Kindness of strangers

Dawn, who I met in a chat group, sent me two complete quilt tops that need to be pieced. She was giving them away so I asked if I could have them to make for our wounded soldiers returning from war. Dawn sent them in the form of block of the month packages and soon they will be made into QOV's! Here is the first block! How kind, thank you so much Dawn.

tiny 9 patches

more miniatures

This tiny yo yo quilt measures 6 3/4 inch square. It was made from Minature quilt magazine where the template was a 50 cent piece and the yo yo finished at the size of a penny so she called the pattern "the 51 cent quilt". When was that.......no idea.
This is a 6 1/2 inch square that I stenciled then machine quilted. No date was included on the back. I actually made this one up myself, these tiny quilts keep my tiny teddy bears cozy :0)

Fabric inheritance

I went to a 60 wedding anniversary party this past weekend. These are folks that have been best friends with my in-laws- for nearly 70 years. After the party I was offered a look in the attic to take some fabric.....I left with four boxes of fabric! Here is a picture of it back at my house being sorted. The huge pile in the front is all cotton, the other fabric will be used to make bedrolls for the homeless by a local sewing group. Can we ever have too much fabric?

I use to make small quilts

This 13 inch square quilt was made in 1992 from a book called " Tiny Traditions"...at least that is what I have written on the back :0)
This little quilt measure 14X17 inches........I did not sign it or date it, sadly I can't tell you too much about it but I still like it . I pull these little quilts out for their associated holidays to bring in some color to our rooms. The fabric on the back has "America the Beautiful" written over and over separated by little stars.

Two quilts at once

I can't remember ever working on one project at a time. So even though I did mostly decluttered my design wall I still have two projects that I am currently working on up on the wall. Both inspired by blogs of fellow quilters. ( and as soon as I learn how to I will give you a click on to both of their sites :0) ).

Where is summer?

I told myself I was not going to do Bonnie Hunter's newest mystery because I have so many projects in progress,....... "finish up some of what you have started" I told myself. Did I listen? No, here is clue number one done. The saving grace on this mystery is the clues will be slow in coming since its from a magazine that isn't a monthly publication.
Since its been so cool and rainy here in Pokeytown I have been doing more sewing then gardening anyway.
Now I think its time to clear off my "design wall" and use it for designing instead of having bits of this and that hanging about! That is today's project.......wish me luck that I don't get side tracked :0)

Crumb baby quilt

I finally finished the binding on this quilt this morning while watching the Ladies final at Wimbledon.......it is a baby quilt for a dear friends newest grandchild....coming soon :0).

I learned about making crumb blocks from Bonnie Hunters site and freestyle letters from Lazy Gal Quilters site. I really enjoy both techniques and combining them is pure fun!

Happy 4th of July!

wool applique

Block #4 and #5 of the Bunny Hill BOM

I might catch up on my BOM......love these little blocks :0). Its great fun to have a portable project to do in the car. I try to make these into little "kits" that I can travel with so I always have something to work on.....like when I spent 3.5 hours in my Ophthalmologist's office.

Being a Grandma

This little face just fills my heart. I never knew being a Grandma would be so fulfilling.....I just can't get enough time with my little Lily. Now I'm back home and trying to get back into the swing of things but it sure is hard when I miss her so much.

Father's Day...a day late

Yesterday was Father's day......sadly I didn't think of my Dad. He was of the generation of raising children to be seen and not heard. I was one of seven siblings and we didn't know our dad he worked hard to support us but was gone more than he was home. I never had a conversation with him or remember him saying my name. When he died I mourned for what could have been and how I wish I could have known him. This 6.5 inch square stenciled remembrance gave me some time to reflect about him. May he rest in peace. Happy father's day dad........a day late.

I saw this block here: http://thethriftyquilter.blogspot.com/
and just loved all the secondary blocks and designs so I have started another scrap project.
One block down 24 to go :0)......funny thing is these are the exact same size units as "swing your partner" so I'll be using some of those left over units . And Wimbledon starts tomorrow too!
Happy Father's Day!

swing your partner top done

My first word border finished! I'm very happy with how this turned out and will make a really nice birthday gift for a dear friend.

Grosgrain: Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!
Wouldn't my little granddaughter Lily look adorable in this!

Feb. and March

Bunny Hill BOM Jan.

So, while visiting blogland, I have seen everyone working on these free "Bunny Hill Designs" block of the month and have decided to jump right in. I think it will make an adorable quilt for my granddaughter one day. I am using wool with cotton so it will not be washable. I am already 3 months behind!

border piecing for "swing your partner"

I have finally decided on a border for "Swing your partner" and its coming together , my first try did not have enough contrast and the letters were illegible.....but I am happy with these. Now off to the dentist and then maybe some sewing in the afternoon.

NYC

Guess who got to see Angela Lansbury in NYC yesterday, the same week she got her Tony?
Yes my daughter and I, we had front row seats for Blithe Spirit...what a hoot!

