Friday, March 03, 2006


Flower gardens in March...
are pretty pitiful, here, but I did see some lovely golden crocus above ground, this morning. Finn, here are the 9 GMFG blocks that I have finished. I bought enough chubby 1/8s and fat quarters to do almost 12 more. My blocks are not near so tiny as Lucy's- whose pieces are smaller than her thimble. These pieces finish out at about 1 1/2." Small enough for me, my eyes start to cross as it is. I can do one block in an evening- that includes frequent staring off into space and such nonsense as that. Not that I do one an evening. They also make a great, very small, take along project. I am hoping to finish this for our first grandchild- yes, I'm slow, slow. I am surprised at how difficult it has been to find fabric with tiny flowers on it. I remember when that was about all the quilter had to choose from- tiny flowers(calicos) and solids. Now the scale is larger than ever, but I am enjoying the hunt. I am planning on using blue for all the centers- repeats are fine. Different yellows in the first round of petals and then assorted flower prints in the final round of petals. I was hoping to put a bug(butterfly, dragonfly, bumblebee, lady bug) of some sort in every flower, but now I realize that I was narrowing the field too much. Thinking I'll set them in a nice leafy green- maybe literally a leafy green.

I bought this little book at an antique store, today. The cover was so sweet, I couldn't resist. Finn, I know how you like vintage things. This is circa 1933. The little girl reminds me of pictures I've seen of my MIL- who would have been about the same age as that Little Red Riding Hood. She is going into a nursing home, tomorrow. It is such a sad time for all of us. They call it "rehabilitation," nowadays. What does that word mean and where does it come from, I wonder? To be "re-" anything, one would assume you were already there. "habilitated." But you know, I think there are some places you can't go back to. I guess it's a way of being hopeful. And you never do know, do you?

12 comments:

teelduo said...

It will be beautiful when finished.

Isobel said...

It is lovely, even unfinished. I have a flower garden quilt that Aunt Carrie pieced for me. I told mom that I would like to have a quilt top Aunt Carrie had pieced. Mom then paid Aunt Carrie the whopping price of $15.00 to piece it for me. She couldn't quilt it because it was a king size and she didn't have a quilt frame large enough. I quilted it--my first quilt. When I look at the stitched now, I know that they are way too large, but it was my first and I did the entire thing by hand. I believe the fabrics we have now are probably better--some of the fabrics in this quilt are not as tightly woven and I frequently have to mend it as it keeps coming apart. That sometimes happens when the entire quilt is done by hand. I will try to get a picture of it to post.

Cher said...

lovely, lovely gfg blocks Nines! I like that color combination idea-they are coming along nicely. What a sweet cover on that book- I would have wanted it too-and I hope your MIL is able to come home to you all soon...if that is at all possible.

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

The blocks are lovely! I think that is a good size. The ones I am doing are 3/4" per side on the hex, and I keep telling myself if I started with bigger hexes, the (*&@#&( quilt would be done by now! *LOL*

Bonnie

Pamela (Peni) Teel said...

Those flowers are getting sweeter and sweeter. Hope you find your perfect leafy green.

I've been trying to paint leafy green and think I need to go to MD for more lessons....

Prayers with you all...Mama

Finn said...

Dear nines, thank you so much for the GFG pictures..I love your blue and yellow..they are so sweet and old fashioned looking...*VBS* (and thank you also for the slightly larger font..I noticed right away..*S*)
You know I hadn't thought about how hard it is to find the small florals now, but you are right..most fabric lines are either brighter or larger prints.I'm so glad you are enjoying the "hunt"...you'll bag just what you need, I'm sure!

The book is too awesome! I'd have bought it in a heartbeat...*G* She is such a sweet child.
Sorry to hear that things are at that point with you MIL, I know she's lived with you for quite awhile now. My dad was with us til the end, the last 2 years of his life. Yesterday it was 16 years since he passed away..I still miss him. Hugs for you dear friend, Finn

Granny said...

DH just told me I have some crocus blooming too.

I think after seeing your GFG blocks, I'll dig mine out and work on them in my spare time.

Judy L.

Frances said...

Nina when i read 1.5 I thought you meant the finished blocks were 1.5 but I see from Bonnie's comment you meant the individual patch, i love blues and yellows it looks like it will be beautiful, love the completed blocks, i started one ~*~ years ago which is about a third done thanks for reminding me perhaps i should get it out,

oh the silk paper i think is called silk fusion your side of the pond,
and I think the puce quilt in the previous post is nice, we all have colours we like and some we don't guess Puce is on you don't list,

Quiltgranny said...

Your gfg look like little flowers strewn acoss my path this morning. Good for you to keep working on them - something I could never keep up with!

Darcie said...

Your GFGs are darling, Nines! So dainty...just precious. You may want to make them X2...for those two darling daughters of yours!

;-)

What a sweet little book! I've got a few of my own little books from when I was a little girl. I should dig them out. 'Course, none of them will be Circa 1930's! They just don't make 'em like they used to, do they?

I certainly hope that all will go well for your family and your MIL with her transition. It is so wonderful that you've cherished her time with you.

Lucy said...

You r flowers are so beautifull and they fit with the book :c) What a nice covering . I like ld child books too.. they are so great for displaying

Holly said...

I have some GFG tucked away somewhere. Seeing the rest of you piecing them almost has me digging mine back out. Hope you find an occasional bug, beetle or butterfly.