Sign in for Janaury 2012 Quilt Square Quilt Along

Dear and fun Jo, at Jo's Country Junction is hosting a quilt along in 2012.  Our blocks are only 12" and come from the sweet pattern line by Lori Smith.  So here's my January 2012 posting of my first log cabin ever...  Over the years, I have collected reproduction fabrics, but for some reason rarely use them... so I used them in this block.  Here is a link to Jo's site, so you can see other blocks: Jo's Country Junction Reveal .  Here is website for patterns:  Lori Smith's website
Thanks so much to both of you.  (Once I figure out how to grab a button, I'll add it.)
 
The flower is a Lenten Rose from my garden.  The tonal violet goes well with the block, I think.  Lenten Roses (hellebores) often have very subtle colors and simple, fragile looking blossoms.  Nature's wisdom is evident in that these delicate flowers bloom when little else blooms here in North Carolina.  These flowers would be over looked in a summer garden with its riot of color. 

For others who love this flower, here is a tip for keeping them after cutting: cut the flower (you can cut a bunch & keep them in water until you are ready to process them them all.)  Dip the lower inch of the stems in just boiled water (read: piping hot... not kidding) then immerse them in tepid water (with flower perservative) up to their "necks" (the flower.)  I use a narrow tall cooler.  Leave them to "condition" over night.  I bet you could leave them until the tepid water got to room temperature.

Last year we used over 125 stems for table decorations for a women's retreat @ church.  We treated all of them like this and NOT A ONE wilted!  They lasted beautifully for over a week.  If you do not have any of these flowers, consider planting them.  Once established, they do fine in dry shade, even here in zone 7!

Hope all is well in your world... thanks for stopping by!

First One Flower Wednesday post for 2012

The flower with the lilac center and light outside ring is my most recent flower.  I was not tall enough to get them all in (and was too afraid to stand on the crumbly cement benches), so I recruited a tall (very nice) fellow in our office to get a higher vantage point.  He stood on the bench, perspective is a wonderful thing!  His photo follows....

Wasn't that nice of him?  I love working with wonderful folk.

Take a visit to Karen's wonderful blog where she has great links to hexi instructions and others who are in One Flower Wednesday:  here you go One Flower Wednesday link up. 

I did do some sewing & knitting over the Holidays (which starts in November and runs into January for my large, extended family.)  I gave some away, made progress on other projects, but only am now getting a new flower completed.  To me that means life is getting back to normal!

Our family is quite close... (and did I tell you LARGE?)  I have a son and a step daughter, between them, they have 8 children.  My daughter in law's family counts me as one of their own, and she is one of 4 children with 4 additional young ones.  I have 4 siblings with thier own children & grandchildren.  (My younger sister & her husband have 7 children.)  My mom is one of 4 girls, each of whom have 3-5 children of their own.  So when we gather, it is a happening, and we gather a lot.  My holidays include most week-ends away, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I hope you all had wonderful, joy filled holidays, and warm wishes for joy, hope, health and family in 2012!  B