Fanciful Quilts

...and somewhere I have a photo of #1.   Who belongs to the "oh good grief - why didn't I see this before I got this far" club???  I'm sure you'll discover the layout had a bit of a glitch.   Hmmm...perhaps if I just rotate the top to the right.  Or stand on my head..... Next step - find backing.   No worries.  The organized chaos in the sewing room will allow me to find backing in less than a month.     No clue as to what is next on the design wall.  Lots of UF Q s....and not enough time to fulfill my 2015 Resolutions.  Not even close.   However, there is always 2016! Angel45402

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...

I think not.  Not for me.  Not now, not ever.  So many projects, so little time.  However, I did spend quite a bit of time reorganizing the room.  An entire day and then s ome.  While there are probably a few BEFORE photos hanging around, it's best to just share the NOW photos.  Besides....it was truly a terror seeing those BEFORE photos.  And why the need for organizing?  Design wall.  There wasn't a clear pathway to the one wall that would suffice for a design wall.  Sometimes it just takes a nudge (or in this case, a push off a cliff) to realize something has to change. So a few photos of the NOW..... First - a shot of the mid arm and the beloved quilting frame.  Or maybe it's the beloved quilting frame that houses the beloved mid arm.  At any rate..... Finally pulled the entire set up out from the wall....just so I can now order a second set of handles for Mz Bailey.  Time to branch out and use pantographs...

You would think in a period of 24 hours, the very least that could have been accomplished was to iron the backing and the quilt top chosen yesterday. Procrastination. 3.2 mile walk. Lunch at Uno's after the walk  - which went fairly well until the lunch crowd decided to have lunch with two elderly walkers in sweats....aka. myself and dearest husband.  Goodness, women still wear heels.  I digress. In lieu of preparing quilt top and backing....  8 of 10 small blocks were framed.  Partial seams.  I am not a huge fan of partial seams but am getting the hang of them. Ten of ten would have been completed....but alas, when one runs out of steam, one should simply stop, reflect and be happy for what was accomplished.  Translation:  I misplaced the two blocks - which were discovered after photographing the 8.  Babysitting either one or two grands tomorrow....so perhaps on Thursday quilt top and backing will find themselves ready for ...

Already September 2015 and while I feel there is not much to show for it (translation: at least 40 quilts done), I am sure there is much to show.... Instead of focusing what's in the past, I intend to do my best to focus on today....and let tomorrow worry about itself. Mathew 6: 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. So no worries....just focus on today. Have finally decided to focus on goals for the remainder of this year - and on to 2016.   Quilty goals. One finished quilt a month.   That's it.   Seems simple enough. September 2016 The "Amy Butler" quilt....  Quilt top: ....and quilt backing...... 21 September....9 days to go.   And penalty for not completing?  Absolutely none. Nice. Angel45402

I belong to a yahoo quilt group:  Quilters Who Care.   Every so often a member of the group loses a mother...or a father...or a brother....or is just having a difficult time. When facing a difficult time, quilters have the same thought....make a quilt of comfort. Email goes out....send heart blocks!   Nothing beats a comforting quilt.  This one will go to a member who lost her mom a short time ago.   When my dad died a few years ago, I received a heart quilt....so many hearts, so much comfort.  Of this I am sure:  when in doubt when grief strikes someone you know - consider a quilt. Sew on! Angel45402

I won't even look back to check when was the last time I blogged.  Gasping is probably not good for the soul. Quilting and quilting and quilting....and more quilting.  Not true.  Some quilting.....but not nearly enough to be content.  What does it mean to be contented quilter?  For some, happily sewing away 24/7.  For others, maybe an hour a week.  I'm somewhere in the middle. Blocks are slowly becoming quilt tops....Quilt tops are slowly becoming completed quilts.   I'm slowly getting there. This is the Pocketful of Mysteries (Mystery?  I'm always confusing the name of the yahoo group) quilt.  Each block posted by the owner of the group - each representing a letter of the alphabet.  Four corners are the Friendship Star.  Bless EQ7 for making it easier to come up with a layout.   Oh yes, EQ7.  That has consumed a lot of time ... sometimes, frustrating.  Other times, not so frustrating.  It'...

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 ...

