It is a long weekend at my house. So I worked on the pickle dishes. I made two blocks, you can see them there. I need to add the eyes to most of them, I have experimented and I am going to English Paper Piece the eyes in, there is no way I can nicely piece them by machine or by hand. Some movies will be in order.
But the blocks are fantastic! They are about 20" square so I will need to make the quilt 25 blocks to be somewhat close to king size.
That was where I started yesterday. I made the L shapes wider so that I could piece them onto the dish units and trim. Much faster than trying to get every one pieced perfectly. I have ordered more background as I did not have enough.
I also made this 12.5" square bee block for Mary in the Always Bee Learning Bee. The tutorial/pattern is by Nydia at the ADD Crafter here. I have wanted to make this paper pieced Basket Weave Star for a long time so it was fun to get a chance in my bee.
And here is today's pickle. See that robin, she nested on the wreath that is adjacent to my front door (you can see the side window of the door). We noticed as she dive bombed us when we went out today, obviously we are not observant as we go in and out or we might have noticed this nest before it was done.
It is too late to disturb the nest as there are 4 little blue eggs in it (no we did not touch the eggs or the nest, just took a blurry picture). So now I have to keep everyone away from the front door, including the mail carrier. It is a hassel and will require the services of a locksmith tomorrow to fix the other door's lock so that it works properly from the outside. But it is hard to be a bird in the city and birds are cool - they are related to dinosaurs. I figure we will do our part to give her and the babies a fighting chance. And I know that I should have taken the wreath down already but remember we had snow three weeks ago, oops.
I guess I will give you bird updates, I expect there is a good chance of a tragic ending for the babies, but cross your fingers.
Best,
Leanne
29 comments:
My daughter would love you for mentioning that birds are related to dinosaurs!
I salute you for the work you're doing on the pickle dish. I did two of those blocks for a bee once and was completely frazzled!
love how your pickle dish is looking! I had a robin nest outside my office window at work this year. Fascinating watching the progress! If it is any indication, the nest was made, the eggs laid and within 2 weeks the birds had hatched, fledged and flown! I was amazed at how quickly they grew. Enjoy watching them, my office become "the" spot to be for two weeks!
Pickle Dish is one of my all time favourites ... I'm sure yours is going to be worth the wait! And how lovely that your Pickle Dish blues are just the same colour as those lovely robin's eggs! I am keeping everything crossed for a happily ever after for these little chicks x
Oh wow...the pickle dish looks fantastic Leanne..great color in it.
The little bird nest is sweet.
I love the colours of the eggs against the rich browns and reds of the wreath! Isn't creation inspiring! Lovely pickles too! Jxo
Lovely pickles but I am fascinated by the bird making her nest so close to the door. Make sure that you give us regular bird updates Di x
The basket weave star is a great pattern. I've not seen it before.
Good luck with the birds. My kids would be so excited to have something like that by the front door. I think our cats and dog keep it from happening, though.
Yay for the end of your pickles starting to be in sight! Totally busted on the wreath though lol Good luck with the 'mothering'
Oh how sweet, albeit annoying! Love how your pickle dishes are looking and your bee block is amazing!
Oh how cool. Here is a prayer for the nest, the mom and her eggs. Love the pickles too.
Your pickles look great...that is a monumental project! I love your mod pop one in the festival, too.
I hoping the best for those little eggs. A bird built a nest right next to the door at my daughter's school in a window box. Five tiny eggs are within reach of little hands! Talk about being in danger!
Your pickle dishes are coming along lovely! Can't wait to see them all together!
lovely blocks and I understand the late wreath as I just took down my snowmen! lol Good luck with the birds!
oh my your blocks are beautiful! So the 'eye' is the center? yikes. And RE: the bird and babies - inconvenient but AWESOME! Yes, keep us updated!
The pickles are looking wonderful, the bee block is amazing and the bird eggs so blue and pretty.
Love the pickle dishes! Fantastic. I think the eggs will be fine :) My friends had a nest next to their door and it was ok. They also used it less.
Oh, silly wee mama robin! I hope she has a happy ending. I'd be delighted with her roosting there but can imagine all sorts of hassles, yes!
Your pickles are looking amazing! Worth all the work, you can see the effort put into it!
The pd look great, i've always wanted to do one, but so many other projects! i love your approach to your bird problem, we have loads of big conifers that need chopping down but can't because of the birds at the moment, so I can understand that!
Beautiful eggs (and blocks!), she must have known you were there, but if you have an alternative escape route, I guess she can lay claim to that doorway for a bit xxx
Good to see pickle dish blocks up close, and I can see the benefit of EPPing those centres! Thank you for the link to the braided star, haven't come across that one before, I love to paper piece.
Good luck with the nest, aren't the eggs a beautiful colour?
Your pickle dish is just beautiful! Great idea making the L pieces bigger and just trimming. That would be my happiness too.
Love your gorgeous little robin! That's so cool that your house was chosen as home! Will you name her?
Isn´t that fun? The blue eggs fit perfectly to your pickle blocks. Great work so far!
Good luck to your birdies!
A junco once made a nest in a hanging planter by my mother-in-law's back door and dive bombed her when she tried to water the flowers. Have fun watching the babies. Your quilt looks great so far.
My toddler saw the eggs and nest and keeps asking me about them. I think it's time for our first unschooling lesson! Thanks for the inadvertant strewing <3
The pickle dishes look fantastic! I have never seen that design before.
Your pickle dish is looking amazing Leanne. Hope the birds make it ok
Fantastic Pickle Dish, Leanne...I have this on my Some Day List! How fun to be babysitting the little bird eggs....great story!
Hi Leanne: can you please explain the difference between English paper piecing the eyes into the blocks vs. sewing them in by hand or machine? does that mean you'll be appliqueing them in? I'm asking because I recently got into a big mess with a quilt like this and want to understand how to do it better the next time. Thanks, if you have time to answer!
Leanne....I have been "gathering" for my pickle dish for some time now....yours is looking great!!!
I love your birdie story....can't wait to hear more updates!
I too love Nydia's Basketweave Braid Star!!! Your block is so colorful....great eye candy!!
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