Greetings dear readers! Happy spring! I am relishing the extra daylight hours. Even though the weather and the landscape here in northern New England still look and feel like winter, I know that welcome change is coming soon.
Like many quilters, I like to have a handwork project with me when I travel. For the trip to Costa Rica, I needed something small that wouldn’t taken up room in my carry-on bag and something that would be very easy to do. Nothing already in the works fit the bill. Nothing is easier and more relaxing than appliquéing circles, so I prepped 25 little 2 inch circles to appliqué onto 3 1/2 inch squares, knowing I could figure out what to do with them later – a mini, a pillow, a medallion center for something larger, etc. Here are some of the blocks I made:
I finished more than half on the trip and the rest soon after getting home and started playing with them on the design wall:
I cut setting triangles and here’s what I have so far:
When sewn together, this will be only a bit over 16 inches square – pretty small. Not sure yet whether I’ll stop here or make it bigger. Also thinking about adding some embroidery embellishments. Fun!
My Japanese log cabin quilt is #7 in my “Spirit of Japan” series. I’m thinking about calling it “ Treasure Trove” because of the “treasure trove” of fabrics it features. I’m now up to 100 blocks, 20 more to go!
Here are closeups of the most recently completed blocks:
I am truly enjoying using and appreciating these lovely fabrics. I would love to hear from anyone else who is using this style of fabric since I rarely seem to see them anymore in shows, magazines, blogs, etc.
I’ll be sharing more photos from Costa Rica over the next few posts, especially since my own landscape is still pretty barren. The colorful flora was such a welcome change!! The first photo is ginger:
The abstract lines and colors of some palm tree trunks were startlingly beautiful:
We took a boat trip through a mangrove forest and those tangled trunks were very sculptural:
One place we had lunch outdoors had a half dozen peacocks – gorgeous! They were making quite a racket. I’ve seen a few over my lifetime, but not sure I’d ever heard them squawking before. That blue color is so intense and beautiful!
The skies were incredible. Huge clouds would just sit in place for long stretches of time and sometimes there would be storm clouds over the mountains with beautiful sun a short distance away over the beach.
The sunset from the hot tub at the villa:
Enjoy the rest of National Quilting Month with some fun stitching!
Be kind, be grateful, and cherish each day, Gladi
gladiquilts 
Oh how I love your little circles! You just can’t go wrong with circles and yours are so beautiful! I love the pink polka dot fabric too. Your log cabin blocks are simply gorgeous. It must feel so good to be using these treasured fabrics that you have been collecting for so long. Gorgeous! Costa Rica looks amazing. So happy you had the chance to go! Thanks for the great images. Have a super day.
Thanks Wendy! Your circle quilts and projects inspire me!! Costa Rica was a wonderful getaway, the return made easier by the prospect of spring right around the corner 😊.
Treasure Trove is a perfect name – I could look at these blocks all day! Such beautiful fabrics and the overall impact is rich! Your circles are delightful and an inspiration. Seeing yours makes me want to fish out the ones I started following a demonstration you gave awhile back. Thanks always for sharing!
Thanks so much, Cindy! Loved your demo last week!
Your cheerful circles will always remind you of your trip to Costa Rica. What a beautiful place and you took some stunning photos while there too. It’s great to see your log cabins. You know I love those fabrics!
Thanks Cynthia. We definitely share an abiding love for Japanese textiles!!
Your circles are delightful and are the perfect travelling project. Treasure Trove continues to enchant me. It is going to be such a rich piece. I have never used (and probably never will come across) such precious fabrics.
Thanks Mariss! I’m lucky that some vendors at shows I attended in the early 2000’s had authentic Japanese fabrics and then I went on a textile tour of Japan in 2010 which put me over the edge!😊
Those little circles are delightful esp. in your hands. And the fabrics in the Log Cabin blocks are definitely meant to be enjoyed up close. You have a wonderful supply of fabrics and put them to wonderful use. Enjoyed also your photos of your journey. The photo of the roots is amazing and the close ups too. Poured rain all day yesterday but froze overnight. Ground like steel this morning but light lengthening daily will soon be making a big difference.
Thanks Jocelyn! It was really inspiring to take in a totally different landscape with its unique flora and fauna! A great break from the relatively long winters we endure, living so far north. So looking forward to the changes of spring!
Your circles are delightful, Gladi, and I’m enjoying your log cabin blocks, too. I think of you as a perfectionist so it was fun to see the little wiggle in the striped fabric in the third cabin block. Things like that always add a little more interest, I think.
I am always amazed when I see mangrove trees. Were you able to visit the forest just before dusk? It was quiet during the day but in the evening we kept hearing squeaking, popping, and snapping was. It sounded eerie. When we asked, we were told a kind of shrimp makes the sounds with their claws. Who knew!?
Thanks for sharing your photos!