GRANDBABIES AND FIRST BOM

Jonah turned one yesterday! Unfortunately, he's in Wisconsin. I think he liked the cake!
Abigail gets her first meal of mashed carrots! What a cutie!! Unfortunately, she lives in Florida!
Here's my first BOM. It was from a quilt shop in Arlington, TX, that is out of business. The fabrics are all Thimbleberries. A friend of mine and I participated in this BOM - it was the kind where you pay $5 for the first month, and if you bring the completed block back the next month, you get it for free. It was a number of years ago, so I don't really remember how much I actually paid for the blocks. I sewed this together in sections, quilted the sections and then sewed the sections together and slip stitching the backing together. I decided that I didn't like this method of quilting. This was the biggest quilt that I had every quilted by machine - and I think it still is the biggest. It's twin size.
Here is a small runner I made for this desk. I have been wanting to make something for this desk for a long time! It might be my only finish for May. I have lots of WIPs though. Hee Hee!
I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and appreciate the sacrifice of many for our freedoms.

FIVE (?!?) BOMS

I can't believe I'm participating in FIVE BOMs now. Here are the some that I just completed:
Gail Pan's Christmas BOM, Willowberry's stitchery BOM...

Below are the first 2 months from the LQS Just Stitchin's BOM. They are doing it in brights and pastels, so I joined both of them!!! The fifth one is "A Tisket, A Tasket" which I haven't done for this month yet. Before I started blogging, I had only participated in one BOM at a LQS and it took me a long time to get that quilt finished. (I'll have to post a picture next time). It always seemed so hard to do a block a month. But now, it seems a lot easier. I guess I get lots of motivation from other bloggers. Thanks, everyone!
My DH had hernia surgery a week ago and I have spent a lot of time stitching while he lies in bed recuperating. I stitched 3 of these flag quilts. I still have to put the border on before I can sandwich them. I also made 2 small log cabin table runners, which I forgot to take pictures of (next post).
I have been working on this tumbler charm quilt for a while and I am going to add one more row to what you see below. It measures 38" by 36" now. I'm going to hand quilt it since it is all hand pieced. Any ideas on quilting designs? I was thinking of simply stitching 1/4" inside of each seam. Another idea would be the fan quilting. What do you think?
This is a cross stitched quilting picture that I did before I really got involved in actual quilting, but was thinking about it a lot.
Another weekend almost gone! How come they're so short???

I REMEMBER MAMA AND DADDY

I was thinking about both of my parents more than usual this week, because Daddy's birthday was May 7, and of course, today is Mother's Day. Both of my parents were born in 1911 and they were married for 65 years. Daddy was almost 90 when he went home to be with the Lord, and Mama was 92.

Do any of you remember watching the TV show in the 50's "I Remember Mama?" That was my Mom's favorite show at that time, probably mostly because we are Norwegian. It would be fun to see some of those episodes again, but I don't think they are available.

Mama loved to embroider and these are a set of pillowcases she made, but never used or gave away. We found them in her drawer after she died.
Look at all that satin stitching!! I would never want to do this pattern because I'm not very good at satin stitching. And the edging is all hand done blanket stitching! Up until the last few years of her life, she always seemed to have some embroidery to work on. She made several of those cross-stitched quilts - I'm not sure how many, but I think the one she made for our wedding gift was the first one. I'm sure it's because of her example that I have always loved to sew and embroider. Not that I haven't had dry spells, but I've always enjoyed many kinds of needle work.
I received this cute little pin cushion from my Secret Pal at work! I had never seen one of these before and it is really clever how the thread is held on by a strip of seam binding. How handy!
DH had hernia surgery on Thursday, so I was at home taking care of him. While he slept, I worked on these log cabin blocks. I made 60 of them
This is a doll quilt that I finished a week ago. I like how it looks on my rocker!
Yesterday I received a phone call from my DS#3, who is in Iraq now. He called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. He has just been promoted to Major!!!

I hope all you mothers have a wonderful Mother's Day!

THIS AND THAT

I got up early on Saturday morning to go to some garage sales. I didn't have to set the alarm, because I usually wake up at 5:30 or earlier anyway. When I saw this old rocking chair, I thought they would want quite a bit for it, so I was shocked when they said $2.00!!! It didn't take me long to decide to get it (1/2 a second).

I have been wanting something nice on my front porch and they also had this rocking chair for $2.00, so I grabbed it as well. The red milk can was at another house for $2.00. I had a very good day at garage sales!
This wire egg basket looked interesting and was only $1.00.
These butterfly blocks were made by my grandmother, probably in the 1940's or 50's. I guess she only made these two. Maybe someday I will make more so I can have a butterfly quilt .
Besides working on hand piecing my tumbler block rows together, I have been paper piecing these stars for a project that I don't want to tell about yet. I'm not very fond of paper piecing and I seem to have to unsew a lot when I do it.
Another week starting. Hope it's a good one!

2 BOMs AND 2 OLDER QUILTS

Here's my fourth "A Tisket A Tasket" BOM finished.  I'm current!

Also current on the Willowberry Designs BOM.  Woo Hoo!
This is the queen size quilt that I made for DS#2 and DIL.  The pattern was featured on the cover of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine for February 2003.  I had to look hard and long to find the variety of fabrics that I put into it.  I'm sorry the pictures aren't very good - they were taken before we got a digital camera.  I had this one machine quilted for me.

I made this queen size log cabin quilt for DS#1 & DIL sometime before the one above.  I hand quilted it and I think it took me about a year to finish it.  After that, I decided that I would send large quilts out to be quilted for me.  Hee Hee!  (At least until I retire).  I think this was called Denver Log Cabin.  I'm thinking I need to make another log cabin quilt soon - maybe a scrappy one.  I don't know if you can see the edging on the pillowcases, but it was crocheted by my Grandma.

