March BOM blocks and New Deco Garden Blocks

This was a busy week!

First, my week began with my cat running off when a neighbor's dog attacked my dog Max -- IN MY YARD!  I know, some nerve, eh?  Max recovered with a few bites to his neck which healed quickly.

 But Buster, my long-haired Siamese got freaked and ran off.  He came home 2 days later, like nothing ever happened.  I was so worried, thinking that dog would have turned Buster into a light snack.

So now Buster is grounded for a month and not allowed outside.  He is none too pleased with this turn of events.  He is a pretty independent cat, and I worry that dog could be back!

Along with all the critter drama, I have been shipping patterns and writing more patterns, working on my 2017 BOM and trying to overcome 2 weeks with bronchitis!  I am drained!

But here is the good news.  Two new deco blocks are available.  #48 is Rosey Posey and #49 is Cyclamen.  I am so close to having 50 of these done, which was my initial goal.  Now I am not sure if I should keep going or just say enough!

They are available for sale on my website: morningglorydesigns.com

This week I also released another free block:  The crossing block for the Fair Isles BOM.  You can pick up this block for free on the 2017 BOM Tab on my Blog.  You can also still get the February block for free for a few more days.

The Crossing Block is used between each of the monthly blocks.  There are 13 of these in the setting I am showing on my BOM page.

This block will be available for free for a few months so everyone who wants to do this setting will have access to this block.  Remember, these blocks are all paper pieced this year.

I am almost ready to post the March Fair Isles blocks also.  If you are a subscriber you will get links to both of these blocks in my newsletter that comes out March 1.

Here is Block 3: Breath of Spring

And here is the Bonus Block for March (available only to subscribers)

Bonus Block 3

I couldn't decide which way I liked it better.  I drew it with the white background and the dark blue corner leaves.  But the reverse is kinda growing on me.  Which way do you like best?

May is Finally Here!

How I love May!  It is warm, the flowers are in bloom, the trees are leafed out, and the Chinese Elm row behind my fence completely hides the neighbors' houses.  My screened in back deck is the perfect spot for meals, and the kitties love stalking birds from the safe
ty of the wicker chairs.

The front porch redo is finally finished and the guys put in my new front sidewalk on Easter Sunday.

The mess is now all cleaned up and grass is growing in all the bald spots.  I will plant hostas along the front of the house and finish landscaping along the walkway next week.

Of course May would not be complete without a beautiful new free block!  The free May block is posted and ready to download.  And I gotta admit, it is one of my favorites.  Despite loving the turquoise color, I love the funky tulip shapes and graceful art nouveau lines.

Click on the 2015 BOM Tab at the top of the page on my blog to download your free block during the month of May.

The bonus block is available to my newsletter subscribers.  This month it is a stylized rose in shades of lavender and blue-violet.  You don't want to miss it.

Not a subscriber?  You can purchase these blocks Here.

The other reason I love May is that it heralds the beginning of camping season.  I love spending time outdoors, at the lake, in the woods, just about anywhere.  And of course that means getting the Whale out of storage.

Since we traded up from a tent, it is a bit more stuff to haul around with us and there is still the problem of cooking in a camp kitchen,

but I am willing to put up with the inconvenience!  :-)

Next week I am heading off to Cedar Rapids, IA to teach at MQS.  I will be doing three EQ7 classes, so if you are in the area or coming to the show, it would be a great time to sign up.  Then we head up to Minneapolis for Spring Quilt Market the next week.  Really looking forward to that.  If you are going please stop by the Quilt Woman booth where I will be helping out.

The end of May the Whale will be going to our annual 39th college reunion at Mohican in central Ohio.  It will be quite a trip and I am so looking forward to spending time with quilty friends along the way.

OK, now off to recover some chairs for the whale.  What are your plans for May?

Farwell to Wilma

This was a sad day.  My beloved gray cat  -- Wilma -- who has been my companion and pet for 14 years died today from lung cancer.

   Wilma and Betty are sisters and have been close since I got them as kittens.  It was hard to watch my big lovable kitty drop from 13 lbs to 8 lbs over the past month, and see your lustrous gray coat look shabby.  When she quit eating a few days ago and noticed her breathing was becoming more labored I knew something was very wrong.

I took her to the vet today, and after seeing her x-ray showing massive lung cancer I made the decision to have her put to sleep.  I held her and petted her till the end and kissed her good-bye.  Betty is still around and in good health, but is sitting on my feet while I write this.  I think she knows her sister is gone, and misses her already.

Thanks for sharing this sad moment with me as I mourn the passing of my little furry friend.