Today I will work on finishing this quilt top.  The fabric was purchased last year (or maybe the year before??) on spec…I loved the stripe and the beautiful Jacobean-like flowers.  At the time I didn’t have a pattern in mind, so I guessed at yardages I might need, then did a search on the internet and came upon this free downloadable pattern on the Benartex website, which I modified for the yardages I had.  I am pleased with the result, and think that this will be a favourite.

This quilt top was made using leftovers from a quilt that mom made.  It seemed a shame to have all these black and white 1/2 square triangles sitting in a box, so I gathered them all up and sewed them into 6″ blocks.  Each block has 16 HSTs.  I used leftover black and green squares from another project for the alternate blocks.  I was amazed at how easily everything fit together!!  I had enough fabric on hand to make the sashing, the larger HST yellow/black border, and the backing and binding.

It is another gorgeous day.  I took my hand sewing out onto the patio and spent the morning listening to music and sewing.  What a great way to start a day!

You can see that I haven’t done all the arms of the starburst yet, but I couldn’t wait to show you what I am working on.

Monica’s Quilt and Bead Shop.  Love this store.  There is so much eye candy for the quilter (and beader!)…especially appreciated by those who haven’t been near a quilt shop for awhile!  I spent at least an hour looking at the books, patterns, fabrics and notions and would have liked to have stayed longer if my spouse didn’t look like he’d rather stick pins in his eyes.  LOL.

Of course I picked up a few quilting items, including some gorgeous batik fabrics for the quilt I plan to make next.  Always thinking ahead!

Yesterday we went to Joshua Tree National Park.  It was a clear day, so we could see all the way down the valley to the Salton Sea from Keys View.

It was interesting to see the cholla cactus garden in bloom, and we enjoyed wandering around Skull Rock and watching the climbers at Hidden Valley.

We spent the hottest part of the day in the shopping malls (my new favourite store is DSW).  The first half of the day we were at the flea market, and I bought a floppy hat to wear by the pool and some reader sunglasses.  Life is good!

I’m super excited because I get to go to a hot place and lay in the sun for a bit!  Even though it has been such a great winter in Saskatchewan, I am still looking forward to a change of scenery and warmer weather.  :)

I’m taking along some hand sewing to keep me occupied in the evenings.  The sun goes down early, so this leaves time in the evenings to watch DVDs or TV.  I like to hand sew… I can’t  just sit and do nothing!

While away, I hope to take in a quilting class.  I’ve done my research and have found a nearby quilt shop that has a one-day class on Judy Neimeyer’s paper piecing method.  I LOVE Judy’s quilt patterns, so hope I can get into the class.

Here’s a photo of the quilt that I am currently working on…Stars ‘N Boxes.   Since the picture was taken I have added another border (in coral).  I pieced the binding using some of the “leftover” scraps from the jelly roll of fabrics used in the quilt centre. I downloaded a free pattern called “Boxy Stars” that I stumbled across on Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville website.  This was the perfect pattern and it was so quick and easy!  Thank you, Bonnie!

I made this quilt with fabrics that I had  left over from a jelly roll of French General – Garance – fabrics that I picked up from Hamels Fabrics at their booth at the Saskatoon Quilt Show last October.  (The quilt that produced these leftover fabrics is waiting to be bound….I will post a photo of it once it is finished.)  I really like the bright reds, carmels and soft browns in this collection.