CONTENTED QUILTS

Long time no blog. We all know how time flies so there is no point in bemoaning that fact. I was in Arizona for a couple weeks in July and then had company when I came home. Fill in a little of the normal ebb and flow and there you are--a full time life! So that's a good thing, right? 

I have to confess, I finally got a few more of Barbara Brackman's Civil War blocks done. I know I am way behind many of you, but I am OK with that. I do what I can do. I am not competitive in that way. I am remembering the Carnation Milk commercial from when I was a kid that talked about their milk coming from "contented cows". Does anyone remember that? So I make "contented quilts"! It's good!

 This is a photo of my darling cousin Brenda. I was visiting at her house in Arizona and she pulled out this quilted coat that belonged to her husband's grandmother (I think it was). This coat is so beautifully made! It is a treasure! I just had to share it with you who read my blog. It is museum quality!

Since I am feeling so contented I thought I would show a quilt that I made a number of years ago while living in Issaquah, Washington. The Good Will in Seattle had an auction where they auctioned off any quilts or parts thereof that had been donated. Of course they advertised the event to the local quilt guilds and it was always mobbed. My husband took me downtown and we ended up bidding on a few things. I won the bidding on this stack of vintage Dresden Plate blocks. They were all appliqued onto muslin squares that were really in bad shape. I picked them off this nasty muslin (that I wish I had kept because old soiled looking muslin is all the rage now) and I restitched them onto clean muslin squares. I found the yellow gingham that so closely matches the yellow in the blocks, and happily stitched the whole thing into a quilt! I even hand quilted it, something I never do anymore for lack of time! This summer I placed this quilt on my bed for the first time and am using it! I guess I was too worried in the past to take any chances with it. But this summer I am feeling contented, so I brought it out to enjoy.

Just check out these great fabrics! What do you think, 1930's or 40's?

I know those of you in the US are feeling the heat! This summer has given us record temperatures across the country. Keep cool and contented wherever you are!

Progress

Can it actually be July 21st? I just returned from Arizona, land of heat waves and dust storms and also my family. I have a very nice LA quilter there who finished up three little quilts for me. This one I made years ago and uncovered it recently and decided that my new little granddaughter could use it while she is still so small, then later have it as a doll quilt. It is 30" square, so she will not use it for long, probably. The quilting is adorable and really makes it, so I hope you can view it close up. I hate to see unfinished tops languishing in boxes. The colorful border gives this just the right finish. It makes me smile to have it done!

 Also, thanks to Carol at Brown Quilts, I got going on patriotic pillow cases. After making a couple to send Carol for her friend's cause (distributing to hospitalized soldiers) I decided my grandkids needed them also. You know how easy it is to make several while you are on a roll? I bought some fabric and used up some from my stash. That wavy flag fabric has been around for years! If you would like to use up some of your patriotic fabric for a good cause, hurry and make a pillowcase or two to send Carol.

 My main purpose in going to Arizona in heat that is over 100 degrees was to make some decisions on a house that we own there. Our renters moved out and since we are so close to retirement we are fixing it up for us to move into...eventually, but not immediately. This is what it looks like now. We tore down a wall here and really opened it up. I was trying all kinds of paint colors and I finally chose one that I hope will work. None of those in the photo, however. I seem to know what I am doing with fabric colors, but when it comes to paint I am a disaster. It never looks the way you expect it will and then it changes to different colors as the light changes. I seriously am praying that I picked a good color because they are going to paint all the walls in the whole house that color!

Meanwhile, the twins passed their 4 month mark! We celebrate every day with new pictures on Becky's blog. (Oh right, so today she doesn't have any!)

Most of the country is under a heat wave, so stay cool my friends!  

 

Greetings from Arizona!

Thanks to you all for your comments on my blog! I am having trouble getting back to everyone while here in Arizona, so do not think I am avoiding you. And getting time to read blogs is even more difficult. Plus, I made the mistake of buying my granddaughter a computer game for her birthday, and the girl is now on the computer 24/7. What was I thinking?

