MY FAVORITE BOOTH!

I know you are all sitting on pins and needles, and probably threads and fabric strips, waiting to hear how the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Fest was. Well here is a photo of me feeling very proud of the display at Nancy's Calico Patch booth with my Williamsburg Medallion quilt front and center! To the left is part of my Pioneer Trail quilt. The whole booth looked very nice with the overall theme being CW reproduction quilts and fabrics. I was happy to be a part of it. They sold a ton of my patterns, so I am really happy about that! My friends and I were there shopping and looking at quilts for the day on Thursday (2-21-08) and we had a great time.
I didn't take too many pictures, but I do want to share this one quilt that I loved! A huge variety of toiles went into the quilt, and the designer did a great job with it! I should have been better about getting the name so I could give her credit. If anyone out there knows, I will be happy to add it. Isn't it great?!
Apparently the HatBox quilt is a design by Kaffee Fassett.
Apparently the Hatbox quilt IS ACTUALLY Kaffe Fassetts!--Thanks Katie!

On another note, I heard from Nicola in Australia that she was making Bonnie's Bargello quilt, so I added her to the list on the side. I don't plan to leave the list up too much longer, so be sure and take a look at what she has done. You may want to see what progress has been made on the other blogs while you are at it. Unfortunately I, myself, have done nothing more on mine. I plan to make it bigger and have lots of strips cut, so enventually I will get it done! For me it is a good project to pick up when there is a lull in the work at hand. Again, thank you Bonnie for all the inspiration and directions.
I hope I can sew today. I am all charged up to create after going through so many inspiring vendor booths! Happy weekend!

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

How many of you out there are going to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Fest this week? It takes place at the Hampton Roads Convention Center beginning on Thursday, Feb. 21 through Saturday. If you are going I hope you will check out Nancy's Calico Patch booth (#412). My new quilt, Williamsburg Medallion, will be on display there. I made a model just for them. This one consists primarily of the fabrics from the Windham line.
Nancy is devoting their booth to Civil War era reproduction fabrics this year, and focusing on the Williamsburg fabric from Windham and the Jamestown fabric from Andover. I am excited to be able to participate. They will have a couple of my other quilts displayed as well, so stop and shop and say hello. Well, I won't actually be there except in spirit, but say hello to my quilts and Nancy!

Also, I am very excited about the quilt that Libby made using this pattern! If you know Libby, you know she loves all things primitive. Can you believe this is the same pattern??? She appliqued a pineapple in the center (ala Linda Brannock), added the Welcome, and there you go---it's a Libby quilt! This stuff just never gets old, does it?

When I was trying to think of seven things about me for my previous post I was talking about it to my husband. He suggested that I write about how I am really into quilts. (Turn on laugh track). I told him that everyone already knows that. It is why I have a blog. "But do they know how much you are really into it?" he asks. "Honey", says I, "They are ALL really into it"! This is what keeps us hopping to the computer between seams---so we can see if our friends posted any new quilts today!

Addendum: I didn't mean to imply that I won't be at Quilt Fest. I will be there all day Thursday browsing around quilts and vendors. I am not working the booth or anything like that. But I will be there! If you recognize me please say hello!

SEVEN THINGS ABOUT ME!

I have seen these things going around on blogs in the past, but have never been tagged, and never jumped in. Well Lea tagged me, so I guess I will reveal some things about me that you may not know. Be sure and read about Lea on her blog. She always brings a smile to my face!

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

So here are a few things about me:

1. My ancestors are from England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Germany. You could plop me in any of those countries and I would look like a native.

2. When I was a child of 10 or 11, I was on a TV program in Buffalo, NY, called Fun To Learn. My mom's best friend was the main person on the art segment of it. She encouraged us to be very creative and make projects from junk, like cardboard milk cartons and straws, etc. I was quite good at that!

3. I have four grown up children who live in four different states. I love it when we are all together around the dinner table and they laugh and joke.

4. I can't sing worth beans! But when I am alone I sing anyway!

5. Even though I can't carry a tune, I can make up silly words to go with any melody. I entertain my grandchildren with this talent. They think I am nuts.

6. I have a terrible sweet tooth. My husband always brings me treats when he comes home from business trips. He knows I am always happy to see him!

