Monday, April 2, 2018

In A Vase on Monday and Blocks for Friends

You know how one blog often leads to another? I recently came across Rambling in the Garden via one of the other blogs I enjoy (I don't remember who now). She hosts a meme in which folks can showcase the beauties they've picked from their gardens: In A Vase on Monday. I'm adapting this to my own circumstances. I like to keep a vase of cut flowers in my studio but can't get out consistently to grow very many of my own. In fact, I need to get out and clean up my little flower bed but the air hasn't been safe enough yet. Seems someone nearby is always either burning something or doing their laundry with products that are toxic to my system. So the last time I went for groceries at our local co-op I brought home a handful of tulips to celebrate spring.


I've put them in a hand-built cobalt blue ceramic pitcher. This arrangement is tall and slender enough not to take up too much space on my cutting table.

We exchange friendship blocks in my local quilt guild. The friendship block requests had piled up a bit while I worked on other projects and then had to take time to recover from that fall I had. On Good Friday I was finally feeling well enough to do some sewing. I managed to get all caught up on the friendship blocks!


As you can see, they vary widely in style.


I started with the house block. The recipient/requester will be adding a piece to the bottom right corner so her houses will be perched on a hill. I have to say, I'm tempted to embroider shutters on either side the window. But then I'll probably want to add other embellishments too. We shall see. That one was fun to design. The patriotic star came right out of my Parts Dept. so all I needed to do was add the outer border to complete that request. Easy peasy! Things got fiddly after that. The batik block is dramatic when complete but every piece is a different size. We won't even talk about the strawberry except to say it's based on a 1.5" grid. I'm just glad it's done and turned out so well. Now it's my turn. April is the month I get to present a friendship block request. I've had a couple of ideas but haven't yet settled on what I'll ask for. I might just go for 5" squares of novelty prints for another Disappearing 9 Patch quilt that could then be donated for a child in foster care. 😊


11 comments:

  1. The vase of tulips is very cheerful. I can understand your response to the toxic environment. I have asthma too, and last summer we had so many wildfires in our area I couldn't spend time out in my own garden.

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  2. In a Vase on Monday is a judgment-free zone, and your vase of flowers is lovely! I am not a quilter, but I love to admire their intricate patterns and the artistry that goes into them. I particularly like the little house block in this post! --Terri, tssoutherngarden.com

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  3. I love the name of your blog as it perfectly describes my friends and I. We love textile projects and all have way too many supplies taking up space. I really like your Hobbit embroideries. Did you happen to look at the little sewing box that I wrote about last Friday. A fun find.

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  4. Sue this is a lovely vase...cheerful and I love the pitcher....all beautifully displayed against that wonderful quilt.

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  5. Hi Magpie,love the simplicity of your vase.

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  6. Lovely yellow tulips for your northern hemisphere spring :-) And of course, a blue vase is perfect. It looked like a great still life in front of those blocks.

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  7. Your vase of tulips look so cheerful. I have always admired people that can quilt. I like your friendship blocks.

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  8. The yellow tulips stand up nicely against the backdrop of beautiful quilting fabrics neatly arranged in the shelves behind them. I bet the fabrics light up the space even on a cloudy day.

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  9. Tulips are so pretty! Good for you for having flowers in the studio.

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  10. That's a fresh and joyful vase. You have a delightful studio and these light up an already colourful space.

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  11. Oh your vase of yellow tulips is really bright and full of cheer. I hope that they last some time for you. Allergies are no fun - I have asthma, eczema and hayfever although the latter has improved with age. I hope that you can get out and enjoy planting in your garden again soon.

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