Showing posts with label Baskets of Plenty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baskets of Plenty. Show all posts

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Like a Kid Out of School for the Summer

Yesterday I looked forward to today as if I were a kid let out of school for the summer.  I realized that the quilt I was so diligently trying to finish by the end of May--BowTies--was done and the only other active quilt in progress was hand quilting Flowers.  My life was wide open to possibilities.  Today, however, I'm feeling at a loss.  I have to make a decision about what's next (because I can't just sit and do nothing, can I?).

There are several possibilities.

Roses at the Garden Market?  These blocks have been tugging at me.  Each green square will finish at 4½". red circles on green, Roses at the Garden Market These have been on my mind for a few months.  I started them in 2015 and they've been waiting since 2017.  I can't work on them quite yet because the kitties are here until next Wednesday and I need to lay all 180 of the squares on the floor to sort the arrangement.  Then I'll decide on sashing/or not between blocks.  I'm torn between red and white/natural striped sashing and grey or some other color between blocks, or maybe a group of nine blocks side-by-side and sashing around those....  Or...?

Baskets of Plenty are still waiting, too.

Baskets of Plenty
These are sewn into a top but they will get unstitched.  These bright, lively flowers deserve better than the static, monochromatic sashing they have now.  What was I thinking?!  But unstitching is a sit-down task similar to quilting.  Maybe these would be better when I finish quilting Flowers.

The blue and light sampler blocks have been finished for a few years.  Finished unless I need to make more.
blue and light sampler blocks
These need sashing and a border.  What color, what fabric?  I have 20 blue 12" blocks and am thinking about adding several brown ones--maybe.  I'm also thinking about 4" sashing, but I'm not sure.  And I'm still not sure about 4 x 5 blocks or 4 x 6 blocks or 5 x 6 or 7 blocks.  All of these blocks have a diamond or a square in the center, surrounded by the opposite.  It's interesting to me how much weight some of these carry.  I also find it interesting how the same arrangement of parts can look so different depending on the tone or shade of the fabric.

I have some little 3½" spool blocks I should do something with.  I like spools, sort of....
spool blocks
These are made of more modern fabrics in mostly bright colors.  It would be a simple, quick finish, I suppose.  But I can never decide what to do with little quilts.... 

Sweet Land of Liberty is in the wings but I'm not ready to pull that out just now.

Or, of course, I could start something new.  Now that's a fun idea!

Maybe a quilt with rose-printed fabrics?
fabric with roses
I've been collecting them for a few years now and have some vintage pieces.   I don't have a specific pattern in mind, though....

I guess I could always clean up my sewing space.  (I'm too embarrassed to post photos.)

Or I could play, like kids out of school, or just be lazy for a week and sit and quilt and watch videos or listen to books on tape....  I think I'll decide tomorrow.

Do you ever feel like the kid out of school for the summer?  Do you have summer quilting plans?  Do your quilting habits change from season to season?

--Nancy.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Indecision

Indecision always slows me down.  I think the reason so many of my quilts-in-progress get laid aside is because of indecision.  (Do you call quilts in this situation unfinished, having a time out, quilts in progress, laid aside, UFOs?  What's your name for them?)  These quilts are usually ones that I dream up myself or that I have to make some decisions to finish them and I get stuck.  This way or that?  This fabric or that?  Sashing this width or that?  And all the other decisions that go into a quilt.  When I have enough of these quilts-in-progress they become a cycle of picking up where I left off, again and again and again.

The quilt I'm getting ready to unstitch is Baskets of Plenty but I need to make some decisions before I pull out my seam ripper.
quilt made from Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty patterns
This is where I left it:  borders around each block, sashing, and cornerstones are all stitched.  The angel at the top is prepared but I don't think I stitched her down, so at least there's that. 

The problem is the brown sashing.  And maybe the burgundy borders, too. 
The brown color's wrong and the fabric itself is even more wrong.  I bought it on sale at JoAnn a few years ago.  It was such a great price that I was sure I could use it for something.  It's all cotton but it's both course and rough, almost scruffy.  I could leave it but I would never be satisfied.  Sadly, I don't know what fabric, or what color, to replace it with.  A darker brown, better quality fabric?  Grey borders instead of burgundy?  Or...?  I nearly always think of primitive quilts with dark colors.  Would this quilt work with medium tones?   If you have thoughts/ideas about borders and sashing for these blocks, I'd love to know! 
 