7. I am happy, and content with who I am, but still think I can do better. I no longer stress over not being perfect, but I am having more fun along the way!

Here are a few of my blogging pals I would like to tag so they can share some little know facts about themselves.

Karen at Log Cabin Quilter, seems to enjoy the same style of quilts that I do!

Joan at Keeping you in Stitches, "sews like the wind!"

Mary B. at NanaB Quilts, is a new blogger, but has been quilting for a long time.

San at Gypsie Quilter, always has lots of pretty quilts to share.

Darcie-October's Child, does wonderful long arm quilting and hand dyes fabric!

Oh, that's plenty for you to enjoy for now! I just posted that picture of a quilt I did a year ago to catch your attention. Did it work?

BLOGGING FRIENDS

Oh you people make me laugh! Yes, I guess we quilters all think alike! Ask a quilter if she wakes up seeing stars and she will add the alternate blocks to the picture as well! (Referring to my last post). It seems we all think in geometric shapes. Math has never been my strong suit. When I took geometry in high school I remember my teacher telling me that I had a creative way of finding solutions. At the time I took it as a compliment. Now I realize he meant that I took the long way around to find the answer. In other words, I am slow! This probably still holds true for me today. But I do have fun!

Two of my favorite bloggers commented yesterday that they use cardboard templates and sew by hand. Luckily neither of them were insulted by my flippant comments. In fact one reason I love these two ladies is their sense of humor AND they laugh at me! We who think of ourselves as comedic love to be surrounded by people who laugh at our jokes! I know that sometimes I am not as funny as I try to be, but I can't stop myself. It's the way I was raised. You should meet my Dad!

Back to those two bloggers I mentioned: I met them on line when they each made my little tree pattern at Christmas.
Annamiek is from the Netherlands. You should visit her blog and see the funny correspondence she recently received from Marcus Fabrics. She really had me giggling!
Lea lives in Japan. The darling heart block pictured here is from Lea. She makes the neatest primitive quilts. She has such a joyful spirit. you will enjoy her work and her happy heart!
Blogging has opened up doors all over the world and we are fortunate indeed to find sisters that share our interests and encourage us in our endeavors. Really, I haven't had this many girl friends since high school! So ladies, if you want to use cardboard templates, you do whatever makes you happy. Thanks for stopping by!

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

This morning as I was snuggling under the covers in bed, not quite wanting to get up yet, listening to the furnace come on and off, on and off, my mind wandered back to the Vintage Quilts magazine I was looking at last night. I was reading the pattern directions for a quilt that instructed you to cut 2-3/8 inch squares. Hundreds of them. Sympathy wells up in me for these wonderful makers of the vintage quilts. Can you even imagine having to cut all those little squares, and then at 2-3/8 inches to boot? Dull scissors, worn cardboard templates, no strip quilting - ugh!

Well, we don't work that way today. So next I am thinking, "How would I convert that measurement? Would I change it to 2-1/4 inches or 2-1/2 inches"? Naturally all the other measurements in the quilt would change accordingly. The end result would be a quilt that is either a little bit smaller or a little bigger. Let's go with bigger, because the vintage quilts are usually on the small side. Ok, this problem is solved!

Now what about the quilt with all those HSTs? No way am I cutting a million squares at 3-1/8 inch and cutting them in half and matching them to another triangle and sewing those bias edges together! I have to convert that quilt so I can use triangle paper or another quick method! Ok, now I really do have to get out of bed and get my calculator and EQ6! Thus begins my day.

Word of warning: Don't ever ask a quilter, "What are you thinking?" Unless of course, you are a quilter!

Photo from McCall's Vintage Quilts, Dec. 2007 - It's great!

THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR BARGELLO

You may have heard of Bonnie's invitation to join her in making a bargello quilt on SuperBowl Sunday. Forest Jane even created a very clever logo! I mentioned in an earlier post that I had joined in and I displayed a picture of my progress. As I have been cruising around Blogland I have seen evidence that some of you have been working on that project as well. I started adding a link or two, and then it turned into several, and so I decided to add it to my side bar for a while. I didn't mean to take this pleasure away from Bonnie, it just kept getting larger! We all know Bonnie is in the middle of moving right now and has other things to think about. I will just leave this up for a short time to give people a chance to visit Bonnie's Bargello Bloggers! Let me know if you are stripping (oh mercy!) and I will add a link to your blog.

