Birds in batik

Well, this quilt is finally done and hanging on my wall. I am keeping this one and might even put it in a quilting show or two. I like how it came out and it was something I just put together on my own. I had the center blocks of the birds and decided to do it all in beloved batiks. I took it with me one summer--maybe two or so ago--to the cabin here in Anchor Point. This is what I dreamed up. It went back to Fairanks and it was finished there with borders and then it came back to Anchor Point and I finally got it on the frame this past winter. And I just finished the binding the other day. I hope some of you will critique it and tell me what you think. Please leave a comment if you can.

one more--about the challenge

Here it is now and ready to be quilted. Kind of different that is for sure. Hope the senior center likes it and can do something to raise some money with it.

challenge is complete

Hasn't it changed? That border with all the diagonals was a big challenge! I used pieces that had already been cut--and then I had biases. So I straightened it back out with another border of blue and off white. I added the borders until I got enough quilt. I should have smoothed it out more--hence a few humps but they will not be there in the finished product--it just needs a good ironing before it is quilted.

show off

Spreading his wings and tailfeathers for the other eagle ignoring him. LOL

it was a great day for eagles

Look to the left and look to the right!

more eagles

They are so stately aren't they? Walking on the beach...

eagles on the beach

Larry was able to get these eagles to pose for him the other day. I missed this in person. I love to watch the eagles and other birds in the area. The bridge to the beach is closed for maintenance so it will be a few more days before we can get back down there. We even walked on the beach one day and actually picked up some coal. Soon it will be busy down there with the boat launches and I will get more photos. I will also post more photos of the eagles under a different post.

a good start

Ok this is the start, with some funky fabrics to the side of it I was auditioning for this quilt. I ended up not using any of those but that you will see that later when I post the photo of the finished product. The top is done and ready to go on the frame for machine quilting. For you quilters out there, you won't believe what I had to work from. Actually the middle conglomeration is four blocks. A lady who just deceased a few months ago, had started these blocks. They were actually basket like blocks set on point. Well I could not get them to come together and look like anything using four blocks to start a medallion quilt--so I took off the two side borders and half square triangle and Voila' --for this look. I added the dark blue border all around. If you look at it in a certain way it looks like tumbling blocks--but maybe it is just a tumbling type crystal. So I took it to one of my quilting groups and with my ideas and some of the ideas from other quilters, I came up with a small quilt that the senior center can auction off, raffle off or sell in the deceased's memory. She did a lot of sewing for the senior center. This was definitely a challenge for me as some of the fabrics were not 100% cotton.

More to come later on this. I am so far behind with everything.

An Elfin Doll

A new quilting buddy made this elfin type doll. Her face does not show up that well but she is a neato type doll--her wings and hair fascinate me. She said her husband will make a swing for her --won't that be cute? Kathy, her maker, is fairly new to quilting but she is doing a great job with her projects. I asked her permission to place this photo--thought it would be something different.

Spring!

I have not taken any recent photos and scenery but we are in meltdown now. I will take some when it does not look so ugly out! It is hard to not have spring fever. They had the winter king tournament last weekend but it was slow they said. A local man caught the winning derby ticket and made about $17,000. You can read about it in the Homer News if you are interested. The photo was of the fish with its head cut off already and he was on the smaller side too this year.

I am managing to stay as busy as ever. Catching up on a lot of stuff. I went quilting/sewing too last week so that always puts me behind at home. I am caught up once again with filing paperwork and all exchanges I am in--I will make a check out to IRS this week for a quarterly estimate and be happy and free for a few more months! We are a slave to them even when we are no longer earning a living. And I look forward to my first Social Security check next month.

We have to take the MH to Soldotna (55 miles away) for some recall on the engine (FORD) and to get the heater fixed--it is still behind a snow pile but we will be able to get it out soon. Larry also has to take the windows (canvas top part) out of the boat and have them redone. He needs to jell-coat the bottom of his boat too. Then summer can start officially. I will be able to get in the greenhouse soon too. Ah, can you tell we are anxious. We have cooked out on the new gas grill a few times already too as the little deck we have at this house is about clear of snow. We have lots to do this summer around the homestead--some additions are planned too. The cabin up on the hill still has its roof on so we will be anxious to get in up there (waiting for snow melt) and spend a night or two and turn on the heat and water so when Greg comes down, he can be comfy.

So that's it for now--guess I am thankful the house is sold, IRS is taken care of, spring is coming, we are warm and well-fed, and in reasonable good health. Life is good!