Kitties

A Flower For Jane Austen - Pride And Prejudice Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

During March and April, California is usually ablaze with wild flowers. Even the desert comes alive to put on a spectacular show. I can’t count the number of times we drove out mile after mile to go see the wild flowers in the desert.

I sketched this flower through the window such a long time ago. With wild flowers in my mind, I couldn’t help but finally finish the flower quilt pattern so I could stitch the block. To me, it almost feels like a painting.

I love purple flowers, it’s no surprise that I chose a purple flower for my block.

Coast Purple Larkspur Flower | Whims And Fancies

Purple Larkspur is my most favourite wild flower, I think it looks like a little pixie hat!

Stanage Edge Derbyshire England | Whims And Fancies

The colour made me think of Regency purple. I love Jane Austen. I am currently reading a book that is set in the Regency Era. As I was also in Derbyshire not too long ago, standing on the rocks of Stanage Edge, my mind easily drifted toward the scene of Ms. Elizabeth Bennet standing there in the film version. Hence, the name A Flower For Jane Austen was born.

My Maine Coon Cat In A Box | Whims and Fancies

My kitties need a few more quilts. I am definitely going to use this pattern to make a new quilt for them. I found this old picture of my enormous Maine Coon cat who has now given up his tiny boxes in favour of quilts.

Greek Letter Quilt Patterns | Whims And Fancies

Purchase Greek Alphabet Pattern Set

Before I continue though, I really need to make a couple of pillow covers. A couple of years ago I worked on this Greek Alphabet quilt.

Greek letters alpha beta quilt patterns | Whims And Fancies

After finishing the first two letters, I changed the quilt layout which required me to order more fabric. In the meantime however, the dye lot of the fabric had changed. I had to therefore redo the two initial blocks, which meant I ended up with extra blocks. I finished making the quilt a long time ago, while the extra blocks got stowed away in the cabinet. I don’t like having too many WIPs, so my goal for this month is to turn them into pillows. Now that they are on my sewing table, I am really excited to get started.

I will be linking up with

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal April Linkup

A Flower For Jane Austen - Pride And Prejudice Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

Once I finish the pillows I am sure to come back to this block again. Lovely Kim was showing off her gorgeous hydrangeas and yellow roses together in a vase. I might have mentioned to her once…twice…many times how much I love them together. When I opened my design file, guess what I found in there – the same colours together!

A Flower For Jane Austen - Pride And Prejudice Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

Before I start on the kitty quilt, I may just have to make myself a mini wall hanging from this pattern. What do you think of circular quilting?

Enjoy some flowers this weekend if you have the time!
-Soma

I am also linking up on Life Thru The Lens, Through My Lens, Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around The World, Seasons, and Friday Photo Journal along with other linky parties on my Events And Links page.

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Striped Tabby Cat Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

Thank you so much for visiting me last week and for your lovely comments on my paper piecing. I have been working on a few different quilting projects simultaneously. Sometimes I start on one and then get carried away by something else. I am sure you know the feeling. I drafted this striped tabby cat quilt pattern months ago. I was really hoping to finish quilting the mini before showing it here, but alas, that didn’t happen.

My Orange Maine Coon Cat | Whims And Fancies

As I mentioned earlier, most of my quilt patterns are derived from different aspects of my life. This is my orange Maine Coon boy who is my shadow. He became the model for my mini.

Striped Tabby Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

For this special mini I cut into the swirly orange fat quarter that I had saved forever. I had just enough scraps of the black fabric left from another quilt to use as the background for this one. The faint gold in that fabric makes me think of magic dust. I had to add the night sky fabric in the window. So now my cat and I can sit by the window and cherish each other’s company and the night sky together.

Striped Tabby Cat Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

Susie made this pillow from my pattern way before I could finish mine. I love the vintage look of her kitty. Her kitty’s name is Tessie! You can read all about Tessie in Susie’s Post.

Hopefully I get to quilt mine soon! The quilting design is already traced on it and it is basted, but I may have to wait a few more days before I can sit at the machine.

Trees In Acrylic Paint | Whims And Fancies

Last week I suddenly got sick with the flu. When I started feeling a little better, I pulled out the acrylic set that I got during the holidays. Painting has always been my pastime when I’m sick. Whenever I can’t go outside, I bring the outside to me with paint. I love to paint trees. Last time when we were in the Sierras, we saw a lot of trees dying due to the draught we are facing in California. They look like fall colours, but sadly they are dried leaves on dying trees. The orange in the painting depicts those leaves.

Although I hadn’t used acrylic before, I learned a lot about acrylic painting just from this small sketch. The Liquitex Basics set I got has 48 tubes. It is perfect for trying out colours before purchasing better quality versions of the colours that I really like. I highly recommend the set for anyone who is interested in trying out acrylic painting. I can’t wait to play more with mine.

-Soma

A Flower For Jane Austen

Striped Tabby Cat And Acrylic Painting