Quilt Finish A longtime coming.

 Remember, last January when I said that 2014 was going to be my year of finishes? Well, my oldestst WIP EVER is completely DONE!! The magazine is from Nov 1998. In my defense, this is the second one I've made. I sold the first one right after moving here to WI. I found  an extra set of Santas and thought I may as well use them. plus the scraps from number one. See, I'm not THAT bad..... I did longarm quilt this on NEW Years Day. Thought I would start my year out right.  Used a piece of flannel that I had on hand for the backing. Yep, I forgot the label, shame on me! I'll do that right away. Promise. Debbie Mum would be proud. It features her fabric.  How OLD IS YOUR ""GOTTA GET IT DONE PROJECT?? Sorry  I'm not blogging as regularly as before. But this takes ALOT of work! I'm unable to use my left hand to type plus my spelling skills ..... I hope your holidays were uneventful, in a good way. And whats up in 2015??   I have my Spring" Birdie "stitches" I'm workin on. My next BIG  FINISH.

  

WOW,  the  HOLIDAYS here AGAIN.  Where has this year gone??? Let me first say I've been keeping myself busy.

Greeen Bay Packer quilt for a special little fellow.

Cozy flannel back

Can't forget the all important label!

Are you all set for Turkey day? We are planning to head north to Green Bay on Wed. BUT who knows with this awfu cold wet, snowy weather we are getting.

 I did get to  see my little Packer backers last weekend .

 Stay warm, and safe. 

Life is sooo busy

     WOW, what a busy summer! Two family weddings (2 quilts)

                                                                Casey & Lindsay's batik
 quilted by my friend, Sue Joos The colors are much prettier in person.

                                       Single Irish Chain for Luke & Katie. I did quilt this (feathers of course!).   The fabrics from Connecting Threads. Don't ya love the large print border?




And the last  few days in Kalona Iowa for the IIQH study group meeting. OMGosh, what quilt knowledge gathered in one room! Unbelivable! Our guest speaker was Edie McGinnis from Kanas City Star Quilts. She’s the one you talk to if you’re looking to publish a quilt book or pattern.  NOT ME she talked about her book  Confederates in the corn field: Civil War Quilts from Davis County, Iowa. 


I'm not sure if I've posted this quilt before  BUT the story is my f friend, Sue, FOUND A "QUILTS FOR SALE" AD ON cRAIGSLIST   in Milwaukee, no less and I bought this hand appliqued and HAND quilted BEAUTY FOR........$10.00. yep, TEN BUCKS!Plus a cross stitched baby quilt for the same price. This ladies' mother had died and they were selling her stuff. She had NO sentimental attachment to the quilts what soever so I don't feel guilty. I will appreciate the fine hand work AND will GIVE THEM A GOOD HOME.. The owner had no information (dates etc) to share
 ANYWAY, the quilt history group felt it was a quilt kit  from the Needle Craft Arts  Co. in Chicago IL 1929-1935 .It was definitely used  on a bed , one side of the green swag  fabric  is very faded.

                                                              Look @ my handsome helper.

 They held a silent auction At the meeting on Saturday. I couldn't walk away empty handed. Look at this redwork summer quilt (no batting) I had to buy it . Debating whether to take it apart and quilt it?? What do you think?  It is from the 1920's

no it is not penny squares but one solid piece of muslin. The backing fabric is the same as the borders.

OOOOO Man

wwww Man. I bet you were about to give up on me. It's been 

months since I've updated my blog. Not  for medical reasons, 

Thank God. I just haven't done anything in sew long.

 Nothing new to share.

I did go on a 3 week vacation, which if you follow me on Face 

Book know all about with photos no less.

While in Sacramento CAI found this great-vintage top. Pink and 

white Irish chain. 

BEFORE & AFTER

wHAT A DIFFERENCE!

 DON'Y YA THINK?

I LOVE THE BEACH!

PISMO BEACH TO BE EXACT!

i WON'T BE GONE SOOOO LONG NEXT TIME.I'mORKING ON 2 QUILTS FOR WEDDING GIFTS. Take care

All is well... except for the weather!

I Am keeping busy  hand stitching. I have a million embroidery projects in the works.Thiswas  a free pattern, in QuiltMaker Jan/Feb 1999. Yep...1999. It is available at the Crabapple Hill Website.   My plan is to finish stitching this weekend. Then make it into a pillow. To remind me SPRING  will COME  SOMEDAY. But for now.  Cold,Windy (50 mph)and more snow on the way. I'll just sit in front of the fireplace and dream of summer days I do believe, I am  " solar powered".

I feel so much better. on a sun shinny day. ENOUGH of this COLDweather! I can't wait for my California vacation.

I had a SEW DAY last Saturday. OOOO HAPPY DAY! I wish I could do it  more often but .....

Stay Stay safe and warm.  Stop back again.

My "Journey" Quilt

https://www.

