I’ve been working on the Yorkie and finished the first half.

Not at all happy with the squiggly blue on white background but I have a shortage of nice lights. I’ll have to dig a little deeper!

While working on the face, I found this one in the stash that has the right colors; it will work much better, so I redid the first half.

Much better!

It is an honor to be invited to participate in the Silent Auction at the Quilt Festival in Houston and I usually try to send something, especially when I have something showing there…..This year I will have two things at the show, one in “Raining Cats and Dogs” and one in “World of Beauty”. I like to have my Silent Auction piece reflect my entry, so this year I am doing a dog.

I like to make my photo in black and white as it is easier to see through the tracing paper that I use to do the layout. I generally ad hints and clues that will help later on, like the direction of the fur and the darkness of the eyes and nose.

After finishing the layout last week I spent some time transferring everything to the freezer paper and marking the tic marks to aid in the sewing,  pulling fabrics that might work and did some cutting in preparation for the sewing. It’s good to be working again!

The stray dog is settling in and relaxing enough to play.  He found a plastic Folger’s container that I had been using to collect Blister Beetles in and had such a good time tossing and chasing it til he got bored and decided to chew on the garden hose instead.  I only had to open the door and step outside for him to walk away.  I guess he will teach me not to leave things laying around!

Since he appears to be a youngster who needs to chew we got him a Kong and put peanut butter inside to keep him occupied. He LOVES it.  This picture was taken from inside through the screen, so looks a bit fuzzy.

With cooler weather, I have been working outside more, but still, quilting at least a little most days on the current work. It is maybe half finished at this time. The Daylily club had their show and contest and I usually go to admire the flowers and get some of the free plants they hand out.  This year I chose “Cinnamon Circle” and was given two – my husband right behind me also got two, so I planted then on the bank next to the storm shelter.  They should bloom yellow with a lime green throat and cinnamon edges with a bit of a ruffle. Should look nice next to the gray concrete.

News came this week that my entry to IQF in Houston was juried in to the contest “World of Beauty” in the category for “people”. It is a relief to have the acceptance letter!

I had already heard earlier that “Fur Family Portrait” will be there in the “Raining Cats and Dogs” contest, so this means I will have two pieces there this year – maybe I should think about going!

This morning I got word that “Fur Family Portrait” was accepted and will be a part of the “Raining Cats and Dogs” exhibit premiering in Houston this fall! YEA!! Still can’t show it til the show opens……

Also had a very nice note from the folks at the Brigham City, Utah museum where “Harrier Hunting” and “Who, Me?” are on display, saying how well received the current show is and how much they love my two pieces. If you find yourselves in that area between now and August 23 be sure and stop in.  They are saying it’s their best quilt show ever!

It was cold and rainy, a good week to stay inside, though my husband ventured out and found some of the best morel mushrooms ever. Big and plentiful, we enjoyed as many as we could handle and froze the rest for later. The asparagus as well. To further mark the arrival of spring the hummingbirds and orioles have begun to arrive. Alas, I have seen no bluebirds yet. Still planting new stuff that loves this kind of weather in which to get established.

I finished the dogs quilt and named it “Fur Family Portrait”.  No photos til after the entry as requested by the venue, sorry. It is bound and only needs to be taken outside in the bright light to be scrutinized for stray threads. I plan to do that tomorrow when the temps return to the sunny 70’s. It’s time to get the deck furniture out!

Yesterday I took my sewing machine in for a past due cleaning and tuneup since I thought I had a small window of time when I could part with it. Sadly it is going to be three weeks before they can get to it. I have a spare if I get desperate.

Today is First Friday at the Topeka Art Guild Gallery and I will be there from 2-8. “Jesse At The Lake” is still there on display. The members were challenged to do a small artwork to fit in 4×6 mats to donate as a fundraiser for the gallery. They are to be sold for $7.50 each to benefit the gallery.

Mine of course are quilted. I showed these plus one more last night at my small quilting group and one, a landscape was snapped up early!

“Eagles Soar” has been accepted to the Denver National show which will be May 1-4 in Denver. I’m shipping it out today.

My entries to the Kaw Valley Quilt Guild show both received Viewer’s choice awards in the wall quilts category. A First for “Snow Buddies”

and a Second for “Harrier Hunting”.

Thanks, everyone who voted, and thanks, MeaBernina for the $25.00 gift certificate!!

I’m hoping to finish the quilting on the new dogs quilt today or tomorrow, it seems to be taking forever, but as usual I am putting in a LOT of stitches! I have been spending quite a bit of time outside weeding and planting and am paying for it with spring allergy problems, which sap my energy.

The last two times I tried to post here, it didn’t work.  I’m trying again.  So……I’ll try to update what’s been happening and see if it works this time.

First Friday at the Topeka Art Guild revealed that “Jesse At The Lake” was awarded  an Honorable Mention in the judging.  This must be my month for HMs.  I’m always happy to get any recognition in an exhibit intended predominately for fine art!  I forgot to take my camera to get a photo of it hanging there but it has a good location and looks nice. Stop in if you are in the area ( Fairlawn Mall ) to see the show, “Journey Through Topeka” which will be up til the end of May.

Last weekend was the Kaw Valley Quilt Guild show in Lawrence which was good as always.  I entered “Snow Buddies” and “Harrier Hunting” and worked there Sunday afternoon, receiving many compliments. Judging there is by Viewer’s Choice and the results will be announced at the next guild meeting.

I’m still quilting on the dogs quilt, it came to a halt when I ran out of two necessary threads and had to go to town yesterday to look for more; fortunately I found exactly what I needed and will be able to carry on.  I have been spending quite a bit of time this past week outside pruning and weeding, planting and fertilizing and generally cleaning things up.  Keep hoping for predicted rain to materialize but so far it’s bypassing us and I have had to water things.

OK–crossing my fingers, and hitting “Publish”……

Word just in that “Who, Me?” currently showing at the QuiltFest Destination Savannah in GA has won an Honorable Mention in the wall quilts category.

I’ve been machine quilting on the next dog quilt, the one that I had put aside to focus on the Jesse quilt. If you were following along, you may remember that the exhibit that I am making this one for does not allow photos to be published before the show, so I’m sorry not to be able to show you the progress. It’s a big one, and the going is slow.

It looks like the birds have been making quilting patterns in the snow… how neat is that!

Yesterday afternoon was spent packaging patterns and watching Pairs Figure Skating from Sochi. Also getting things organized for my up coming trip to Empty Spools. It looks like starting today the weather is going to warm up to above freezing and be clear so I can stop worrying about getting to the airport!

Here is Griffin basking in the glory of cold – don’t feel sorry for him – we have to force him to come in and get warm! He’ll be on guard duty here while I am gone, holding down the fort along with my husband.