Spring Garden Visitor

A few years in the making, but Spring Garden Visitor is now complete. This wool appliqué features 3 dimensionally stitched flowers and bunny. I started this wool appliqué project in December 2011 but multiple home remodeling projects unfortunately took precedence over this wool appliqué project. Spring Garden Visitor was designed by Kathy J. Gaul of Meetinghouse Hill Designs. The beautiful butterfly and dragonfly porcelain buttons were hand painted by Cindy Webb of Gold Seal Products. I opted to have the wool appliqué professionally framed instead of being quilted. The wool appliqué is 14" by 23", with the frame the piece measures 20" by 29".


Close up of the 3 dimensional flowers.

More Beads of Courage bags

Two weeks ago, I became inspired to making more Beads of Courage bags. In June, I finished 20 bags and my goal was to make at least 100 bags in 2015. This morning, I finished 80 Beads of Courage bags, so I have accomplished my 2015 goal of 100 bags.

Beads of Courage was developed by Jean Baruch while working on her PHD in Nursing at the University of Arizona. She piloted the program at Phoenix Children's Hospital in February 2003. Every year, Beads of Courage provides assistance to more than 60,000 sick children coping with serious and life-threatening illnesses, and their families in over 250 children's hospitals throughout the United States, and in six additional countries.

I will be donating all Beads of Courage bag to Phoenix Children's Hospital, in memory of Kendall, a granddaughter of a good friend.

Tis the Season top

After much thought, I have decided not to do the machine embroidered borders on my Tis the Season quilt top. I really liked the Claudia Dinnell's Tis the Season quilt but I simply did not have an ideal spot to hang a 60" by 60" quilt. I really wanted to hang the quilt above my fireplace and the stone facing is only 50" wide. So I found a wonderful stripe fabric which I can use for the binding which I think will give a wonderful finish to the quilt. The quilt will be about 40" by 40". My quilt top was delivered to Andrea Woolsey who will do the custom machine quilting and I can't wait to get the quilt back.