Pictured above is my favorite restaurant here. It is not just the decor, which is totally charming, but the food is good too. Mexican food, did you already guess that? I had a flying saucer while there, which I thought was amusing after my last post. I love Mexican food and there are lots of good places here to eat. I want to eat as much of it as I can while here before I go back to Virginia Beach, where the Mexican food is just not that good.  My aunt and I had sweet pork burritos the other day. Oh wow, let me tell you! 
When I arrived at the Phoenix airport I had some time to kill before my son showed up to get me. So, being the good little blogger that I am, I took a couple of pictures. Above is a big plane that is hanging from the ceiling above the escalator. It is pretty cool.  There may be a story there, but I don't know it.  

These big cacti were also attractive. There are three terminals at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. I came in on Delta/Northwest, which has now merged. Somehow they managed to charge our credit card $1200 for my ticket, which I assure you, is not the price I agreed to. But maybe that was the price for my luggage. If you haven't flown for a while, be aware that they now charge for each bag that you check. In fact they charge for food, and blankets as well. So far most airlines still give you a drink of juice or pop.
My DIL volunteered me to make aprons for my granddaughter, Danielle, and her young women's group at church. They are going to girls camp the end of July and have a Wizard of Oz theme around which everything is being planned. They were easy to make and Danielle loves it!

Meanwhile, the main activity around here is packing and moving to their new house. It is less than two miles from here, so we are going slowly, taking a truckload at a time. Kyle, who is almost 18, and his friends, take over the heavy stuff each evening after work. My son, who has a really bad back, has managed to get some painting done over there, so that is helpful. All is going well, and yes, I am exhausted! But all is well, and I am glad to be here. Not loving the 115 degrees, however!  

TWO FOR THE ROAD

I have to share this darling bottle I found at Pier 1 the other day. Look at the cute birds! Remember when I showed the vintage photos of birds that I copied and framed? This pretty gold bottle is perfect in my bedroom and the birds are perfect too!
I have been stash busting like crazy with this quilt for my son! I finished thirty-six 12" blocks, and when I get home from Arizona I will make the pieced border that I have planned. This design makes a great utility quilt.
Also for my son (who was recently married) I have completed this Buggy Barn quilt. I started it for him quite a while ago and it has been staring me in the face ever since. The original pattern was not big enough for a queen size bed so I wanted to add borders. I had the perfect fabric and everything. Why do these things take so long? Finally I got the borders on! Today I photographed it on my bed. Tomorrow I take it with me to Arizona to be quilted. I prepared the backing and binding, so I am all set. With any luck at all, maybe it will get quilted before I leave and I can bind it and mail it to my son Renn.
This is the book that the quilt pattern is in. Those Buggy Barn gals sure come up with cute ideas. There is at least one other pattern in this book that I plan to make for the Plumpkin--those darling flowers!

So tomorrow, on the 4th of July, I board a plane due to take off at 6:15 AM. Believe me, this is a huge effort of love on my part. I am not a morning person. I am always surprised to see people out on the road when I am forced to go that early. What are they doing? They can't all be hunting for night-crawlers!

Today Karen Diane told me she would miss me while I am gone. Remember she lives in Florida and I don't! "How can you miss me? I am as close as the internet, just like always!" You know she is a very cosmic person and she will know that I am not home. Me and my cosmic vibes are off to Arizona. I will try and pick up some energy as we fly over Sedona.

Later my friends,

FUNNY BONES

Guess what got pulled out of my daughter-in-laws Christmas box? I bet some of you will remember this pattern. It says on the back that I made it in 1988! I was not yet into quilting, but always loved working with fabric. Looking at this now, it makes me laugh, but it is still a cute design. No quilting on this at all. I just machine appliqued right through the sandwich. I have to say, I feel better about what I am doing now! LOL! Don't know how these photos are turning out on this computer.
Arizona is not as sunny as usual! In fact it has pretty much rained the whole time we have been here. When the sun comes out the air is cool. but we are glad to be here and enjoy the family, etc. I looked out the window this morning and noticed this grapefruit tree, and I swear one of the grapefruit was smiling! Can you see it? Ha ha! (Yup, I did it)!

