Happy New Year 2015!

I'm sure this new year will have its ups and downs, as things cannot always be perfect, but I'm very grateful it has started on an up!

Iowa Spring Day baby quilt is finished! I quilted it w/organic wavy lines and I hand-sewed the binding, which is something I haven't done in a long while!

39.75" x 47.5"

Iowa Spring Day Backing

However, I will be hand binding more often...to justify a friend making me this custom hand sewing caddy.  I had seen something similar on Instagram, showed him a pic and this is what I got! Isn't it fantastic?!

Before starting the project I got a tour of his shop. With so many species of trees in the world (some estimate 20,000+) it's no wonder I'd never heard of the majority of wood types in his "stash".  Yes, woodworkers have stashes too!

 Of course, one of my favorites was the Quilted Maple (see pic below) however, the three types of wood used in this little project were much more exotic!  The base is Sirari  (grows in Tropical South America, primarily Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay); the sides, needle holder, and extra spool/scissors block are made of Leopardwood (grows in South America, Chile, Brazil); and the stoppers on the spool turn are made of Bubinga (grows in Cameroon and Gabon, West Africa).

Watching and helping (yes, I helped a little!) a professional woodworker in action and working w/this gorgeous wood was quite fascinating! It's definitely deepened my appreciation and love of trees! Thank you David! =)

The Quilted Maple I was telling you about.

With Iowa Spring Day finished I really ought to just be quilting Walk Like An Egyptian, but I've been moonlighting w/Through Thick and Thin.  Through Thick and Thin is a log cabin quilt I'm working on for my king size bed.  I'm constructing it w/2 different size logs, 2.5" and 1.25" and am using batik fabrics.  There will be 42 - 15" blocks.  I wanted to do an offset Barn Raising layout, but I'm not sure if it'll work w/so few blocks. Time will tell.  

Several blocks in Fields & Furrows layout

Piles of strings for Log Cabin

And lastly, I've got to make myself start quilting Walk Like An Egyptian this week! I've been putting it off because I'm not sure how to start the spiral quilting I want to do and am afraid to mess it up. If anyone has tips/tricks on how to get started on spiral quilting, please pass 'em my way.

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth. -Oswald Chambers

Linking up at:
Tuesday Archives
Scraptastic Tuesday
Let's Bee Social
WIP Wednesday
Needle and Thread Thursday
TGIFF!