On another note: Sometimes new bloggers are hesitant to add their email address to their blog. I know I was in the beginning. I relented because quilt bloggers are so friendly that they often want to write you back when you make a comment. So I opened a g-mail account just for blogging. (That's Google and I like it a lot). You can adjust your settings so that comments from your blog go directly to your e-mail account. This is much better than returning to your blog every day and checking the number of comments that have been left. I actually did that in the beginning! Then be sure to edit your personal profile so that the show e-mail address is checked! I was trying to figure this out for a friend the other day, so while it is fresh in my mind I wanted to share it with anyone out there who cares! (Lea, did you check that box?)

These little cuties, the Plumpkin and her brother, are two of my grandchildren that I share with another quilter who is lucky enough to live close to them in Minnesota. Yes, both of their grandmothers are quilt freaks! Recently the other grandmother, Mary, started a blog of her own. Mary is a long arm quilter extraordinaire, and also keeps busy with her guild as well as Minnesota State Quilters. We both have entirely different interests in quilt fabrics and styles, and isn't that what makes the world go round?! She has done some fabulous work, I can tell you that! Currently she is into Paint Stiks. We will have to ask for photos! Go check out her blog and say hello!

MARJORIE & THE ORPHAN TRAIN

It was my pleasure to have the book, The Named Me Marjorie, this week. This is a very sweet story of a remarkable little orphan girl who was shuttled around to various families, and in spite of it all kept an amazing attitude of good will. The book is written by her granddaughter, who also happens to be a quilter, and who memorialized the story in a quilt.
Finn began creating interest in the Orphan Train with her blog having to do with orphan quilt blocks.
This book has been making the rounds among quilters, and particularly those who have orphan block quilts posted on Finn's blog. I am the 9th person to have this book, and now I will mail it off to Terry the Quilt-Nut. As far as I know, there is no one else in line. So if you are interested in adding your name to the list please contact Finn. She doesn't really want to be in charge, but I think it is falling to her anyway! She is the engineer on the Orphan Train, after all! And if you haven't been to Finn's Orphan Train blog, go check it out! You will be delighted!

SCRAPPY TRIPS AND TREASURES

Bonnie Hunter's invitation to join her working on Scrappy Bargello quilts this past weekend came at a time when I was ready to dive in. I actually made a few of these blocks while I was in Arizona over Christmas. I am making her Scrappy Trips version. Both are the same technique and directions are found on her Quiltville web site. I spent a couple hours on Saturday making little piles of strips for blocks. Now it is easy to sit down and sew strips together, press, cut, sew into blocks. Voila! I got several more blocks completed, and a number of blocks ready to go. And since prep time is usually the thing that holds me up, this will be great to work in whenever I need a no-brainer. Thanks Bonnie, for this quick method and all the inspiration! I have to note that my husband is not too pleased with this project. He needs things to be very organized. He tried to arrange the blocks to make sense to him. This project is so carefree! To me that is the charm of it.

This past week I changed a wall arrangement, and I thought I would give you a glimpse of it! My little brown churn dash quilt is called Table Scraps, as I was mostly using up lots of pieces off my cutting table. Such yummy little morsels that I wanted to sew them up into something!
You may recognize the sampler as one I did a while back from a Blackbird Design book, Fresh From the Garden. I found that little bird's nest smack in the middle of the hydrangia bush when I was trimming it back for winter. It is so precious! And the big platter was a wedding present to my great grandparents in 1888. That is one of my very special treasures!

Addendum: Paula at A Latte Quilts worked on the Bargello/Trips project Sunday also. Check out her blog!

I see Dawn at Quilts and Pieces is at it also! As is Tracey at Quilting in Connecticut! I am getting a kick out of see who all jumped in the fray, as it were! Joan at keeping You in Stitches actually has hers done and quilted! It's embarrassing. She did start a week early, but still...

Katie, In My Sandbox is making the Bargello also. Anybody else?

