Crazy, Beautiful Trees

So, here are some of the tree blocks I received in our sewing group exchange last weekend. (The color of the red background fabric is truer in the first photo. It's what I would call tomato red.)



Some are free-pieced, a la Gwen Marston, some are paper pieced and some are appliqued. I just love them. When I add my four blocks I'll have 24, just enough for a very vibrant couch throw.

Edited to add: I got to the bottom of the problem with posting pictures from my computer. Blogger has added a new post editor, which I had somehow clicked on. In the new editor, when I clicked on the "add image" button it didn't give me the option of adding a picture from my computer. I clicked back on the older editor and the problem seems to be solved.

A Busy Time and a Retreat Report

I have been neglecting blogland lately--posting, replying to comments, and even, gasp, reading blogs.  Not for anything major; I've just been overwhelmed lately with work stuff and life in general.  So, this past weekend was a welcome respite as I was able to attend a mini-retreat with my sewing group.  We had a great time: lots of laughing, great food, and some seriously focused sewing time. 

I dithered about what to take, but it was pretty easy after all.  I had a couple of projects still in their boxes from the last retreat I went to in September.  One is this album or chimney sweep project which I'm sewing using a jelly roll of Civil War Homefront from Barbara Brackman.

By Sunday afternoon I had made some progress and I had a few more blocks to add to the growing pile.  I am in love with this pattern.  The pieces go together so easily.  I counted up what I have left and I'll be able to make 20 blocks with the jelly roll fabric, but I would like to keep going, supplementing with my rather alarmingly large civil war stash. 

And aren't these two blocks just the cutest thing ever?  Don't you just want to gaze into each design?  I love, love, love kaleidoscope patterns! 

At one point I was afraid I wouldn't have enough of the the border fabric, but I was able to pick up some extra in September, so I can easily continue.  This is a published pattern called Stacked Posie Supreme by Mary Lou Hallenbeck. 

Our sewing group decided to do a block exchange of improv trees for this retreat.   I'll have to put up a picture later since it was too dark by the time I got home from work today to take a decent picture. But I've got 24 beautiful, crazy tree blocks to play with. And I chose a completely out-of-character background fabric to put it all together.  And, oh my gosh, making all those improv blocks was a very messy affair!   There are bits and scraps all over my cutting.  And floor.  And ironing board.  And sewing table.  But it was great fun and I'm looking forward to our new improv challenge for next year.

I have a question...

Does anyone know why suddenly Blogger won't let me upload photos from my computer?  I use Picassa to edit my photos and I store them on my computer.  In the past I could click on the photo button on the Blogger tool bar and the window that appeared had a button that allowed me to search for the photos on my computer.  Now, I don't get that choice.  I have to upload them to Picassa web albums first.  Did I inadvertently change a setting somewhere? 

Let's just say it hasn't been a good week, which is why it was so nice to come home tonight and find that my husband had finished making these candle holders.  They are bits of a poplar bough which he sawed off a tree in my daughter's yard a couple of weeks ago. He sanded off the tops and bottoms and drilled holes for the candles. I love the way they turned out.

I am heartily glad that this week is over.  I am looking forward to a bit of respite this weekend to get caught up on things around here and maybe, just maybe, I'll even have some time to sew.

 I hope you have all the time you need this weekend to do what you want to do.