Spring has arrived... YEAH!

 What a difference a few weeks make.  Two weeks ago, on my way to my second vaccine, it was snowing like crazy and my dh had to plow the driveway for me to get out.  Today it's 60*!  I'm not complaining.

We drove back to California for a short visit and I got my last regular block finished;  I now need to prep  for the drive back to Oregon... HUGE endeavor!!

I have always said I'm a very imperfect appliqué-er.  You will agree if you look and see my circle is more oval!  I have come to believe that perfect isn't my thing!  Done is better than perfect, right??

I did however, finish my circles project for the sewalong that's being hosted by Céçile and Corinne this year.  This was made using the pot holder method exemplified by Wendy Reed (constant quilter) so each block was individually quilted and separately bound.  The arcs/spikes were paper pieced.

This was originally going to be an enormous quilt I started with a group of friends maybe 8 years ago.  We swapped fabrics for the quarter circles, the arcs and the 4 triangular pieces that are around the center squares.  Custom dies were made by Accuquilt so I didn't have to cut each one!~. I am thinking I'll make more blocks since I have all the pieces.  Possibly.!

I also decided to work on the new Barbara Brackman monthly sewalong and I got 3 blocks done to catch up.  I had recently purchased a pile of pinks and had gotten a bunch of purples from Maine (A busy Thimble!), both of which were waiting to be put away.  So that determined my color theme!  Note the fussy cut bird in the center here--from DiFord's fabric line.  LOVE it.  I've also been collecting backgrounds with writing so I used some of that.  FUN

I LOVE that pink fabric which has birds, if you look closely.

Fortunately they are only one a month!  I think I can keep up with that!

I took Zeke for a hike here in California yesterday to a new preserve.  This was one of the views along the way.

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful weekend.  Tonight is the first of Passover.  None of my friends are doing the usual large seders so my dh and I are going to hold our own very minimal seder.  Of course eating is a big part of this so I made chicken soup with matzoh balls (one of my favorites) and charoset (which is a mixture of apples, nuts, wine, dried fruit), which I always fill up on.

A shout out has to go to my dear friend Claire who has been our family's hostess for our seder for as long as I can remember.  This year she's going to a family member's house instead rather than deal with it at her house.  We will miss her family this year and hope for next year's seder with them all.

Take care.  Get vaccinated, if you can.  Stay safe!  Mask up...

Enjoy life!!

xxxx

Randy

Moving right along!

 We drove back to California last week to check on our house and see our grandkids.  It gives me lots of time to do handwork in the car while my dh does the driving.  We listen to Audible books and the time flies by!  Of course the fact that my dh doesn't talk during the car rides makes it much more enjoyable!! VBG

I got two more blocks done on my curves quilt.  But horrors of horrors-- I am missing one block!  OY.  It was all prepped for sewing down the binding and it disappeared.  Here is my progress:

There are 16 blocks in total so I have another row to add on. And make up for the missing block.

I also got a fair amount done on my last block for the Twilight Garden project!  Then the really hard part begins!  The borders are very detailed as is the center block.  But I'm moving along so I'm pleased!  This block needs its berries!!

I also went to the local quilt store yesterday that had their sale fabrics 15% off so of course I had to buy some more fabric.

The sewing machine and tape measure fabric will be fun!  The pandas will be a backing since it was only $6 less 15% so I was able to snag nearly 6 yds!  I love getting bargains for backing fabrics!

The weather was beautiful on Friday and I went on a hike with a group to a gorgeous area I'd not visited before.  It's a huge canyon with a river down below.

I even took Zeke along and there was another dog who looked just l like him.  They got along very well so it was a success.  He's now had all his shots so he can be around other pooches.  And start his training!

I'm hoping for lots of sewing this week.  I get my second vaccine on Thursday so am preparing for a quiet Friday.  YEAH!

Have a great, safe week!