As usual a colorwash style quilt just isn't as pretty in a photo as it is in real life. I have the binding finished but have not done any ditch quilting yet. It doesn't 'need' any more quilting; I just want to find out if it works well to meander first and ditch quilt afterwards. My shoulder is bothering me right now so I won't be doing it right away.
My hardware store amaryllis is blooming just in time to bring in the new year.
This bird feeder, a present from my BIL and SIL, is labeled squirrel resistant. Well they should have made that little cover latch a little better. It was opened twice yesterday and this little rascal just sticks his head in the top and eats.
I have had birds trying it out too. They usually dart in and out so fast I can't get the camera focused on them in time. This bird actually circled the whole center tube before it left. It took 4 shots to get one with the bird in focus though.
It is time to retire my Charley Harper calendar so I was looking back through the pictures. I like the way he simplified the black and white on the woodpecker.
I never thought about using dotted fabric for a calico cat but this painting in the calendar is good inspiration. Every year I buy an engagement calendar with a different artist featured.
Hi Wanda Love the quilt and those images on the calendar are so effective! That's also a very striking flower that you have photographed. In Australia we call them 'hippeastrums' and they flower in spring...September/October. I have a lot of red ones and some pink and white ones which don't flower every year as do the red! Have a Happy New Year!
I would save the calender and use some of the photos for wall hangings! I have a Christmas card with two cardinals on it that one of my girls gave me and I keep looking at it thinking what a wonderful wall hanging it would make - I will put it aside and give it some thought - I think it will just take enlarging it somewhat with the copier and it will work. Those darn squirrels! I feel for you, we have not had as much trouble with them since we have cats again. Karen http://karensquilting.com/blog/
I also have a mid-arm and have, on occasion, meandered on it first and then stitched in the ditch using my domestic machine. You definitely get a different effect than you would doing the ditch stitching first, but I still liked the finished quilt better with the ditch stitching than without. Good luck!
First, I love, love, love your colorwash quilt. Beautiful job with the border and binding colors too. And you are right...little quilting, some curves or meandering. I have both of the bird feeders that you show....the squirrels avoid the tube one with leaves for me. And love to remove the lid for the cage one....until my husband put an extra screw in that we have to remove to fill it! And that woodpecker would make a great pattern for an applique....I better check my calendar to see what goodies I missed.
The battles with the squirrels around our house are battles of intelligence - we finally gave up and if they can figure it out they can have it. Our birds don't seem to mind sharing.
Congratulations on another great quilt finish, I love the border fabric that you selected for this quilt, it really sets it off nicely.
Also I want to thank you for introducing me to Charley Harper, I will have to check out more of his work. Some definite inspiration there for applique quilts.
I think that squirrel proof bird feeders are right up there with raccoon proof garbage cans.
Oh the squirrels and the bird feeders! I have some stories to tell trying to dodge them! I love the calender. There are few good ideas for a whimsy quilts in there!
Even with a photograph's poor ability to show a colorwash - that quilt is still gorgeous. I'd love to see it in person! Your amaryllis is so pretty. Don't you just enjoy having a little bit of flowering color inside on the dark winter days? I'd never heard of that artist. I know. Uninformed. Thanks for another inspiring (in so many ways) post!
I also got a new bird feeder for Christmas. It's round,copper and glass. So far the squirrels have left it alone. We'll see how long that lasts. Love the calendar pictures. Especially the birds.
Gorgeous quilt! The only thing we have found to deter the squirrels is a metal baffle that attaches to the pole under the feeder. We place out feeder where the squirrels cannot jump from a tree of the house. They climb the pole but cannot get to the feeder. YAY!
Lovely quilt! Those squirrel proof bird feeders are so entertaining...you can make guesses at how many minutes it will baffle the little critters before they best the latches! Still gotta love 'em all...such fun for winter watching when our machines and needles are still! Happy stitching!
WOW Wanda...I really do like this quilt, even if it is 10 years old! AND WOWZER on your Zebra dishes...oh, oh I am crazy over them...Pier I always have the best designs in dishes! And of course I always enjoy the backyard antics going on with those crazy squirrels!!!