MARCUS MERRIMENT

It's not midnight yet, so I wanted to squeeze this in under the wire! I actually did finish a UFO this month! I bought this pattern last fall while in Arizona and started it there. It is designed by Renee Plains. Pretty darn cute design! I had fun with it! I finally completed the quilting and hung it on the wall. My quilting isn't that great, so don't dwell on it. Lol! This one contains fabrics designed by my hero, Judie Rothermel. Most are from the Sturbridge Miniatures. The sashing is hers also from a few years ago. I felt happy to find it and incorporate it into a project with some of Judie's newer fabrics. I think I even said, "Oh look, you can live here with your new family". Do you ever talk to your fabric? Aren't they like old friends? By the way, I saw Judie's Merrimack line today (by Marcus Fabrics) while I was at the quilt shop. Be still my heart! I wanted that fat quarter pack sooo bad! Someday soon it will be mine! In the meantime maybe the anticipation will help keep the blood pumping through my veins. My own form of aerobic exercise! I gotta run...(don't take that too literally).

MY MEDALLION QUILTS

I have been playing with scraps again this week. I decided that I wanted to see what Williamsburg Medallion, the quilt I showed a few posts ago, would look like in scraps. I replaced the toile center with a star that I felt complimented the design, and dragged out the fabrics for auditioning. You know what that does to a sewing space! I actually had just sorted through little mounds of fabric and put each in its own container according to color. I really whipped through it, so it wasn't exactly pristine, but that's why I have cabinets with doors on them! Anyway, suffice it to say that my room is back to "normal". This was lots of fun to make, by the way! I would love to see what Libby would do with this! She has such a flair for the primitive look!

Now I have a question for you. Do you think all medallion quilts look the same? I have had two people look at Williamsburg Medallion (#1) and comment that it looked like another quilt I made. One said it looks like Homeport (#2), and another said it looks like Chesapeake Star (#3). I do like medallion quilts, it's true! Am I just making the same quilt over and over again? I thought I was making different quilts with interesting borders that I can change each time around. I am finding that I really have to defend myself lately!

PIONEER TRAIL

Last Friday was a fun day! There is a Quilting Bee that meets at the LQS every Friday, and they invited me to join them there for lunch. The reason is that they had swapped Shoofly blocks for my pattern Pioneer Trail, and they wanted me to come and see the finished quilts. I was excited that they had chosen my design for their swap! Five of the ladies had completed their quilts. In spite of the fact that many of the blocks were of the same fabric, each quilt had its own look according to how the quiltmaker placed fabrics and the border fabric that they chose. Each quilt was a beauty!
In this quilt the Shoofly blocks represent the wagon wheels rolling west along a dusty zig zag trail, hence, the name Pioneer Trail. Each of these quilters had fun deciding how much grass or mud to include in their own trail.
Barb is holding her quilt in the first photo. Barb chose a fabulous Ginny Beyer print fabric for the border of her quilt. It looks lovely!

In the second photo Mary Lynn shows her quilt. Mary Lynn included a pieced border on hers as my original quilt had.




The border that Betts put on hers, in quilt #3 is a poison green from the Pennsylvania Plain and Fancy collection. It looks great!

Pat, with quilt #4, chose a beautiful border fabric for her quilt that really sets off the colors of the blocks.

The final quilt, #5, was made by Bobbie. She actually completed her quilt for Christmas and gave it as a gift. I took this photo back in November, I think, and Bobbie's face is nowhere to be seen! Great looking quilt though, and someone received a great gift from her. I know I have posted at least two other quilts that Bobbie has made on my website (Patchalot Patterns) in the gallery. These will all be posted there also for inspiration to anyone who views them.

Thanks ladies, for inviting me to share in the unveiling of your finished quilts and for allowing me to share your beautiful quilts with my blogging buddies!

FOUND - MODA FLAGS!!!

I am in shock, and so thrilled! I feel like I won the lottery! Just yesterday I asked for help finding the Moda Georgetown Flags, and thanks to my blogging friends, they are ordered and on the way! Several people gave me suggestions of places to look, and today I was going to do that. I opened my e-mail this morning and had a message from Tazzie directing me to an E-Bay site! I never even think to look at E-Bay! I ordered them! Then Sue at Monomaniacal Quilter sent a link to some at Thousands of Bolts. I ordered 2 yards there also! Well, that is a lot of flags and now I am back in business! I really figured I was in for a long search! Thank you, thank you to my blogger friends out there. You are the best! All of you!

WANTED -- MODA FLAGS!

