April in Paris and Summer at Home

It was probably in April, though I've never been to Paris, when I held this small piece of fabric and dreamed a big quilt built around its tiny print.

Searching through my stash there were several spring-like prints available, but only one or two that evoked my imaginary vision of a quilter's Paris in springtime.  Most of my fabrics were small pieces, ranging from less than a fat quarter to a half yard. A bit of online shopping added to the pile of possibilities.  I'd found a very simple pattern using fairly large squares of fabric, by Tony Jacobson called "All Inked Up" and decided to base my quilt on that, so as to best feature some of the lovely prints. 

I had a small piece of solid that was an exact match to the red wine on the bistro table of the first photo.  Do you think I could find a match to that "perfect" sashing fabric?  Not a chance.  Close perhaps, but not exactly.  Having a small design wall I departed from the piecing instructions on the pattern and decided to build the quilt in quadrants.  That way there was only one long seam to sew the final two halves together.  Much better than cutting long horizontal 1-1/2 strips and trying to match the entire span of the quilt. 

Our dog is in full summer-shedding mode and with constant rain the week when the top was completed, there was no way I was able to get a full shot of the finished flimsy before pinning it yesterday at the church.  But here's what it looks like now, all ready to begin the machine quilting.  Measuring right around 80 inches square though the photo would have you think otherwise.

This will be donated to the church camp benefit auction, so I'm hoping to have it quilted and with any luck bound by the first week in August - just in time to switch gears to tomato-canning season.

With all that inspiration we ended up buying a simple bistro table for our back porch this spring, and have been enjoying early morning coffee and breakfast as well as mid-morning lattes outside during these summer days.  Best addition to the outside 'decor' yet! 

I just love this next photo.  Our 2-1/2 year old grandson was visiting the week our hayfield was mowed and baled.  Living in the city he was fascinated by all the big equipment and noise!  And of course he got to "drive" grandpa's riding mower and the big Kubota the next day.

This old tractor and wagon, and the last of the bales awaiting their ride home to the neighboring farmer's barnyard are all that remain from the excitement of those days.  Tranquil early morning shot.

An early-morning walkabout yesterday, and some of our mid-summer blooms

And from in-your-face lilies to the tiniest zinnia I've ever seen, this one is about 1/2 inch across and about that high.

Wishing you all warm sunny days, with lots of color blooming in your gardens!