Quilt 365 Update

It's day 58. I started Jan. 1st. I have sewn 114 blocks. They are sewn together to avoid a lot of tedious work at the end if the project. It is still calming to do but now I am starting to feel a little bored by the mellow colors. I think I am going to hunt for some interesting fabrics with highlights to throw in the mix. I've exhausted my stash. Oh shucks, that means I might have to buy new!

Cold blue northern light

Its a cold blue northern light coming through my windows these days. I'll have to do with waves of warmth from the wood stove. There is ice and there is snow, and not gentle Hollywood snow, that doesn't exist here. In Norway, it snows horizontal, blown in gusts, swooping around the houses, chasing the animals inside to duvets and hearths. The dog lies as close as possible with a stacked log as her pillow and the cats with their rich thick coats sleep under the bathroom sink on the heated tiles, ever greatful that the kids never rember to hang up their bath towels.

And then there's the abandoned Swan. It is not a baby but is not fully grown. It still has the brown young feathers of youth. And its been sitting still out on the ice for days, conserving its energy while it recovers from illness or injury.  The parent swans seemed so devoted, always traveling in a tight knit group , Yet now, it feels bitterly cruel of them having abandoned one of their own in this bleek icey situation. I see the three of them swimming back and forth and I know the 4th is it the end of the lake sitting quietly alone with only ducks for company.

Practice makes perfect. My quilted circles are coming along splendidly. Why did it take so many years to start needle turn applique? Because I hadn't caught on to the wonderful virtues of YouTube learning.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, God Bless You Tube! And thank you Jude Hill of Spirit Cloth for a great video lesson.

Now I know Audrey of Quilt 365 suggests picking out your fabric each day but I like to have them ready so I can step on the gas when I get a free moment and inspiration strikes.

Quilt 365 - day two

Much improved applique. I tried to remember Jude Hill's tutorial on applique and guess what? It really helped! Thank you Jude!

If you haven't seen Jude's work, do yourself a favor. Her critters and beasts have inspired faces. Her work is soothing.

Jude Hill Spirit Cloth

And her very helpful YouTube tutorial:

Spirit Cloth Applique tutorial

Let's try one more time

Quilt 365.  Quiltyfolk have caught my attention. 1 a day. I tried this the last time we had a leap year...with building houses from scraps, got a little further than half way and burned out big time. The circles seams much simpler, perhaps I have the stamina for this. With the little houses, I was always trying to get a head, instead of just quilting one a day in twenty minutes I was tried for an hour....or to get five done. Slow and steady wins the race. Lesson learned.

So I am starting this circle adventure on Jan 3rd, here is a link to the project...Quiltyfolk Quilt 365.

My first block, far from perfect, what a good way to practice applique.

But I would dearly love to try and and make a hour glass quilt like this one featured on Barrister's Block.. So maybe I will try to do one-a-day of these hour glass blocks also.

This post of her's was so inspiring! I guess I lean towards more traditional antique quilts than I thought. So many lovelies!

I tried making some little hour glass blocks to see what I could get out of a two contrasting 6" pieces.

Turns out I could get 8 little ones easily.