Help!!! Pictured is one of my patterns, Homeport, that I designed a few years ago. It still is a big seller here in Virginia Beach. As you can see from the cover, I include a flag in the package for the center. Well, I have finally run out of flags! The flags that I used were from Moda, and called Georgetown. Granted, this was several years ago, but if you know of any, or have any to spare, I would love to buy them. The flags were printed in rows, and each flag measured about 5-1/2" x 7".

The shop here will contact Moda on the chance that they might have an old bolt laying around. And I know I can provide directions for making a little flag, if necessary. However, people seem to really appreciate receiving the flag in the pattern. So please keep your eyes open! Maybe somewhere out in this wide world there are some Moda American Flags looking for a home! Thanks! --Marcie

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

Last week I mentioned that I would have pictures of a Civil War Diary Quilt that my friend, Connie, made. So here it is! Connie and I began this project in a class at the same time last year. I made about 10 blocks and look what she has done! Her quilt is amazing! Her color selection is wonderful as is her construction. On top of that she made photo transfers of some of the prominent figures in the Civil War and placed them in blocks. I tried to get close-ups, but they turned out fuzzy. Connie took her first quilt class from my friend Sue a year and a half ago! She then took several of my classes, and so we have had the chance to get to know each other. She recently retired from the Navy and her husband bought her a long arm machine, so now she is really rolling! Connie is always cheerful and enthusiastic. I really enjoy her! She doesn't have a blog, so I am pleased to display her amazing quilt on mine!

You may know that these are 6 inch blocks, and each block tells a story. Yes, each block represents, or "stands for something". As you read the book the the author explains what she wants each block to represent.

Another book that I really enjoy is Facts and Fabrications, by Barbara Brackman. Brackman is the Queen of Block History and Definition! In this book she selects blocks and wraps a bit of Civil War history around each one. Most blocks have names, and many have more than one name. Rocky Road to Kansas and Catch Me if You Can are blocks that begin to tell a story just in their name. If you want your quilt to represent something, or tell a story, that is perfectly acceptable. Actually, I really like the idea. Barbara cautions us though, that it is a good idea to write the meaning of what we wish to portray on the quilt for the benefit of those who view it.

Addendum: I forgot to mention that Connie is originally from Gettysburg, so I am sure her interest in CW history comes quite naturally. Also, along the line of adding symbolism to our quilts, Connie added a red inner border around her blocks to represent all the blood spilt in the war. Very poignant!

STAND FOR SOMETHING

I was happy to receive so many thoughtful responses to the quilt block question in my previous post. I think it is pretty clear that, while we all would like to put that piece of history behind us, it won't go quietly. And really, that is a good thing, because the Holocaust is not something that should ever be forgotten. It has only been sixty years, and already there are those who are trying to deny that it ever happened.

The quilt itself is a lovely thing, and quite innocent. It was created before the Swastika became the symbol of Hitler's Army, a symbol that we associate with hate, violence and evil.

As much as I like the quilt, with its soft faded colors, I don't plan to re-create it. That design now stands for something. And I don't want to make a quilt that will cause anyone to question where I stand on that issue!

I want to stand for something too, and I want it to be something good!

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Pictured is an old quilt that my husband and I bought a number of years ago at a yard sale. At the time I was not really into quiltmaking. I just loved quilts and the whole idea of owning an old quilt seemed romantic, in some way. We took it home, very delighted with our purchase, and spread it on the bed to examine it. We could see right away that it was well worn and more damaged than we would have liked. That is probably why it was left by the collector ahead of us who bid it up to $30. Well, we aren't collectors and we didn't plan to re-sell it. The idea that it had been well used only added to the romantic notion of owning a bit of the past. I loved the pink sashing and the worn and faded colors. We have used this quilt quite sparingly over the years, and even less since I now make quilts myself. The other night my husband pulled this quilt out of the closet and spread it on the bed for an extra layer of warmth. I smiled when I saw it, and thought how comfort sometimes has more to do with sentimentality than anything. I like to think that the maker of this quilt would be pleased that it still brings pleasure and comfort to people. (Here's the part where all good quiltmakers are thinking, "Quilt Labels"! And I don't even have to write more on the topic, but if you want to read a Cute Quilt Story click on the link and scroll down.)

