Baskets and a Summer Day

Believe it or not, the snow is actually melting today. We still have snow banks, but with the rain earlier this morning, and now the sun, the mounds of snow are shrinking quickly. With shrinking snow comes thoughts of Spring, and with Spring comes baskets!  "Basket Blocks Galore", according to Sandi at Sandra Kaye Designs.  She and I have been exchanging little 4.5" baskets for some time now.  Today I received my monthly batch of 5 blocks from Sandi and laid them out on the table with all the blocks that we have made in our exchange so far. 

Every month (or when we can fit it in!) we make 10 basket blocks, 5 pairs of twos. We send 5 blocks away and keep the 5 duplicates at home. This month Sandi made blocks with her favorite colour...

and I made a mixed batch...

We now have 50 blocks and will continue the exchange a little longer. It's time to start looking at settings and figure out how these little baskets will become a quilt. Thanks, Sandi, for suggesting this exchange. Just look at how far we've come!

In the theme of seasons, I did pull out my Summer Day Schnibble quilt that I started last year as part of the Another Year of Schnibbles(AYOS) Quiltalong hosted by Sinta at The Pink Pincushion and Sherri at A Quilting Life.  I remember cutting all the fabrics one day, then I spent a couple of days sewing the flying geese units, and that was it...life got too busy and my Summer Day Schnibble was tucked away in a distant cupboard. 

Until last week, when I was inspired yet again by Schnibble quilt designer Carrie Nelson herself of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. Awhile back I had participated in the final parade of AYOS.  Sinta and Sherri hosted it and posted the pictures we sent to them of our favorite Schnibble quilt, which I did, and you can read about it HERE.  I was selected in a random drawing as one of three to receive a jelly roll from Carrie. Well, I received the jellyroll, and so much more. I should have known when I saw the label on the box that I was in for a big surprise...

This box was filled to the brim with treasures that included two jellyrolls, Avalon by Fig Tree and Co., and Snap Pop by Sandy Gervais, both the large and small size Crumbler ruler specially designed by Carrie, the Fit to be Geese ruler designed by Monique at Open Gate Quilts, and two little Moda Bakeshop boxes.  These little boxes are so cool...each includes 3 mini-charm packs and a mini-roll of lights and darks with a pattern for two versions of a mini-quilt 26" x 26".  And you know how much I love mini-quilts! 

The mini-charms are a great way to see what's in a line of fabric. I received Cattails and Clover by Kansas Troubles Quilts, Birchbark by Holly Taylor, Late Bloomers by Sandy Gervais, Etchings by 3 Sisters, Butterscotch and Rose by Fig Tree and Co., and Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket. I am so grateful and spoiled and inspired and will be a follower of Carrie forever. Thank you Miss Carrie! Carrie is one of the most generous and kind quilt designers that I have come in contact with. She is just a doll and included a wonderful personal note to me that I will treasure as well.

So where am I with Summer Day?  After Carrie's box arrived, I went to my cupboard and found my Summer Day project.  I started trimming my orange geese...

my green geese...

and my blue geese...

Together they definitely remind me of a Summer Day...

My next step is to put the sashings on the geese and sew them together.  A quilt in the making, and you can be sure I'll show you the quilt when it is finished.

Carrie now has her patterns available from Miss Rosie's Shop as a PDF. I love being able to shop in the wee hours of the morning...the pattern gets delivered right to my inbox! 

Before I go, I want to show you my finished Mill Girls quilt designed by Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts. I decided to quilt around the HSTs, make squares in the connector blocks, and quilt parallel lines in the borders. The sun was really shining the day I took the picture and washed out the quilt a little...in "real life" the colours are stronger and brighter. You can read more about the quilt HERE.

It's a great day for quilting!