Kookaburra on the Beach

· by · Bookmark the permalink. ·

Today is my day for the blog hop called “Salt and Sand.” Our challenge was to sew something in ocean/sand colors and/or ocean creatures. I went with the colors of the beach. If I close my eyes, I think I really can imagine my toes in the sand! Thank you again to Carol from Justletmequilt.com for inspiring our creativity and helping us imagine the coming summer sun. What a perfect idea for a blog hop!!

With a holiday coming up and life in general, I didn’t have a chance to quilt my top yet. I feel as though I’m always explaining why I didn’t get it quilted, but that’s alright I suppose. Here is my scrappy string quilt that was completely inspired by the beach. Another string quilt you ask!?? Yeah, I know I’m kind of addicted to strings but they just feel freeing and so fun.

I really love the light blue with yellow polka dot border fabric. I think it just pulls it all together nicely.
Look at this shark head coming through. He’s just below a wildebeest, and right next to my favorite Van Gogh scrap of Starry Starry Night.

There’s a scrap of sea shells on the left and a tiny snippit of a Nemo fish fabric on the right.

Do any of you own a Babylock Crescendo? Well, I love my machine. I tell people that it does everything except make coffee!! I feel as though I’ve not had time to play with all the features. However, some features are a must!!

It does everything except make coffee!

So, why haven’t I played with the lettering feature on my favorite sewing machine? Good question until now.

I found some really fun fabric from Australia in my stash and didn’t realize that it featured a Kookaburra!? I don’t know how I overlooked it before now. Who can think of a kookaburra and not think of the song? “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree…” Here’s a little video for you to refresh your memory.

The kookaburra song plus a different version with the bird on a wire catching on fire…hmmmm, just learned that one now.

Determined to play with the lettering mode on my Crescendo, I typed a little greeting for this blue guy!! Hello Kookaburra! Darn, I spelled him wrong the first time. My second attempt was better!

You know I’ll be playing with this lettering feature more in the coming months. This zippered pouch is already in Maggie’s hands for her project making 180 supply-filled zippered pouches for a South African school. My previous blog post tells more about this so please check it out. Picture this kookaburra sitting on the beach. He’s got all the right colors so that’s why I think he belongs here with the salt and sand.

The backside and the polka dot lining fabric of the kookaburra bag. Geez, the color is so faded in these photos. Trust me when I say it’s much more vivid in person.

I made one more pouch using lettering. It’s not beach related, so I will save it to show another time. Please check out the other wonderful, ocean-inspired projects during this blog hop.


March 22
Creatin’ in the Sticks
Selina Quilts
That Fabric Feeling YOU ARE HERE!!
Days Filled With Joy
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Karen’s Korner
Homespun Hannah’s Blog
Crafts and Math

March 23
MooseStashQuilting
Life in the Scrapatch
Food for Thought
For The Love Of Geese
Becky’s Adventures in Quilting and Travel
Karrin’s Crazy World
Sew Many Yarns
Kathy’s Kwilts and More

March 24
Ms P Designs USA
DayBrook Designs
Vroomans Quilts
Kathleen McMusing
Quilt Schmilt
The Darling Dogwood
Daughters of Dorinda
Annie’s Musings

March 25
Quiltscapes
Beaquilter
Stitchin At Home
The Joyful Quilter
Scrapdash
Freckled Fox Quiltery
Quilts Fabric and Thread Tales
Words & Stitches

March 26
Just Let Me Quilt
Websterquilt
Quilting Gail
Samelia’s Mum
Quilt Fabrication
Little Penguin Quilts
Just Sew Quilter
Inflorescence

Linking up to some of these: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Midweek Makers, Needle And Thread Thursday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Peacock Party, Finished or not Friday, Brag About Your Goodies, Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday

72 responses to “Kookaburra on the Beach”

  2. Love the quilt with it’s animals hiding–especially that shark head–perfect for the ocean theme. Kookaburra is super cute too!

    Like

    • Thanks so much. I was thrilled to know that a few of my adult kids actually knew the kookaburra song. Otherwise, how did I raise them without it?

      Like

    • Thanks so much. I’m sure I could have slipped in even more novelty fabrics but my goal was to use up scraps that I had lying around. Naturally, this quilt top didn’t even make a dent in my scraps!!

      Like

  5. I didn’t realize that the song had so many verses. I used to sing that song (first verse) to my grands when they were babies. You brought back such fond memories and also going to the ‘beach’ to enjoy the sand and the water. Kookaburra definitely belongs on the beach and I’m hoping you’ll be laughing right along with him!

    Like

    • Thanks for stopping by. I totally agree with you…I also never knew about other verses. I certainly didn’t know about the bird on a wire on fire….ouch!! I love those wacky songs from childhood that are deeply etched in our brains. This one is bringing me lots of warm memories as well. I’ve still never seen a kookaburra but would love to one day. I’m trying to smile and laugh…yes indeed!

      Like

  6. Love your string quilt top. I love strings and all the interesting quilts that can be created. So beachy and fun with your colors. Your pouch is adorable 😍

    Like

  8. Hi Elana! Another great post! I love your string quilt. It seems like water, water, water and then the sandy bottom. Love it! Another super pouch too! Kookaburra is stuck in my head.

    Like

    • You sure know me! I was trying for that exact look water…water…sand. You made me so happy when you recognized it!! My biggest problem is working so much and having little time to sew lately. Thankfully little projects like zippered bags are manageable. I also can’t stop singing kookaburra. How fun to recall the oldie but goody!

