What Goes Around, Comes Around

All I want for my birthday these days is not to be reminded of it, unless of course, it’s with a birthday quilt from, Barb. For that, I’ll admit to every one of my advancing years!

Imagine my surprise when I opened this year's quilt only to find a block I’d sent Barb a few years earlier. “Wait... What?” It took a moment to process that it was beautifully finished and back in my own hands!

The pattern is from Anita Shackelford's book, Applique with Folded Cutwork. My intention was to make four different blocks for a wallhanging, but my hands gave out partway through stitching the first one (darn MS). Our friend Kathy Smith finished the applique for me and I sent the block and remaining fabric to Barb for her birthday.

Barb finished the block with echo quilting, a traditional Hawaiian technique which outlines the applique design in concentric rows of stitching. Her use of silk thread adds a touch of elegance, don't you think? 

Let’s see what fabric Barb chose for the back. It’s a nod to her old New York City stomping ground.

Thank you, dear friend. As re-gifts go, this one's a keeper! XO

A Tisket, A Tasket

This time of year, I think about making a living Easter basket. The problem is I filled mine with ceramic figures and colorful candies like the scenes inside those sugar eggs we had as kids. 

Three weeks before Easter we planted grass seed in an old wicker basket. Within days, the tender shoots sprout and continued flourishing with sunshine and watering. In fact, by Easter it was ready for a trim!

Isn't it sweet? 

Instructions HERE.

This basket quilt was made using blocks I won in a guild raffle. The pattern is from Fons and Porter’s Classic Basket Patterns, 1984 (out of print).

In any sort of block exchange, sizes can vary. I used the smaller ones to make a pillow...

 

and label for the back of the quilt.

Raffle Baskets

36" x 51”

Stover Quality Quilting

April Fool