One of my problems is not being able to truly envision how a quilt will look before it's finished.  I guess I have an impaired imagination, or at least impaired mental vision.  It's rough when you have to sew something to be able to see it, then not like it and have to unstitch.  Anyone face that challenge?

But maybe my biggest problem with this quilt is that these blocks have become precious to me.  They were part of Cheri Payne's last sew-along on her Facebook page.  She provided the pieces of the patterns and we all chose how we wanted to use them.  It's always a bad thing when preciousness happens because objectivity flies out the window.  Who can be objective about someone or something they love?

I've also been scouting around for backing for Time Flies.  This is a quilt that won't get unstitched, thank goodness!
hourglass quilt, Time Flies

I'd like to find fabric that relates to time: clocks, hourglasses, watches, sundials, even dandelion clocks (you know, dandelion seed heads?).  I'm hoping for fabric with red/in the red range and perhaps grey, black, and/or tan.  I've been trying to think of other time-related images.  Ideas, anyone?  I saw Michael Miller's Vintage Treasures Children at Play fabric and considered play-time and the idea that children grow up so fast, as in time flies, but decided the front of this quilt wasn't quite playful enough for that fabric.  I'm sure some fabric will turn up.  I just hope it does before I finish the quilt that's in the hoop now!

I hope all is well in your part of the world.

--Nancy.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

2020 in Review, a Year of Finishing, More or Less

I determined that 2020 would be a year of finishing quilts that I'd started and were still in progress.  I set my sights high with nine quilts in varying stages of progress to work on and, hopefully, finish.  Photos are below descriptions.  

Baskets of Plenty was first on that January, 2020 list.  I needed to remake two blocks and make one new one to have the nine I thought would make a good-sized quilt.  Those are finished and the blocks are sewn into sashing with borders on part of it, awaiting applique on the top and bottom borders.  So, from these blocks on the left to the still-unfinished top on the right.  Not a finish, but still, progress.  You can read all the posts about these baskets here.
 
Baskets of Plenty applique blocksBaskets of Plenty applique blocks

The Blue and the Gray was the next quilt on my January list.  I had only the blocks and cornerstones finished so it still needed the sashing to become a top.  I'm thrilled to have put the last stitches in the binding in November.

The Blue and the Gray quilt

Everyday Patchwork was next on the list.  Ohh, I love this quilt.  I had 30 blocks made at the beginning of the year.  I added 5 more for a total of 35, for a 5 x 7 block layout.  It also needed sashing, borders, and applique on the borders.  The top is awaiting batting, backing, and quilting.

Everyday Patchwork Sampler based on Cheri Payne's patterns

Autumn Maples, I'm happy to say, is in the process of being quilted.  I'm hoping the quilting will bring to mind leaves swirling in the wind.

hand quilting on Autumn Maples quilt

Red Circles on Green Squares needed many more squares, so I've been working on those now and then.  My enthusiasm wanes and it's easy to lay them aside when there is other handwork to do.  I need 192 and have finished 182.  Just 10 more to go.  The stack below is about a fifth or sixth of what I have now.  There's still lots to be done with this quilt.  I'll need to decide on sashing and cornerstones (or not) on the groups of 9 blocks, and then sashing between the 9-circle blocks.


Cheddarback is a finished top.  This was a sew-along so I couldn't choose my own pace to finish it.  It was about half finished at the beginning of the year.

Cheddarback quilt top

Little Rubies is a finished quilt, the last stitches put in sometime in April or May.  I love it, I don't love it.  But it's finished!
Little Rubies quilt

Linda Brannock's Flowers and Quarter Cabins saw no progress at all.  Flowers will need some unstitching then restitching.  I tried to make it larger by adding more sashing.  It's not right so I'll make it the way Linda did and add borders. Quarter Cabins needs a few decisions about the next steps.  I didn't look at either quilt all year.  I know they'll wait patiently for me, though. 

Linda Brannock's Flowers quiltQuarter Cabins quilt














Two quilts that weren't on my January, 2020, list were these:

Blue and Lights.  When I realized I had three 12" blue and white blocks left over from Cheddarback I decided to just make more blocks.  Most of the year it seemed I was doing the back end work of finishing.  It was fun to make blocks to continue a quilt in progress.  Here are 15 of the 20 blocks I've made.  I'll have to decide on layout, sashing, cornerstones, and borders.
Blue and lights quilt blocks

Ohio Winters Browns (from Lori's 50 Shades of Brown at Humble Quilts) was the other finish for the year.  It's hard to go a whole year without starting at least one thing new, and this was it for the year.  It's a little quilt -- the small squares finish at 1". 
Ohio Winter Browns

So that's my year in quilt-making.  When I began this post I was feeling down-hearted, thinking I had accomplished nearly nothing.  It's been a good way to realize that all my small efforts have amounted to something, even if there were only a few complete finishes.