What a treat for me today to leisurely catch up on your posts for the last week, plus.
Always fun to watch your progress of each quilt, your winter scenes and bird and squirrels at your feeder. Fun zebra dishes... Photo's of cookies and candies... And oh my gosh the blossom's and bud's on your Christmas Cactus!
Today's quilt is awesome. Just love the fabric's and design.
Hello! Your new quilt is just wonderful! I love all the photos with birds and squirrels! You have really tried to keep the food for the birds! That calender looks beautiful, if there is lovely fabric in every page, that's fantastic! That cat with the leaves is quite nice idea for a quilt... I wish you Happy New Year! Teje from Crete
Love the quilt and sympathise about the shoulder - I ended up with a cortisone injection in mine. Now I set the timer for 30 mins and when it pings walk and stretch and roll my shoulders.
I hadn't seen those blocks made up in watercolors before, but it's really pretty. My father-in-law spent years trying to outsmart the squirrels, but they always managed to get into the bird feeders. We have our feeders hanging from a "T" made from plumbing pipes. Only one squirrel figured out to get up on the roof, so we put a keep alive trap on the roof, caught him, and relocated him to the other side of the river!
Your quilt is stunning in spite of the camera. I love the photos from the calendar - very inspirational. We have tried everything to keep the squirrels out of the feeders, but nothing works. We now have at least a dozen squirrels around our place. I just sit in my solarium and watch them along with my cats. They are very funny sometimes and the cats get really excited when they chase each other.
Hi Wanda
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt and those images on the calendar are so effective! That's also a very striking flower that you have photographed. In Australia we call them 'hippeastrums' and they flower in spring...September/October. I have a lot of red ones and some pink and white ones which don't flower every year as do the red! Have a Happy New Year!
ha! so much for squirrel resistant! Those little buggers are too smart. Love the calendar art.
ReplyDeleteMy DH caught a hummingbird in a few pictures around a feeder. Won't tell you how many pictures just showed the feeder!
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is gorgeous! Congrats on another fab finish :)
ReplyDeleteCharley Harper is so talented, I love his work!
Didn't you know? Bird feeders are really squirrel evolution accelerators!
ReplyDeleteI would save the calender and use some of the photos for wall hangings! I have a Christmas card with two cardinals on it that one of my girls gave me and I keep looking at it thinking what a wonderful wall hanging it would make - I will put it aside and give it some thought - I think it will just take enlarging it somewhat with the copier and it will work.
ReplyDeleteThose darn squirrels! I feel for you, we have not had as much trouble with them since we have cats again.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
I also have a mid-arm and have, on occasion, meandered on it first and then stitched in the ditch using my domestic machine. You definitely get a different effect than you would doing the ditch stitching first, but I still liked the finished quilt better with the ditch stitching than without. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIn spring Cincinnati hosts a quilt show of nothing but Charley Harper original quilts - would that not be a visual delight to see ?!
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt, as usual !
Your quilt is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures you share with us of the creatures that visit your yard - thanks!
First, I love, love, love your colorwash quilt. Beautiful job with the border and binding colors too. And you are right...little quilting, some curves or meandering. I have both of the bird feeders that you show....the squirrels avoid the tube one with leaves for me. And love to remove the lid for the cage one....until my husband put an extra screw in that we have to remove to fill it!
ReplyDeleteAnd that woodpecker would make a great pattern for an applique....I better check my calendar to see what goodies I missed.
Love the quilt.
ReplyDeleteYour calender will give you lots of inspiration for future quilts.
Don't you love those Squirrels.
The battles with the squirrels around our house are battles of intelligence - we finally gave up and if they can figure it out they can have it. Our birds don't seem to mind sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs - Marie
Congratulations on another great quilt finish, I love the border fabric that you selected for this quilt, it really sets it off nicely.
ReplyDeleteAlso I want to thank you for introducing me to Charley Harper, I will have to check out more of his work. Some definite inspiration there for applique quilts.
