What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

My OMG was to make a hollyhock wall hanging for the outgoing president of the Zion Woman's Club. Hollyhocks are the club flower.  I bought the pattern from Ladybug's Cabin Creations.  It was fiddly to make but the instructions were very clear.   All batiks from my stash.

I'll present it at the ZWC luncheon next week.

Stash report for April:  

Fabric in 76 yards, $110, average $1.44/yard.

Fabric out: 58-1/4 yards.

YTD in: 580-1/2 yards, $955 ...

It did not get dark here but the quality of the sunlight changed, the temperature dropped slightly, and a breeze kicked up.     

Photo: holding iPhone up to the lens of the eclipse glasses.  

This chipmunk was ...

The showers held off each afternoon so I could get good walks -- the state park, a forest preserve, and the nature trail at the end of our block.  

A beaver-chewed tree (one of many along that stretch), a beaver lodge, and horsetails.   

Easter was pleasant. Stevens was able to come to church with me!   I bought a 4-1/2 lb lamb roast. I rubbed it with a mixture of chopped garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, and olive oil. It was wonderful and we ...

The weather cooperated yesterday with sunshine and 45 degrees.  We enjoyed a forest preserve walk at McDonald Woods (2 miles)   

I've been working on the homespun quilt.  There's a piece of green tape to mark the misplaced unit (fourth row, second column).  

The fabric for the setting triangles was a serendipitous find on the shelf.   I haven't decided whether or not there will be a border.  

Photo: crocuses in our garden. These are right under the dryer vent which gives them an edge. 

I took a flimsy to Barb-the-quilter yesterday. It will be the AAUW spring raffle quilt.  While we were nearby we visted a forest preserve we hadn't been to in a while.  I enjoyed the 70-degree ...

Last week I stated my four goals for the month. I'm delighted to report that I've finished 2-4/5 of them.

#1   Commission quilt.   Barb N. made the nine-patches from fabric that she and her daughter used for clothing and crafts in the 1990's. She added the green squares long ago.  She asked if I could finish it so she could give it to her daughter.  

I added ...

Today is the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.   The Celts called it Imbolc.   German-Americans created Groundhog Day (in Germany they observed badgers rather than groundhogs).   It is also Candlemas, which "celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin Mary’s purification."    

Time and Date adds, "Snowdrops (galanthas nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom early in the year, even before Candlemas. Some varieties bloom all winter (in the northern hemisphere). The superstitious used to believe that ...

I took advantage of the sunshine Monday and had a good long walk at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve.  It was great to get back on the trail.

Yellow:  willow.  Green:  Japanese roses.  Red:  dogwood.

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With a fifth Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this seems to be a bonus week, doesn't it?  January seemed to pass quickly, though.  

January OMG:  wonky log cabin, made out of neckties, for the MQG Mini Swap.  I sent it off mid-month.

I was able to go on two good walks this week -- and Stevens came along on one of them.  (I said, "Your Facebook fans want to see your smile!" )   Center right:  a rose hip caught the afternoon sunlight like a little jewel.

We had a little snow on Friday evening which has since melted.  Another storm is coming through midweek. 

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