A WITCH, DOLL QUILT and 2 BAGS

While digging around in my fabric closed, I came across a panel for making a witch that I had gotten at a garage sale in the past.  Since it is almost Halloween, I decided to make it.  Here she is sitting on our TV cabinet in the living room.

I'm also making some things to sell at a craft show and I had a bunch of fabric left over from a quilt I had made with lots of HSTs already done, so I made this pinwheel doll quilt.

I quilted feathers in the border which can barely be seen, but this morning when I placed it on my ironing board in the sun, they showed up pretty good.

Today I'm going to a retirement party for two of my very good friends from work.  I decided to make them each a bag as a retirement gift.

The buttons are sewn on in the shape of Texas.  I hope they like their bags!  The pattern is named "The Texas Tote" and is from Serendipity Gifts.

MY GRANDMA'S WEDDING DRESS

When I was at my sister's in Illinois, I decided to bring my grandmother's wedding dress home with me (with my sister's and cousin's approval).  Previously, they had taken the dress to the historic village (Farming of Yesteryear) near Kiester, Minnesota for them to display at the church (Lime Creek Church) where my grandparents got married.  However, they had so many dresses, that it really wasn't going to be displayed and they didn't really want it.  It was then decided to bring it back to the family so we could keep it.  I plan to keep it for a while and will probably give it to my GD when she is able to take it.  She is 20 now and I think she will treasure it as I have.

It's a two piece dress made of satin and the fabric is in really good shape for it's age.  The neckline is somewhat frayed, but that is all.  My grandma was from a family of 13 children.  She was the second child and the oldest daughter.  My great-grandfather owned over 1,000 acres in Freeborn County, MN and also served as a member of the MN House of Representatives.

Trim on Sleeve

Collar

Trim on Shoulder

Albert and Ingeborg Monson, married July 1, 1899 at Lime Creek Church, Freeborn County, MN

Civil War Block #38, Ohio Star

Ten Minute Table Runner

I think the table runner took more than 10 minutes because of adding buttons and decorative stitching along the line under the buttons.  I made this with Moda's Countdown to Christmas fabric that I bought at the quilt shop Beth works at in Arlington Heights, IL.  She helped me pick it out.  I think I'll make some other ones with my stash!

OUT OF BUSINESS?!?

I needed some buttons and rick rack for a few projects, so I decided to go to my favorite button store.  It's an outlet store that has been in my town forever (well, at least 29 years, which is how long we've lived here).  It has buttons, zipper, rick rack, fabric, lace, etc.  on one side and clothing on the other side.

When I got there, it looked strange.  Not as much stuff was there.  Then I asked another customer what was going on and she told me the bad news - they are going out of business!  All buttons were 2 cents and everything else was 80% off!  9" zippers are normally 35 cents, which means they were only 7 cents!  Rick rack is normally 10-15 cents per yard.  You do the math.  Unfortunately, the sale had been going on for a couple months already and we weren't here, so I had no idea, and the selection wasn't that good, but I managed to get 55 yards of rick rack for $1.15!!!!  32 zippers for $1.92!!! And 214 buttons for $4.28.  Do you think I did good?  I think I'll go back and see if there are any other things I can use...

You never know when you might need a purple zipper, or some buttons, do you?

On my trip I bought a pattern that I showed you here.  The skirt on this little dress is a towel and the top part hangs on your oven door.   

Then I remembered some other blocks that I made while in Oregon.  These Ohio Stars are made out of men's shirts that I bought at garage sales.  I have made 12 of them so far and plan to make them into a quilt for teen aged boys that are in the Children's Hospital.  I've got plenty of shirts to work with - don't know when I will get it made.

Texas has now broken the all time heat record and we were "lucky" enough to experience it!  107 on September 13!  Plus the most 100 degree days in a year (we weren't lucky enough to get in on all those days).  Hee Hee!

A PRINCESS AND 2 FINISHES

Is this a cute princess or what?  She is starting to play dress up already at 2 1/2!

Here's the latest civil war block finished!

While on our trip I was piecing as much as I could.  I made this little doll quilt and finished it this weekend.  I love the border fabric!

I rarely buy kits, but this one was on sale and I liked the fabric.  It will be gifted to my SIL/BIL.

Thanks for visiting!

CATCHING UP WITH MY CIVIL WAR BLOCKS

Except for today's, that is.  I wasn't able to keep up with the blocks because I didn't have enough reproduction fabrics with me.  Now that I've had some time to get organized, I decided to work on them today.  The current block's PDF file didn't come out at the right size, so I'm going to check Lillian's Cupboard blog to see what recommendations she has on cutting the pieces.

