Monday, December 17, 2018

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

MERRY TRAILS



I came across this pattern while flipping through a Quiltmania magazine for Nov/Dec 2015 that was marked down at the LQS.  When I saw this pattern, I knew I had to make it.  We never had this kind of trailer, but we had a couple different campers (a slide in truck camper and a fifth wheel) that we used for several years.  We loved traveling around the USA and visiting national parks as well as visiting our sons and their families so this is perfect for us.

I had planned to finish it before Christmas 2017, but then we decided to spend last Christmas in Florida, so I didn't have to have it finished then.  I just put the binding on a week ago and now it is hanging in the living room!

Yesterday was the "Lessons and Carols" service at church with lots of music.  I sang in the choir and my grandson played the piano and accordion.  Pictures taken with my phone aren't always the best but here they are.



Now on to do some baking.  In case I don't do another post before Christmas, I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and blessings in the New Year!

Thursday, December 13, 2018

SAJOU QUILTED AND BOUND!

Well, fellow bloggers, I have to say that again I am shocked that I haven't posted for about 3 weeks!  And have hardly had time to even read other posts.  My excuse is that I had 3 craft shows, beginning the 2 days after Thanksgiving and continuing for the next 2 weekends.  Then, I needed to try to get caught up.  I am somewhat caught up, but until Dec. 21, I will be franticly trying to get things done before our 3rd son and family arrive for Christmas (as well as my sister, who will arrive late on Christmas day), cleaning and baking, wrapping gifts, as I know you will probably be doing as well.

I did get my Sajou quilt finished - quilted and bound!  Thanks, Lori, for the QAL!   It just needs a label.  I used a different black fabric for the binding and quilted it with grey thread in the black inner border and cross hatching the center.  I used a pink/purple variagated thread in the pink and purple sections.


I quilted feathers in the pink triangles.


The backing is some civil war fabric that I love and have had for quite a while.  There is just a tiny bit left of it.


I also made this fall wall hanging for my DGD, who had admired the one I had hanging on the wall.  Mind had a crow in front of the pumpkin, but she wanted a cat instead.  She doesn't read my blog, so I'm sure she will still be surprised when she sees it.


Her brother saw a picture of a pillow with a cat on it and suggested that I make one for his sister (the same DGD that I made the wall hanging for).  I took his advice and after digging around for a fabric to use, I decided on this toile which I purchased at an antique mall last April when I was in Northfield, MN.  I wish I could go back to that store!


That's what I've been up to and hopefully I will squeeze in some blog reading time before Christmas and be able to see what you-all have been doing.

Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, November 22, 2018

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND REMINISCING

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted.  I have some explaining to do!  I took a trip to Florida to get together with some of my cousins, the oldest of which just turned 91.  There were 5 of us and we spent about 5 days talking and reminiscing non-stop!!

Which brings me to the first picture, which is of me and my older brother on a horse named Red at our great-uncle's farm in Minnesota circa 1950.  This picture displays something that the 5 of us cousins had in common as an important remembrance of our childhood.  I grew up in the Chicago area, but in 1950 my grandmother's brothers & sisters were just about all farming in Minnesota and we loved to go there to visit.


The first day of the cousins' visit we went to see the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.


A couple days later we went to the Jupiter Lighthouse.

Cousins at the Jupiter lighthouse
The cousin missing in the Jupiter picture is shown with me below.  We were 2 weeks apart in age, so we were very close as children.  We are in Jupiter and that is the Atlantic Ocean behind us.


After my wonderful visit with cousins, I traveled to Pensacola to visit DS, DIL and DGD Abby.  They now have 15 chickens and Abby loves them.  It was great to have some quality time with Abby!


She will be 10 in December and is into all things girly and blingy!  She loves to polish her fingernails, so we did that one day.


We saw these ducklings on our way to the fabric store one day and had to stop to get some pictures.


A & E Fabric Store in Pensacola, Florida is wonderful!  I went there a few times - it's only about a mile from my son's home.


They have several orange trees in their yard as well as a huge grapefruit tree, so DS is picking some oranges for us to bring home.


We had our Christmas gift exchange and I gave Abby her quilt.


I visited the Pensacola Light House at the Naval Air Station with my DIL and Abby.  Oh, and BTW, I climbed to the top of all three lighthouses!


Since I came home, I have been getting ready for 3 craft shows.  After they are over, I will be getting ready for Christmas, as all of you will be doing.  Our 3rd son and his family will be coming to Oregon for Christmas - for the first time!  We are excited to show them where we live, etc.

Now I better get back to cooking for our Thanksgiving dinner.  We do have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving to your and your families!

Friday, October 26, 2018

SAJOU TOP FINISHED

Lori at Humble Quilts is having a link party today for people who have participated in her QAL to make the Sajou mini quilt.  I didn't start until yesterday, so I haven't had time to layer and quilt it, but I do have the top finished.

I had set a few fabrics aside over the last week or so and yesterday I decided to at least do the first part of Sajou.  The center fabric was something that I picked up in the scrap chest at my LQS.  I decided to use a lot of black, grey, some pink and the lone green on the top right corner.


After picking a black border, I decided to use another favorite pick from the scrap chest - the pink print.  I just love that fabric!


Oh, why not finish the top while I'm at it!  I picked out another black border, some purple fabrics (maybe you can't see it, but there is some purple in the pink print) and some green in the corners.  And finished it right before supper.


OK!  it's interesting!!  Thanks, Lori!!  I will link this to your link party.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

BOW-DACIOUS!

I first saw this quilt when I attended a workshop in 2013 led by Bonnie Hunter and she showed us some of her quilts.  I loved it and decided to make it one day.  I just finished it and it will be given to my 9 year old GD for Christmas.  It is very scrappy. 


This back view isn't very good due to the dappled shade.



I just love this border fabric - it was a new fabric at my LQS.


Here's a better picture of the backing.  I'm planning on making quilts with bigger pieces for a while.  This quilt has about 53 pieces in each block!  It take a lot longer to make a block with that many pieces, especially when you need to find scraps that look good together.


I've also been very busy making items to sell at Christmas craft shows in Rickreal OR and McMinnville OR.  Between that, I'm working on Christmas gifts as well.  Here it is the middle of October already!!  This is why I haven't been posting as much lately, or reading and commenting on my favorite blogs.  Sorry, ladies!

Happy Fall!

Monday, October 1, 2018

PART 3 OF THE NW QUILTING EXPO

There was a special exhibit of these quilted kimonos.  This is some of them.











A few more quilts that were judged.





This is my favorite quilt from the whole show.  It is very small, but I just love it!


There were 2 little old ladies who were trying to get a picture of this quilt with a flip phone, but didn't know how to do it, so they asked for my help.  I was lucky to be able to figure out how to take the picture, but didn't know how to actually see the picture on the phone to determine if it turned out OK.  I hope it turned out!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you enjoyed the show!

Sunday, September 30, 2018

PART 2 OF THE NORTHWEST QUILTING EXPO

Here are some more quilts from the show.  This cat quilt is one of my favorites!  BTW, many of the quilts didn't have an information sheet next to them - if they did, I took a picture of it and have published it after the quilt.


Wool Applique












Another episode coming tomorrow!