Fanciful Quilts

Today is Tuesday ... the 10th of July 2018.  We moved into this beautiful house several weeks ago...and we're still "moving in".   Moving in had its challenges.  Riley's mom passed away early on the 2nd of July.  We had driven up to Wellington on the 1st of July after church service, arriving around 4pm.  She passed away very early in the am on the 2nd of July.  Funeral took place on the 6th of July.  She is in heaven with dad and all those who have passed from this earth before her.  That was (and is) a huge comfort - knowing she is in a much better place.   To continue..... You would think that moving from "small" renovated office space (about 1800 square feet) to a 2112 square foot house would be a snap.  After all, how much stuff could two people accumulate in 6 years living in a 1800 square foot space? Lots. Dear God, we are hoarders.  Pure and simple.   How I wish I could find a photo of...

The last stitch was completed awhile ago on the Fussy Crumb Bird Block Quilt.  This usually means a hiatus on quilting for awhile.  A week, a month, several months.  Usually.   However, every time I walk into the QS (aka Quilting Studio, so dubbed by my husband), I hear the VOICES.  Multitudes of voices coming from a large basket underneath the quilting frame.  This large basket just happens to house a multitude of flimsies.  Multitudes?  That's a number larger than 5 - and no, I haven't counted.  Don't need my blood pressure to raise any more than it's current state...which isn't that good.  Another story for another time.   ....so I looked among the stash .... and saw something that looked pretty lengthy.  No, you can't see it lurking in the photo on the left.  But I saw it.  Okay - that might make a nice backing.  It was somewhere on the right side of the cubicles...oh seriously, you...

And victory is claimed!! Fussy Crumb Bird Block (aka FFBB or the ARRRGHHH quilt) project has been completed!  Yes, binding and everything.  Okay - not a label.  I haven't prepared a label yet.  For another day.   A word to the wise....multiple seamed quilt tops do not play well with multiple seamed backings when one quilts the layers.  Creatively speaking, the wavy lines when one looks closely (or even not that close) are a result of Mz Bailey, my trusty mid arm, not liking it very much when she had to sew across all those seams.  I swear I heard her mutter "I think I can, I think I can....".  (If you never read the Little Engine That Could - you should).   But it is done - and it is a very heavy quilt.  I imagine once it's on our bed, it won't slip off the bed easily.  Hey - good excuse.  I would have gotten out of bed earlier but the quilt wouldn't let me.   Next project?  Hmmm...

And there is real progress! Yes, indeed.  Two full passes of quilting.  Brightly variegated thread was chosen...and the pattern? Words fail.  Call it a combination of X marks the spot and swirlies across the sashing.  Throw in a bit of meandering also.  My Xs are not quite straight but it will do.   To sum up:  so far, so good.                                                                                                             And then there's the every growing piano key border.  No, haven't measured the length yet.  Very doubtful it has reached the magical width yet... around 300".   And that will be sewn to these blocks: Blocks...

And yes, it IS a snow day.  Looking out from the landing just outside the Treehouse.... Yup, there is snow out there.   Schools are closed....so I imagine there's a lot more snow than I had thought.   Yes, we live above a chess club.  For now.  House hunting is quite an adventure.   Progress! Backing loaded on frame for Fussy Crumb Bird Block flimsy.  I thought I had squared it up nicely...but obviously not.  The backing had been hung up for quite awhile ... the ole "the wrinkles will remove themselves if hung up long enough" theory (theory is just theory)....and the squaring up obviously did not take happen other than trimming off both ends of the backing.  To remove or not remove..... In the meantime.... Strip blocks continue to grow.... And grow...... And finally ....almost finally.....just FOUR more 6 1/2" blocks to go and viola - I will have the required thirty-six 12 1/2" block...

Last post - 5 March?  Time warp.   What have I accomplished?  Dismally not much.   Quilt/backing/batting (not in that order!) still not loaded on the frame.  I wait and wait but the quilting fairies have still not arrived on the scene.   Backing - hasn't left its resting place Batting has left the packaging it came in .... so that's a plus.  Right??? The flimsy has been unfolded on the frame...that's a plus also.  Right!!!! Rather than concentrating on what was NOT done, I have made more string blocks towards the goal of - well, darn.  Thirty six 12 1/2" blocks is the goal - I think.   Somewhere I have that EQ7 drawing.  Have I counted?  No, I have not.  I just know I have a bunch of them ready to grow into larger blocks.  Here's the proof....    There is something wonderful about strip blocks.  You just never know how those colors will...

