Tulips, projects, walking along the quay.

Here is a sampling of the tulip fabrics I'm using for my newest project.  I have one other fabric I think I'll add but haven't prepped them yet.

 Some of the stem fabrics.

 I also used them for the leaves.

 Backgrounds cut and ready to sew.

 Some of the leaves and tulip sizes and fabrics.

 Still working on my Live Each Season blocks by Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin.  The Summer first block is now available to download for a few more weeks.

 Got the latest instalment for my Down the Rabbit Hole on the weekend.  Four sides of whimsical houses, the corner blocks will be next month's goal.  Decided to wait for the house pattern before deciding on the first border print.

 Tuesday i went out for a walk along the Quay, our tulips are blooming in the cul de sac.

 These ones remind me of the colours I've picked for my tulip quilt are at the front of the building.

 Lovely white daffodils.

 So many lovely varieties of tulips planted along the public gardens on the Quay.

 Pincushion daisies are in full bloom.

 Love these yellow and white tulips against the red ones.

 Pretty mauve edged bloom matches the plant stems and leaves in the background.

 Some of the tulips are losing their petals to reveal their centres.

 Forget Me Not so delicate.

 More rhododendrons in bud.

 Rust orange mini tulips.

 Love these with their polka dot centres.

 Looking up the river there is still snow on the mountains.  April was our forth wettest in 81 years!

 Love these tulips growing up between the branches.

 Rich dark blue centre to this one.

 Hm...I wonder if he realized he matched the tulips in the foreground and in the planter behind him?

 Love these windblown tulips.

 Having a large Americano at Tre Galla with the doors wide open.

 A couple of birds decided to look for a treat.

 Gorgeous look to these yellow tulips.

 Found in Rita's Garden this pretty pink and white one...

 This one almost looks like a water lily...

 Lost in the foliage of the daffodils.

 One of her neighbours, love the dark pink accent.

 Walking home along the brickwork, the trees leaves are filling in.

 Pink with two lovely buds.

 A Great Blue Heron flew by me, I was set  for a closeup picture and he got by before I could get a profile of him flying.

 One of the tulips in the cul de sac to end the walk.

April First, This Is Not a Joke!

Welcome April, our trees are just about to burst forth into full bloom and the daffodils are out!

 Some of my March completed goals include all four House Revival blocks getting some detail embellishment stitching done.  Got my next two steps along with what stitches to put where so I can carry on with this project.

 Made my bonus project of a 1 hour basket.

 This week I decided to finally make some choices for my Buttermilk Basin Mystery BOM 2017. Live Each Season can be found by clicking here. The third block is still available as a free download the other two can be purchased as kits. First off the bunny pulling the cart has all the wool pieces whipped stitched down and now to add some embellishing stitches and details such as eyes, legs, carrot tops.  Not sure if I'll add the butterfly yet.

Here is Stacy's version of the Bunny Block.

 Block two has several of the same wool along with a few others to tie the blocks together.

Block two by Stacy.

 Block three is where I started.  I love the turquoise stripe wool I used for the cart, upside down plant pot and planter in this block.  The greens are all the same two fabrics along with the paler turquoise for the eggs.  The darker yellow showed up in the daffodils and the chick's wings.  I still need to stitch the pussy willow branch so I can add the pussy willows.  Hmm, I just noticed that she didn't reverse the pattern for this design, oh well.

Block three of Stacy's design.

 Here is an Instagram collage of the above blocks.  I think I'm going to put them together as a mini quilt rather than a row for all four seasons.

 I got all my stems, flowers and centres added to my Down the Rabbit Hole.  51 leaves is this months goal along with the first border.

 I made three blocks for my friend Brenda who is moving away for a friendship quilt. I also got one of my backgrounds sewn for Sunflower Gathering and have labelled all the pieces so I can get the Mika background sewn.  Tried figuring it out without labels and failed.  No sewing so that was okay.

 Here is an example of micro climate.  Notice the trees across the road have no buds on them but this one is in full Magnolia blossom bloom along with one to the left out of the picture.  Why?  To my right is a brick building and to the left are low buildings and the street heads down the hill to the south.  So the sun warms the bricks up and these two trees get a jump on all the rest of them along the block!

 Thursday we had a break in the rain. I went out and saw that the peonies are coming up along with some mini iris.

 Love the pale lavender strip on this crocus.

 Some newly opened mini daffodils.

 This one reminds me of the Flying Nun.

 Just starting to pop open beside the winter pansies.

 Such a delicate blue bulb.

 One of Rita's tulips.

 More Daffodils.

 The sun came out after our coffee and here are those same tulips.

 Pretty blues.

 Big daffodils enjoying the sun.

 Most of the larger shade trees have yet to bud their leaves.  Folks of all ages out for a walk along the quay.

 These rhododendrons bloom twice a year.

 That striped crocus in the sunshine.

 Grape hyacinths enjoying the Spring sunshine.

Here is hoping that the March showers don't fall as heavily in April!