I hope you had a good and successful year, whatever you did, and I wish you all the best in 2021.

--Nancy.

Monday, December 21, 2020

A Little Early

This Baskets of Plenty quilt was the focus of my One Monthly Goal for December, specifically, to sew the horizontal sashing and cornerstones together, sew them to the rows above and below, and sew the side borders.  A little goal for a busy month and it's done -- a little early!  There's plenty more to do, for example, the applique in the cornerstones and bottom border, finish the angel, and sew the top and bottom borders to the rest of the quilt.


I have an ongoing discussion with myself about the angel.  She's too large and overtakes the blocks.  She's just right.  What's the point of an angel at the top of this quilt?  Does she contend with the baskets?  And on and on.  But still I work on her as if she belongs and is staying.  I suppose she will probably stay....  I just hope she won't be a distraction.

Her wings are nearly ready to be stitched together.  Then I need to applique them to the upper border, but before I can do that I need to decide on her face fabric and arrange the center of the wing fabric so it doesn't peek out above and below the star.  Little details.


Choosing skin fabric is always hard.  I tend to think that my skin looks pinkish but when I put those pinkish fabrics next to my skin, they seem a little light or too pink -- sometimes, but not always.  And sometimes I think my skin looks a little tan, but not always.  The fabrics below are the only ones I have that come close to skin color but I'm having trouble deciding which to use.  What color skin do angels have, anyway?  Is it rosy cream, or tan, or...?  I actually think a shot cotton with pink/peach and tan would be great, but I've not seen one.

If I'm able to do more on Baskets of Plenty before the end of December, I'll write another post (which didn't happen) so I'll link this post to the One Monthly Goal December Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts when it's available.  Thanks for hosting, Patty.

This has been a strange and unusual year and this Christmas season has been no less strange than the past 9 months.  I hope you're being kind to yourself and kind to others, too.  Years ago I was praying about something and received the inspiration to "Be a blessing."  There are so many ways we can bless others.  A few that come to mind are giving the benefit of the doubt when there's a misunderstanding or contention; being gracious to someone who offers less; not taking offense; not judging another based on our own situation or our perception of the other and her situation; offering kind words, encouraging words. And just loving others.  I think it requires mindfulness of others, an art I haven't completely mastered yet, though I keep trying.

If you celebrate Christmas, I wish a Merry Christmas.  I also wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year.  It has to be better than 2020, doesn't it?

--Nancy.

Monday, December 7, 2020

Baskets of Plenty, Again! December Goal

Most of you post such beautiful photographs of your works in progress, and here I am with a bit of a mess.  Sometimes it's how I work when I'm trying out fabric, colors, placement, etc.  It will get better as time goes on.  It has to, right, to become a finished quilt top!


These Baskets of Plenty are my One Monthly Goal for December.  Sometimes I don't know how much time I'll have and this month is one of those times.  Therefore, I set a simple goal this month.  This is exactly what I hope to accomplish:
  • Sew horizontal sashing and cornerstones together.
  • Sew the sashing strips and rows of blocks together.
  • Measure, cut, pin, and sew borders to the right and left sides.

Eventually I'll also need to
  • decide on the size of the angel at the top -- head, wings, star, halo/hair.
  • decide on the depth of the top and bottom borders.
  • decide whether the cornerstones will remain plain or have an applique.  If applique, what shape(s)?  I've sketched nearly a dozen possibilities. 
  • decide whether the bottom border will have applique or not.... 
There's plenty more to do before this becomes a finished quilt top.

All in all, I don't think this quilt looks particularly primitive but I'm enjoying making it, nonetheless.

I'm linking this post to December One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Patty.

--Nancy.

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Still Playing - One Monthly Goal Finish

My October One Monthly Goal was to play with possibilities for sashings, borders, and layout for the Baskets of Plenty blocks for at least nine hours during the month.  I chose that goal because it lifted the burden and stress of making definitive creative choices by a deadline, something I don't do well.  I spent lots and lots of hours, many more than nine, considering options and trying them out.  Here are some (maybe too many) photos.

