Indentifying flowering trees

I know some of my blog followers are also avid gardeners.  Maybe you can help me identify these beautiful flowering trees in my new yard.  Please help!!!

First off, I'm pretty sure that this is a Dogwood...

But, how about this gorgeous purple one?

And this lovely white fluffy one?

And last, this pretty adorable white one?

Thanks for all of your help!  We are loving springtime in our new home.  So far, we've got these beautiful trees blooming (and one more I can't identify that already lost all of it's blooms - they only lasted for a week!!!), daffodils, and lots of hostas coming up!

April's UFO is DONE!

Just in time for the end of the month!  This quilt began as 6 pre-printed blocks that were cross-stitched about 10 years ago.  Yep, they've been sitting in a plastic ziploc baggie on the UFO pile for THAT long!  You can read more about them here.

Now, they have become a really cute twin size quilt using some inspiration from a photo of a quilt on the internet called "Serendipity."    I was really nervous about quilting this one, but I was determined to do something "custom" that I learned from my APQS classes with Dawn Cavanaugh.  One thing that really stuck with me was the continuous curve quilting technique that she taught.  So, that was what I tried (after convincing myself that if it didn't work out,  this was a 10 year old UFO and I could give it away or donate it if I didn't like the result).

As you can see, it came out okay.  Nothing fancy, perfect, (or even symmetrical) since I didn't do any marking or try any ruler work.  This is just straight freehand (I probably should have tried a little harder - afterall, Dawn DID teach me better than that).  Not great, but not bad either...I can live with this as my first attempt.

 And, of course a pieced backing (using up another set of blocks that have been in the UFO pile/stash for just as long as the blocks on the front).  And, I've finally used up the rest of the rose yardage (surrounding the rose blocks).  There's just scraps left of that fabric (after using it as a main fabric in "And Many More" - Bonnie Hunter's pattern "Florabunda," and as a border on my "Bowdacious!").

I already added a little label onto the bottom right-hand corner, but I have yet to name this quilt.  Suggestions are certainly appreciated!  This baby is now in the washing machine getting all nice and crinkly!  Now, onto the next project....

Vintage Rose Tiles

Pattern:  Serendipity (internet photo, no credit given)
Size: 65x90"
Quilting:  free motion beginning custom

Quilting Thread:  Glide white

Today, I'm linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes, 12 Finishes in 2014, Sew Darn Crafty, and Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop?  Hop on over to these blogs to see what other quilters are finishing this month!

Design Wall Monday!!!

Here's what's on the Design Wall and my UFO goal for April...

These are old cross-stitched rose blocks done about 10 years ago.  I just got these out over the weekend and began playing around with a setting for them.  I found a photo on the internet for a quilt called "Serendipity" and started playing with the math to get the frames and sashings together.  Next it will get a set of borders that will include the dark green QSTs that will finish out the on-point edge squares.

And, that's the next mathematical equation to tackle.  Not too hard...I'll just begin with the QSTs and figure the HSTs that need to flank them flying goose style! These are BIG blocks!  The cross-stitched blocks,  themselves, are 15" unfinished!  It will finish around a twin size...as is, pre-borders, when pieced together it'll be at about a 54x78" top.

I may also enter this in as my guild challenge quilt.  The theme is "A Few of My Favorite Things" and we are to chose one line from the song and create a project based on it.  If I can figure out how to create "Raindrops on Roses," this may just work!  Any ideas?

Linking up to Design Wall Monday and A Lovely Year of Finishes.

HUGE Pillows for the Triplets

I know I haven't been posting a whole lot lately, but in my defense....I've been busy, busy, busy!  Ya know, the usual...shop hops (yes, more than one...and there's another one coming up next month!), planning projects, reading, traveling (we just got back from Memphis - more on that later this week), and trying to figure out how to make these HUGE pillows for my triplet nephews!

I've never made a pillow before, but after seeing so many cute tutorials online, I finally decided to jump in...BIG time!  Basically, they are baby-sized quilts with flaps attached for slipping in a pillow!  First I had to figure out what size to make the quilty top for a 26" pillow.  What did I decide?  Around 31-32" gave me enough border to stitch to make a bit of a flange all the way around.

Pittsburgh Steelers Football

The first one I tackled (hehe) was the Steelers pillow.  I decided to just strip piece this one (reminiscent of the diamonds in the logo shape).  DH said it looked to bright as the Steelers colors are more of the black and gold, so I added the black border and quilted it up with a spiral in heavy black cotton thread.  After all of the pillows were done, I added the appliqued football - boy, was that fun!

Minecraft Characters

Next, I made the Minecraft top, constantly texting back and forth with my nephew and sister-in-law to check color placement, etc. (I know nothing about Minecraft)!  This was a fun scrappy top to piece together taking inspiration (and making changes that my nephew suggested) from a quilt being sold by "alicecordell" on ebay (giving credit where credit is due).  This top was so graphic that I just decided to quilt it up with a close meander in a neutral Glide thread.

Miami Heat Basketball

Last up was the Heat Pillow.  This one I thought about for a long time.  I really wanted to try making these stack and slash blocks set back together with the thin strips between.  I thought it was a bit reminiscent of the basketball basket.  I am happy with that experiment!  I quilted this with the same thick black cotton thread as the football quilt, but this time with a flame pantograph...ya know, for Heat!  Then, I went back and created the basketball applique using a zigzag stitch for the lines (same for the football). 

These were such fun projects to work on that I really hope the boys love them!  I'm hoping they'll feel free to throw them around on the floor, lay on them to play video/board games, pillow fight and just really USE them!  I knew I wouldn't get them done in time for Christmas, but promised them early this year.  Yikes!  A little late, but the love is there!!!

Linking up to Sew Darn Crafty, BOMs Away, Scrap Basket Sunday, Let's Make Baby Quilts, and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? 

RSC14 - Water Colors!

RSC14 for me is just trudging through setting the 4-patches from 4-Patch revisited on point.

Adventures with Leaders & Enders by Bonnie K. Hunter

This month...

RSC14 - Water Colors (March)

The last couple of months...

RSC14 - January (blue 4-patches on-point)

RSC14 - February (pink 4-patches on-point)

After having three projects going at once for RSC13, I feel like I'm really not doing enough for this year's challenge.  So, since I'll be working on Lozenges as leaders and enders this year as well, I think I'm going to concentrate on the color of the month for each of those.  That should ensure that I get those blocks constructed by the year's end (but...I've gotta back up and start from January's color...)

Linking up to RSC14.