4/11/21

Quilting Past My Limit

It was a good day to stay inside and quilt yesterday. The sun was shining, but it was very cold. We're expecting a cold day again today, but then the weather will warm into the 70's later in the week. I'm saving my gardening days for then.

As for yesterday's quilting, I finished up the final four dresses and both inner borders. The flowered border was supposed to have waited a day, but you know how it is when you get going. It can be hard to stop. The only thing that stopped me from taking it farther was the arrival of Erik and Mae for our wine-tasting. I'll say more about that in just a minute, but first, let's just take a look at the quilting.

The final four dresses were finished.



In the next one, I had a little trouble deciding where to loop those lower feathers as I came to the zig-zag bottom of the dress.


And this next one was the last one. Yay!


I quilted the rest of the inner white border. There were two sides left.


Between each dress, I took a little break. I was happy to find the vegetable seeds sprouting. So far, I have zucchini and pickling cucumbers. The melons have yet to make an appearance.


Lots of sunflowers have sprouted too. Outside, these two were on the hunt for squirrels.


Smitty lets Sadie do most of the work, but he's been watching for any slow squirrels he can catch too.


Speaking of Smitty...this little pipsqueak...


is nine years old today. Hasn't he turned into a handsome and studly Mancat? Happy birthday, Smitty!


Back at the quilting machine, I quilted the flower border. When I had about six inches to do, Erik and Mae arrived.


So I finished up the last of it, and then took it downstairs to show them. The sun was in a good position to see the texture.


Here's how it looks from the back.


Okay, so it was time to head for the winery. We arrived a little early, and so we took a walk around to look at their garden. Everything is blooming and so pretty. I think these are primroses.


Tulips. 


Blooming rosemary. 


I don't know what this pink stuff is. So pretty, though.


More tulips.


What are these? Bluebells?


Candy tufts.


When it was time to go inside, we found the wine already poured. 


There were more flowers on the table.


Seated across from us, two of my favorite people in the whole wide world.


This was the menu of wines, and it also tells what the "tastes" are. I'm hoping you can read this.


The menu from top to bottom corresponds with the "tastes" from left to right.


Everything was delicious. It was really fun. I'm so happy to be able to spend time with my kids again.

Okay, so today I'll be starting on the outer border of the Sundress quilt. I'm going to limit myself to one side per day. If I feel up to it, I might go farther. My shoulder was letting me know I'd overstayed my welcome at the quilting machine yesterday, and so I'll be more conservative today.


I know what I'm going to do in the stars and dresdens. Knowing what to do is always the hardest part for me. There is one small housekeeping chore, but then I think I'll have some time to get a start on cutting and piecing together the I Believe in Snowmen quilt. It's on my list for April, and it's a good time to get going on it. With warm weather coming, I'll save the gardening for a few days from now.

13 comments:

Barbara said...

Family: We might not have it all together, but together we have it all. ~ Unknown

MissPat said...

The pink flowers are probably carpet (or creeping) phlox but they could be thrift. Would have to see the leaves to tell. The blue flowers are Spanish bluebells which I consider invasive. I pulled out tons of them every year, but like hairy bittercress, you never get them all. The sundresses are looking beautiful and almost to a finish. I'm glad you got out to enjoy the wine tasting, even if it was a tad too cold. We are venturing out to a restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday.
Pat

Gail in Vegas said...

The quilt is so beautiful! The dresdens and stars complement the dresses but don't take attention from them. Masterful quilting!

Rhonda Casey said...

Can't believe Smitty is nine! It doesn't seem possible. Love your sundress quilt.

gpc said...

Have to envy your fancy schmancy wine tasting! Smitty doesn't look at day over 8, and your dresses quilt just gets more beautiful every time you show it.

Dorothy said...

Sadie's pose gives her a "fluff butt" look. Happy Birthday to the Stud Man Cat

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Smitty is a fine purrsicatt. Oh, yes - Miss Sadie holds her own as she has that special look. Pace yourself on that quilt.

Cathy said...

Sounds like you had a fun outing with the kids! And YUM. Happy Purrfday to Smitty; he is very studly, says Darla. I love your sundress quilt, and have from the very first stitch. You’re doing a great job with the quilting. It’s so nice to see it nearing completion. I think Pat’s right - the unidentified flowers look like creeping phlox. My last name (first husband) was Flox, and we always had this as well as the tall phlox in our gardens.

Julierose said...

That quilting is lovely--I like that it's rounded --reminds me of swirling dresses --[are you old enough to remember Loretta Young making her skirt swirling entrance on her tv Show?] Such a lovely piece...I really love how you put embroidered pieces into your quilts...
Nice that you had a lovely outing...hugs, Julierose

Betty said...

Happy Birthday to Mr Smitty! He is a very handsome cat. My boys had their 9th on the 8th.

Susan said...

Happy 9th birthday Mr. Smitty. You human got your qualities right. Sadie blends into the background really well--should help her in her hunt for squirrels.
The quilt is looking very good.

KaHolly said...

Smithy is a gorgeous cat and your dresses quilt is beautiful.

QuiltGranma said...

Such a mayyp post, except for teh sore shoulder. Don't push it, do some slow stitching for a while.