Quilted Blooms

Baskets + Kaffe Gathered

2021-07-19T07:00:00.026-04:00

I debated on what to call this one and ended up going with Kaffe Gathered at the suggestion of a friend. The baskets are obvious, it's the name of the quilt in Cheryl's new book, Just one Charm Pack Quilts. Today is Day 3 of the the blog hop to showcase a couple projects from the book and will be running through July 29th.

For the background, I had this Hoffman modern batik and thought it looked nice against the cool blues and greens of the charm pack. I hesitated to mix the batik with regular prints but decided to go with it and glad I did.

Now, I must confess, I don't often use precuts because I like to prewash all my fabrics. And, yes, I did prewash the Kaffe Fasset charm pack. I wrote a blog post about prewashing fabrics and included solutions for precuts.

The other fabric pictured is the the basket fabric, a Kona cotton called Noble Purple.

The baskets are made from half square triangles and cleverly arranged in a circle. With swirling baskets and the half square oriented in different directions, I have a tip for keeping everything in order. Snap a quick photo after you layout each block so you can refer back to it when sewing the basket together. Trust me, I know from experience.

The Baskets pattern is made from just one charm pack and paired with a background fabric and a little for the baskets themselves.

Baskets is one of 18 projects from Cheryl's book. Just think, 18 different quilts using "Just One Charm Pack" paired with a background fabric. I didn't have to purchase any fabric, it all came from my stash. Just one Charm Pack Quilts and be purchased on Amazon (affiliate link) or an autographed copy can be purchased from the Meadow Mist Designs Shop.

No photo shoot seams to go as planned. Just before heading outside to get some photos, it started pouring down rain. After the rain stopped, I headed out and it was so humid, the quilt top was instantly damp feeling. And you would know, a breeze came and there it landed on the wet ground.

Now to get baskets quilted, but that's for another day...

In Bloom #61 + Remembrance

2021-05-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Today I am remembering service members, and their families, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

These pots contain some annuals grown last year, white Verbena and Lobelia.

Happy Sunday,

Paige

In Bloom #60 + Eastern Red Columbine

2021-05-23T07:00:00.004-04:00

After reading about the growing habits and abundance of nectar the native Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) provides, I would consider adding this to my garden.

Happy Sunday,

Paige

In Bloom #59 + Bachelor Button

2021-05-16T07:00:00.009-04:00

On a recent walk, just out of the blue with no homes in sight, I came across this bachelor button (centaurea cyanus), growing in a crack between the sidewalk and street.

Happy Sunday,

Paige

In Bloom #58 + Irises

2021-05-09T08:00:00.019-04:00

On an evening walk this week, I spotted these beautiful irises blooming in a bed right alongside the road. I had to pause my walking app to snap a photo.

Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there, especially mine!

Paige

In Bloom #57 + Variegated Azalea

2021-05-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

Even though the lighting wasn't ideal, I couldn't resist stopping along the side of the road to capture this azalea before the blooms fade away. The pink and white petals are beautiful, a variety I have had never seen before.

Happy Sunday,

Paige

In Bloom # 56 + Stinking Hellebore

2021-04-25T07:00:00.003-04:00

The name is deceiving as Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus feotidus) only gives off an unpleasant aroma when the blooms or leaves are crushed. I did not give it try. I have read though, the leaves are toxic if ingested by humans or pets.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #55 + Wisteria

2021-04-18T06:00:00.006-04:00

This Wisteria vine was growing wild and very high up this large pine tree. I was glad to capture these blooms low enough for me to take this photo. I do not know the variety, but Wisteria can be very invasive.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #54 + Freshly Cut

2021-04-11T06:00:00.002-04:00

My sister brought such a pretty bouquet to Easter dinner. She handpicked it all from yard which included camellias, azaleas, dogwood blossoms and ivy for some greenery. A late frost nipped the dogwoods but they were still beautiful.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #53 + Lily of the Valley

2021-04-04T06:00:00.003-04:00

Not to be confused with the common perennial, Lily of the Valley, this is a tree which can grow 20 to 25 feet tall. I think the botanical name is Clethra arborea.

Happy Easter, everyone! ...He is Risen! Matthew 28:6

In Bloom #52 + Carolina Jessamine

2021-03-28T22:00:00.064-04:00

On an afternoon walk, just today, I found this Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) in full bloom. It happens to be the official state flower of South Carolina, thus the name, Carolina Jessamine. If you have driven through the Palmetto State in the spring, you may have noticed the evergreen vine with bright yellow blooms growing along the roadside climbing fences and trees.

