Wednesday, December 5, 2018

For The Birds or the Fun!

Finding time to make projects from our bucket list isn't always easy!  My list is much like every other persons, long and always getting longer!  As much as I'd like to make every single project on that list, realistically it isn't possible.  In the end I tackle small projects that take hours instead of days to make.  

With a bit of time on hand I seized the moment and made a few Mini Mini quilts!  It satisfied my urge!  At least for the time being!

First up is this amazing Hummingbird Mini!


SUGAR BABY
8" X 8 1/2"
I love hummingbirds!  Nicole Young @lilllyella designs amazing paper pieced patterns!  When I saw this one I knew one day I was going to make it!  'Sugar Baby' is one of Nicole's free patterns available here: Sugar Baby!  

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is probably the first one we think of when talking hummers!  The iconic iridescent red throat and emerald green body is always a beautiful sight to see.  



The block was not terribly difficult to piece which made me happy!  It took a couple hours to piece the block together with not one single mistake until I was putting the sections together!  That was human error and not anything to do with the pattern!



The crowning moment for me was the wing!  I picked the gray fabric the night before, but knew I needed daylight to make sure the gradation was going to be perfect before I began making it.  I couldn't have been any more excited and happy at how it turned out!  It makes me want to drool!

I kept the quilting super simple by stitching around the bird and adding lines radiating out.  I wasn't going to take a chance ruining the bird with unnecessary quilting!

I made this mini for my Mom who loves hummingbirds!  She loves to watch hummers, and now she has one that isn't going south for the winter!

As promised in my previous post:  Rubber Ducky, I made a couple mini rubber duckies!  You knew I would! 


RUBBER DUCKY MINIS
5" x 5"
  I took the existing pattern and reduced it by 50%, so what was a 10" block became a 5" block.  The hardest most tedious part were the eyes!  Yikes!  Even on the large duck the eye was difficult!



The first one I made was this little black duck.  He kind of reminds me of a Loon from Minnesota!  I don't have a lot of prints that are black, so when I saw Sprinkles from 
Cotton + Steel I knew it would be perfect!

He's a blue eyed handsome little guy!  Simple quilting and finished with a binding of black!



Why make one when you can make two!  I choose a lime green print for the body and if you look super close at the wing you can see monkeys!  



When it came time to piece the eye I had a brilliant idea!  Why not use a dot from the 'Sprinkles' fabric for the eye?!  So, I did and he now has a glint in his eye!   If I ever make another one you can be sure it will get the same eye treatment!



From the back you can see how I quilted them.  Keeping it simple was the key!



And for now my fine feathered friends are hunkering down for the winter!

Do you have a bucket list?  Are you able to cross things off on your list?


LINKING:

18 comments :

  1. The gradation in the wing of the hummingbird pulled me in immediately, Jayne. It's stunning and perfect. We've actually had quite a few hummingbirds around our house the past week. With the recent snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, they are flying south and going to warmer places (I don't blame them)! There is a stunning male Anna's that has been hanging about, what a flashy dude. I love the sparkle in the eye of your green rubber ducky, and there was no doubt you'd be making them again smaller in my mind. :)

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    1. I am amazed at how gorgeous the wing gradation is…sometimes it’s the little things that are the most impactful! Hummingbirds are amazing little things! We get them for a few months every year and I am amazed at how aggressive they are with each other! Next year I’ve decided I would put out two feeders and hopefully I’ll attract more!

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  2. Hi Jayne! What fabulous paper pieced blocks. Each one is better than the next, but that hummingbird. OH MY. I have been trying to draw a hummingbird block in EQ8 for a few weeks, rather unsuccessfully I might add. See the close-ups on these blocks will really help to figure out where I'm going wrong as far as drawing the background fabric lines. It should be so simple, but alas it has not. I have to agree with Yvonne, as I find the wings really make the block beyond perfect. Stunning! Happy Happy Wednesday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  3. I love the gradation of color in the wing of the hummingbird. Gorgeous little piece. Just because it is small, does not mean it cannot have a big impact!!! The ducks are cute :-)

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  4. Hi Jayne. I love your blog. It is one of my favorites. BUT MY WEBROOT ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM JUST IDENTIFIED YOUR BLOG AS A HIGH RISK SITE. THIS SEEMS TO BE GOING AROUND WITH SOME OF MY QUILT BLOGS.

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  5. OMG Your work is amazing. The little hummer is so incredible and the gradient of colors is stunning. I will have to try one of these. And your duckies, just too cute. You make tiny gifts look so addictive. Nicely done.

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  6. Love your hummingbird - it is wonderful! It is really amazing what can be done with paper piecing!

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  7. That hummingbird is adorable. You knocked it out of the park with the wings.

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  8. Your hummer is a hum-dinger! Beautiful little piece! I'm off to check out lillyella's site. Thanks for the link :)

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  9. Love the hummingbird! I'm sure your mother will be thrilled to receive it. The duckies are adorable, too. Nadine N. Cali rnwillis@velotech.net

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    1. It’s the little things that make her happy these days! She’s at the age where she doesn’t need or want much, and a little hummer will make her very happy I think!

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    2. A gift that comes from your heart is always much more appreciated and loved. She will treasure her little hummingbird for many years. Nadine

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  10. I just love those little duckies and the hummingbird is perfect! My bucket list is growing faster than I can cross things off.

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  11. Fabulous! Learning to paper piece is on my to-do list. I've got a super simple pattern picked out to try first, but it's a matter of mustering the will to sit down and crank it out. So inspiring, thank you!

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  12. Love your hummingbird! The slight graduation of colour on the wings is very effective! And your little ducks made me smile :)

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  13. That wing! I also love the loon! Great idea to use the sprinkle for an eye.
    We put out a hummingbird feeder a few years ago. They became so aggressive over it I took it down. Now we're back to enjoying them again as they come in individually for natural flower nectar.

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