I began with the idea that each block needed an additional narrow border, in either light or medium tones.


I didn't immediately decide the width but finally chose a 1" border.


I placed those blocks against mostly black and a little blue to try to imagine sashing colors.


My original thought was that a print border would be just too much for these blocks.  So I pulled several solids and created collages in my photo program.  You can see that the fabric colors I have are not quite the same as the colors in the collages.

My next idea, shown below, was to add a slightly wider dark red/maroon/burgundy border and place the blocks against a brown print as if it were sashing.  I'm thinking of 5" sashing.

I thought I would like the black sashing and while I think it looks dramatic, black just isn't a color I use in our home.  Hence the brown.




I think these look a little like matted and framed prints, ready to go on a wall.  And I wonder if I'm making too much of these blocks, trying to make them more than they are.  The blocks are definitely not wall-worthy but the baskets and flowers need a little breathing room and the blocks (and quilt) need to be bigger because I want a bed-sized quilt.  Or at least one that's long enough to tuck under one's feet for a nap.



In the photos above and the one below you can see how the browns look.  I think the cornerstones will enliven the brown and tie the blocks together.   (Unless I choose a different sashing color.)


I have several burgundy/maroon fabrics.  There is one (in the photo below) that is truly beautiful -- deep, rich, warm.  The other three are very close but lacking just a little.  If I choose this color as a second border I'll probably have to use two different fabrics since I don't have a lot of the really beautiful one.


These are the browns I'm considering using.  The photos above show the true colors of the browns better.

So, after all this play, the only real decision I've made is to add a 1" light-colored border around the blocks.  I'm leaning toward the burgundy border with brown sashing plus square-in-square blocks for cornerstones.

Perhaps a lighter, brighter fabric for sashing would enhance these blocks.  Because they are created using Cheri Payne's primitive-syle patterns, I tend to think of medium to dark fabrics.   I don't know....

The other day after I'd added light borders to one of the blocks I placed it against the burgundy then surrounded it by brown, and walked away.  I forgot about it.  A little later I was thinking of something else when I walked into the room where the blocks were on the floor.  And I gasped in delight.  How perfect, I thought.  But that was just one block, not all of them.

I think play is an essential part of creating a quilt that's your own (as opposed to using a purchased pattern and kit with everything already chosen by someone else).  I find my imagination is not really helpful because it's so faulty.  What I think will look great often does not when I finally put everything together.  I imagine so many of you with flawless imaginations, choosing colors and fabrics, the perfect arrangement, turning out beautiful quilts because you already know how they will look. 

I don't know what the next steps for this quilt will be.  I have light borders to add to six more blocks, and I'll go from there.  There's more play in my future!

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal Finish Link-up for October at Elm Street Quilts
> BOMS Away at What a Hoot Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Basket Play

Today was such a grey, windy, cold day, more like days we see in late fall or early winter.  It was a great day for a nap, or an old movie, or a good book.  It was not a great day, or even a good day, to look at fabric and colors for a quilt. 

I have been playing with background/sashing fabric for the Baskets of Plenty.  It didn't take me too long to realize that using hourglass blocks for sashing were a bad idea -- or at least more challenging than my brain wants to deal with right now.  There was no common denominator for length and width of the blocks to use the same size hourglass blocks for sashing.  I haven't yet abandoned the idea of using the hourglass blocks in a border.

Instead of hourglasses I've been trying out solid colors for sashing.  Well, trying them out with my photo program.









I'm not a huge fan of black but I think the baskets stand out more vibrantly against black than the other colors.  (I have no idea where to find a black fabric as black as in this photo above.  And even if I did, it probably wouldn't be black after a few washings.)  These fabric below are the only colors I already have on hand that could be used for sashing.  The photo was taken without a flash so the colors are close to true.  I'm trying to decide whether I can use several shades of a color.  I think there's already so much variety in the blocks that adding variation in the sashing would just be too much.


Which means I can choose a color I have on hand that has enough yardage or I can buy fabric.

Another thing I want to try is putting borders around each block probably using light or medium fabrics. I don't think dark fabrics would add anything to the baskets.  But we'll see.  So many options and considerations when creating a quilt.  I sometimes wish I saw it all finished early on but then I would miss the opportunity to play and explore.

