nature

Busy hands, happy life.............. from Exuberant Color

I like to keep busy with fabric whether I have a project or not. I have 2 project boxes full of Marcia Derse scraps and I keep looking at them and they don't look inspiring in the mess in the box. I decided to loosely sort the strips by several lengths and slip them into plastic bags. The odd shaped pieces will go in another bag.

Then if I decide to make blocks similar to this mock up, I will have an easier time selecting the strips. Sorting is an easy job while watching TV.

There were a lot ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 12 hours, 58 minutes ago. under batik , marcia derse fabric , nature

More tiny 9 patches............ from Exuberant Color

I went through all of the piles of 1.5" squares and matched 5 dark/4 light for another batch of blocks. In some there are 5 of the same fabric or 2 similar fabrics and others are 5 different fabrics that look good together. The same is true of the groups of 4.

We had storm warnings last night which turned into nothing in my area so I sewed blocks. This is 23 blocks, 8 of which were made the day before yesterday. I haven't turned on the iron yet to press them.

The Redbud trees are pinking ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 2 days, 12 hours ago. under 9 patch , batik , nature

A finished top and garden walk................. from Exuberant Color

It made sense to go with 16 blocks instead of 15 to use up as many of the die cut pieces as possible. It ended up at 39.5" square. Square quilts are nice floor mats for little ones or this could be a wall hanging for someone who likes graphic designs on the wall. Meanwhile the best part is that I emptied the box that held these pieces in an area that I am reorganizing.

Last October I bought a sad looking Flare Hydrangea on sale for $8.50. I planted it right away and hoped for the best ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 5 days, 12 hours ago. under batik , nature

Trimming and sewing.............. from Exuberant Color

Yesterday afternoon I trimmed the next quilt to finish.

Here is a peek at the back. I had quite a bit of the border fabric left to use for a backing but not quite enough. I had 2 other prints that looked good with it. My longarm quilter pieced this backing for me because I didn't have it ready for her when she dropped of my Charley quilt.

This close shot shows the center fabric better.

I haven't decided on binding yet. There is enough of the border fabric to use but I also have enough of the ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 6 days, 12 hours ago. under batik , binding , knitting , nature

10 more............11 to go............ from Exuberant Color

I chose 10 more pairs of 2" batik strips for the 9 patch blocks.

A friend is coming today to acquire some of my quilts so I spent part of the day yesterday reacquainting myself with the quilts piled on 2 shelf units. I have my stacks of "won't share" and then there are the rest.

Last night I got all of the pairs of strips sewn into strip sets to cut for the 9 patches.

Yesterday morning the raiders were in my backyard. There is one squirrel on each of 2 of the bird feeders and one squirrel ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 week, 5 days ago. under 9 patch , batik , nature

17 blocks added............... from Exuberant Color

The 17 new blocks made in the last couple days have been added to the design wall. There will be some rearranging as I get the last 21 blocks made. Some of these blocks might not make the final cut.

I was outside looking around late yesterday afternoon and noticed this Hosta in the front garden. I was surprised how big it was since I hadn't seen any other Hostas up yet.

I checked the back garden where I have lots of Hostas and found one more coming up.

On the other side of the porch I found at ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 week, 6 days ago. under 9 patch , batik , nature

Only a little progress................... from Exuberant Color

I pressed the 40 blocks from Sunday and put one of each set of 4 on the design wall and put the remaining blocks in a project box for later.

I sewed the rest of the next 7 groups and got the 28 blocks made but not pressed yet.

I spent the morning sorting through my flannel stash and grouping similar types together in storage bins. I have a little more to do before it is how I want it sorted.

I think this might be the last cactus bloom but there is still one more bud that might make ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 2 weeks, 2 days ago. under 9 patch , batik , nature

40" left to hand stitch............. from Exuberant Color

Almost done, just 40" left to hand stitch on this Marcia Derse Stars quilt. I may do a second post today with the stats for this quilt on it.

I think this will be the very last bloom on the pale pink cactus for this winter/spring season.

There is one more white bud to bloom. There is another small bud but I can't tell if it is going to grow or dry up.

Happy Easter!!

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 2 weeks, 5 days ago. under binding , marcia derse fabric , nature

Another finish............... from Exuberant Color

This is my version of "Sunlight in the Forest", a quilt in Kaffe Fassett's "Quilts in Sweden" book. I used my own choice of fabrics but used the same inner border fabric as the original quilt.

I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and it was quilted by longarmer Robin Diaz.

It is 67.5" x 87".

Here is a photo from a 2018 post showing the quilt in the book. (click on the photo for a closer view.) I finished making the quilt top in June 2018.

I used 2 fabrics on the back because I didn't have ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 1 day ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

A lot accomplished............. from Exuberant Color

One of the two quilts back from my longarm quilter has been trimmed. I used 2 fabrics on the back. This is my Sunlight in the Forest quilt, one of Kaffe's designs but my choices of fabrics. I did use the same first border that he did. Colors are more accurate in the next photo. As I trimmed it I was thinking I would have to use a black background binding and the back is dark....so that wasn't sounding like much fun.

