Trying to drag Spring...

into the house! Last night we got snow, not a lot, but about 1/2" on the grass. It wasn't bad for driving, but it was a bit demoralizing when you have your hopes pinned on Spring being just around the corner. So when I got up this morning and saw that white background I tried to think positively about the snow and thought it would be a great backdrop for this springy quilt.



Do you see a nice white background?? Me neither. See I got up, showered, wrangled 2 loads of laundry in and out of the machines and folded it, empty the litter box and helped my son with his study outline for his history class and then I grabbed the quilt and my camera and go outside. Well the sun was shining beautifully and as a result, all the snow in the backyard had melted, so I just pushed on.



This quilt may be my favorite that I have ever done. It started with a pattern by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes that I saw on Alex Anderson's Simply Quilts show circa 1997. Now this was in the days of recording shows on VHS tapes and by the time I realized that I wanted the dimensions of this pansy block,and I fumbled to find a tape to feed the VCR, I only caught the tale end of the show with a picture of the quilt called Molly's Magic Pansies. I ended up figuring out the size of the pieces on my own, since I couldn't wait for the pattern to be published. The quilt appears in the book Say it With Quilts , but my quilt isn't a copy but a take off from their idea.



Those 9 big center purple pansies are 12" blocks. The 36 yellow pansies in the border are 6" blocks, and the little pansies that are cornerstones are 3". Every pansy in this quilt is unique. I used a different combination of yellow, purple and green fabrics in each and every one (yes I am certifiably crazy - LOL). You can see that even back in 1997 I had a healthy stash of yellows. It is my favorite color. I had a yellow bedroom as a teenager and in my first apartment complete with a yellow shag rug. When I love a color, I LOVE IT!

While I was out today I saw baskets of pansies at a local garden store and I'm going to gets some this weekend for my garden. I think pansies are such happy flowers, they have the sweetest little faces.

Thanks to everyone who has left a comment for the pincushion giveaway. I will take entries till midnight EST Saturday night and I'll announce the winner sometime on Sunday after I've recovered from having a perfectly good hour of my sleep stolen from me - yes I am bitter about Daylight savings time. I think you should just leave it alone, the day will stay lighter longer all by itself. Boy this makes me crabby. I need go eat some chocolate and chill out.

Happy stitching-
carol fun

Life is just a bed of pansies...

if you are a pampered house cat!


I unfolded this quilt and pressed the creases out of it and laid it on the floor in anticipation of my oldest son hanging it for me. Then Big Dude claimed it as the perfect resting spot for several hours and oldest son didn't want to disturb him soooo I'm still waiting for it to get hung. And I'll get some better pictures of it when it gets hung.

It isn't a high priority at the moment since my dear children graciously shared their head cold with me and right now I am a coughing, sneezing, stuffy nosed, tired and achey lump.

I am enjoying reading all the comments and entries for the pincushion giveaway but haven't gotten up enough energy to respond individually. Hope you understand and I hope I feel more energetic in a day or two.

Happy stitching-
carol fun