We had a lovely Christmas and now it is over and we can relax! Today is our 41st wedding anniversary! We are not into big celebrations, but every year is a milestone, and I am grateful to have had a good and loyal companion for all these years. And he is funny too! To me, that is priceless!

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH

A new week is almost upon us, and dang! where did the old week go? Do you find time slipping away more quickly? I think we need to start a petition to put an end to that! Maybe start a lobbying group and go before Congress. All in favor? Aye!

I have been home from Arizona for a week now without much to say for myself. I have been trying to catch up on some blogs, but frankly, there are way too many, so the going is slow. I made it down to Jo-Ann Fabrics yesterday to use my 40% off coupon on the last day. I wanted to get a sheet of vinyl to cover the table on the deck now that the weather is nice. I always find it at Jo-Ann's and it is heavy duty, like they use to cover boat cushions, etc. Often they have some on the clearance table, which was the case yesterday, so I couldn't use the coupon on it. I found a nice dark blue for $6 a yard. I ended up using the coupon to purchase some fusible Pellon batting for making tote bags. I love mine and I want to make more! Also, I found this cute little Sandpiper birdie, just like the kind that run around on our beach! He is posed on a sweet little mat that my blogging buddy Joan, from Keeping You in Stitches, sent to me.

This is my latest quilt to be finished! Marae, my wonderful quilter in Arizona, quilted it for me while I was there. She did a lovely job, as she always does. The funny thing is that when I took her the quilt she quickly called her friend Debbie and they both wanted to make it on the spot! Please, I am still working on the pattern! But, sweet little quilter that I am, and being a sucker for a complement, I met them one evening and showed them the basics, and off they went with it. Yes, it is that easy! Actually, I don't design difficult patterns. I can't face writing difficult directions! And honestly, I prefer simple. So here it is, INDIAN PAINTBRUSH. I decided on that name because the border gave it a Native American feel, like arrowheads. Indian Paintbrush is actually a flowering plant that grows in the western US. By the way, the border idea is one that Joan (Keeping You in Stitches) shared with me. Thanks Joan! Also, I used a number of fabrics from the Jamestown line by Jo Morton at Andover Fabrics. Love, love, love it!

Thanks for all your nice comments about my dad from my last post. I wish I could share him with all of you, but he would probably hit on you, and then I would be embarrassed. Yeah, he's a player. And some of those ladies in walkers are not that difficult to catch! ---Marcie

QUILTS AND QUESADIAS

Hey, I did it! I figured out how to load photos to my son's computer. He has an Apple, so it is different than my PC. The photo shows the afore mentioned Scrappy Trips from Bonnie's Quiltville site. I have about 10 blocks made, and they are so addicting, which suits me just fine with my OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder, in case you are the rare quilter that doesn't have it). This photo shows 4 blocks sewn together. Isn't it cool? Your eyes just race all over the lines and colors. This will be a great quilt for stash busting! Thanks Bonnie!

I went to lunch today with my Dad and my sister for my birthday. Well, that was our excuse, but we would have gone anyway! We went to a Mexican restaurant that I love! It is so darling inside and out! It was built a couple years ago and is in an old Mexico adobe style, with a courtyard in the front and lots of pots of flowers, etc. Inside the walls are Mexican colored picture tiles part way up the walls. I sat in our booth wishing I had my camera, because several of those painted tiles would have been beautiful quilt blocks. I almost always order the Glazed Shrimp Quesadia. It is the best! I never get enough good Mexican food! Love it!

Thanks so much to all who stopped by with good wishes. I even heard from some that I haven't met before. You all are the best! It's sad that I have to beg, but look at the great results I got! VBG!!!