Wow, today marks the one year anniversary of In Bloom posts. When I started out posting these I had no idea I would even have 52 photos worth sharing. I think I'll keep this going.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #51 + Loropetalum

2021-03-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

It's officially Spring and blooms along with new foliage are appearing in abundance. This Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) actually bloomed over night. I am hoping the rain will hold off so these delicate fringe like blooms can be enjoyed for a good while.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #50 - Lenten Rose

2021-03-14T10:00:00.001-04:00

While Spring 2021 doesn't officially start until next Saturday, March 20th, it sure felt like it yesterday. I found these Lenten Roses (Helleborus orientalis) and couldn't resist getting down low to take to capture the blooms as they then to grow downward like bells. The blooms ranged from white to all shades of green.

The Lenten Rose most likely got its name because they bloom all during Lent leading up to Easter when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom + #49 Daffodils

2021-03-07T21:30:00.001-05:00

These daffodils were found blooming near an old barn out in the county. I suspect the bulbs were planted many years ago. I like the intense shade of yellow and unusual shape, one I haven't seen before.

I almost missed posting this In Bloom post as I without internet reception and had publish once I got back in town.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #48 + White Blooms and Thorns

2021-02-28T07:30:00.001-05:00

This photo was taken just this week while visiting a friend. We visited outside so we could socially distance. It was late in the afternoon and it was so nice to feel the sun on my face after so much rain. This unidentified thorny bush with small white flowers still had plenty of buds to yet bloom.

Can you identify this shrub? I did a reverse image search and found the exact blooms but the photo was on a photostock website and only labeled white blooms. No help!

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #47 + Aucuba

2021-02-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

With blooms few and far between right now, here is the spotted evergreen, Aucuba japonica. It is another transplant from my grandmother and I often use this in vases with cut flowers as the green filler.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #46 + Gladiolus

2021-02-14T07:30:00.001-05:00

This gladiolus came up volunteer in a flower bed which I didn't know could happen. I always thought you had to plant blubs but apparently the plants can produce seed and be spread by birds. I thought a little red would be nice for Valentine's Day!

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #45 + White Camilla

2021-02-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

I found this camellia growing wild alongside the Broomfield Creek near Beaufort while in town last November for my nephew's Marine graduation.

More about the graduation was posted here on Instagram.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #44 + Cherry Blossoms

2021-01-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

While driving home from the gym yesterday, I spotted these cherry blossoms and had to turn around and go back for a closer look. This isn't a showy display of blossoms, but it is, after all, still January.

Could spring be around the corner?

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #43 + Jerusalem Artichoke

2021-01-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

I debated whether or not to choose a image of a bloom out of season, but decided a little sunshine would be in order during this long winter.

This is the bloom of the Jerusalem Artichoke. It grows quite tall and you can read all about it here.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom + #42 Creeping Fig

2021-01-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

This Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) can be counted on to provide many shades of green all through the year. Only the bitter cold will 'bite' some of the leaves causing them to shed.

This is another special plant as I received a cutting of this Creeping Fig from my sister many years ago.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #41 + Camellia

2021-01-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time, I knew the name of this camellia but have since misplaced it. I was hoping to identify it by a image search, but there are too many camellias out there.

I did find out the difference between camellia sasanqua vs. japonica. It must be a sasanqua because it blooms from late fall to early January.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #40 + After the Rain

2021-01-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

New Year's Day 2021 was a wet one here in South Carolina as it rained all day. I thought this photo was fitting with raindrops clinging to pine needles.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #39 + Nandina

2020-12-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

I didn't realize that Nandina domestica is also known by Heavenly Bamboo. And, that, although the birds eat the red berries, they are toxic if consumed in quantity as they contain cyanide.

This volunteer Nandina was, no doubt, spread by a bird and was in the woods beside my parent's home.

Happy Sunday,

In Bloom #38 + Winterberry Holly

2020-12-20T06:30:00.028-05:00

In celebration of Christmas this week, I am sharing this red and green Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). I quickly snapped this photo while on a walk one day in Pigeon Forge, TN. The red berries were so vibrant, more so than a standard holly.

This is the quilt, The Greatest Gift, that I shared on my very first blog post back in 2015.

Beneath all the layers of the holiday season...the gifts, the lights, the hustle and bustle and Silver Bells, lies the true meaning of Christmas: God's greatest gift to humanity, his own Son, Jesus. Let's not forget, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season".

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11.

Happy Sunday,