Spring Broken

The best flowers are at the Keukenhof in Amsterdam. A bit out of my reach, mostly.

Tulips in Amsterdam, 2019

Keukenhof Gardens

The Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania are huge and absolutely beautiful, but still a few hours from me.

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

Water Lilies

The Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC are more accessible and I don't mind the long train ride although I will avoid the nightmarish parking in downtown DC. 

From 2008. My first time :-) 

So beautiful

Due to their popularity and the huge crowds (then), everyone was photobombing someone else's picture. The best pictures were taken skywards.

My favorite picture, 2008

The buds are pink but the blooms are almost white, with the faintest hint of blush.

Boating in the Tidal basin, 2018

The trouble with cherry blossoms is that they are so short-lived. One week at best and then all the petals compete to become a carpet.

With Kim, in the train to see the blossoms, 2018

Felt like winter, 2018

So I made careful plans. Checked and re-checked the "Bloom Watch" calendar for the peak bloom dates. Coordinated with friends to meet and walk and take it all in on that one fateful Saturday in April. I was looking forward to the picturesque walks around the Tidal Basin.

But then $#{% happened. The National Park Service, in accordance with CDC guidelines, implemented temporary site closures in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. I pouted and I sulked.

My hopes were dashed. My plans destroyed and my Spring Broken.

Scraps

In frustration I turned to fabric. Thinking of pink buds and white blooms, I started cutting and sewing.

Cutting and Re-cutting

Design Wall

Whatever?

Hmm...

Paul: Is this going somewhere or are you just destroying fabric?

Me: Leave me alone. 

Paul: Just checking if you are ok.

Me: Not yet.

Getting somewhere?

Maybe

Likely

After loads of cutting and sewing and arranging and reversing, something is bound to emerge? Right?

At least, my poutiness had subsided. 

Oh yes

AND, we are there!!!

Paul: Not bad.

Me: Um Hmmm.

Paul: Feel better?

Me: Yes.

I had a finished flimsy and I liked it.  It was my destroyed plans for the Cherry Blossoms that prompted the making of this quilt. I have therefore named it Spring Broken.

Not bad, indeed

This is working :-)

Red and Pink? Why not?

OK, we are there. It worked. The pouting was productive. 

I felt like I had captured the blooms (in a deconstructed way) and I wanted to add the effect of water with quilting. I turned to Rebecca. She said YES :-)

I got the quilted sandwich back, added the pink striped binding and forbade Rebecca to share the pictures of the finished quilt (the front at least). The wait is now over.

Meet Spring Broken.

Paul, the model

On the banks of Potomac

Pieced Backing

Breezy Day, Muddy Banks

Brightness = Happiness

Striped Pink Binding

Here are some close-ups to show off Rebecca's quilting.

 

Raindrops on Water

Tidal Basin, captured

Blooms and Blossoms

Eye candy :-)

Quilting Detail

I highly recommend Rebecca for your quilting needs. She knows what she is doing :-)

Pretty in Pink :-)

Peach and Copper

Spring Broken finished at 46" by 48" and I am very happy with her :-)

Spring Broken - 46" by 48"

Spring and Tidal Pool themes continue on the backing.

Backing

Labelled

There are quilters (fiber artists to be precise) who will appliqué and embroider and embellish to create a piece of art that will rival the natural beauty of the cherry blossoms. But deconstructed Spring looks a whole lot different. That is my story and I am sticking to it :-D

And just a couple more...

Hullo My Lovely

You make me Happy :-)

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 

Are you having a good spring? Did you enjoy the Spring Break? Or was it Spring Broken? I'd love to hear your thoughts - pouty or not.  

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The leftovers from the red Sister's Choice Blocks were repurposed into these little blocks.  Will be sharing with Angela's Linky Party on Saturday.

The Red Leftovers

These leftovers are growing. I hope I can get a baby quilt out of them :-)

Bonus Quilt

I wonder what color is June. Will it be orange or purple? May be it is time for teal. What do you think?

Pink Blooms and Turquoise Maidens

It is that time of the year - SPRING!!!

Washington Monument in Washington DC

Cherry blossoms get all the hype.

Cherry Blossoms

But this is my favorite flowering tree this time of the year in this part of the world.  Do you know the name? Please let me know.

My favorite tree/flowers

I love these deep pink, thick and fluffy blooms. 

The tree in full bloom

The color is brighter, the flowers are more substantial and the blooms last days longer than the ephemeral cherry blossoms.

Thick blooms

Imagine these buds at the edge of a sweetheart neckline. You see? 

Gorgeous pink

If I could clothe myself in anything, I'd be wearing a gown and a headdress made out of these pink flowers. But the April ladies are wearing aqua (or turquoise) because Angela said so.

Fabrics and Complexions

Meet my aqua (or turquoise) maidens. If you can tell me who is wearing aqua and who is wearing turquoise, you will be the winner :-D

April Blocks for the RSC 2019

AquaMaiden

Daisy Queen

Flora May

Bold & Beautiful

OK, this may be teal

Flora Nay

If you read the bloopers post, you know that the closed palms was a mistake. I have decided to make it a deliberate decision choice.  Check out Flora May and Flora Nay above :-)

And although most ladies are willing to dance, a few are not. They indicate their choice by keeping their palms open (yes, please) or closed (no, thank you).

Check out all the other lovely aqua (or turquoise) blocks in the RSC here.


In other sew-along update, I have completed all my blocks for the Trinket Sew Along.
Insert happy dance emoji here.

Things Blocks

I wanted to finish my trinket blocks before I left on my trip and this last weekend was the giant push and they are done. I will be posting on Instagram according to the schedule, even if remotely.

My best attempt so far

Of course I am excited about my trip and the main reason for that excitement is my quilty buddy Melanie. My bag is so chock-o-block full of fabric that there is barely room for a change of clothing.  But then who needs clothes when you can drape yourself in fabric :-D

With Melanie, May 2017

I first met Melanie when she was visiting US in 2017.  Now I am going to Germany to meet her. So excited!!!  You can read all about our first meeting here.  And I promise to write about our 2019 adventures after my return.

I will be linking with my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
As usual, I'd love to hear from you. Your comments are like the pink blossoms on my blog tree.