Mini Bird Trap

 For this month's mini I consulted this book for some inspiration  

and came up with this gem, circa 1930, named Bulls-Eye Square.

Shortly after I began piecing my version of the quilt in early June Barbara Brackman had a series of posts  Here and Here including both whole quilts called Housetops and block designs variously called Housetops, Pigpen, Hog pen, Chicken Coop and one variation known as Bird Trap.  It appears that both the inspiration quilt and mine may be a Bird Trap variation.

Last month our quilt ministry received a generous donation of fabric pieces from a faraway quilter who wished to remain anonymous.  Thinking this inspiration quilt might be a fun one to make in a larger size for donation, I decided to make a prototype mini using a couple of the donated fabric pieces and some other scraps from my stash.

There were directions in Eleanor Levie's book.  I didn't follow them. Just began cutting and piecing round and round.  For one thing I had no pink solid fabrics, and only a bit of blue solid so my version wouldn't be an accurate reproduction.  I only had very limited amounts of both the donated blue and pink fabrics for the central portion, and that gorgeous border print was also only a scant fat quarter.  Every strip was carefully cut to make the most of the limited amounts of those fabrics. The original inspiration quilt measured 44 inches square, my version is about 26x27 inches.  No problem, I love small table toppers!

For the back I chose this gray and purple vintage feed sack, one of the two remaining in my stash.

  

My version is ditch quilted around every seam, with freehand machine quilted feathers in the larger floral border.

This was much fun and a welcome diversion after dealing with Ruby for most of the month!

Be sure to check out Wendy's mini quilt roundup post on the last day of the month at The Constant Quilter.  There are some fabulous quilts featured every month!

Ruby - a finished quilt

 Well, it's been awhile, I hope all is well with all of my blogging friends.  And that you've all found a way to beat the heat that has us all in its grip.  Since we can't do much outside after around 11 a.m., I've been quilting, trying to finish up my rebellious Ruby.  She'll be in the donation pile for this year's church camp auction over Labor Day weekend.

And, she's officially finished, as of around 8 p.m. yesterday!  Quilting her was a torturous adventure(?) to say the least.  But wonky stitches and all, done and dusted.

And for a reference point, here's what that lovely border fabric Really looks like below. It's one of those fabrics that tends to look washed out in most lighting.

There were times while quilting it that I thought about wadding it up and tossing it in the firepit and lighting a match to it.  Now that it's done I'm warming to it, crazy color combinations and all.  

Some of the quilted blocks:

I may like the "plain brown paper bag" back better than the front!

This morning around 6:30 right after the sun rose over the mountain the quilt, my dog and I ventured out to see what the morning light would do for the quilt.  Not great, but probably a bit better than interior shots. The colors are good in this one:

There was no time to dawdle as the gardens needed watering, then get ready for church service.  Now, after picking up a rotisserie chicken and potato salad on the way home, we're free to while away the rest of the day. And Ruby is enjoying her beauty bath and fluffing in the dryer for a bit.  

Time to quilt June's mini, and try to get all those triangles from the design wall stitched together before the grands take over the sewing room next weekend for their annual 4th of July romp in the country. 

Have a great week!

p.s.  by now you probably know that Blogger is messing things up again for email subscribers.  I don't have a clue how to fix my blog so please read some of the excellent tutorials by some more tech-savvy bloggers and choose a method that will work for you.  Sorry that I'm no help in that regard, sigh.

The Joy of Everyday Things

 A bit of a pictorial ramble through the yard and woodland by the creek, and occasionally a peek into the sewing room, in no particular order.  June in the hills of WNY.

Beginnings

Keeping a sharp eye on things

Our water dog in his favorite habitat!

My first cushion for the thrift store chair

Sneak peek at this month's mini

Attempting to tame Ruby with feathers

Outgrowing the design wall - slow progress

Happy Wednesday!