Take Me to Africa, Please!

 

Well, a year and a half later, this baby is done.   I had such fun designing this and putting all the pieces together.  The vast majority of the fabrics are authentic African prints.  The black accent, the background, backing and binding is not, but the colors are all African except for maybe 2.  I even found a skirt at the thrift store with a wonderful print from Africa!

It was, however, a journey.  After designing and piecing, I decided to 'big stitch' quilt it.  The piece lived in my living room in Omaha on a card table all summer of 2022 and I stitched along with reruns of Law and Order, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

This fun quilt took a 1st Place Award at our 2023 Quilt Show at Llano Grande Park for "Pieced and Hand Quilted by One Person. 

Did I mention I will be redecorating my Omaha bedroom when we get back? 

PS: The kitty anointing my work is Calypso, a foster kitty from S.O.L.A.S.  I had her for about 2 months last summer.  She was found stray, skinny and an injury to her eye, among a managed colony in Council Bluffs.  I got her fattened up, medically treated (eye was removed) and of course, spayed.  She found her forever home and is now living the sweet life she deserves. 

Two Almost Ready to Hang!

Even though these are NOT completely finished yet I could not wait to post the progress...the top block is called "Swinging on a Star" the only thing to do is take the tape off our two boo-boos and its ready to hang! You can see this one behind "Heart of Country" owned and operated by Dorine Knop and Pam Schirm.

This block is called Flower Basket (who knew?) and still needs it's inner black band part of the border. This one will be hung behind Cheryl's shop, Sow-a-Seed/Prior Attire.

We have two more "in the hole". Watch for "Squash Blossom" and "Bird of Paradise"!!!

We also have plans to make some smaller 2'x2' blocks for yards and smaller areas.