So no sewing news to report on today. Its cool and rainy here in Pokeytown and I'm off to get a hair cut and color at a new salon.

New neighbors

I have a new family in the neighborhood...........

Oh and here is the stash for " Christmas Lights"

Bonnie is starting a new mystery.....so naturally I started pulling fabric from my stash to play along. Well what did I find? My box of foundation-pieced pineapple blocks! Hey, these are just like what Bonnie has been working on. All the paper is still on the backs of my squares and I got in the habit of putting the date on the back whenever I finished a block......it takes longer than you think to sew 45 little pieces of fabric to a 6 inch square of paper!
I started these in June of 1999 and I only have 48 done. The pattern I started making was by Betty Lenz of Marshall, Missouri and was published in " Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork& Quilting" magazine April 1999 issue #37. She made 120 foundation-pieced blocks surrounded by a 9.5 inch border where she appliqued vines, flowers, leaves and pomegranates . Then she added seed beads to the applique!.........I wonder if I'll ever finish this quilt? She named it "Scrap Apple" and won second-place in the mixed techniques category of the 1996 Silver Dollar City quilt contest.

How many more?

Oh the possibilities

Look at this beautiful thread!
My friend Debby is a professional quilter and has given me
these threads to "play with". I'd love to think I could quilt like Debby but
I know that just isn't going to happen ...Unless I put in the thousands of hours
of practice that she has! But we all have to start somewhere :0)

Swing your partner

This morning I am watching the women's final of the French Open....I like both Safina and Kuznetsova......oh who to root for? What I hope for is to see a good match with both woman playing their best since they both have a history of choking at slams. May the best woman win!

So I have put my top together but haven't decided on the border yet.......something pieced?
Some free style words wishing a friend happy birthday? Something like what Bonnie's pattern
shows? Something will come to me........meanwhile I'm being distracted by Bonnie's new mystery!!

7 shirts

This quilt is my next QOV. I made it from a little mystery on a blog I follow.
Nancy Rose is a very talented quilter and you can make this from her blog too :0).

Happy Sewing

2nd look

I replaced two blocks and think I like this look much better.
Now onto making all the half square triangles. Should I add some freestyle words in the border? I'll see how the quilt directs me when I get there but I am leaning that way.

Swing your partner...... first look

The digital camera is really good in helping me see what blocks look good in this quilt and which ones....not so much.
I decided to do a 9 patch layout of blocks instead of sixteen......
I can see two blocks that need replacing.....
back to my machine :0)

Peonies at the Morse Estate

On Thursdays I volunteer as a master gardener at the Samuel Morse Estate.
We plant an heirloom vegetable garden every year for demonstration purposes but
also get to eat the harvest. This time of the year we are busy planting like crazy all
these fabulous variety of vegetables, but it is also the time of the year when the peonies bloom....
my favorite flower of them all. Some of these peonies are over a hundred years old.

Swing your partner : 1st block

I'm starting a new scrappy project while I watch the French Open.
I do love tennis and never tire of watching the pros play.....so while I have the
next two weeks in front of the TV.... I'll be making a new quilt :0).
I've picked Swing your Partner from Bonnie K. Hunters book " Scraps & Shirttails"
and I'll even be using some recycled shirts in it.
Pictures to follow.............. Happy Sewing!

These quilts were made as a team effort........Debby has great ideas but I have more time to carry them out. She made the first quilt below and quilted it, I made the label and presentation case......
this has been working really well for us and we hope to have one for each month this year.......so far we are on target. The one with the military fabric was done as a mystery called " Super Snowballs" done by Ann M. Smith at Fabricaholics Anonymous, and the last one was started by Debby with the blue and red and white blocks, then finished being pieced by me.
then she did all the quilting on all the QOV's............we're good friends and a good team :0).
We both have great admiration for our troops.

Quilts of Valor

Thelma and Walter

Today is Memorial day.......I think often of the service people out there protecting our nation and give thanks, but today is a special day just for them. My parents both served in World War II, my mother as an RN for Canada serving in New Foundland, and my father as infantry in Africa for the USA. They are both gone now as are all those we honor today.

I make Quilts of Valor to honor service people coming home wounded from war.
Its a small thing but somehow feels right to me. I also try to thank service people when I see them out in public in their uniforms.

Thank you for keeping us Free.

Quilts of Valor

I made this quilt when I found out I was going to be a grandma.
Instead of making it out bright colors like the pattern calls for I made it out of
batiks with patterns of animals on them. I really like the effect of the floating squares and the terrific quilting done by Debby Brown.
You can find this pattern in Judy Martin's book " SCRAPS".
Lily Kate was born 8-18-08 :0).

Lily's quilt

Baby quilts

Is there anything more exciting than a new baby on the way?
Both of these quilts went to baby boys........the green and yellow was requested to match the nursery and the one with an orange border was done for a nursery with a "Safari" theme.
Both the boys are one year old now and I am told have really enjoyed their quilts.
Both made from Bonnie's free patterns and totally from stash.