Waxwings and Practicing

When the Bohemian Waxwings swoop through I feel like it's soon spring.  They are here one day, and gone the next.  They come through in a bunch, flit about like crazy and always stop for water.   I took 7 photos - this was the only one where they stayed still long enough!  Have you ever wondered how they drink?  Do they suck it up like a straw or what???  One bird scooped it up, using it's beak like a ladle, tipped it's head back with it's beak open.  Glug, glug, glug. 

It may be spring, but our grass and iris bed is still yucky.

Today, I decided to practice quilting circles -- mmmm -- harder than I thought - I just couldn't stay on the lines, then I see I've changed my circles to squarish things and still not staying on the lines.   I think my circles will be easier with a thicker thread, and a thread that is a similar color to the background of blue strings.  We'll see.

Also, I tried practicing one version of Baptist Fans.  I need to keep them small for my hand movements, but I'm liking this as an overall background.   I save my practice pieces in a notebook -- just like PatsyThompsonDesigns.com suggests -- you never know when a practice piece will suggest just the right effect!



Quilt Content

Baptist Fans quilting designs seem to have eluded me -- perhaps I was trying too hard, and perhaps "free form" is more my style. I was just fooling around, aiming in that direction and look what happened! Something clicked and I finally had the lines and directions. I LIKE it! My version needs to stay small to fit in my working space (9 inches)on my machine. I still need more practice but it's possible now. (Funny about that "practice" thing!) This will make a great textured background.
I basted this big Double Delight outside, in the garage. Frankly, it's kinda nice out there. This quilt is 86" x 104" - definitely a chore. It took me about 1 hr. 45 minutes. I've posted my set-up before, but there are always new people dropping by this blog. No more on-the-floor-knee issues, or cramped space issues. I WILL have snow and cold issues in a few weeks but for now, it works wonderfully. The PVC pipes were a simple solution to raise the table. It takes 5 minutes to set them up, or take them down. Tables were $114.00 for two and great for other projects or picnics as well. Each measures 30" x 72". I've used them for quilt basting at least 10 times. Radio is on, lawn chairs are available, birds singing, etc.