I think that squirrel proof bird feeders are right up there with raccoon proof garbage cans.
Oh the squirrels and the bird feeders! I have some stories to tell trying to dodge them!
ReplyDeleteI love the calender. There are few good ideas for a whimsy quilts in there!
Happy New Year!
Even with a photograph's poor ability to show a colorwash - that quilt is still gorgeous. I'd love to see it in person! Your amaryllis is so pretty. Don't you just enjoy having a little bit of flowering color inside on the dark winter days? I'd never heard of that artist. I know. Uninformed. Thanks for another inspiring (in so many ways) post!
ReplyDeleteI also got a new bird feeder for Christmas. It's round,copper and glass. So far the squirrels have left it alone. We'll see how long that lasts. Love the calendar pictures. Especially the birds.
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt. I also love Charlie Harper's art, and have the 2010 and 2011 calendars!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, and giving me inspiration.
Gorgeous quilt! The only thing we have found to deter the squirrels is a metal baffle that attaches to the pole under the feeder. We place out feeder where the squirrels cannot jump from a tree of the house. They climb the pole but cannot get to the feeder. YAY!
ReplyDeleteYour colorwash quilt is just lovely! Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pesky little squirrel that is. Ummmm.
I love the calendar. It is great for inspiration!
I think the quilt looks great! So far my tabasco treatment is working on my squirrels.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt! Those squirrel proof bird feeders are so entertaining...you can make guesses at how many minutes it will baffle the little critters before they best the latches! Still gotta love 'em all...such fun for winter watching when our machines and needles are still! Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteThat quilt is a beauty! Love thos Charlie Harper illustrations, we bought some animal cards for my toddler last Christmas. She very much enjoys them.
ReplyDeleteYikes - hungry squirrels are smart!
Am a big Charlie Harper fan...... have a few cards to frame some day and bought Todd Oldham's book on Charlie's work. Lots of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWOW Wanda...I really do like this quilt, even if it is 10 years old!
ReplyDeleteAND WOWZER on your Zebra dishes...oh, oh I am crazy over them...Pier I always have the best designs in dishes!
And of course I always enjoy the backyard antics going on with those crazy squirrels!!!
This colorwash quilt looks beautiful on my computer. As usual, great colors.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat for me today to leisurely catch up on your posts for the last week, plus.
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to watch your progress of each quilt, your winter scenes and bird and squirrels at your feeder.
Fun zebra dishes... Photo's of cookies and candies...
And oh my gosh the blossom's and bud's on your Christmas Cactus!
Today's quilt is awesome. Just love the fabric's and design.
J~MT
Oooh, how I love that quilt!! Absolutely stunning! The bird feeders are clearly no match for the squirrels around your house!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteYour new quilt is just wonderful!
I love all the photos with birds and squirrels! You have really tried to keep the food for the birds!
That calender looks beautiful, if there is lovely fabric in every page, that's fantastic! That cat with the leaves is quite nice idea for a quilt...
I wish you Happy New Year!
Teje from Crete
I adore Charlie Harper. I picked up a colouring book, but my girls don't get it until they are better at colouring within the lines. Mean Mom!
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt and sympathise about the shoulder - I ended up with a cortisone injection in mine. Now I set the timer for 30 mins and when it pings walk and stretch and roll my shoulders.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen those blocks made up in watercolors before, but it's really pretty. My father-in-law spent years trying to outsmart the squirrels, but they always managed to get into the bird feeders. We have our feeders hanging from a "T" made from plumbing pipes. Only one squirrel figured out to get up on the roof, so we put a keep alive trap on the roof, caught him, and relocated him to the other side of the river!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is stunning in spite of the camera. I love the photos from the calendar - very inspirational.
ReplyDeleteWe have tried everything to keep the squirrels out of the feeders, but nothing works. We now have at least a dozen squirrels around our place. I just sit in my solarium and watch them along with my cats. They are very funny sometimes and the cats get really excited when they chase each other.
Always enjoy your blog and I really like that cat picture--cottonreel
ReplyDelete