Despite all that domestic drudgery, I had some time in the sewing room yesterday afternoon. I caught up on just one of the Tiny Tuesday blocks. This is Sally Trude's tutorial, and it was excellent. Even with Sally's great tutorial, my block took the entire afternoon to make.
Just finding a good fabric for the eyes took absolutely forever. And then...to add insult to injury...as soon as I had the beak sewn together, the owl started telling Knock, Knock jokes. I remember when Sally made her owl quilt, she was having a problem with the owls telling Knock, Knock jokes all the time. I'll admit being skeptical at the time, but no doubt about it. Here's just one joke the owl told me.
Owl: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's there? (And, honestly, how can anyone resist saying it?)
Owl: Hoo.
Me: Hoo who?
Owl: You talk like an owl!And I'm here to tell you, it only went downhill from there.
With so many distractions, I only managed to get one block sewn yesterday. The only saving grace was the arrival of this book. I saw it when I visited the Stitchin' Post on our way home Sunday, and decided to purchase it on Amazon. I'm interested in modern quilts, but always wonder how people find inspiration or know what to do with abstract art. Whenever I attempt something like that on my own, I end up echoing that old David Letterman bit: Is it anything? So, enter this book. Lots of good info and ideas.
Some of you have asked how Matthew is doing on his Guatemala adventure. I think this picture says it all. Matthew is second from the right. Does he look like he's having fun?
Yesterday was his birthday. We've been able to communicate via text and video using the Whatsapp app. What a marvelous world we live in! I tried calling him yesterday morning with no luck. He messaged me later in the day to tell me he was on an "adventure," and he would call later. Along the way, he sent me these images from a fabric shop in Guatemala. That's his friend, Lyndsay in the image below.
Look at the incredible colors in those bolts of fabric. Lyndsay explained that all of this is hand-dyed, and hand-woven. Here are some pictures of the quilts from the fabric store.
Amazing, huh? And I'm touched that they thought to send pictures, knowing I would enjoy them.
Okay, so I have just one other thing to tell you about. In my email this morning was a Google alert about a Quilt Block Challenge going on at the Virgina Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, Virginia. You might remember that we visited the museum while we were traveling in Virginia last year. You can read my blog post about it right here. (Scroll down...it was a busy day.)
Here's the blurb from their website explaining the challenge:
Here's a picture of the quilt from their collection:
It's a fundraiser for the museum. It costs $5 to submit a block. When the blocks are made into a quilt, it will be raffled off to raise even more money. And heck, $5 seems a small price to pay. I love participating in these "quilting community" events. You might remember that I participated in the Astronomical Quilt Block Challenge when quilter Karen Nyberg was aboard the International Space Station. If memory serves, 22 quilts were made from this challenge and put on display at the Houston International Quilt Show a few years back. Here's the quilt containing my block. It was thrilling to see it there.
Then recently, Meg Hawkey requested "signature blocks" from friends. Last week, she posted the quilt she's making from all the blocks. I tried increasing to size of this image to find mine, but I wasn't able to. Nevertheless, it's fun knowing it's there.
Edited to say I spent some more time looking at this image, and I found my block...just to the left and a little below center, circled in green. Fun!
That's all I have for you today. After working my tail off for the past two days, I'm taking today to be an NBS day (Nothing But Sewing). I'll get caught up on my Tiny Tuesday blocks, and I'll make a block for the Virginia Quilt Museum. If there's still time left in the day, I'll get to work on some other block...maybe April's block for the Garden Sunshine BOM.
What's going on in your sewing room today?
10 comments:
Wow. I bet you started out with standard owl eyes but by the time the afternoon was over you poor owl was in a tailspin. (And I don't say that as a slight to Sadie...).
I love those random conversations with strangers while out shopping. They are usually good for a few laughs or maybe some important information! Doris
Looking at the Guatemalan quilts, I can see whey Matthew claimed your "Rainbow Jubilee" quilt as his own. I have never met him, of course, but I've seen the photos you've posted, and I have never seen him look so happy as he does in this one. That must make your heart soar. :)
I tried to print out the block pattern from your link and was only able to get the top left 3rd of the block. Will go to the museum site tomorrow and see if their link works better. Love Love your owl. Fabulous eyes :-)
What a nice post! An update with Mathew with pictures of happiness for you; laughing kid, fabric and quilts. Perfect for a Quilty mom. Then fun in the sewing room. On top of that laundry is done so you can give yourself an NBS Day. I finished off a baby crib blanket made out of minky on both sides, a 3” ruffle and an embroidery with the child’s name and birthdate. Llamas were the theme along with the requisite “gender neutral gray” that is the color new moms are choosing for their children. Another gauze swaddle blanket is being made for a different baby due at the end of April. It seems my friends kids are all becoming grandmas.
Glad that Matthew is doing well on his trip, he certainly looks happy. Those hand died fabrics are gorgeous. Love your owl block, it turned out beautifully. Hope you get in a nothing but stitching day today. Stitch some for me will you, unfortunately I still have a day job.
What a fun picture from Matthew! It's good to see our kids enjoying themselves, right?! Your little owl is so cute. I am so tempted to make those small blocks, but I have so many things in progress right now. You reminded me that I have a signature block to make and mail; I should get that done today.
Matthew looks well and how lovely they shared the regional colors/fabrics with you. Thank you for the link and info on the museum blocks - that I will pass on to my guild.
Your owl block is wonderful! Perfect eyes, but sorry about the knock knock jokes.
What a fabulous photo of Matthew & his friends! How could you help but smile? And wow! those fabrics & quilts!!
THat was very nice of them to send you quilt and fabric photos!
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