The day after.....Black Friday Sales....serious thoughts of never eating again.... Thanksgiving dinner was amazing.  Sister's and BIL's invite was very much welcomed....despite the urge to follow with my original plan and arrive in my pajamas.  It was a lovely dinner....and good conversation....and the realization I have so many blessings and much to be thankful for: God whom I can trust and put my faith in Him for every detail of my life Despite a good number of excess pounds (and no, excess is a good enough description), I have my health.   I have a wonderful church family whom I know I can (or in this day and age:  text) just to chat.    I have a wonderful husband who, despite the good number of excess pounds, believes I am quite exceptional.  44 years plus and he still has that great smile that warms me down to my toes. We have four exceptional grandkiddos who let us know we are special to them every time we see them We have exce...

After reading several Facebook postings (a morning habit that doesn't seem too harmful.....),  I took stock of the Thanksgiving posts.   All is good.  God is good...and He is in control.  I can rest comfortably in His care. Thanksgiving. Two pies are comfortably resting on the kitchen counter.  Yes, homemade. Do I have to count the crusts as not being homemade?  That aside, two gluten free pies were baked by me.  Not to mention, the oven not only got a thorough cleaning (ewwww), but a nice oven liner was placed lovingly underneath the heating coils with a stern warning: you better do your job or else.  Okay - back to the pies.  One pumpkin pie - made with coconut milk.  Canned coconut milk.  Looked all over creation in the two stores for this ingredient.  Ha - it was hidden all along next to the condensed milk.  So much for the meager shelf area that proudly proclaimed GLUTEN FREE.  Somehow I have assigned GL...

It took awhile to unearth my password to this blog.  Shameful.  Two years of MIA???  Life has a way of taking unexpected twists and turns.  How we twist and turn is either a testimony to God's grace....or not.   I have noted that many quilters take on a word every year.  A word that defines...or a word that one HOPES will define....or a word that one prays will keep them on track.  I like that.   2014's word was:  Acceptance.  Didn't do too well with it.  Much as I would lovvvve to go into each and every story, I'll spare the details. 2015's word IS:  Encourager. That's a word I often overlook.  How many times have I looked at others' quilts (usually posted online with a yahoo group) and wrote nothing.  Zip.  It dawned on me recently that a word appropriately spoken could have spoke volumes to that individual.  Encourager.  Yes, I think that is a word I will have to print out in very large ...

Good heavens...it's been quite awhile since I've updated this journey...and now, finally located the user ID and password, I find the whole setup of the blog has changed.   This should be one interesting blog. Quilting life has slowed down a bit for numerous reasons.  Mainly, life and discovering the joys of my Kindle Fire.  Doesn't take much, does it?  However, I have made a few blocks for online yahoo group lottery - am now undertaking sets of blocks for a swap - and do a whole lot of fabric fondling in the meantime.  The interest hasn't died....just seems to be taking a nap.  I do know that once I sit down in front of my laptop, hours can whiz by.  Not productive....nor note worthy when I would write up daily posts to several yahoo groups.   When the daily posts were met with zero response, it's time to take stock and - well, spend time instead doing something more constructive.  My kitchen looks pretty spiffy now....and la...

Nothing sparks my interest than something new. Oh pfffttt. I just do NOT like following directions nor a pattern. Scrappy strip blocks. What a great way to use scraps (and who doesn't have a few - ahem - bags of scraps?!?!). In the retreat room (aka sewing area which I share with Riley), I've whipped up over 50 of these babies. Four 5 1/2 strip square blocks sewn together and then trimmed to 10". Seems like I could whip up a quilt in no time. I jest and surely you do too. Not being one with the mathematical mind (other than balancing the checkbook), I used 2 inches of a beautiful mottled gray blender in between each block. I do believe we quilters call that "sashing". When I become a quilter with terminology, I'll let you know. At any rate, put a few together - threw it on the bed and nope, not quite wide enough. Added a few more blocks. Threw it on the bed. Nope, not quite wide enough. Finally at 7 blocks, it's wide enough. I think. That...

I am convinced. Works in Progress need to be set aside for an unspecified time. Translation: Oh my - when did I put THAT together?!?!?! And how long has it been in that box (bag, underneath the table, in the closet...)?!?!?! There is much to be said for WIPs...UFOs...PIGs..(which I still have problems remembering what PIG stands for)....Especially if one is tired of working on the project. I stopped just short of trashing (horrors) this particular quilt top. I'm so pleased I didn't. Now it will become a rescued lap quilt for someone for Christmas. I have no shame. I don't put together a quilt with someone in mind...unless you count myself. Seems a bit shallow to admit but there you have it. I figure a good friend, member of the family or a passing acquaintance worth their salt would be thrilled to receive something handmade. No matter how badly it was put together. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. In the meantime, I quilt. Angel45402

Belonging to several yahoo quilting groups, I read almost all the posts (averaging 50 a day) and was struck by one post in particular. There are times when we all leap out in faith and post photos of our work. I'd like to think we do this with some sort of trepidation, looking for some sort of feedback. Never have I witnessed other than pure kindness when comments are posted in response to a completed project or perhaps just a block. However, this one post brought out something I didn't give much thought to until several days later.. The author pointed out a simple lack of courtesy that prevails among us all. Someone takes the leap - posts a photo of a current project and not one comment was posted. Looking back over several postings and indeed, there were several noticeable lack of comments after one brave soul posted a photo. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. The author of the post simply asked - what does it take of your time to simply post "great job" or "love the...