Some of these were finished already, but I hadn't posted them before.  Others, like the one with the appliqued star, was done except for the star, which I applied today.

I'm very happy with the last one, named the Indiana Puzzle.  I haven't done much curved piecing up till now.  

I'll have some small finishes to show soon.

CATCHING UP

I'm still working on getting all the "stuff" from our trip put away.  Here are a few patterns that I bought at various quilt shops along the way.  This "June Bugs" pattern is so cute and the dragonfly caught my eye because my GD in OR loves them.

I got this little "Cash and Carry" purse pattern at Quilters Destination in Arlington Heights, IL where Beth works.  I made one of them for my sister while at her house, but didn't take a picture of it.

This pattern caught my eye at a quilt shop we visited in South Dakota (I think).  The larger dress is a kitchen towel that you can hang on the oven handle and the smaller dress is a vintage style clothespin bag.  

While on the trip I blogged about making blocks for the "Gone to Texas" quilt and I managed to get some of them put together.  I haven't ironed them after unpacking, but you can get some idea of what it will look like.  Lots of different fabrics in this!

This fabric was a garage sale purchase - 4 yards of this fabric from Africa cost me $1.00!  I thought maybe I could use it for a backing someday.  We'll see.  It's kind of wild!

I was anxious to finish quilting my basket quilt, but when I started working on it yesterday I was having problems with my sewing machine.  The stitches kept skipping when I went over a seam.  I cleaned it, changed the needle twice and it still skipped.  I was fit to be tied.  

I went to Leah Day's blog to see if I could find out what kind of sewing machine she uses.  She has a video of her explaining about her new Janome.  It looks wonderful and I think I would like to get one some day, however, what do I do right now?  As she was explaining, she said that she never lowers the feed dogs because the tension is better when they are not lowered.  So, this morning I set up my machine to quilt and left my feed dogs up.  I also used one of those Sew Slip sheets that is supposed to make it easier to move your quilt around (I usually don't use it because I didn't think it made much difference), and what do you know, it worked.  No more skipped stitches!!!  I am so relieved!  So, now I know what I will be doing for the next few days.

Thanks for visiting!  Happy September!  I love fall.

FINALLY HOME!!

We finally arrived at home on 9/1/11 after being gone for 109 days!  We had a wonderful trip, saw lots of wonderful sites, visited family and attended my 50 year high school reunion.  We packed a lot into those days and travelled thousands of miles.  But, it is so good to be home and sleeping in our king size bed!!  I had to show you some more pictures of Jonah and Eli.

Jonah and Eli heading for the first day of Mother's Day Out

Mommy, Eli and Jonah at the church

Eli with  his new teacher!

DS#3, Jonah, Grandpa & Eli

While visiting my SIL in eastern Oregon a couple years ago, she was showing me some of the fabric & quilts that she inherited from her mother.  She also showed me some of the things from our MIL who lived near them before she died.  One item was a crocheted tablecloth that was never finished.  At the time, I was not sure, but the more I thought about it, I became convinced that it was the tablecloth that my MIL started for me.  She actually gave it to me as a wedding shower gift and then said she needed to finish it, so she took it back.  I never remembered getting it back, while she was sure she had finished it and given it to me.  

This is the tablecloth now.  It's about 4' x 6' and there are some squares finished but not attached.

 I'm not sure what I will do with it.  I doubt if I will ever finish it.  Any ideas?  It is lovely and I do love crocheted things.

I acquired a few things while on the trip at antique shops and/or garage sales.  If you have ever seen Blackbird Designs blog, this is my attempt to copy their design.  Now I need an old key.

I couldn't resist this cup - it's so delicate.  I'm amazed it arrived here intact after being jostled over the road all the way from Oregon.

I got 2 hens on nests at an antique mall.  I have a little collection of them.

 I also won a giveaway!  It is a wool applique pumpkin from Jampatterns.com .  She had the giveaway on her blog here.   Thanks, JoAnn!  I love wool applique and this one looks like fun!

My sewing room is a jumble of fabric, blocks I pieced on the trip and half unpacked boxes.  I hope to get some organization done in the next week.  In the mean time, I'm enjoying having a comfortable couch to sit in and a super comfortable bed to sleep in!  The added bonus is that it looks like the 100 degree temps for Texas have ended.  Hey, it's only 94 right now!!