Welcome to the Playroom at 14 Peonystreet!

This blog started in the "playroom". That's what DH calls artwork- playing. Wish I could live in the "playroom" forever.
Showing posts with label jan patek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jan patek. Show all posts

Friday, June 20, 2014

Small Miracles...........This Week On the Farm

Oh, Look at those little bunnies!
Ain't they cute!?
More about these later......
This was the corn on May 27.....
This is the corn today, June 20.  It's about 6 feet tall and 
it's tasseling.....
Each one of these hairy "blooms" is an ear of corn...
Look how pretty!
And this.....
I think they're showing off!
It's dry this week, so we're getting plenty of road dust on the garden.
The blueberries are growing like gangbusters this year.  Bird netting was necessary. 
Mostly it's been mockingbirds so far that want them.
We've still had plenty for two pies and about 4 gallons frozen. Mmmmmmm......
We'll be picking green beans soon, and....
...making pickles!
Here's a garden tip for ya:  Black plastic (held down) will kill anything underneath it.
I'm using this method, along with tilling, to keep the crab grass under control, which is extremely a pain in the neck to remove by hand.  I'm saving this space for pumpkins, which won't be planted til July.
So far, so good!  Corn in the back, green beans, then tomatoes and then peppers.  Watermelons and cucumbers to the left (by the plastic) and blueberry bushes to the right.  Love this garden!
Had a visitor over the cornfield.  There's a patch in the middle of the field that the corn didn't grow, due to too much rain.  I think they are looking for something else.....
We've had some small miracles lately.  This saucer magnolia is blooming for the second time this year, after a torrential rain.
And this white crepe myrtle is LOADED with blooms this year.
Last summer it never bloomed and looked like it was going to die.
This pecan tree sprouted from a "dead" pecan tree.  It was nothing but a black stick.  It got fertilized, and it sprouted near the bottom, and it's going crazy now.  The next picture shows another pecan tree, and how big it would be if it had not "died".
Pecan tree, large. 
Okay-- a really cool "miracle":  baby bunnies.
This photo only shows one, but there were two live baby bunnies borned in the garden.  Two didn't live.  Their nest was disturbed by some unknown source, but found when weeding.  The two live ones were obviously under stress, breathing hard and weak.  It was also very hot outside, so...
I had to help "save" them.  Fed them some water and milk with a dropper.  They don't have their eyes open yet.  They were really stressed, but they perked up and looked much better after a few minutes.
Just so you know, these are wild cottontail bunnies.  If they look like this, they are 5-7 days old.  If a human touches them, the mother will still take care of them.  But the best thing to do is leave them alone.
This was a rare opportunity for me to hold something this small and alive in my hand, so small, so light, so soft, and alive!
After their "refreshing", they were placed in a safer nest location, yes, back in the garden, only a foot away from the original nest, and the mama came and moved them somewhere else!  Whew!  That's good!
I wonder if I'll recognize them when they're older?
Time for a hug!  Don't be scar'd! This is Stinky.  He's just as affectionate as a cat, rubbing on you for a hug and petting!
He loves water!
Awwww...! Only a face a mother dog could love...!
Sneak peek of new apron design in progress.
Lilac Hill pattern by Jan Patek,  all needleturn on the applique.   Fun- love doing needleturn.
I'll leave you with this- the corn,
reaching to heaven.
Happy Summer!


Monday, March 19, 2012

Catching Up.... On Quilts!

HURRAH, HURRAY!  
I've sewn the top together for the Jan Patek Miami Valley Album Quilt!
It'll look better after it's quilted, which, BTW, I have no clue how to
quilt this, but will come up with something. 
I LOVE IT!  It just warms my heart!
Another Must Have quilt kit arrived this week from Fig Tree Quilts!
I love this line of fabric!
The Fig Tree Fabric is called "California Girl".  It's so pastel
and wonderful, it makes ME feel like a California Girl!
See the Blue colorway?  It's pretty too-- looks like the beach. 
I think that's why they called it "Boardwalk"!
Look here, Honeydews, you can buy directly from
Fig Tree Quilt Company-- Click on the word HERE
to get to their website.  They are the SWEETEST
People to work with.
Now here's what I had to cut this week.  A quilt kit that was on the
backburner.  The pattern is from Cotton Way, called "Slice of Charm".
The white background squares are only 5 inches!  Oh Man!
So guess how big the pieces are???
Tiny.  And I had to cut them by hand using a template- WHEW!
Haven't done that in a LOOOOOONNNNGGGG TIME!
Actually had to use my scissors too!
Had to cut 64 of these shapes, then cut them into four pieces,
which makes:    256 small pieces (for the pies!)
This will be the final result!  I just could not
resist this kit, which was purchased about two years
ago, from Connecting Threads.  This fabric line is
called "Canning Day", which they have a few prints
left on clearance at their website.
This is American-made cotton and I really like it.
They sell it for 4.96 a yard, but it has a nice feel to it. 
It's not as high a thread count as some other quilting fabric,
but it reminds me of stuff my Granny Lil had.
I like it!  Don't be afraid to buy some.
Also at their website, you can use their "Kit Builder",
and you can plug in fabrics into a custom quilt kit,
using their fabrics.  Go and have some fun!
~
That catches me up on the quilt front for now!
XXOO,    BB

Monday, June 13, 2011

What In The WORLD Have I Been Up To Lately???

