Audra's Iris Garden

This is Audra's Iris Garden my new BOM made out of the fabric line by the same name.  

Audra was my Grandmother Laird, my father's mother.  When my father died when I was 8 my mother and we 4 kids moved to Kansas City to be near my father's parents.  We lived for a year with Grandma and Grandpa Laird while our house was being built.  This quilt is full of memories of my grandparents and the year we lived with them. 

When my mother moved into her house Grandma Laird brought some of her iris and planted them on the south side of the house.  Years later when my mother moved to Cameron and we sold the house, we put it in the contract that we could go back in August and get some of the iris bulbs.  Here they are in my garden - Audra's Iris.  My sister Nancy has some at her house too.  This fall some will go to Max's house.  Each child and grandchild will get some as they establish permanent homes.

Here is my Friendship block.  First of all, I didn't piece it, thank heavens.  Wendy Karr pieced it and did an awesome job.  I did applique the Little House  in the 3" block in the center.  I am not a technogeek and can't figure out how to get things to download.  Lissa at Moda sent me a link but when I click on it it says I have to have Adobe which I already have - but it won't open the page.   If you want to put a little house in yours email me at janpatekquilts@yahoo.com and I'll send you a pdf of the block and of the house. I should warn you that we're in the middle of a blizzard and electricity keeps going out - and the internet with it.

I must say this block has given me nightmares.  Moda does such a good job of coming up with these projects for Schoolhouse and the Blog Hops.  My problem is that I don't piece - I do applique.  Piecing is so much easier to get on a recipe card or a booklet page.  So I have been wracking my brain to come up with something to do with this very complex pieced block.  My poor husband got to listen to me moan.  

Finally he said -  don't do anything with the block - do some applique.  He's always so practical.  If you'll come back tomorrow I'll show you the finished coasters I made with an Audra's Charm Bundle and a 5" Little House block.  And maybe I can give you a pdf of the instructions.  If not, I'll send it to you.  I usually don't like the word "cute" applied to my things, but aren't they "cute".  And so practical.  I need new coasters for spring.

Now for some more practicality - Goodies.  I have a Fat 1/4 bundle of Audra's Iris Garden so very nicely provided by Moda.

 

And I have a copy of the Moda book with all of the Friendship blocks and some of the mini charms.  Some of the pages are signed by designers. 

I ran around getting signatures from most of the people who were there.

Anyway, make a comment, any old comment between today and Monday and we'll ship them out to you if you win.  

And after you comment be sure to hop over and see

Joanna of Fig Tree

and 

Jenn Ski

to see what they're up to.

 Good luck.

http://janpatekquilts.goodsie.com/-1