from Marta with Love

A Bit of Everything

I’ll start where my last post left off: retreat with the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild (FRMQG). After such an epic weekend, I planned to write an equally epic blog post, but instead will keep it short and sweet. It was a blast. I got what felt like a minuscule amount done, but made up for it in late-night bonding sessions with incredible women and giggling until my tummy hurt.

As planned, I completed Kelly’s Dresden plate block and learned some new tricks while doing so. Then, the Swooning. Ah, yes, the Swooning. I made two blocks from the ever-popular Swoon pattern, of the nine needed for my quilt (nine doesn’t sound like a lot, but these blocks are huge, so nine blocks actually make an 80″ by 80″ finished quilt).

The print fabrics in my Swoon blocks are all from Laurie Wisbrun’s Modern Whimsy collection for Robert Kaufman, which is decidedly my favorite fabric collection of all time. It’s whimsical (duh), and has a wonderful folksy Scandinavian feel that I’m crazy about. Just look at the little bunnies! And the colors! So cheerful and awesome. Wait ’til you see the sheep…

I didn’t get to working on Caiden’s 1-year quilt during the retreat, but I sure did get a lot done at home the following week. I cut all my fabric and assembled all 20 blocks. What’s left for me is to sew the sashing, assemble the top, and quilt the thing! This one’s from another great fabric line, Patty Sloniger’s Backyard Baby for Michael Miller Fabrics. It has all kinds of cool boy stuff like bugs and snakes and beehives and ants and anything else “backyardy” that little boys would want to get their hands on. Here’s a little preview, but I won’t reveal too much because that’ll ruin the final reveal for Caiden’s momma.

Some non sewing-related things have gone down in Chinatown this week as well. My beloved pup, Zeppelin, needed surgery to have a tumor removed from his paw. He’s recovering and the prognosis is looking good, but he still looks utterly woebegone (thanks, Jo Rowling, for the best ever use of the word “woebegone” in the Harry Potter novels that I use any chance I get).

Don’t you just want to cuddle him? We’re hoping for this face to come back as soon as possible:

To conclude this newscast: beautiful weather in the Rockies, and some beautiful little crocus stems beginning to poke out of the ground. Hooray! Spring fever is in full force (which of course means there will probably come a typical Colorado snow storm or five in the near future). In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my tiny glimpses of green.

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2 Comments

  • mle

    Lovely quilt blocks! You've been so productive! What a sweet looking pup, I'm sure he'll be back to his happy self soon!

    March 9, 2012 at 3:04 pm Reply
  • **nicke...

    i am so glad you had a great time at your sewing retreat! your puppy is adorable! i want to scratch his ears! i love your swoon blocks! and your backyard baby quilt is cute so far! can't wait to see more.

    March 10, 2012 at 1:11 am Reply
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