The other day, Mom and I were chatting and quilting, and some how, the conversation turned towards elephants. (I think we were talking about an elephant quilt pattern but I can’t be sure). I told her that I love elephants, and that I have a couple in the house, because grandma always told me that having an elephant with its trunk up is good luck. (Like horsehoes, the luck runs out if the trunk is down)

I, of course, have my Blue Mountain Heffalump, and I have another elephant plant holder, (on which my snake plant resides.) I told her I used to have a white eastern-style elephant that I used as a small plant stand but that I hadn’t seen him in years, and I wasn’t sure what had happened to it.

A few days later, Dave and I were heading out to drop some of his old clothes off a Value Village. I recalled I had a box of knick knacks I’d meaning to donate as well. It was stuff I hadn’t unpacked when we moved here (eight years ago) and it was all still wrapped up in newspaper.

Something told me I better go through it one last time, just to be sure I wasn’t giving anything important away. Can you guess what I found???

I was so happy! I think he’s actually supposed to be a candle holder for those big pillar candles, but I’ve always put a plant on him. I don;t know what happened to the pot I had that went with him, but luckily, I had the perfect sized one kicking around in the basement.

It just needed a little makeover.

Plain white paint was just a little too stark, but, as luck would have it…

…I had a bottle of Champagne Metallic leftover from some long forgotten craft project that was just the perfect shade.

Add a spider plant baby (there’s no shortage of them around here) and the project is complete!

“Are you awake yet? I need food”

Work is progressing on the Silla Cardigan.

The pattern is top down, and it has you work the sleeves before you work the body – which is a first for me. I’m used to working the body first.

As you can see, I’m making decent progress. I probably should be a little further along, but had to order some 7mm dpns for the sleeves. Of course that means I had to order some yarn to come along for the “free shipping” ride.

It’s just some Kroy (FX and Stripes) that was on clearance. It’s hard to pass up sock yarn when it’s less than $12 a pair!

With Rupert’s help, I tackled the second quadrant of the HST quilt

I promise, Rupert is snoopervising from somewhere in that pile of blankets.

I laid the next quadrant out beside the completed one so I could ensure there would be no like fabrics touching. This is the kind of quilt where you can drive yourself batty trying to get fabric placement just perfect. I don’t even really try – I just focus on ensuring no two of the same fabric touch, and call it a day. Some are a little closer together than I like, but I can live it with. Once the whole quilt is together, it won’t be as noticeable anyway.

Despite it’s size, the quadrants go together fairly quick. In just over an hour, I had it together, and sewn to the first quadrant.

And just like that – the top is already half done!

“Just you remember, you couldn’t have done it with my help. Now put the camera away and let me go back to sleep.”

As I hinted at last week, I’ve got a new pair of socks underway. Not that its a great surprise. After casting off Rowan’s itty bitty thunderstruck socks, I decided that it would be fun if she had a pair that matched her sister, as well as her Mom and Dad.

Of course, Paisley’s birthday isn’t until December. But Rowan’s is in June. But if I want to use leftovers from Paisley’s that means I’ve got to get them on (and off) the needles asap!

Taadaa!!!

Yes, once again it’s Felici. This colourway is from last year and it’s called Summer Camp. The pattern is “I Smell Snow” – a freebie on Ravelry. It’s simple, with just a touch of interest to keep things moving. These probably won’t be on the needles very long.

And in an aside, something happened last week that gives me just a little bit of hope that one day I may see that missing shipment from Knit Picks.

Last Tuesday, this showed up in the mail:

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A Christmas card from Vera! As you can see from the post mark – she mailed it on December 1, 2020! It took a full FOUR months to get to me. I had a good giggled when I opened it. The poor postal service must have been having a really hard time – she’s less than an 8 hour drive from me!

So… Merry April Vera! Thanks for the card!

Like knitting, one of the things I love about quilting is that you’re able to use up nearly every bit of your materials, and if you’re careful, and conscious, there’s very little waste.

