Green May

Here in the Salt Lake Valley, May is always green. Beautiful, saturated, achingly beautiful green. Most of the trees and foliage are as happy as I am (they told me so) that we are now having warm weather. Last week it snowed; this week it’s been as high as 84 degrees. The outdoors matches perfectly with our Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for May, which Angela at So Scrappy selected as green. I’m linking up to our weekly Scrappy Saturday, and I hope you’ll join us there for some fresh spring scrappy sewing!

This week I did two crayons, since the crayon quilt calls for both a light and a dark green.  Also, the selvage quilt I’m doing needs a green column and a light green (or grellow) column, so I did two of those as well.

The two green crayons are already sewn together but the two green columns are just pinned for now.

Then I worked on my green strips, and did 4 blocks (8.5” unfinished) each of dark greens and light greens.

Next week I plan to work on the green “shelf” of the bookcase, which will be five 12.5” blocks of green books. And after that all the rest, as the scraps decrease in size.

I’ve also been working on a flag quilt (Stars and Stripes by Camille Roskelley) that I started last year at a Lori Holt retreat. We all did a signature block for Lori, one for ourselves and one for Cathy from Tasmania who visited the US for six weeks. Anyway, I finished up all the blocks - a snap with chain piecing.

They’re all on my design board for now, but not yet trimmed or arranged as I want. I’m waiting for some blue sashing fabric that I ordered to arrive. I did go to a local quilt store and bought two yards, but it was too aqua (like is shown in the pattern), and I didn’t like it. The blue I ordered online is a more blue-blue, if that makes sense. It’s a Kona from my color card, so I hope the real fabric will look alright once it’s sashed. Hard to envision from a small swatch.

My favorite flag block of the bunch

This week I managed to get a lot of outdoor chores done, like sweeping the garage, setting up the patio furniture and hanging some flower pots in front. Bruce went back to work, and while I do miss him during the day, it’s rather nice to do what I want when I want. And the cats are good company, when they’re awake.

Darla and Alfalfa

Another local quilt store had a Kaffe Fassett fabric sale this week in conjunction with the UQSM show - Utah Quilting and Sewing Marketplace - the only AQS quilt show in Utah. Not sure if I’m going to the quilt show this year, but I definitely scooped up some great cuts of Kaffe fabrics. I will not show them here yet. You’re welcome.  Paula B has been a bad influence on me with her lovely summer Kaffe quilt she’s making. And Sally, you too!  I might show them sometime, but at least I’m giving you a warning!!