April 7, 2021

I love Sunbonnet Sue and I have a book full of patterns using her image. I was so happy when the ticket I pulled for Emma’s block was this one (I don’t think I even fudged on it).

I’m not a big fan of appliqué but I’m getting better at it. As well as a fun pattern it was nice to use up some of my coloured threads. How did I get so many colours of thread when I mostly use white or grey? I even made the quilt Sue is holding and her boots may be my favourite part.

Hopefully Emma will have a sunny day for her birthday, although I doubt she’ll be wearing a bonnet of any kind.

April 4, 2021

In the Splendid Sampler bonus blocks there was a pattern for Easter. There were parts of the pattern I didn’t like so I used what I liked and left the rest out.

This version is as close as I came to the actual pattern. I thought the heart was a bit odd in an Easter card but since my Valentine to Christy never arrived I went ahead with it. This was the last one to be quilted and I was a bit sparse with the stitching but I think it still works.

After digging out a template for the heart I used the oval shape on it to make a larger egg; I followed the pattern to make some smaller versions. This one will go to Elizabeth; I wonder if they still do their Easter egg hunt. This is the first of the cards that I quilted and I got a bit carried away with a new stitch I discovered – the mattress stitch.

I totally winged it on this last one. I thought adding the bow to the larger egg was a good idea. Again I used the mattress stitch but toned it down just a bit. It shows up well on the eggs.

April 4, 2021

I doubt that the designer of this block is old enough to remember Roy Rogers and Dale Evans but if you are of a certain age you’re already singing! I know for sure that Gavin won’t have a clue!

The block was meant to be done using one-inch squares for a pixelated look. I’ve done some pixelated projects and knew that where they call for more than one square you can use a strip. I’m happy with how this turned out, although even from the picture in the book it took me a bit of time to recognize the horse.

Although Gavin doesn’t have a horse (yet) I’m hoping the sky and mountains look a bit like a Calgary skyline.

March 31, 2021

I lost contact with Ryan for several years, was back in touch with him for a few years and then we lost touch once again. I’ve been so happy to have him back in my life. This year I have an address for him so I can send him a physical card as opposed to a virtual one.

My wish for Ryan is, as the card says, twice as much as whatever he hopes for.