Last night my husband was watching football and as I sat and shared the same space with him I was looking through a book of antique quilts. I noticed one from 1910 that contained the same blocks as our old pink quilt. This block was identified by several names, including Whirligig, Fly Foot, Devil's Puzzel, Indian Emblem, and Swastika. The author claims that this block was quite popular for many generations. It lost popularity when the block symbol became associated with Nazi Germany. I showed the page to my husband and he said he never noticed Swastikas on the quilt. In fact, he wondered why I never made this block, and decided it must be too difficult for me. "Excuse me?" I say! "Well", he says, "It's all curved lines going every which way"!

Isn't funny how differently people look at things? Any quiltmaker would look at the block, break it down and see that it is simply Flying Geese! I feel like I have had a challenge thrown at me. There is no question that I can make the silly block! The question is, has enough time passed that we can bring this block back into our quilts? Can we see it as a Whirligig rather than a Swastika? I am sure there are many opinions out there around the world. What do you think?

QUILT SHOP OPEN HOUSE

Well, did I catch your attention with the photo? It's my granddaughter. Doesn't she look happy? She is learning a lot in her freshman year of college. Photoshop, for example. I think I will try and get me a date like that! Oh why bother. I don't even like to go out anymore!

I did go out this afternoon though. The local quilt shop, What's Your Stitch N Stuff, had their Open House today to intoduce new classes. The shop was busy and quite a few people signed up for classes. My new quilt, Williams-burg Medallion, was very well received. In fact, the shop is going to make kits using many of the same fabrics that are in the original, including, of course, the Williamsburg Toile. I don't have the pattern ready yet, but if anyone wants a kit, call the shop and get on the list! (757-523-2711)

A lady e-mailed me the other day saying she had seen my blog and is from Virginia Beach. (Hi Joyce!) I mentioned the Open House to her and she came over and we met. That was really cool! I haven't ever actually met anyone as a result of blogging. I e-mail with several bloggers, but so far no face to face meeting. Meeting at the quilt shop was on pretty safe ground. She had never been to the shop before and I think was a little amazed. It really is an awesome shop!

My friend Connie brought her Civil War Diaries Quilt to show me. She has all the blocks pieced and sewn together into a top. It is amazing! I will post some photos of it soon. (That is supposed to be a little teaser, like they always do on the news. "Did Jeb make it across the tracks in his old pick-up truck before the train? News at 10:00").

YOU MAKE MY DAY!

Since posting my Trees on the Table pattern last fall I have had the pleasure of meeting some new friends in Blogland. One of those friends is Lea who lives in Japan. She made the trees quilt and sent me a picture, giving me the opportunity to meet her and see the beautiful work that she displays on her blog, Simple Pleasures. Lea has honored me with the You Make My Day Award. Ironically, her blog is one that I would have nominated! Thanks Lea!

The rules for this award say to choose up to 10 people whose blog brings you happiness & inspiration and makes you feel happy about Blogland. Let them know by posting a note on their blog so they can pass it on.

There are so many blogs that I love to read that I have trouble getting to all of them. Not for lack of interest! Here are a few special ones from the many that I enjoy. They make Blogland a pleasant place indeed! I hope you will drop by their blog and say hello!

Eileen at My Quilting Porch in Maryland

Annemiek at Carpe-Quiltem in Holland

Paula at A Latte Quilts in Texas

Kairle at Happy Valley Quilter in Utah

Gwen at Scrappy Angel in Germany

Michele at With Heart and Hand in Oregon

Pamina at Quilts on the Way in Germany

WILLIAMSBURG TOILE

I asked my friend, Marae, to let me take a picture of her with my new quilt. She lives here in Mesa, AZ, and does most of my quilting. As always, she did a beautiful job quilting for me. I love doing my part of the designing and piecing, and she frosts the cake with her beautiful work! Thanks Marae!

I am excited about this new design. The toile is from Windham Fabrics Williamsburg Centennial Line. I probably should have bought more from that line, but I had just received the fat quarter pack from Judie Rothermel's Old Surbridge Scarlet. They go beautifully together, along with a couple pieces from Barbara Brackman.  I leave here for home on Monday and then I will get the pattern directions written, etc. It always feels so good to see each stage completed. More later from Virginia!

