Hello Everyone! I hope you had a great week and looking forward to a wonderful weekend. The last two weeks have been busy for me, non-sewing busy. There has been a trip to Roundtop, TX and Austin TX, both with family and friends. The small town of Roundtop has a large antique show twice a year. Last year it was called off but was large than ever this year. I alway enjoy attending, but never pick up too many things. This year I found and purchased the Appliqué Pineapple Quilt, above. It is in good condition and dates from the mid 1800s.

I usually get bright, busy scrappy quilts, but this quilt called to me. I was intrigued by the pattern and the muted solid colors. The dealer said that the fabrics were hand dyed and probably the colors that had faded due to the non-stability of the dyes. The red fabric was probably brighter. It is hand quilted and the binding has been reapplied by machine. Maybe I will use this quilt to write a pattern in the future!

Be sure and pick up a copy of the June issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. My featured quilt is Basket Toss, above, which was inspired by an antique quilt. It is made with red reproduction fabrics and light shirtings. The quilt is smaller in size, a lap or large wall quilt.

American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine a wonderful publication that still features traditional quilts. It is always such an honor to have a quilt featured in APQ. Along with my quilt, check out Stars and Strips Forever by Lisa Bongean for Primitive Gatherings and don’t for get to read the article featuring Susan Ache- I want her studio!

Before driving down to Roundtop, I picked up a couple of quilts from machine quilter Sheri Mecom of Leave It To Me Quilting. These two quilts are very different- one old and modern and one new and traditional. Both turned out very nice!

Red Pineapple Quilt, above, was finally finished last year and quilted this year. The finished 12″ blocks were pieced using Pineapple Foundation papers by Little Foot Co. I would make a block as a teaching sample each time I taught the Pineapple class. After making more than half the blocks, I decided to finish the top. A border was added, quilting completed, binding sewn on and now it is done! It is so striking with the pineapple geometric design.

The other quilt is called Nest, above, pattern and fabric by Tula Pink. This top was made as a shop sample to sell the Nest fabric line, one of the first lines of Tula Pink fabric. This quilt is bright and fun and maybe my granddaughter will want this quilt.

If you preordered Time Honored Traditions from my Etsy shop, your book has been mailed and hopefully been received. I have heard from some of you and the reviews have been wonderful! When writing the book, I wanted to describe reproduction fabrics, show you samples of the colors and show you how to use it in a quilt. From your wonderful comments, I think the book was successful – thanks! If you have not received your book, please let me know through the Etsy shop- USPS shipping is slow and if you are overseas, it can take up to a month. If you have not ordered the book, check out my shop, Petite Quilts, and get one for yourself. They are now in stock and shipping. Again, thanks for your orders and kind words!

Now that I am back in front of the sewing machine, I have made more little Birds in the Air blocks using my new fabrics, Petite Perennials from Windham Fabrics. This pattern, called Circles, was reproduced in brown, red and indigo with brown being the document fabric. I hope to offer Fat Quarter Bundles in my Etsy shop very soon!

I have a basket full of the 3″ finished blocks and just two more fabric patterns to use in the blocks. Soon the Fly Away Home quilt top will be put together. If you have my new book and want to sew along, find the directions for Fly Away Home and have fun sewing up your scraps!

Fun was had by all at the Roundtop Antique Show. My daughter and granddaughter came along with me and it was so much fun to travel with family again! We had fantastic weather, ordered special by the Chamber of Commerce. We visited two venues, The Big Red Barn and Marburger Farms, although there are so many more places to stop and shop in the very small town. Above is a picture on my granddaughter Lucy and me-can you tell purple is her favorite color?

Here are the things we picked up at the Fair. I got the Appliqué Pineapple quilt and another big letter “A” for my collection. We also got three sets of old salt and pepper shakers for my daughter-in-law. She accidentally fell into some old family sets so now we pick up more sets when we find them. But, don’t tell her, they are a surprise!

Last week my husband and I went to Austin to visit long time friends and ate our way across the city! One evening we went to one of Austin’s parks along Lake Travis to see the largest planting of bluebonnets I have ever seen. It was breathtaking. Bluebonnets are the Texas state flower and are planted everywhere in the state- in parks, along the highways and in urban landscapes.

The sunset was a beautiful ending to a great day. Thanks to Mike and Melanie for showing us a fantastic time- they never disappoint!

Along with bluebonnets blooming, the Irises in my yard are currently showing off their colors. Above is a lavender Bearded Iris.

Another color in my garden is Peach. These flowers always remind me of my grandmother. She had so many colors blooming in her yard in the spring.

White Irises are also making a beautiful show this year. My neighbor gave me two bucketful of iris rhizomes this year so I hope I will have many more blooms next year.

Ihope you are enjoying Spring where you are. The weather here in North Texas is wonderful. Except for the pollen, I can’t complain. I hope you all have a fun weekend, we will be attending a Little League baseball game and getting lots of weeds pulled. Maybe I will get some sewing done, but unless it rains, I will probably be outside!

Later, Annette