Calico Quarter Round Owls and a bit more besides

Hello from a very warm, unseasonal Scotland.

I am generally no fan of February but this past month has been great. I've had my first two mountain days without being wrapped up to the nines, been able to have my first old-fashioned brew up on my backpacking stove above 650m without risking hypothermia while waiting for my tea to boil and I've even ridden out on Murph the Smurf without a coat. Happy days indeed.

And the stitchin' hasn't been bad either. I think I'm most pleased with getting a quilt top finished using bee blocks from kind members of the Edinburgh Modern Quilt Guild and being able to prove I'd actually done something with them by our February meeting!

I'd asked for citrus colours in  a Calico Puzzle block I'd stumbled across and the result really is nice and fresh. When it's finished, the quilt will go to Siblings Together; it will be my first designated charity quilt - something I've wanted to do for ages but have just not had confidence in my own ability.  Watch this space....!

With the Calico Puzzle stitched up I decided it was time to stop procrastinating about the Quarter Round mini quilt I'd started last April in a fabulous class through EMQG with @poppyprint, the lovely Krista Hennebury.  I'd loved this class but it really pushed me to the limit regarding my accuracy - and Krista is a stickler!  Once I'd finished the piecing I was immediately aware of a number of lapses in the essential accuracy so I sat on the project (figuratively!) to mull over how the dickens to quilt it as any dodgy quilting (which I'm really good at) would undoubtedly show up the flaws even more. Well, it did but I like the piece so much I can definitely live with it. It now hangs in our hallway and nobody has yet noticed the 'off bits - Hooray!!!

And, while I'm not making excuses, the last month has really shown me that it's time to get a very overdue service sorted out for my machine, poor soul.

But lastly,  I've finally made a start on a new FPP piece, a project I've been longing to do since I first saw the original in the flesh, so to speak. It's the hunting barn owl from the 'Animal Quilts ' book by @tartankiwi, Juliet van der Heijden.

I love FPP so am thoroughly enjoying myself with the owl. A dilemma though. The quilt shows the owl swooping down on its prey. Now, I am passionate about wildlife, understand the harsh realities of it and worship Chris Packham but, as a long-standing vegetarian, I'm not sure I want a picture of a mouse about to become a snackeroo on my wall. So, I'm thinking I might just have the mouse scampering off (ie just stitch his bum and his tail) and disappearing out of the picture ..... Still thinking.

But, oh, the teeny tiny pieces in the owl's face and talons!  He's coming together,  though. 😁

And that, I think,  is It for February. The daffodils are about to come out - soooo early for us  - and the chickens are biting the heads off the yellow crocuses.  Murph the Smurf is like a big black sweaty blob and is casting his coat like crazy while Jackdaw Pony, despite being hopelessly in love with him keeps trying to bite the head off Murph. It's a hormonal thing, I think. Big Boss Tara Horse can't be bothered with either of them and Boo is, well, just Boo - bonkers, full of energy and Much of Opinion.  Beetle Cat simply snoozes in the plant pots in the sun while the mice run riot in the barn.

Have a great March  everyone and thank you for reading!!!!  Sue x 🐾