Getting Hands Dirty

Yesterday Andy and I started our Spring planting. Perennials from the last couple of years are coming up strong and the risk of freeze is finally over. Just focusing on the front yard for now, especially since we're planning on putting our house on the market in the next week or so. Don't panic anybody - we're not going anywhere. Not yet anyway. We love our casa so it will be a mixed blessing if it happens to sell.

As you can see, we're way into Columbine this year - it's just such a cool looking flower. But I was just informed by my neighbor that this is not such a good spot for them so they may be migrating to the backyard beds.

This could easily turn into an addiction.

Good for me, though, to be outside again getting my hands in the soil - and giving my sewing machine a little rest. Actually, that's not true - it's just that I'm in the middle of free motion quilting my first somewhat large quilt and I can only do a little at a time, because if you didn't know this already - quilting is quite tiring and if you're not in the zone things can get pretty frustrating.

To catch you up on recent projects . . .

This is the wall hanging I made for my mom for Mother's Day. I loved making it and have decided it's much more fun to make a quilt when you have the recipient in mind. I started with the "santos" fabric which I used for the center panels and coordinated a multicultural mix of other fabrics. The magnolias I machine appliqued on top, which conveniently disguise some of my little mishaps - and I think they really add an artful, collage-like quality to the quilt. Applique and I will be good friends I think. Hopefully Mom likes it as much as I do.