Then I came to my senses and realized tat a red would be nice. I ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 4 days ago. under 9 patch , binding , kaffe fabric , nature

Progress on 2 plus something new............. from Exuberant Color

The last flannel16 patch blocks that I made yesterday are now added to the previous ones for a total of 38. I haven't come up with a final plan for them.

I sewed the blocks from the Friday strip sets and sewed 3 more new strip sets for the batik 9 patch project.

I added 5 new blocks to the design wall and rearranged a bit. I made it one block wider and need to have 12 rows top to bottom. This first quilt will have all different blocks, one of each of the 4 alike of each combination ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 5 days ago. under 9 patch , flannel quilts , nature

A better day.............. from Exuberant Color

I did more organizing with the flannel fabrics but am not done yet. I found a light fabric to match with 3 strips that were cut for 16 patches. I'll have to count how many 16 patches I have now. These need to be pressed before I go any farther with them. I have a huge box of flannel scraps. The last time I sorted them was early 2017 and I cut lots of tumbler shapes and tossed all of the small pieces.

I selected 11 more pairs for 9 patches last night and sewed 3 of them.

This ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 6 days ago. under 9 patch , batik , flannel quilts , nature

Another quilted....................... from Exuberant Color

The flannel Hugs and Kisses is quilted, not without a few problems which I won't bore you with. I'll get it trimmed today and cut the binding, which will probably be the same as the backing fabric.

I sewed 9 patches while I watched TV last night. I laid all 4 of the orange ones out separately so you can see the variety that a mottled fabric creates.

My largest Columbine which is pink is getting big. I'll have to check and see if the Columbines in the front have come up yet. We're in for ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month ago. under 9 patch , batik , machine quilting , nature

Third finish for March 2024 from Exuberant Color

A lightweight flannel print was my final choice for the binding. This flannel Pinwheel quilt ended up at 58" x 70".

It has Hobbs 80/20 batting in it.

The back is one of Robert Kaufman's mammoth flannels. They are a heavier weight than most and very soft.

I got the Hugs and Kisses flannel quilt parts loaded on the longarm yesterday afternoon.

When I was out filling the birdfeeders I noticed the Scilla was up and blooming.

I have shown closeup photos of the Lenten Rose blooms and thought I should take some photos of the whole plants ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month ago. under binding , flannel quilts , nature

More blocks................ from Exuberant Color

I sewed one of each of the 13 new combinations and saved the other 3 of each to sew later. I wanted to see the yellows and oranges on the design wall.

It was cool enough yesterday morning that the heat came on and I should have gone to the basement then and started quilting the flannel quilt. I waited until afternoon and by that time it was warm out and cold in the basement. Today it should be warm down there so I hope the quilting happens.

That left my "in between things" project as the only thing to ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month ago. under 9 patch , batiks , nature

More baking..................... from Exuberant Color

I had 3 sessions in the kitchen yesterday. I baked the Kringlas in the morning, peanut butter cookies after lunch and mixed chocolate chip dough in intermissions during my TV time. I'll finish the baking this morning.

I sewed some more strip sets to make 9 patches.

I only got one batting trimmed to length yesterday. It is on the backing on the longarm now.

I found two Lungwort/Pulmonaria plants with blooms. I thought about raking the leaves off the bed but there is possible snow predicted next Monday which means cold weather. Yesterday I checked the temperature ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month, 1 week ago. under 9 patch , batik , food , nature

Variety day................. from Exuberant Color

I had intended to spend more time with quilt related things yesterday but ended up with a variety of things needing attention.

Early in the day I started choosing pairs of strips to sew into 9 patches and last night I got some of the strip sets sewn.

I had errands to run in the middle of the day and didn't get to the batting cutting until later in the day. I have batting cut for 2 of the 3 flannel quilts and will continue cutting for some others today.

I needed to start baking treats for my great-grandchildren ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month, 1 week ago. under 9 patch , batik , food , nature

Binding and 9 patches................ from Exuberant Color

The first batik 9 patches from my two bins of 2" strips are 4.5" finished and will be joined by many more over the next months. One strip of each of 2 fabrics makes 4 blocks if I'm careful with my cutting.

I had 2 sessions of hand sewing the binding on Autumn Coneflowers 2. I started with a corner finished the first night and stitched 2 sides yesterday, just going around the third corner onto a long side. I might take a day off from it to let my hand rest.

I tried a second time and ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month, 2 weeks ago. under 9 patch , binding , nature

Sorting batik scraps............. from Exuberant Color

There were 2 bins of batik scraps on my tables in the basement. I decided to go through and divide them by 'keep' and 'don't want'.

I think there might be a third box down there too and I'll look for that today.

This is a top view of the two boxes. I need to use my yardage and stop using scraps that I don't care for.

All of the pieces had been pressed at one time so this is pretty much stacked flat pieces, not crumpled up and wrinkled so there is a lot in these ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month, 2 weeks ago. under batik , nature , scraps

Binding............. from Exuberant Color

I have 2 corners done but almost 3 sides done. I have one long side and a few inches of a short side to go. I didn't get to spend 3 hours stitching like I planned. We were under a tornado watch and then a warning last night. Most of the storm went slightly north of us but we had hail and rain at 7. Because of all of the severe weather heading toward Chicago, the weather people were on the air until 8:30 so I missed all of the first FBI show and half of each of ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month, 3 weeks ago. under binding , nature

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