      Like

    • Thanks so much. It was a no brained for me to do a string quilt/ the kookaburra was the fun bonus!

      Like

    • Would you believe I’ve never heard the baby shark thing!? Yes, I must have been living under a rock or something! I need to check that out. Also baby today is a mystery to me. Can you tell I don’t get out much!? When my boys were little I could have sung you every kid’s song. Now they see Star Wars without me and listen to music I don’t appreciate. But I’ll always have the kookaburra, right!?

      Like

  12. And don’t stop dreaming about a longarm. With staying at home during the Covid lockdown and ordering groceries for pickup (no impulse buying or extra curricular shopping) I saved most of my pension each month and bought a gently used longarm a couple of months ago. Dreams do come true! 😉

    Like

    • Good for you!!! Carol I do hope you are loving your new purchase. I also would buy a used one because it feels like a better use of money. I’m still working but supporting the family doesn’t leave me leftovers. I’ll keep hoping and dreaming though.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. What a fun quilt top and sweet pouch. I’m having fun doing the “eye spy” game with the Kookaburra song playing in my head (which I learned in Portage la Prairie in school). 😉

    Like

    • Ooh, that’s a high compliment!! Greek islands sound so good right now. In my dreams I’m there sipping a cool drink and wearing a straw hat because the sun is too hot!! I really like this idea you’ve come up with!!

      Like

  17. I love string quilts too. I have to get to making a couple with all of the scraps I have accumulated. I grew up singing that song.

    Like

    • I hear you about the string scraps. I also grew up with that song but my youthful colleagues at work had never heard of it. Youngins!!???

      Like

    • Gail, I was born in Winnipeg Manitoba and also learned it at camp, but probably more likely in the U.S. where we moved when I was little. I thought this song was everywhere until my 24 year old and 38 year old colleagues said they had never heard of it before!!!! They thought I was crazy but it the kookaburra song brings an instant smile to me!

      Like

  19. I don’t know if they still do, but when I was a little girl, even American children learned the Kookaburra song! I was a grown up before I found out it was a bird and not a furry little animal, though. LOL This is great! I love strings myself.

    Like

    • That’s so funny. I thought kids still learn the song but now I am not sure. We may have to do a survey!!!

      Like

    • Thanks for stopping by. I also loved hearing different kookaburra versions. I must make another project with one of those little birdies.

      Like

    • Thank you. I guess it was a girl scout song for me as well. Don’t really remember how I learned it but it’s stuck forever.

      Like

  24. What a great way to use scraps. I like the use of different heights for the rows.
    I also really like the kookaburra fabric – and it is highlighted so nicely in the zippered pouch.

    Like

  25. I love string quilts too. Anything scrappy just makes me smile! Your kookaburra is so cute and that lettering is just perfect. What a great way to play!

    Like

  26. It’s okay not to have that beautiful quilt top finished. Sometimes life gets in the way and just accomplishing a finished quilt top is a great feeling. I love the fabrics in it! Oh my gosh, that Kookaburra on that pouch is adorable…love it! Thanks for hopping with us!

    Like

    • Thanks so much. I love that little birdie too. I do realize that having one nearby could get annoying as they are quite loud. Luckily mine makes no noise at all!!

      Like

  27. Your kookaburra is wonderful. I love him to pieces. Terrific use of your strings. Your color selection is perfect for this hop.
    I have a Solaris and I feel the same way about it. I didn’t want an embroidery machine when I got mine, my sister talked me into it but the first year I had it I committed to making at least 1 embroidered item for every blog hop I participated in for the year. That was 11 items and was thrilled with the things I learned to do. Have fun.

    Like

    • I am glad your Solaris makes you happy too. I am finally getting around to learning more features on my machine. So much to learn and so much fun to play. Another kookaburra project is definitely in my future!!

      Like

  28. Your salty ocean and beach string quilt is great fun! Love the shark swimming by. Extra fun with a bit of I-Spy play with this quilt. Your Kookaburra pouch is awesome. Your machine stitches very nice letters.

    Like

    • Thank you Annie. I’m very happy with the little lettering. There are some other styles that I want to try out too. I never wanted an embroidery machine but these are so fun!! I”m glad the Crescendo came with them. Thanks for stopping by.

      Like

  29. I am with you on delaying the quilting part. For me, it’s all about the choosing the fabric, the pattern and the piecing. Thanks for sharing.
    Connie

    Like

    • Connie, My question is when will I ever finish all of the tops. I guess I’m secretly hoping to have a long arm one day. Not likely but a girl has to dream sometimes!!

      Like

  30. The Kookaburra song started playing in my head as soon as I saw your post. I cannot remember where I learned it as a child. I never heard those fire and nail verses before. I think I would rather think of him eating gumdrops and counting monkeys. I like your scrappy quilt with the sea life peaking out. Thanks for sharing in the hop … 😉 Pat

    Like

    • Pat, I completely agree with you. That fire verse seemed so violent compared to a little birdie in a gum drop bush. I actually was a bit shocked. I also don’t know where I first learned the song, but I’m keeping the “original” version in my head for sure!! I so appreciate your comments. Thank you and have a wonderful day singing in your own gumdrop tree!

      Like

    • Oh I’ve got the addiction alright!! I need to think up other project with all the strings before I really lose it. LOL

      Like

    • thank you so much. I think I’ll have to do something again with that kookaburra. He’s got me singing!!

      Like

Leave a reply to Danice G Cancel reply