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I thought for several days about what to make with the charm squares that Teri sent me the other day. I found a book that had something like what I want in it and I am in the process of changing it a bit. I have discovered that I like my dining area so much better for a design area than the sewing room table (more room) that I have moved by big cutting mat to the table in there and go back and forth between the dining area and the sewing room. I get some added exercise to and don’t get stiff. Here is what I have come up with so far:
the charms - I do not work with pastel colors a lot but there was something about these Moda Aviary squares that I loved when I saw them. The fabric is so soft also - love it.
pulling the design together - laying things out, deciding on size - I have some books out for reference to the design that I like, paper to draw ect. I end up like always though and just start cutting and placing and measuring until I get what I want when I am not going by a particular pattern exactly.
there is a piece of creamy butter fabric in each strip. On that strip will be an applique flower or design, there might be a little embroidery on it also.
I will make four "blocks" this size to make one large block. I am going to do the applique first though before I join 4 blocks together. This one measures 23x25. So when the four are joined they will be about 46 x 50 and then there will be a border of some type around it. I am pretty sure I have enough charm squares to do this. If not and I am a couple short I will be searching through the stash to find a couple pieces which I should be able to do with no trouble.
So I will leave all of this stuff out on the dining room table and work on it for the next 3 days – I hope to do one of these units a day and then start on the applique – but if we do any running around this weekend it might end up on the table for a week 
This took 2 1/2 hours to do – in other words I spent the whole morning on it – which I normally do not do. Normally I am only sewing for an hour here or there in the day and evening.
I did take a break and went outside for some photos:
spring - don't you just love it - but darn all those little bugs are coming back already!
pretty yellow
hydrangea - I planted these last year from rootings off of my big plant - I rooted 7 plants and they all came back.
clematis
the cool weather plants are planted - peas, carrots, beets, two kinds of lettuce, spinach and radishes - we will be gone half the summer so I am not doing other veggies right now. I am going to spread plastic over the fencing to keep it warm as we are to get some cool nights coming up still. When I cut the grass the first time I will have Mike put the mulcher on and I will put mulch over the weed mat to hold it down and take the rocks up then.
{ 10 comments }
Karen, I like what you are doing with those fabric squares. And I am sure that once you enhance them with your hand work, they will be even more beautiful. Can’t quite see the photo in the book that you may have gotten your inspiration from but it all sounds lovely. It is great to have a large table to work on. Also, I have to agree that it is good to move around some when you are sewing/quilting especially as we get, well, you know, older. So if you are working on your dining room table, where will you eat your meals?
PS: I would never have bought these fabric either as I don’t ever use pastels but, darn, these look so wonderful in your photos that I may have to rethink my fabric choices! Never too old to change, you know!
Beautiful block!~ I can’t wait to see what applique or stitching you add. I just love daffodils! Yay spring!
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I love the daffodils. I have green shoots about 6″ tall, no sign of buds yet.
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Oooo I wonder what kind of applique you will be adding. These really are pretty fabrics :0)
Crispy
Lovely fabrics, will make a beautiful quilt. You are so clever!
Karen, I love that fabric line, and I’m not big on pastels either!
Your cutting mat is wonderful! May I ask what size it is and where you got it at?
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Oh I love these fabrics! (In fact, I think I see a couple that I have.
I like soft pastels and I love what you’re doing with them. Last year I did a free embroidery BOM with the plan to use them with pastels in a quilt but other quilts have gotten in the way of that…when things get caught up, I think you’ve inspired me to finally work on it.
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I’m not a very big fan of pastels either, but these fabrics are lovely! Btw, the flying geese quilt on the chair looks great!
Springtime in Arkansas! Beautiful flowers! I used to grow them in Norway.
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Your daffodils are gorgeous!
I love the colour of the creamy butter fabric! Perfect!
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