2013.  The year of bl ock of the months and quilts yet to see the light of day.   There is something satisfying when one comp letes a quilt.  Even this quilt. It's the 2nd quilt I attemp ted - over 15 years ago.  Maybe even over 20 years ago.  I was so pleased with putting it togethe r and then something shifted , reality took over and it w ent from ba g to bag - and then folded and put away in a cupb oard.   Finally - it was removed... chuckled over....and I began the process of finding backing and experimenting with adhesive batting .   Discovered I am n ot a fan of adhesive batting.   I tried just about everything to iron quilt to batting and yet , nary a "stick".  Perhaps my technique - perhaps not.  A lso gummed up t he needle a bit during the quilting process . All in all, I am glad I completed it.  It is now hanging on the dining room wall where I can see it daily .  It serves as a constan t remind...

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...

...and that about sums it up. Spent the weekend at a womens' retreat. My third retreat. Each one has brought about a hmmm moment - or moments. This one was the most intense. Health wise - all in order. Emotional wise - not so in order. Work has a tendency to define us...or so I've believed for years. When you meet an individual for the first time, the top five questions will always include "so..... what do you do?" - no need to add "for a living" - it's just assumed this is exactly what you're inquiring. It's usually good for a good two minute monolog. Fast forward 32 years and then the big R hits. Retirement. So....what do I do? And then it hits. I do? I maintain a house (okay, an apartment); I cook (okay, so maybe on a rare occasion); I clean (don't go there) and I quilt. Sometimes quilt. Sometimes less than more. I make breakfast for my dear husband and me every morning. I pack a lunch for him. I shop for groceries. We walk. What is missin...

Ahhh - it is the 22 nd of April....and I finally tackled a new project. While at a local LQS (not shopping - honestly - not shopping!!!) (uh huh - sure), I saw the neatest table runner - made of a shape called TUMBLERS. Googled it later and found a very, very nice pattern courtesy of Quilters' Cache. If you don't know this site, find it and immediately bookmark it. It is a TREASURE of blocks and patterns. Love it. I digress (love that word). For several years I have received birthday fabric from my quilting buddies who belong to an online yahoo group. Size of the fabric ranged from F8 to some not-known sizes. After a good seasoning (all quilting fabric must season for awhile - it's a known fact), I took them out the other day and thought... ahhh ha! Eureka. I had an ah ha moment. And promptly started cutting.....and cutting...and cutting. First off - very important prep. STARCH your fabric pieces first. It really does make it easier to cut out the shapes. Rotary cutter,...

It is the 19th of April. Taxes completed and already the meager refund has been deposited in our checking account. Moving takes a lot out of one. And then there's the settling in. And then there's the discovery of a roof drain pipe that leaks - and of course, it extends the full length of the building. Translation: when it rains, it leaks. When it leaks, it leaks on to the floor of the lower level. Further translation: it leaks on to the carpet. And one more translation: this is where the chess players play in the tournaments we hold. We're praying our multi-talented contractor comes back from Florida very, very soon to replace that last bit of iron roof drain pipe. The part that leaks. The part that makes me grit my teeth. My, my, my. Of course, those are not the words I'm using nonverbally when it's 3am and I'm using an old carpet shampooer to suck up water. Drought in Texas and Oklahoma and Dayton, Ohio has enough water coming down to make one wonder where in...

This is the entrance to our soon-to-be new home. It is now February 13, 2011. Early December 2010, we took the plunge to renovate/rehab the mezzanine - now known as "Riley & Sharon's Treehouse ". Over ten years ago, we bought a 3 story business building with a lower level in the heart of downtown Dayton. Whether or not it really resides in the "heart" of downtown Dayton is left to those scoffers. Within a year of rehabbing it (the building has quite an interesting history), the former mezzanine was torn down and a new one built for a "dot.com" company. Eight months later the company went bankrupt. It sat vacant for quite awhile...very sad. Riley & I started talking about renovating it for living space. Why not. The space is quite unusual....spans the entire length of the building...100 feet roughly by 16 feet...and split up in business room fashion. Whatever that means. The conference room was tagged to be the sewing/study room. A lon...

Where has the time gone??? Seriously - one moment it was July and now it's October already. Summer heat and now leaves crunching underfeet (or is that underfoot???). Riley & I drove up here to Oshkosh, WI on Wednesday. Actually, we spent the night at Merrillville, IL and drove the rest of the way on Thursday. My sis is with us....she is staying at mom & dad's while Riley & I stay at a hotel, barely over a mile away. The 13th of October marked dad's 80th birthday. Today we will celebrate it with lunch, maybe a few presents and good wishes. Dad isn't doing extraordinarily well. He's forgetful and has trouble lifting one leg to get the rest of the body into a car. Could be the beginning stages of Alzheimers - or dementia - or perhaps neither of the above. It may very well be time to put the house up for sale and move to a place that is senior-citizen friendly where everything needed is on one floor and it's easier to get in and out of a bathtub ...