LITTLE DID I KNOW

This is the missing picture from the previous post! I don't know where it went. It may be floating around in cyberspace.  My daughter called and said, "Mom, there is no picture on your blog." Well, let's hope this one sticks! 

My son had another back surgery this week. He had a stimulator implanted. I hope this does the trick. He has been in so much pain for so long. So this morning I picked him up from the hospital and now he is home and sleeping in his own bed. This was not an easy surgery, but I suppose none really are! He is so glad it is over. I am too, and glad I could be here to help. His wife is so wonderful and works so hard to keep things going in the family. We are all truly blessed by her. 

The beat goes on--keep smiling!

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!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!

Happy New Year to blogging friends near and far. I am still in Arizona and enjoying time with my family. Christmas was great and so nice to have both my sons here, as well as my son's wife and the kids, my Dad, sister, aunts and uncles, etc. My daughters were both missing and were both missed. I sure love them all! It is difficult to get the whole family together in one place very often as we are so spread out across the country.

December 26 my husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. If I was home I would find an old picture of us when we were young and cute. I actually still think he is pretty cute! We are the epitome of the couple who has nothing in common except the kids. Somehow we have stuck together through all kinds of weather. He has actually become sweeter and more sentimental as time goes by. But I really think it is the laughter and the ability to not take things too seriously that has held us together. I always say it was the first twenty years that was the most difficult! LOL! He is already back home and going to work to pay for the lifestyle in which I have become so accustomed. What a gem!

January 2nd is my birthday. Another day that can go unnoticed, as far as I am concerned. I only mention it to see who reads my blog and wants to wish me happy birthday. It's amazing how many people who love me have to be reminded. (Seriously, I'm joking!)

I got my trusty old Bernina out the other day so I could mend a couple things for my Dad. Once out, it does not like to go back into the box too quickly, so I thought I would take it for a spin. I have been sewing strips together to make Bonnie's Scrappy Trips Around the World. Yes, I have a small stash here at my son's house so I can play. I love those blocks, by the way. They go together so quickly and I love the scrappy look they create. I really want to get on the Sunshine Band Wagon and do some serious stash busting this year. Judy L. has a plan. I don't quite have enough confidence in myself to sign up, but I want to at least make the effort to use more yardage than I buy.
I mentioned previously that my youngest son was bringing a girl home to meet the family. I am afraid to say anything about her for fear of jinxing the deal, but I want to say, "Can we keep her"? She is a real sweetheart and they seem to have a good connection. We all voted and she wins. Don't tell anyone though or I will be in trouble for opening my big mouth again. It's a problem I seem to have!
I may be able to add a picture or two tomorrow, until then --Happy New Year 2008! (Who knew I would live this long)?

TREES IN JAPANESE!

I am not at my own computer, so I am having difficulty posting a photo of Leas's tree. Please follow the link to her blog.

Here we are, Christmas Eve Day, and I just had to make a quick post to show you a cute tree quilt from Japan! Lea found my pattern and has her cute tree quilt on her blog. Also, Lea has a darling primitive quilt for Christmas that you will love! And, be sure and click on her Flickr photos and see lots more of the cute primitive quilts she has made! Thank you for sharing, Lea!

I have been browsing blogs just a little, but there is a problem with the Internet here at my son's house. My darling 16 year old grandson was messing with their Internet hookup for his
X-Box (?) There has been no reception since then. Currently I am on line at my sister's house. Sigh. On top of that, the little genius killed my husband's new I-phone. Ah well. I don't want to minimize it, but what the heck can you do about it? He professes to know everything!

Chevy Chase and his Christmas Vacation is playing on the TV, and it is not easy to concentrate. That is one rediculous movie! Last night we watched Tim Allen and his Santa Clause movie. Cute stuff! Now I am ready for Jimmy Stewart and It's A Wonderful Life! In spite of the set backs and problems we all face from time to time, it really is a wonderful life. We are blessed beyond measure! I wish Christmas Blessings on you all! Thanks for reading my musings and for the sweet comments that you leave. Merry Christmas to all!

News flash: The I-phone is not broken! It's a Christmas Miracle! We are all on speaking terms again! LOL! What a relief!

TREES AROUND THE WORLD

I just posted a few Tree Quilts on my website, so if you haven't looked lately, wander over to Patchalot Patterns and click on the little tree quilt to go to the gallery. The newest ones are on page two. Nancy, from Indiana, just sent a photo today, so I am showing hers here as well. It is very nice! Her border is different from the others that were sent to me. I just love them all!

