Friday, May 3, 2013

Dropping By....






To say hello like this friendly kookaburra who has been hanging around our back fence the last few days. He looks like a relatively young kookaburra with clean fluffy feathers. Kookaburras are the largest kingfisher in the world and are native to the east coast of Australia. They make a loud, very distinctive laughing noise.




I received a most wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday and feel totally spoilt. An unexpected gift which both warms the heart and feeds the creative soul.








Lots of fresh and fun ideas to try with even the tiniest of favourite scraps. Sunday Morning Quilts includes some new (to me) ideas and techniques to try too, I love it.




The beautiful bird fabric I shared earlier now graces our wall as a mini quilt (22"x25"). Rather different to my original grander visions but these little panels didn't want to mix with the others I also made. So I've ended up leaving them simply and happily perched together, finished with a little hand quilting.






I was delighted to find a straight stick around our yard to use as a hanger until  some dowel is bought.




Here are the orphaned blocks which just didn't seem to mix well with those used in the mini quilt. Each one is quite pleasant by itself but I'm not sure what to do with them now, so I guess I'll put them back in the cupboard until inspiration strikes sometime. Any suggestions?






In the meantime I have some other sewing plans to try....and a beautiful new book to enjoy! 



Sharing at In The Studio.

28 comments:

Lúcia said...

What a cute little bird!
The works are beautiful, I wish I had the talent too... ;-)

Eko said...

Jo on uusi tuttava - 'Googabulla'...
En ole koskaan kuullutkaan.
Kauniisti kuvasi.
Ihailin myös muita töitäsi.
Terveisin Eko
http://eskoalamaunu.blogspot.fi/

geanina said...

Very beautiful bird!
Have a nice weekend!:)

Susan said...

I love the orphan blocks and your new wall quilt! Too nice to put away the spares! Couldn't you make another mini? They are probably too nice for placemats and coasters? Love the kooka too!

Karen Lakis said...

That bird fabric is so pretty, I can understand it wanting to stand on its own. Your new book looks fabulous. That kookaburra! I've never seen one, although I do remember singing the kookaburra song as a child. I think I probably had no idea what the song was about.

flowersandhome said...

Enjoy you new book! Love the little quilt you made. Now I'm going to look up what a dowel is because I've always wondered how you can hang a quilt onto the wall beautifully and you say you'll buy a dowel, so that must be the solution.
Bye,
Marian
O, lovely bird!

Dorothy said...

What a treat to be visited by such a wonderful bird. Lucky you. xx

Gail Dixon said...

Gorgeous bird! Lucky you to get these great shots. Enjoy the book. It's perfect for you. :)

Sylvia K said...

I do love the kookaburra! Such a beautiful bird! Looks like a great book and I know you'll make good use of it! Beautiful samples of the quilt and I, too, know you'll make great use of the book!! I know you'll make the most of the quilt book, what a great gift! Enjoy your weekend, Karen!!

Cinzia said...

Have a nice w.e.!
Cinzia

Jenni C's said...

love your big king fisher, simply adore you quilt you used making Geninne's fabrics. I would make some cushion covers with the remaining blocks ;)

Joy said...

Really nice work:)

Unknown said...

I just love seeing your quilt work. It looks beautiful. And I enjoyed seeing the photos of that sweet little bird. So Cute...

Happy Friday!

Hugs~

Pat said...

I very much enjoyed your post today! Who wouldn't love to see a birdie like that? Especially if it makes a laughing noise!

Your hanging quilt is just beautiful!

Reena said...

Love that kookaburra shot!

Fun60 said...

I like the look of your new book.All those pictures in it even make me think about making a quilt. How inspiring is that?

A Creative Grace said...

I do love your quilt and it's always good to have a new book on the go! The bird is adorable!

Carolina said...

╔═════════════ ஜ۩۞۩ஜ ════════════╗
.•★•.♥ •. So beautiful things and sweetie bird :)
Te deseo un hermoso fin de Semana•★•.♥ •.
╚═════════════ ஜ۩۞۩ஜ ════════════╝

Elise Lea said...

Love the mini quilt! It is so simple with all the negative space but it really balances out the business of the other fabric. Now you can start on a another project and you have such great inspiration that just arrived! How exciting :)

As for what to do with the leftovers, I think they would make some beautiful throw pillows.

eileeninmd said...

Love your cute Kookaburra! Enjoy your quilt book! Your bird fabric is wonderful for a quilt. Have a happy day!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The kookaburra is beautiful!! I want to see one in person someday :)

Jen Price said...

Beautiful mini quilt! Love those birds!

Sewing Mom said...

How beautiful, the bird and the quilt! I don't know that I've ever seen a Kookaburra...though we sang a song about one in grade school. =) Your quilt looks lovely too.

amanda said...

I love the kookaburra! It reminds me of a song we sang in elementary music class.. "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.. Laugh kkookaburra, laugh kookaburra, gay your life must be." I always enjoyed it.
His (or her) feathers look downy soft.

Your quilting is so bright & inspiring.. Great find on that nice straight stick!
I have a little glass figurine given to my by a dear friend, Violet, who passed away.. it's called the bluebird of happiness, and the color is just that of your quilt. It's a wonderfully happy color.
Enjoy your new book!

Anonymous said...

The kookaburra is a pretty bird. I like your wall quilt, the colors are so cheerful, and the book appears to be full of inspiration.

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

your mini quilt is so beautiful! and what a sweet gift with that book. it is inspiring me too... it's beautiful!

Vision By Mila said...

I wouldn't know which to pick!

Liz said...

WOW! Your quilting is so inspiring! I have an American hand pieced Quilt I started when Bec was a baby (intended for her older sister) which I never did finish. Now my hands can't cope with the tiny details to complete it, so it is sitting in a box probably 3/4 completed... one block to complete and then the piecing together to be completed. The rest I planned to do by machine, including the quilting (much to my teacher's disgust).

Those orphan blocks are lovely!! How about some throw cushions?? I could see a bunch of throw cushions on a lovely white and blue edged quilt.

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