Pineapple Blossom and Raspberry Variation

Remember, you've got until the 4th of April to post a comment on my blog for a chance to win the free pattern from Julie Herman. Plus, don't forget to go over to the Quilty Pleasures Blog to post for a chance at some free fabric. ;)

Here's an indoor shot of my Raspberry Dessert variation - the library shelves make excellent quilt hangers:

And here's the current state of that pineapple blossom quilt I started at Bonnie Hunter's class in Jackson TN. I decided to make it 3x3 (or six by six, depending on how you count the blocks) before I added the border, so this last week, I've made and added on 12 more twelve inch blocks.

Tomorrow after work, I'm going to head to Home Depot and Walmart to check out their seeds and seedlings. It's almost April, and time to start thinking Garden! Tomatoes! Banana Peppers! SnowPeas! Hey, have any of you ever grown cantaloupe in a container garden?

Pineapple Blossom Progress

There, I've sewn together the first twenty-four blocks, but you can only see a few here. I love the way the orange/yellow/pink batik looks in the large segments. Almost like a sunrise. I started this last Saturday, in Bonnie Hunter's class, and it came along really fast. It's been a long time since I made a quilt with only three fabrics. Working with the batiks and white was a treat too, there was no right or wrong side, no almost invisible white-on-white print to search for either!

Toby decided that the hanging quilt-center was put up for HIM to play behind. See the bump at the bottom left corner? That bump's name is Toby.

I'll add a two-inch border of that aqua-turquoise. I also have finished part of 24 pinwheels from the bonus triangles, they'll go in a thick white border surrounding the whole quilt. I haven't decided if I want to put the pinwheels on point, or make them wonky or... space them evenly or... ? Any suggestions? When I put four of the bonus triangles together to make a pinwheel, the block finishes at 7 inches.

Meeting Bonnie Hunter in Jackson, TN

I had the great honor of joining the Jackson TN Peace by Piece quilt guild as they hosted Bonnie Hunter. Her lecture and trunk show was fantabulous! Even though I'd already heard of the Scrap User's system, it was a treat to see Bonnie in person as she worked the crowd. She had them rapt—actively listening, laughing, nodding to her words, and responding to her questions.

That quilt on the wall behind her is such a clever idea. It shows the sizes of light and dark strips and squares she cuts most of her scraps into, and UNDER the different sized strips, she made some sample blocks from those units. It's a great visual aid to her trunk show and lecture!

I think the picture above is the 'quilt holder' pose ... Bonnie's both sweet and funny in person. :)

Even though I only had met one person in the class before (Patty, on the left) everyone at the Jackson guild was very friendly and hospitable. I appreciate their letting me join them!

Here's the eight pineapple blossom blocks I finished, spread out on the bed in my hotel room. I'm making 24 twelve-inch blocks, then I'll decide if I want to make more, and what I want to do with the border. And yes, I did more than eight total, but these were completely finished ... the rest are in different stages of being done.