After I finished up the Jane Austen quilt, I had some strips left from the star border. Since they were already sewn together, I decided to chop them up into 2.5 inch pieces.

They were just perfect for the centre strip on a nine patch.

Then I gathered a few more leftovers and before you know it…

… 28 perfect little scrappy nine patches.

These nine patches will be paired with some friendship stars (still to be made), and all surround a big, beautiful flower medallion. What flower medallion, you ask… this one!

Oh Burton! You’re big and beautiful too – but we want to see that flower!

That’s better. Now, Burton and I need to go make some stars!

Mother Nature continues to do her Spring Thing. There’s been a good amount of rain, but it’s been mostly sunny. And on those sunny days, while it looks nice and warm, there’s always been a cool breeze to remind you that it’s still EARLY spring – don’t get too excited about the garden just yet.

Still… I can’t help but do so when I see blooms.

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It’s mainly daffodils so far.

But I certainly won’t complain about that.

The Crocuses that survived the bunnies are mostly done now.

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I got to see those pretty white ones a full day before some hungry little bun came and nipped them clean off in the night. At least I got a picture!

And of course, there’s lots more happening. I have tulips and hyacinths that won’t be far behind. And there are hints of the summer perenials everywhere.

I’ve definitely lost one of my roses, but since I moved them all in the fall, I can’t remember which it is. I suspect it’s Blue Girl – she wasn’t looking too great last year.

This little rose is doing quite well, despite the Cotton Candy Alium that’s trying to take over. When I did the moved, I thought I got all the alium bulbs up out of this spot – as you can see, I was very wrong. And now that the other tall plants that surrounded it were moved, and it’s getting more sun – it’s just gone crazy! When they are done blooming, I’ll try to dig them out and give that poor rose some more space.

The raspberry canes were starting to really bud up,

so I gave them their annual buzz cut

I never worry about chopping them down too much – I don’t think I could kill them if I tried. In another few weeks they will be leafed out and thriving! And almost back to the height before the hair cut!

And before I go, Sammy Jay finally got comfortable enough with me to come down to Squirrelington’s while I was watching.

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If you look closely, you’ll notice that he’s perching on the side of the structure, not the little bench. Such a clever little Jay, making it work for himself!

I love nature!

Bowing to Lord Burton, I pulled together some kitty fabrics for a new quilt

I got these pieces from Walmart a while ago, and in truth, I’ve been itching to make a quilt with them. Just like Burton (who was likely born some time in May) these are adorable spring kittens. They are just perfect for a light and airy spring baby quilt!

It also gives me a chance to practice some more no-waste four-at-a-time geese, and this fancy new trimmer Mom gave me (she loves those gadgets!). I was mostly just cutting everything to get it ready for block assembly, but you know I couldn’t resist putting just one together right away.

And as you can see,

Burton is finally content!

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Even the most boring chore (like folding laundry) is made lighter when you have a handsome helper.

Though I still think he enjoys it much more than I ever will.

This FO isn’t mine, but Mom’s. But it’s so amazing, I just have to share it. Back in the summer of 2019, Mom joined in on the Moda summer quilt-a-long. That summer, the theme was At the Seashore, and Mom diligently followed along, creating new blocks as they were made available. Some she subbed out for other blocks not from Moda, but ones that kept the theme going. The result was a pretty amazing sampler quilt. (And it’s the reason I decided to join in with the Moda Blockhead QAL in 2020).

She put them all together into a top. And then that top sat there. And sat there. And sat there. She really wanted to fancy quilt it, but felt her skills just weren’t up to the task.

Well, as you know… since the summer of 2019, she’s been doing a lot of “practicing” of that fancy quilting, and FINALLY she got up the courage to quilt it. And I’m so glad she did.

Isn’t it amazing?????? You have to check out all the incredible blocks in there.

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It’s only a lap quilt (60″ x 64″) but as you can see, there’s a lot of fun packed into that space.

It’s available in the shop now, and I’m betting it won’t be there long!