One of the best times I've had with my sister took place last Wednesday evening. Memories of long ago Sunday afternoons with sis and mom playing bingo at the on-base club came to mind. I set off to find a bingo hall - on line. Found one - not too far from where we live. We got there a good 30 minutes earlier than the time posted. Alas, someone didn't tell the owners we were coming. It was obvious this bingo hall had not been in use for some time. Maybe years. Darn. But not all was lost. Joanns was close by and I had a need to buy some perle cotton. Out came the phone and the wonderful browser capability.....yes, there was another bingo hall not more than 15 minutes away. We found the place easily enough; parking was another matter. Who were these people that took up all these parking spaces?!?!? Finally found a spot, pulled in and hoped the business next to the bingo hall was full of loving and kind people who would not tow my car while we were inside the bingo hall. For those...

Writers get writer's block....quilters sometimes face the same stumbling block. The inspiration isn't there - the motivation has fled - the sewing mchine is deadly quiet for the most part. This quilter not only has hit a stumbling block but dead on to a brick wall. No reasonable explanation. 75% of one pieced top is on the design wall and has been there for quite some time. Sashing to go between the blocks was ordered, delivered, washed and yet - not ironed. And still the 75% pieced top still remains on the design wall. No reasonable explanation. Every journey starts with one step - but what does one do when one doesn't feel like putting that foot in front of the other to continue on the journey? Perhaps every journey isn't meant to be finished within a specific timeframe. Ecclesiastes 3:1 advises "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven". For now, the pieced top will remain on the design wall until such time it...

On the 9th of July, my parents will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Imagine....sixty years. Riley & I will celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary on the 27th of July...and I think that's one long length of time (a good length of time, Riley - honest). I thought it would be a wonderful gift to my parents to bring our two kids & their family to WI to help celebrate their 60th....a tad early since we'd be coming in on the weekend of the 4th of July. I examined driving....500 miles in a 12 passenger van with 7 adults and 2 kids under the age of 5. Well, room for 12 did seem like a lot of room until you figure in car seats for the tykes. Scratch that. Thought about renting 2 mini vans and doing the caravan bit for 500 miles. I wonder why I felt tired just at the thought. Driving 500 miles on Friday....driving 500 miles back on Sunday. Scratch that. Flying. Yes, that's the way to go. No fuss, no muss. Fly in, rent a couple of cars to get around, snag 3 hotel ro...

Today, dear husband Riley will be discharged from the hospital after having a bilateral knee replacement. The now-bionic man decided to have both knees replaced. Surgery took place on the 13th of May and today is the 22nd of May. A miracle, indeed, to be discharged this early. One of the items on the to-do list was to drive to the medical supply place and pick up a few items to make life easier. As I packed the shower bench and apparatus that fits over the toilet (is there a real word for that contraption???), I realized that we are no longer in the spring season of our lives. Just fact, nothing more. We have lots of adventures to still look forward to....including the vacation we didn't take in February of this year when Riley came home from Iraq earlier than expected. Oh yes, dear husband - it's in writing now so the vacation was merely postponed (smile). I so look forward to having him home once again. Never knew hospital visits could be tiring - though not so tiring as to t...

This one has to be my all-time favorites....of all the roses Riley has had delivered weekly, this is THE one. Perhaps it is the fact that we're getting closer and closer to our magic date of 23 Feb 09 when we will meet in the Atlanta airport and then fly out to Cancun. Perhaps it's just the sheer beauty of this flower. The deep red is in the inside of the petal - and the creamy barely pink color is on the outside of the petal. The rose itself didn't last more than a couple of days, but the beauty of it will be forever in my heart. A mazingly enough, when the rose unfolded - it was truly beautiful. For two days it showed its glory without a wilt in sight. I dreamt of this rose several nights ago....as if there was a significant meaning to this particular rose. When I woke up, Robert Burns poem came to mind. Mind you, I'm not one to read poetry until the wee hours of the morning...or even while having a cup of coffee midday. I do confess to having written many poems in m...