Crossed Flowers Block- Jan Patek
Moda- Basket Bounty

Basket Bounty Month 1
,
"Lill Annie"

Sometimes I feel like the rat on the wheel, just spinning round and round in circles, never getting enough creative stuff done to satisfy my soul. There's things been happening- like sickness and just busy stuff-- and OH BOY-- there was a major Computer Disaster.
Despite all that, I steal away to the Playroom whenever I can and have  been able to accomplish SOME things (as seen above).  
1.  Finished another of the Jan Patek Mystery Quilt Blocks from 2010- the Miami Valley Album Quilt.
2.  Moda's Basket Bounty- and it's using Jan Patek's Lilac Hill fabric and Moda's Dragonfly fabric.
3.  And now- my new little addition--
I'm calling her Lill Annie, after my much beloved Grandmother-- Granny Lill.  Granny Lill was the one who made me my first handmade Ann and Andy dolls which I love so much.  I still have them to this day.  Well, Granny Lill made a LOT of Raggedy Ann's in her day-- of all sizes.  
So this one is dedicated to her! 
~
It's been dog-gone HOT already here this summer--
Hope it's Cool where You are!
XXXOOO
BB

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Jan Patek- Miami Valley Album Quilt- Dog Block

Dog Block!
~
Below is a photo of my open toe applique foot on my Bernina,
in the process of machine appliqueing the dog to the background
fabric. I found the perfect stitch to use is the #3 stitch on my Bernina 180, which they call a "Varilock Stitch". I select this stitch on the machine, and reverse it, so that the "V" swings to the left as it sews. The Varilock stitch swings over to the left to catch the applique, then it swings back to the edge of the applique shape, sews two straight stitches, then swings back to the left for the next "V". If you don't have a stitch like this on your machine, you can also use a plain 'ol zig-zag stitch. Make it narrow and a little long, so that you're not doing a regular heavy line of applique, unless you want that effect.


 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Jan Patek- Miami Valley Album Quilt- Shoe Block


Shoe Block
~
Another block done! Looks like pink shamrocks are blooming!
~
I used the stitch and turn method on the shoe and flower petals, and the freezer paper method on the stems and flower centers.
~
So where is the "Miami Valley" that this quilt refers to?
It broadly refers to an area surrounding the Great Miami River, and the Little Miami, Mad, and Stillwater Rivers in Southwest Ohio.
Communities include: Dayton, Middletown, Hamilton and Springfield, and other smaller communities.
~
So- what's so special about this area as it relates to quilts?
Check the following links to find out and see the quilts:
They are described as folk art album quilts. To me, they look like kin to the Baltimore Album quilts- but much simpler and a little less formal.
~
Hey, while you're in Dayton Ohio, check out the following:
The founder of this guild is Sue Ellen Wassem.
And a wonderful designer is/was a member: Janet Miller.
~
Have a wonderful week!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Jan Patek- Miami Valley Album Quilt - Hands Block


Hands Block
~
Another Day-- Another Block done!
~
I used my stitch and turn applique method for the larger pieces, and traditional applique (needleturn) for the smaller ones.
~
Did I tell you how much I love this pattern?
~
To me, Jan Patek's design embody the American Country Style/Spirit, for quilt designs.
Her designs are easy to follow, for the most part have large, easy to work with pieces, with a
folk -art feeling. Her themes are definitely American country- farm life, country life, farm animals, home, early american.
~
Love it-- and Love you too Jan! Thank you for your wonderful desigsn!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Jan Patek Quilt- Miami Valley Album Quilt- Fishbowl

Doesn't this look like a real fishbowl?
~
I'm having fun with this quilt pattern. This is the Mystery Quilt I won last year from Jan Patek's blog.
This is turning out to be easier than I thought, and I love the results!

The applique method I use is what I call "stitch and turn". I use fusible interfacing. I trace the shape onto the "dotty" or fusible side of the lightweight interfacing, then place the right side of the fabric next to the smooth side of the interfacing. Then sew on the traced line, all the way around the shape. Then I make a slit in the interfacing only, turn the shape, push out all the edges and sometimes trim the interfacing out of the middle so it won't be so stiff-- especially on the larger pieces. Then press.

Next, place each shape onto the back ground fabric, pin in place and then machine applique. This stitch and turn method doesn't work too well with really small shapes-- like the fish, so I had to do traditional needleturn applique for those.

I also trimmed out the excess fabric fron underneath the layers of fabric, so it won't be so heavy/thick/stiff. It makes it feel more like traditional applique.

I made this fishbowl in a few hours. It was easy for me, as I already know the technique. You can see another explanation of the technique here. (click on the word "here.")

Monday, September 28, 2009

Peony STreet Postbox







Look What Came in the Mail!
(Not all at once, but over the summer.)
Bebe: I've been sick. Dr. said it was the swine flu - H1N1. At least I don't have to get the shot for it now, they said. It's nothing to laugh at. Down in bed for two days, extreme fatique, extreme pain in all major joints, fever, no appetite. In a word: B-A-D. And I'm one of those persons who always washes hands in public bathrooms, never touch the door handles, and uses the alcohol hand stuff after grocery shopping, etc., and avoid crowds. Was not around anyone who was sick to my knowledge. I guess that's the trick of it - you can't tell who's shedding virus! Good luck this flu season, and pray you don't get a bad case of it.
The bright spot is, however, all is better now, and I'm getting to relish what came in the postbox!
Jan Pateks books are wonderful and full of great projects. Want to make them all! http://www.janpatekquilts.com They are always having specials on patterns, books and kits.
Sew Sunny Homestyle by Tone Finnager- she's Norwegian - beautiful things to make! Find book at http://www.amazon.com and search for Tone Finnager.
And of course, my fave - Fig Tree. Oh, my heart sings when I see the colors of their fabric! I am a pastel-ly girl forever - it's closest to my heart. Find at: http://www.figtreequilts.com
If you get on autoship for the Fresh Vintage newsletter, you get a free pattern with each one, and it's shipped out four times a year!

A couple new items will be at PeonySTreet at Etsy soon!

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