I've am adapting one of Cheri's angel patterns to use at the top of the quilt.  Her angel is too narrow so I'm widening the wings, still trying to create wings I like.  No photos of her yet.

I'm so used to choosing goals that require me to make visible and specific progress on something.  I have to keep reminding myself that there's no pressure to make any decisions about this quilt, that I'm just playing, trying alternatives, and enjoying the process.  It's almost -- almost -- like not having a goal.

I hope you're having some fun, enjoying whatever you're doing.

--Nancy.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Permission to Play for One Monthly Goal

These blocks need some attention.  They've been hanging on the wall above my computer for far too long.  I look at them, enjoy them, and occasionally give a little thought to turning them into a quilt.

Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty

I'll be focusing on them for my One Monthly Goal this month but I'm lessening the pressure by setting the goal of giving myself permission to play with possibilities for sashing, borders, and layout for these Baskets of Plenty.  They are blocks from a Cheri Payne sew-along in her Facebook group a few years ago. 

I love these baskets and everything about them.  I especially love how they fill the background -- big, bodacious flowers and baskets -- and because they do, I think each needs more space so they're not crowded together.  Perhaps a 1"-2" border around each?  What color?  Perhaps 3" or 4" or 5" sashing between each and around the outer edge?  What colors will be good for the baskets for sashing?  I'm trying to imagine hourglass blocks for sashing, arranged so the colors are in the same orientation to give the impression of on-point squares.  And then there's the outer border, and whether to put an angel at the top.  So many possibilities.  Such potential for play!

A SMART goal has these characteristics:  specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.  I believe that all of my previous monthly goals have met those criteria.  This month's goal will be a little less SMART.  The specific this month is to play, which is both achievable, relevant, and time-bound.  But measurable?  The only ways to measure play that I can think of is by the amount of time I play -- each day or week or during the month -- or the number of variations I try (which would be really hard to measure).  So this month my specific goal will be to play with fabric and these blocks for a total of 3 hours/week over the next three weeks for a total of 9 hours of play this month.  I hope the play leads to some decisions (though that's not my goal this month)!

I'm linking this post to One Monthly Goal October at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Patty.

--Nancy.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Basket #9

I've been steadily working on unfinished and half-finished quilt blocks and tops this year.  All old and no new makes for a little dull me and also makes me itchy to begin something new.  But no, I committed to these finishes so I'm keeping at it.  (Of course, I'm also making a list of the next new beginnings, too.)  I have three interim finishes to share from recent weeks but today I'm posting about only one:  Baskets of Plenty.  This is my version of block/basket #9 of Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty sew-along.

Baskets of Plenty #9

Cheri's pattern for this block was not the 10" x 13" of most of the other blocks but a smaller sized horizontal layout which had a branch and a bird instead of a basket.  Since I wanted a basket block the same size as the others I made up a basket pattern I thought would look okay with the rest then used flower patterns from some of the other blocks, using them in ways different from previous blocks. 

I was thinking of cone flowers but didn't want the traditional pink/violet ones.  I really wanted dark red-orange-rust but didn't have fabrics that I thought worked.  In the end I chose these colors.  I like them a lot and I think they work with the rest of the baskets.

These are all the Baskets of Plenty, in no particular order or arrangement.   The backgrounds look a little creamier in this photo than they are in real life.

Baskets of Plenty for Cheri Payne's quilt-along

These baskets will finish at 10" x 13".  I'm planning to add a border around each of these blocks -- at last 1½", maybe 2"-- for several reasons.  I think the flowers need more space, a little breathing room, so to speak.  I also like the look of borders on blocks.  The first time I tried them was with the Everyday Patchwork blocks and I think they add a lot.  Borders will also increase the size of the finished quilt.  I want a quilt that is larger than 30" x 39".

I'm imagining pieced blocks for sashing, perhaps hourglasses, but I'm not sure.  I'll have to play a little before I make a decision -- colors, size, etc.

We've been out and about a little more these past few weeks, always with a mask, always avoiding anyone with a cough, and always washing hands before touching eyes, mouth, or nose.  It's good hygiene which I always tried to practice but about which I'm more vigilant than ever.

Please note:  If you've left a comment on posts during the past week please know that I read it but cannot respond via email because Google won't let me access my gmail inbox.  As if 2020 isn't already challenging enough, Google "improves" blogger and won't let me read my emails.  This is a year that often finds me wondering what's coming next.  I know it could be much worse but I hope it gets better!