I’m calling this my “journey”quilt. Believe me, it was  a uphill walk . But I’made it to the finish line!
 Finished is better than Perfect, isn’t that what they say?
Let me start by saying that I could not have fmade this if it weren”t for my quilting group. They have proven  their name he Friendship Stars. Each one is a star in my Friendship bouquet.
This a wedding gift that I started before my strokeI found this pattern in the January-Feb issue of QUILTY.It is calledRAGOON designed by    Gudrun Eria
I rather like the name Pixie Sticks myself. I wanted a modern/attern. And the bride loves grey & yellow!

. I  completed the 15 blocks before my stroke.  But getting them together and the borders on was a struggle for me. e before my stroke, I could read instructions and “envision “it in my head but now, it all looks greek to me. Does that make sense?

And I quilted it myself. That took 4 months of short spurts on the longarm. I haven’t the energy like before.
Or could it be, I’m getting older? Yep, 65 next month. 65!
And to be honest, I’m still hand stitching he binding. It’s keeping me warm in this deep freeze
Mike and I have decided this will be our LAST winter in WI. We are heading home/West as soon as a transfer comes up. I’m praying for Las Vegas. My Dad is there and you don’t have to shovel heat/sunshine!


Here is what I'm finishing next
 Remember Birdie Stitches? A free BOM from Little Miss Shabby? Sew darn cute! I have all 12 blocks stitched, now just to get it together. Click on the link tthe patterns y are still available. My favorite, the word block for June. And see the perfect birdhouse fabric for borders and backing?

2014 My year of Finishes!

Ruby Short McKim website

2014 is going to be my year for “FINISHING!!

I HAVE FOUR( YEP..COUNT EM1-2-3-4) EMBRODIERY  quilts (walking in a winter wonderland, roly poly circus, and birdie stitches and chocolate bunnies, to piece together. All the hard work(hand stitching) is finished Plus a ton of I just LOVE the fabric quilts started, all invarious stages of completion.

I have been stitching/finishing up my roly-poly circus blocks., during this COOOOLDd spell.. LIKE MINUS 17 THIS MORNING (-17) Holy Moly that’s COLD! Luckily, I don’t have to go out in it. But my poor , Mike, has to .Our fur baby, Bogey, looks at me lke I’m crazy when I open the door to let him out.
 I’M sureHe’s thinking…”YOU FIRST”

Well. I’m off to sit in front of yhe warm fireplace and stitch alittle.  How many UFO’s in your life????Or, like me, are you afraid to count?

I'm feeling pretty spunky these days. Had a great Christmas gathering in Green Bay
with family and extended family. Was a scary ride home with the snow but we made it with no problems.Loook how tall mygrand babies are getting!

I'll keep you posted on my progress. With lots of pictures, of course.

How's the temp in your neck of the woods?

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Stay safe and warm this Holiday season.I hope you are surrounded with theLOVE. 

of family and friends.

Thanksgiving Greetings

Happy Thanksgiving  friends. May you have a warm home filled with love, and a full tummy among your blessings this season.

Tie One On !!!

“

Participation is simple.
On the day before Thanksgiving, November 27th this year,
pause in the preparation of your own meal, wrap a loaf of bread or other baked good in an apron,or cloth.
 tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket,
and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone without your bounty… a neighbor, friend or family member in need of physical or spiritual sustenance, a bit of recognition or just a kind word.

 whether you live in a high rise apartment building or on a quiet block,

no matter which direction you walk out of your own front door,

 someone deserving of a gesture of kindness is close by. I hope you have a beautiful Fall and wonderfulThanksgiving.

Fall in WISCONSIN

It’s  officially Fall in WI the  smell of pumpkin bread baking in the oven, and the chilly weather. Did I say chilly?” They are predicting  SNOW flurries for Halloween!
We are heading up to Green Bay this weekend. Mike  is going to the GB Packer game Monday night. Not me,  I’m going to stay warm and cozy with the granbabies.

Today is the first time I’ve baked anything, since my stroke.  Figured we didn’t need any sweet treats around tempting us. But I love to bake!The house smells soooooooogood.
Tomorrow I’m sewing with the girls at the retreat house. Need to bring a little Pumpkin bread along. And then take  some to GB.   My recipe makes 3 loaves.

It's my favorite. 

I get by with a little help from my friends

I get by with a little help from my friends, okay truth be told….with A LOT  of help from my friends.

This is my first finished quilt on the long arm since my stroke. Yeah!!! Not perfect by any means, but FINISHED!! There was not a flat seam in the quilt. Talk about wavy, especially  those curved edges this quilt top needed to be rescued. Don’t you love the cheddar orange centers?

I’m doing better. Getting downstairs to my sewing room  more these days.  Friends coming over and helping to organize my stash and UFO‘s (unfinished projects). I’m afraid to admit the number, let’s just say, Love to start cutting new fabrics… my problem is finishing…LOL