On page three I have placed the "unusual" ones. Kim and Judy both made tree skirts. They are different from each other, and both darling! Darlene posted a picture on her blog of her quilt on her table with a big jar or gingerbread men. It is so adorable that I had to have it! Well, sort of. I just borrowed her photo in case any of you missed seeing it on her blog. Eileen's is on page three also, because her quilting is so lovely that I wanted to show it off. I added links to blogs for all those that I knew. I hope I posted all the photos that were sent to me. I think I did!

I want to thank everyone who participated! Honestly, I have been thrilled at the response! I got and e-mail from a reader in Holland who posted it on a quilter's bulletin board there, so maybe a few little Tree Quilts will be sprouting over there as well. http://www.prikpagina.nl/read.php?f=1210&i=108960&t=108960 Check it out! Check out Anna's blog as well: Carpe Quiltem. How cute is that?!

Tomorrow I leave for Arizona and I haven't packed yet! I have been working on a new quilt design for spring and wanted it finished before I leave. I actually got the top done! Yea! I will show you in January. Sigh. I know, I know, but Christmas has to come first! I am looking forward to spending time with my family. My Dad is there, as well as my son and his family. My youngest son is driving down from Utah and will be introducing us to a girl he is dating. I can only hope he has finally found the right girl! We need to get him married! Do I sound desperate? Well he is pushing 30 and I am almost pushing daisies! I guess we can't rush these things.

I will probably continue blogging once I get to AZ, but in the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

(Judy L. -don't delete me. I'll be back- lol!)

I MEANT TO DO THAT

In a previous post I mentioned that my friend Kathy, in San Diego, CA, sent me bundles of wool blanket pieces. At first I was perplexed because the wool is so thick, unlike what we normally buy for our craft projects. But after playing around with it I have really come to enjoy how nicely it handles and holds the stitches, etc. The crow on the basket was the first thing I tried. After I added the holly, it had to sit a while and ferment.

As that was stewing on the back burner of my brain, I decided that I could actually put things IN the basket! So I thought about gingerbread men. I didn't have quite the right color, so I asked my friend Joan if she had any gingerbread wool. "Oh I know I do", says Joan. So off I go to Joan's house while she digs through her wool stash. Joan pulls out TWO YARDS of the perfect camel colored wool that she bought to make a skirt. She never made the skirt, so she felted the wool and it was all to my good fortune! The gingerbread are about three inches high, so you can see there are many more gingerbread men we can make. I can see them dancing around penny rugs, etc. Don't I have the coolest friends? Well, this little crow is flying off to California for Christmas, and the gingerbread men are running as fast as they can to Joan's house! I know that Joan is not so sure about the little satin skirt at the bottom of the project, but she will come to love it, as I have. When I first showed the blanket project with the satin binding still on it, I was half way joking about leaving it on. So many of you liked it, and I have to say that I have come to like it a lot also. Sometimes things are so hokey that you have to love them. Remember shabby before it became chic?

I might also add that this type of project is so relaxing because it doesn't need to be perfect! In fact, you want it to look homespun and primitive. That means adding knots where they don't normally go and making imperfect stitches on purpose. I could get really good at this striving for imperfection thing!

So sorry Kim, Darlene and Angie, these already have a home. LOL!

GIVE IT OR KEEP IT?

I began sewing little Saffiote blocks from 301 Country Christmas Quilt Blocks, a few months ago. They are very primitive and so cute! Paula at A Latte Quilts showed a project she just completed from the same book. Hers is really adorable! By the way, isn't that the cutest blog name?

I have yet to compile my blocks into a quilt. I still want to do that, but need to make more blocks. In the meantime, I made three of this block, because I thought it was so cute (pg. 71 if you have the book). It is one of Cheri's "create it" blocks, where she just puts in a picture of the block as she made it and then you make your own version. I have this flag fabric from years ago and I keep cutting out little American flags for various projects. I added the border and stitched the words, and with a minimum of quilting, it is now a gift to share at the LQS Christmas party tomorrow night. Or maybe I will keep it. I can't decide. VBG! What would you do? (Yeah, I'll probably give it. Sigh.)