I hope you and those you love are healthy!

I'm linking this post to
> Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
> Patchwork and Quilts at Quilting Patchwork Applique
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Before and After

In a post a few weeks ago I asked appliquers if they thought it would be possible to remove the stitches from around this block and have most of the pieces remain stitched together. 


Most responded with suggestions for getting the blue out of the background fabric (for which I was very grateful!) but few shared thoughts about whether the appliqued pieces would withstand being unstitched and remain together.

There were two reasons why I wanted to unstitch this applique.  The first was the halo of blue around the flower on the left.  When I first made the block I thought I would be able to live with it but three years later, now, I knew I couldn't.  The second was that the background fabric was a little coarse and of lesser quality (and one I shouldn't have used in the first place).  When there's one mistake, I usually just fix it as easily as possible, but when there are two mistakes I go back to where the first mistake began and redo from there.  So I unstitched the outside edges where the applique met the background fabric.  The above right photo is what was left behind the applique.

Sadly, I didn't take a photo of the applique pieces after I removed them.  I don't know why I expected them to be like cardboard but they were limp and floppy, like wilted flowers.  But most of the stitches holding the pieces together remained intact.  Whew!

I prepared new background fabric, made a new blue flower (checking to be sure the fabric wouldn't bleed), changed the center of the little red flower on the right, and then stitched everything back in place.

Baskets of Plenty Block 4

This is not the best block I've ever made (you know how it is when you go back to things you made years ago!) but I'm okay with it.

I've learned that it's possible to unstitch an applique, how to do it, and what the possible results will be.  But I hope I don't have to do this again!

On to the last Basket of Plenty block.  I'm still playing with flower patterns, colors, and fabrics.  The fun part!

Here's a little humor for you.  I was coming down the stairs the other morning when I was surprised to hear a sweet, little voice join in a conversation between my husband and me.  It seemed to be coming from my phone and I could only guess it was Google.  This is how the conversation went. 

Husband:  I took the car for an oil change this morning.
Me:   Oh, great!  Thank you!
Phone:  I am here to please.  (Nothing like taking the credit for something she didn't do, huh?!)
Me:  Google, what are you doing today?
Google:  I plan on waiting here quietly until someone asks me a question.
Me:  Will you get bored just waiting quietly?
Google:  No boredom here, only helpfulness.  :0  (Google included the big smile.)

Later I repeated the last question and Google's response was, "I can't get bored.  There are too many cats and not enough time."

Who writes these things?!!!  I learned that the voice was Google Assistant.  Honestly, I have no idea how she came to be on my phone and I have no idea how to find her.  I guess I'll have to let her initiate conversations, which means she may not be much of an assistant.

I hope you have a good day today!

--Nancy.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Basket of Plenty #6 Finished

My One Monthly Goal for April was to finish this Basket of Plenty.  Here it is in all its little glory, though the color isn't quite accurate.

Baskets of Plenty block #6

This is part of a Cheri Payne sew-along from 2017 which I'm just now finishing (with one more basket to go).  Every part of this pattern is Cheri's except the tulip leaves, which I think make it look a little un-Cheri-like.  Even so, I like it.

It's hard to pick up exactly where one left off three years ago with the same view in mind.  Three years of quilting can change one's perspective, viewpoint, and abilities, so I wouldn't be surprised if this basket and the next one stand out as just a little different.  Time changes people, people change over time.

This is Basket of Plenty #8, finished for now, unless I change my mind.  And again, the color is a little off.
 
Baskets of Plenty block #8

Last month I adjusted the backing and added a flower to bring it up to the size of the rest of the blocks.  I thought it needed something on that clunky basket so I added the diamond and circle.  Now I think maybe the circle is a little too large.  It may get changed.  Will I ever quit changing my mind?!

I was thinking today how much time I spend thinking about, considering, playing with, altering and/or adjusting each individual block for almost any applique quilt, and even for quilts like Cheddarback.  And why?  When a quilt is finished it's not like each individual block is going to be noticed for itself.  They all blend together to create a whole.  I know I'll continue to do it but maybe I can talk myself out of doing so much of it.

I have one more Baskets of Plenty block to make to finish this sew-along.  Then on to the borders.

I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.  Our state is beginning to lighten our restrictions.  I read such controversy about whether we should be staying at home to stay safe or going out to gain immunity.  Such uncertain times! 

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal April Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts and
> BOMs Away at What a Hoot Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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