Monday, April 07, 2008

Sunny Florida

Just wanted to say hey to ya'all from gorgeous wonderful sunny Florida. I've been soaking up the warmth and sun and the library. I would rather have this than snowy Paris any day. Snow in April? Happy to have missed it.


I've hardly done any sewing at all, but I did finally start the Florida-inspired quilt I've been wanting to do using lots of white and bright colors.

I've been making Lazy 9-Patches. I cut out loads of squares approximately 1.5" and didn't worry too much about how I put them together. It's a very enjoyable, relaxing project. I love working this way with the mismatched seams

I just can't make my mind up about how I want to put them together. Lots of 9-patches all jammed together as a lap quilt? Or do I want it on the wall, maybe with alternate solid blocks in a double 9-patch? I'm going to make some strippy bits and see if I want to throw them in too. I used a Moda Jelly Roll to get the marbled fabric for this job and when I cut my strips 1.5" ish I ended up with lots of 1" strips left over - those would be great stripped onto a foundation block. And do I make some letters too? Dunno...

Tommorrow is our last full day here and I tell you, I'm just not ready to go yet although it will be good to see the kitties again. I hear tell that Pokey has gotten into the kitchen cabinet trying to get her treats and and has been doing a great job of hunting down socks.

Off to dinner now - we're getting Buffalo Wings - mmmmm.

31 comments:

*karendianne. said...

And to think I was wondering what you were up to today - no kidding!

Love the fun you're making here, too. This is coming along so wonderful.

Oh and I love hearing of Pokey's antics. We knew she'd be baddd!!!

Unknown said...

I love the happy colors in the Ninepatches! Very Florida, for sure. Have a good trip back.

jacquie said...

Oooh how pretty...it looks just like Florida..a new state flag, perhaps!

jovaliquilts said...

The quilt really does look like Florida -- and Jacquie's comment made me laugh out loud! Glad you're having such a wonderful time.

Tracey in CT said...

The colors in the 9 patches are so bright and fun, very Florida-ish. I kind of like the way the are all just right up against each other in the picture.

loulee said...

Wow, That is BRIGHT!!
Safe journey home.

Lucy said...

What a bright sunny nine patch quilt!! It reflects definately the sun in Florida:-)

Sandy's Quilter's Block said...

Glad you are getting some R&R in your favorite state! Enjoy that sun! and bring some of it back to Europe, haha!
Beautiful 9 patches. The colors are so vibrant and juicy. Love it!

Clare said...

Lovely bright sunshine colours. Just what we need right now.

I can top Pokey's antics - well Magic can! How do you fancy washing a cat! Someone spent all of yesterday in the newly vacated cow shed amongst the manure. Guess who had to have a bath in Johnson's Baby Shampoo last night! Not a pretty sight. The yowling was ear splitting!

McIrish Annie said...

glad your trip is going well. I'm sure the kitties will be happy to see you again! Love the florida colors!

black bear cabin said...

Florida sunshine...i could use a little of that myself! We got 8 inches of snow yesterday! doh!
Thankfully most of it has melted off today :)
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time...post more pics :)
cheers~
lisajo

Holly said...

Looking forward to the day that sun shines a little bit more northwest. Love your bright quilt. It looks so happy!

Rosalyn Manesse said...

Florida looks so beautiful, I have to go there some day.

Lily Mulholland said...

Enjoy the sun - you're sure bringing it back in that quilt! I would love to see all the blocks smooshed up against each other - dynamite!

janicebotterill said...

I found you when I googled 'lazy quilts' as I've started to make a quilt from my husband's old work shirts and the squares aren't exactly what I'd call square. I've been inspired to carry on as the mismatched seams on your Florida quilt look great and you've given me the confidence to give it a whirl! I'm a writer and a quilter in the UK and blog at www.projectforty.blogspot.com if you fancy having a look.

Unknown said...

I live in Florida and I want to go to Paris! I want some winter weather! Grass is always greener on the other side :) LOVE the FL quilt - gorgeous as usual.

margaret said...

Putting them together with stripes sounds fun (and lazy!) - or maybe with 4-patch blocks?

YankeeQuilter said...

I was just starting to worry about you only to find you've been sitting in the sun and eating buffalo wings! Duhhhh! The 9-patches are very fun.

jude said...

these are great and definitely reflect your sunny mood!

Purple Pam said...

Buffalo wings, huh? I didn't know buffalos could fly. Love the bright, colorful nine patches. Are any of my strips in there? Glad you are enjoying the beautiful sunshine. Our batteries need charging once in a while. My batteries are charged when I see the ocean. Hope you go back with renewed energy.

Sharon said...

What wonderful, happy colors! I love them all smooshed up next to each other, each one saying "Look at me!" Hope you had a great time! That sunshine can be a great tonic after a long winter. And the kitties will be so happy to see you again. Skritches all around!

Anonymous said...

I just found this great mini-documentary piece online about quilting. Just thought you might be interested in seeing it. The link is:

http://www.klru.org/docubloggers/?p=125

Enjoy!

mereth said...

Sorry Tonya, but after our summer I'd take snow in Paris over the beach in Florida! No matter how gorgeous it is.
The blocks look bright and happy and carefree, I love ninepatches for mindless sewing.You can make all the big decisions when you're back in Paree.

Magpie Sue said...

Uh, yeah ~ I'd rather be at the beach in Florida than in snowy Paris too! Hope your trip home is/was relatively uneventful (given all the cancellations, etc.).

You could make this your Florida souvenir quilt. You know, put some words to that effect on it.

Val said...

Sounds great to me. It is raining here in Georgia. I enjoyed my visit with you and will be back.

woolywoman said...

I vote for strippy set, maybe blocks on point, maybe not. Yellow. More yellow for the setting strips. Or yellow and orange polka dots. Yup, Florida all the way.

Lynda said...

I never cease to be amazed at how colours change depending on what they are next to! The white in these blocks really zings it up.

julieQ said...

The beach looks soooo inviting right about now! Poor Tanya, you need some brights to liven up your dull blocks. (not) I love them!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

So glad you are having some fun! Oh could I do with that beach right about now! And oh how cute those 9 patches are! They say Florida!

Hedgehog said...

I just love those nine-patches!!! Just got back from green, sunny London to snowy, foggy Finland. Ready for spring!! Safe travels.

Anonymous said...

Tonya, I adore the kaleidescope look of all those nine patches together! I can see it would be fun to add other pieces. I can imagine the nine patches tilting off-kilter. You know, kind of like how things look when you've been in the hot sun for too long!
Andrea