Monday, August 26, 2024

A Pokey Post for August

I consider the Squirrel to be my Spirit Animal for quilting but it seems the Sloth may be it for my Blog. I had two finishes since last week and was in no hurry to post about these two quilts despite being very happy with their finishes. Both of the quilts were listed in my 2024/25 Project List and had similar types of fabric designs with the appearance of birds, critters, fauna,etc. In my quest to write shorter Posts with brief descriptions, here’s a quick rundown:
What I really liked about both of the fabrics were what I thought were squirrels in both of the focus prints and they were definitely present in the Bluebird Park designed by Kate and Birdie Paper Co. for Moda fabrics. I had yardage and a charm pack of this collection for well over five years (I did include leftover yardage of the tan trellis print which was from the Autumn Woods Quilt made around seven years ago) and perfect to make another Fat Quarter Mixer which is one of my favorite patterns at the moment.  I previously finished one in May and you can see it and find details of this pattern in this Post. I did slightly modify this pattern by making the blocks smaller and making some of the blocks with only the large blue floral print since it was so pretty.
Once I determined and cut the fabrics, this quilt was a quick and simple make, a total of four days from start to finish. The machine quilting of wavey lines with CT Essential thread in Stone was a breeze. The pieced backing was made with yardage of the focus and solid green fabrics. I also used the solid green for the binding.  Can you see the cute squirrels and hedgehogs? Bluebird Park measures 60”x84” and is already hanging on the hallway bannister until next month when the Fall quilts will make their appearance. I just love the happy colors and prints and will happily display this quilt again come next Spring. It seems a bit early to be saying this but Fall is coming.
The second quilt, a door hanging for inside the hallway front doors, is the one made with a fat quarter bundle of the Sketchbook prints designed by Shauna Scicluna for Leutenegger.au purchased within the past five years and I’m pretty sure I bought it for the “squirrels” crossing the telephone wires
The focus print came in three colorways which I call morning, high noon and evening and it was hard for me to cut this print up. I decided to make a small quilt with large patches of these prints. I didn't use all of the prints shown which are background grid prints and used only the prints of leaves and fauna.
I first laid out the patches in a symmetrical layout and thought it looked too boring and then opted for an asymmetrical layout which is way more interesting.
In keeping with the asymmetrical layout, I only added a thin border of the lilac/gray mini check print on only three sides of the quilt to keep it 30” wide to fit on the door. I machine quilted with what I call telephone phone poles with straight vertical lines along the seams for the poles and wavey lines for the wires with silver CT Essential Thread. The binding which I hand sew down in the back because that’s what I like to do for for small quilts was the same check print as the border. I named this quilt G’Day which I thought was appropriate for this quilt. It measures 30” x 44”.
When I first purchase the fat quarter bundle I did not know these were Australian prints but came to the realization after seeing the .au after the Leutenbegger name and looking closely at the “squirrel with the funny ears”  and birds on the telephone wire. I couldn’t find any info on the inspiration for these fabrics so after the flimsy was made, I emailed my wonderful downunder tormentor Sue, PatchworknPlay to clarify what the birds and critter were so I could write an intelligent post and I’m glad I did. She said they don’t have squirrels in Australia so that is a common brushtail possum  along with magpies, sulphur crested cockatoos and maybe kookaburras, which they are. She thought the leaves would be Eucalyptus/gum trees and the sketches of fauna was too abstract for her to determine. Being the retired educator, she suggested I do further research on the Possum/Opossum names but being the rebel student which I am, I chose to discover the Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree song and there are gum tree leaves in some of the prints. 

I mentioned in a previous Post, that the Master Quilt Holder and I were taking pics of quilts made before I started blogging and never taken because they were too large. Before blogging, photos were taken inside and were not so great.  I sent a photo of this quilt to Susan while communicating about the G’day quilt and told her I made this twenty years ago and the pattern was the cover quilt for the book Fabulous Quilts from Favorite Patterns from Australian Patchwork & Quilting Magazines published in 2003. When I first started quilting it was always a treat to buy these magazines which may explain that I have an infatuation with anything Australian since I followed Kathy Dougherty and Sarah Fielke then and do not have a Jen Kingwell obsession. I like to mention again, Susan was one of my first Blogland friend and so fitting she lives in Australia and is living up my moniker for her as a downunder tormentor, who introduced me to Jen Kingwell. Susan said that I should post this photo of this quilt and sometimes I do listen to her. 
I thought I would close this once again a chatty Post of my two August quilts taken outside. September will be a busy month of traveling but I hope to be able to post my latest quilt still in the makings and my wonderful road trip project before we leave. But, dilly dallying seems to be in my Quilt DNA now with the help of the Studio Squirrels because I keep finding wonderful projects and forgotten fabrics in the Studio.

Linking up with:My Quilt Infatuation/NTT

5 comments :

  1. Oh, Rose, I think you are tormenting me now! What a recalcitrant student you are not doing your research! So I did it for you...! Possums are native to Australia and New Zealand and opossums are native to the US and Canada. Some possums in Australia have a brushy, furry tail and opossums do not. Opossums are more uniform in size, whereas possums vary greatly in size. Opossums have pointed white faces, possums have rounded bodies and softer features. I could go on but I have tormented you enough! Congratulations on getting to the end of my comment AND on your two latest quilt finishes!

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  2. Well, squirrels or possums or whatever, your quilts and fabrics are so much fun! Of course, I'm partial to the quilt with the citronickle vibe - haha! I do like Jen Kingwell quilts - I need to make another one, but probably should get my GW quilt quilted and done first!

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  3. The squirrel should be the mascot of all quilters! I've heard the opossums of Australia are different from the ones we have in the USA. We definitely have squirrels who do tightwire stunts on the lines around here, too. Gotta admire their balance! They're cute as the dickens on your quilts, Rose!!! I love your use of FQ Mixer. And your fondness of all things Australian!

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  4. Good morning dear Rose! So fun to see your post and I love the squirrel reference. Those squirrels and hedgehogs are adorable, and I love the telephone wires. Great quilting on that one too! Where does the 20 yo quilt reside? It is gorgeous! Love the bicycle photo
    It is never too early to say "fall is coming" IMO. Those are the only words that get me through August. My mood has lifted so much these past few days!
    BTW, I know you need more fabrics - lol - and I look at the fabrics in this shop pretty frequently and have bought lots of fabric from this gal.
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatsSoJanice She is my favorite Etsy person. She buys fabric from estate sales and lists it for rarely any more than $6/yard. She recently bought a bunch and is listing it daily. You might want to have a look - she has some bright fabrics that make me think of you. She is marvelous to work with.
    Enjoy your travel month dear friend!

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  5. Sloth and Squirrel went to see...what Rose was up too, and who was going to win the battle. This cracks me up. There must be a graphic you can make for this! The additions to the bluebird park collection are spot on. And I love that FQ Shop pattern for a great quilt. The next quilt with those fabrics, with squirrels (yes I know they aren't now) and telephone poles is fabulous. G'Day is just great and I love seeing the difference with the assymetrical twist - and by far the more interesting choice. I don't know this fabric line and will definitely keep an eye out. And, I love seeing a repost of an oldie but still gorgeous quilt and the story of a friendship formed from quilting - sure does resonate with me. Safe journeys - we are off to Quebec City sometime this month (yikes it is September as I write this).

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I appreciate your comments but due to traveling and my ineptitude with typing on either my iPhone or iPad, my response may be somewhat delayed. Thank You for your understanding.