Fanciful Quilts

Yes, quilt has been mailed! I wonder how such a package would be received by me had it been for my child diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. It's caused me to think about this period we call life. No one goes through life without hitting bumps, potholes or crevices. Sometimes it makes us stronger - sometimes it makes us bitter. Sometimes we get over it and move on. Sometimes we don't and it becomes a focus that distorts everything we do. It's all a matter of choice. Pure and simple. You have a choice to get on with it and move on. You have a choice to let a bad episode become your main focus in life. Choice - everything we do involves a decision - and as result, we choose which path to take based on many things. A bad hair day, your thumb caught in a car door. the mechanic calling you with bad news about your car....or just because. I do love that. Why did I make that decision? Why did I choose that? Just because. It's a wonderful phrase - unarguable and has such...

Many obstacles always seem to pop up when one is trying to complete a project. Some of those obstacles are outside our control - others, we create ourselves. Sometimes they're not obstacles - they're just LIFE. LIFE happened when I found out Riley's father was back in the hospital. He had been admitted earlier for pneumonia . I'm not sure why it turned out not to be pneumonia - but he's in a lot of pain for multiple fractures in his back. Years of medication has made his bones very fragile. He had bent over to pick up a flower pot in the garage - and that's all it took for the bones to fracture. For a man of 83, he has great fortitude. He voiced only one concern when told he needed to go back to the hospital - please take care of Mom. No woman could ever ask for more than that. I took a break from quilting, drove to Columbus (a 90 minute drive) and spent the night with our daughter & family. The next morning, we drove on to Wellington (a 90 minute plus driv...

Two steps forward, five steps back.... I've been having difficulty the mere activity of getting up after sitting for more than 15 minutes. Some days are worse than others. Finally x-rays were taken - and result: arthritis in both hips. Excuse me - but arthritis was NOT on my list of things to accomplish until I'm well into my 90s. Sigh. Okay - the quilts will take longer, I will knit standing up, I will read in a reclining chair (ah ha - an excuse to go shopping) - and I will learn to get up gracefully to cover the aching bones. And I'll shop for a chiropractor if need be. Not sure what a chiropractor can do but the good ones do work miracles. I digress. The Making of a Quilt Part 2. Strips are sewn - yahoo. Panels are sewn to the strips - yahoo. Okay so far. Now the borders - top & bottom. Top is finished! Okay - not completely finished. Need batting, backing & binding....and then on to tying. There is something to be said about sewing for short periods of tim...

Ha - back to square one my patootie. More dinosaur fabric needed. Yes sireee. The quilt pattern consists of THREE panels plus a top border & bottom border. Unbeknownst to my sharp eye, these fierce dinosaurs only know one direction. Three panels must be cut lengthwise. Sigh. Okay - back for more dinosaur fabric and then to wash, dry & cut. I should have settled for Barney. Angel45402

More contrast! Must have more contrast!!! This quilt definitely needs more contrast.... Out to the stash, pull out some interesting colors that will compliment (I hope) the print.... Okay - that looks a little better! Need the quilt to be a little larger than the pattern I found in a quilting magazine. Panels need to be longer (44 1/2" vs 39 1/2") - which means more rectangles. Intrigued yet? - 5 panels of the print - top/bottom/sides & middle strip - 44 1/2" x 6" - 78 2 1/2" x 6" rectangles On to the cutting! Angel45402

I did it! I finally commited to make a quilt. Many groups today exist for the sole purpose of helping others. Members of various groups will crochet or knit hats and blankets for preemies - others will make & donate quilts for soldiers' families - to be given out while the family members are waiting for their loved one to be treated at a local hospital. "Charlotte's Garden" is such a group - quilts for adults & youngsters who are ill. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take a look at this group's mission: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Charlottesgarden/?yguid=273763372 I joined the group awhile ago. Last night I jumped in and decided it's time to commit. The story of a quilt begins today. The young man likes dinosaurs and the colors blue & green. At first I thought I'd have to applique dinosaurs - no dinosaur fabric to be found at first. No, Barney does not qualify as a dinosaur. But once again, God provided. Fabric found!!! Material is in...

Many years a very wise woman shared her traveling story. She dreaded driving, wether it be a short distance or long distance. One day it occurred to her that God could help change her mindset. She would start the trip with a very simple prayer. God please bless this trip and reveal the unexpected. Every trip became a wonderous trip. I thought little of the story until today. I had several appointments and didn't relish the idea of driving across town - not when I would have much preferred to stay home and sew or knit. While driving across town, I thought of the traveling story and prayed - bless this trip, God - and reveal the unexpected. In less than five miles, I saw momma goose nudging her five babies away from the road, a young woman standing next to a bus stop with headphones dancing to music only she could hear, and a red Corvette's license plate that read "Bond007". God works quickly! We all need reminders that He watches over us - and grants our hear...