Kinda Random: Spring, Flea Market Fancy, Verona, Russian Rubix, Frixion

One of my blogging friends (Cindy of Live a Colorful Life) has a habit of making blog posts she calls "Really Random."  On those days, her posts are a conglomeration of photos and thoughts that sort of fit together in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way.  I always love her Really Random posts.

Sometimes I feel like I need to borrow her idea, because I just have a few little odds and ends to share.  So as to not completely plagiarize her idea, I thought I'd call this post "Kinda Random."  Hope you don't mind, Cindy!

Spring has definitely sprung in Michigan.  On Tuesday, when I was driving Sweet Pea home from school, we noticed our tree was in full flower.  I have been so busy, I didn't even notice.  Can you believe that?!  I said to her, "How long has that tree been in flower?"  She said, "I don't know, Mom."  We looked at each other and agreed it was crazy that such beauty was going on around us and we didn't even notice.  For shame!  And look at our apple tree in the background.  It's already got leaves on it.  It's not even April yet!  Last year, we had such a cold spring (well, we never really got spring...winter lasted forever), I swear the trees did not get buds on them until almost June.  People here are worried we'll get a hard frost sometime between now and May and kill a lot of things.  I hope not.

I love this tree when it flowers.  I went to a meeting with someone today; someone I haven't seen in about 6 months.  The first thing he said to me was, "Boy, you look relaxed."  I had to laugh.  If only he knew how stressed out I've been lately.  He was the second person today who told me I looked rested and relaxed.  I guess my weekend last weekend really did me a lot of good.  Spring does me a lot of good.

Another thing that did me a lot of good lately was getting my order of Flea Market Fancy from the Intrepid Thread.  I love these fabrics.  I just love them.  When I get up the gumption to cut into them, I'm going to make some Urban Deco blocks out of them.  Urban Deco blocks are another version of the Urban Nine Patch blocks I'm working on.  I love them equally.  You can see the tutorial for them here.  Jenny is also using some Flea Market Fancy in hers.  Yep.  I think I need to do some of those.

And since Julie (Intrepid Thread) was sending me a package anyway, and she just mentioned that she was having a sale on these Verona fabrics, I had her throw some of those in the package as well. (I'm so bad. That fabric diet is so out the window.  Pleas don't tell Papa Pea.)  Why not?  I love them.  I was really proud of myself, though.  I didn't buy all the fabrics in the line.  Just my favorites.

But I do confess to buying a full yard of this one instead of just a fat quarter.  I love this print.

And while we're on the subject of confessions, remember a while back when I finished my Lincoln's Watch quilt I said I started cutting out two more?  Well, here is one I started cutting out.  I love these fabrics.  I got them last year at my retreat at Gruber's.

Here is what it's going to become.  I love it.  I was going to make it to give away.  But I decided I'm going to keep it.  I think it will be the quilt I take to sleep under when I go on retreats.  I wonder if I can get it done in time to take with me to Gruber's this summer (in July).  Haha!  That would be a record for me!

Remember a while back, I made a blog post about these Frixion pens?  Well, Barbara commented that she had read a blog post where someone had tested these pens under a variety of conditions and wasn't sold on them.  She found the blog post and emailed me the URL.  I thought I should post a follow up to that for your information.  It was blogged by The Quilting Climber, and you can see the post here.  It has given me pause, but I still use these pens a lot and probaby will continue to.  I use them to mark cutting lines on half square triangles, which are on the back of the quilt anyway.  I will have to consider whether I want to use them for embroidery designs.  But I thought I better share this information with you, too. Thank you, Barbara!

Well, that's all the randomness I have for you today.  Maybe I'll do more of these to catch up on a few things.  Hope you enjoyed.  :-)

Until next time,

Mama Pea

 

Comments

[Lynn]

Looking relaxed even when you don't feel relaxed is quite an accomplishment! Now you just need to figure out how you are doing it! LOL! I have read mixed things about those pens. I am hesitant to use them on the front of a project. I might use them on a project I expect will get heavy use (so it won't survive for decades), but not anything I hope will out last me. The pens are just too new for anyone to know what the chemicals in this pen will do to fabric over time. I have an image in my head of a quilt appraiser 100 years from now appraising a quilt and shaking her head. She is saying this quilt was made between 2010 and 2020. I know this because these marks are from Frixon pens which were popular marking tools in that time period. She shakes her head and thinks to herself "too bad they didn't know what we now know."

[sherri]

What a wonderful, random posts...I actually love "random" days! Russian Rubix is on my "definitely must make" list too...maybe this summer!

[Deb]

I hadn't seen the Russian Rubix pattern before - nice! I'm going to have to stop reading your blog because it makes me want to start all sorts of new projects! Just kidding! Thanks for the update on the Frixion pens!

[Brooke]

yummies!!! Love the outdoor pics too, we don't have blossoms yet....
Hey, I have some of the same fabric - imagine that!!
Have a great day!

[Linda in Calif.]

Russian Rubix will be a great looking quilt. I actually like the fabric for it better than the Flea Market Fancy.

[sisLH]

I love your tree and No, you probably didn't miss it blooming as our forsythia literally came into full bloom this year within 2 days! We are having one weird winter/spring. 82 degrees in January and 37 today! Say, don't you think that 1 yd piece of Verona would look perfect for that pattern you're sending me? Where did you get it?

[carolld]

Your tree is beautiful. It is beautiful up here too. I'm holding my breath with this talk of a hard freeze. I love that Russian Rubix quilt. It's a lot of piecing for me, but I can still admire it, can't I? LOL You make it up and I'll admire it. Deal?

[Allie]

Aren't the trees gorgeous??? I hope they survive. I love all your new fabrics!!!! I love the Frixion pens, but I only use them on white fabric, for embroidery designs. I tried them on colored fabric, to mark quilting lines, and they left a thin white line, yikes.

[Donna]

What's the secret to looking rested? LOL I love the tree with all the blooms. Ours already have bloomed and have leaves. Strange weather!
The fabrics are gorgeous and love the pattern.
Thanks for the update on the pen!
Have fun sewing!
Hugs,
Donna

[terriaw]

Your blooming tree is so beautiful! I bet it smells fabulous too. Our flowering trees have buds on them, but I don't think they will bloom for a couple weeks. Which is still early!

Good for you for getting some of the new Flea Market Fancy fabrics! I am still holding out; not sure why. Love the color combos in those Verona prints too. You are going to have so much fun playing with your new stash.

[jenclair]

A little heavenly cloud right over your house! Gorgeous.

I really need to check out that pen. Enjoy your new fabric!

[Deb]

Love that beautiful tree, gorgeous fabrics, and love hearing that you're relaxed after a good weekend! I'm catching up again on your posts...I've been sewing on a deadline and away from the computer a lot! But...always good to read your posts.