I MIGHT LIKE APPLIQUE AFTER ALL!

Here is the latest BOM from Gail Pan designs. I think I'm current on this one, except I haven't been putting the borders on yet. And here's the latest "A Tisket A Tasket" applique BOM. When I started these, I didn't know how I would do them, because I usually don't do applique. The first month, I tried needle turn applique and while I got it done, I wasn't real happy with it. The second one I tried the kind where you iron freezer paper on, turn the edges under and applique like needle turn. Then you cut out the back and peel off the paper. I really didn't like this method and decided I would not do it again. The last two I used Wonder Under and machine applique and I like this method the best. I know it doesn't look as good as "good" needle turn applique, but I think it looks better than MY needle turn, so I decided to do all of them this way.
I can't believe I am up to date on these! (I'll post the 4th one soon - I need to take a picture of it). I gives me a little hope and even desire to do some more applique. It would probably be better if I would do some "country" or "primitive" type applique with large pieces. Tee Hee Hee!!!

NEW GRANDDAUGHTER

I'm posting the 3 month picture of our adorable new granddaughter, Abigail! We are hoping we can go see her soon - it is killing me that we haven't gotten to hold her yet. I feel like a negligent Grandma, but DH's health has been holding us back.
This is the 3rd stitchery from Willowberry Designs BOM. Go here if you want to participate.

HOSPITAL QUILTS

I finished my Noah's ark wall hanging from Lynette Anderson Designs - it is still available for anyone interested - FREE. I really like how it turned out.
This is the 3rd design from Gail Pan's BOM. The new one is out, so I will do that next.
At my work, I am able to take one day of leave per year to do volunteer work, so I usually take that day and work on quilts for my guild - we donate to the VA hospital and Children's Medical Center in Dallas. The baby quilt is for the Children's hospital.
This is a wheel chair quilt for the Veterans Hospital.
Here are some goodies I found at a local garage sale for $1.80! You can't have too many buttons!
And I love doileys and vintage pot holders.

VISIT WITH CHRISTINE LEFEVER

One of the highlights of my trip to Oregon (besides being with family) is my visit with Christine LeFever, a maker of dolls in early styles. I read about her in the February issue of Country Living magazine. From the magazine, I found her web site and from there I found her blog . I'm not sure where I got the nerve, but I emailed her and asked if I could visit to see how she makes the dolls. She graciously said "yes."
I went with my DIL & GD to visit her at her lovely home and she immediately made us feel comfortable. She showed us around and gave us a lot of interesting information about Oregon. Her house was built in the 1800's (I forget the year) at the end of the Oregon Trail. She has it decorated with antiques and it is wonderful! She makes the doll heads in a mold and the bodies out of cloth. She loves all things old. Unfortunately, some of the pictures I took were blurred, but the one above shows some of the doll heads waiting for bodies to be made for them. You can see some finished dolls at her web site and will know why she was picked to be featured in the magazine. I want to make some dolls also, but I'm sure they won't measure up to hers.

This picture below is a cute little table in the entry hall. I don't believe this doll is one she made.
The bed in her guest bedroom has a wonderful antique quilt on it.
Here's a picture of me and Christine in the guest bedroom with some of her collections.
This visit was such fun and I'm hoping that I can visit her again some time. Travelling out to Oregon by plane and seeing the rugged wilderness, I am amazed that people used to travel out there by wagon train. Those people were brave! It makes us seem rather wimpy, doesn't it?

Thanks, Christine, for the wonderful time!

BACK FROM OREGON

We just returned from a fabulous trip to Oregon to visit my BIL/SIL and son#1's family. Below is a pic of our son's house (built around 1890) which they moved into last summer. (Do you see the black cat)? The trees and flowers were beautiful! The pic above was taken while driving over Mt. Hood - we had to get a car with 4-wheel drive because of the snow. Sure was pretty!
I missed doing much blogging while there. However, I was able to do some shopping in quilt stores!! Below are some pictures of my purchases. The first one has some scraps from a neat shop in McMinnville, OR (Boersma's). They have a chest with scraps costing 50 cents per ounce. I purchased some pieces that I can use in eye spy quilts, etc.
They also had these Moda scrap bags for $9.99 with lots of strips. The strips are about 4" wide. I have gotten these near home also, but this bag seemed fuller!
The buttons are also from Boersma's in McMinnville. You can pick out buttons from a bin and put them into a cup for $1.50. My GD got 2 cups full and I got 1 cup! I also got the charm pack on the right from them. The other items below are from a quilt shop in Prineville OR, Bend, OR and Sisters, OR. I didn't buy too much, did I? I love the quilt shop in Sisters (The Stitchin' Post), but they have mostly more modern fabrics and I'm rather partial to reproductions.
In Prineville, my SIL & I went to an estate sale and I got 12 yards of quilting fabric for $9.00!!!! That's my kind of price. I also got these hankies - someday I'm going to figure out something to make with them. Anyone have any ideas? I've been collecting this type of hanky for a while.
Next post I'll tell you about a very special visit I had with a famous doll maker. I'll do that this weekend! It's good to be back home, but I'm not so sure I'm glad to be back at work. I need time to sew!!!!!

LOOT FROM DALLAS QUILT SHOW

Here's my second month of Willowberry Designs . I have the next one ready to start stitching.
Here's the second block in the "A tisket, a tasket" BOM from Bunny Hill Designs . At least I can say I'm learning some things about applique! I bought a couple bias tape makers at the quilt show. (See picture below).
LOOT: some reproduction fat quarters,
A panel of flags,
wool, 2 yards of white on white and 1 yard of red with little airplanes, more FQs, an apron pattern and the bias tape makers.
I had to hold myself back or I could have spent lots more money! Hee Hee!!