Nod to the Royal Wedding

Our Mockingbird knitters group decided it would be fun to wear hats for our Friday morning gathering this week in honor of the Royal Wedding. Some of us even woke up to watch the festivities live; then, as each of us arrived with our hats decorated in various ways, we ooh-ed and ahh-ed and went to get our coffee. Marsha lamented that she hadn't thought to bring champagne in time to do so. We asked Laura if the Mockingbird Cafe had any on hand, and to our surprise, she brought out a bottle compliments of the house!

Here you see our group after a sip or two of the bubbly showing off jewelry (at least two of our members wore versions of the royal engagement ring) and practicing the royal wave. Marsha sent this to me and titled it: God save the Queen from the Mockingbird Knitters!

We had lots of fun commenting on how beautiful everyone looked, both here and at the REAL wedding, and I believe everyone enjoyed the break in routine. It was suggested that we include champagne more often. Don't know how much knitting we'd ever get done...hmmm.

On reading my last post I realize I was certainly not clear about the quilting of this crib quilt. I had the pleasure and satisfaction of hand quilting in my lap, without a frame or hoop, and seeing that although the stitches are far from perfect, the result was pleasing. What's more, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and can hardly wait to try it again.

My very first and only other quilt I made back in 1974 (!) and pieced entirely by hand; it was a Wild Goose Chase quilt with nine blocks and by the time I finished piecing it I certainly didn't feel like quilting it so I just tied it in the corners and centers of the blocks. I certainly lacked patience back then. I wanted everything done in a hurry.

I'm glad I've changed at least that much!

Bee quilting...

Back to spring for a moment or two; we have had some cool days, then some hot and humid days and then blissfully a little cold front with clear skies and blossoms perfuming the air..

and happy bees, busy... as busy as my fingers were this last week....

when I decided to make my first quilt in thirty five plus years, and the first one I didn't even quilt! I just tied it together...Inspired by so many, Jane Brocket's The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking, Anna Maria Horner's blog which includes lovely clear tutorials, Alicia Paulson's blog which recently showed a BEAUTIFUL log cabin style quilt she made and included a link to a video tutorial on how to easily piece a log cabin block.. well after all this time I just couldn't resist. Plus I cheated. Well, at least I didn't have to cut all the strips for the blocks. I found a rondelle of fabric strips at Wal-Mart that had three strips each of eight different yet coordinating fabrics, and that was my start.

Here is my finish, one week later.

And here is the reaction I got when I gave the quilt to its intended owner! She started laughing and gathering it all around her, happy as a bee sucking honey. Then she got tired and I got to rock her to sleep wrapped in it, and then..

left her in her crib. Bliss is a happy baby.