning! I figured I would get outside my comfort zone and try this method. This piece is made of 12 diamonds so I don't think it will take too long to finish. Now, if I could just find some fabric to bind it with! I'll have to go through my stash.

I Like Thursday #267

It's time for Thursday likes! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more blogs taking part in I Like Thursday! I finished these cross stitch pieces a few weeks ago but it took a while to add a border and quilt them. I finally finished them up this morning. I just have to sew down the binding. The one on the left is about 10" square while the other one is 9" square. I'll be displaying them as soon as they're done. It's not too warm today but it does feel more like Spring. I actually quilted these two on the long arm! I used the same backing so it was quick to load and finish them up.

Speaking of spring, look at my Christmas cactus! It has so many new little leaves growing. I think it happened overnight. So exciting for me since I don't have a green thumb. 

Here's my Alaska quilt. It's all washed and bound. I put in 2 color catchers when I washed it. It seems to have done really well. Although I prewash my fabric, I still am unsure if anything will run in the wash. I also used a wool batting which is supposed to show off the quilting well even after washing it. My quilting is still very visible. I've had some quilts where the quilting is hard to see after that first wash. It must be from shrinking, not sure. 

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!