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!!

DALLAS QUILT SHOW

I went to the Dallas Quilt Show today and took some pictures. These are some of the quilts I liked best. I like traditional patchwork best, which you can probably tell from my selections.


This quilt is by Theri, who blogs on allpeoplequilt.com . The way the colors are used makes it look like it's glowing!
This one looks three dimensional.


I love reproductions too!

It was a fun day and I spent quite a bit of time happily vising vendors & spending money! Now, I need to rest!

TOP FINISHED!!

I started sewing the quilt top together yesterday and I couldn't stop until I had it all together! Woo Hoo!! Tonight I will take it to my quilters guild meeting for show & tell!


Here's the first stitchery from Willowberry Designs .  I'm almost finished with the second one.  These are really sweet and fun to do!
Happy Stitching, everyone!

TWO MORE BLOCKS DONE

I got two more blocks finished! And I'm in a sewing mood, so I'm going to get at least one more ready tonight.

I'm looking forward to going to the Dallas Quilt Show next Saturday. Can't wait! Wish you could come with me!

POLKA DOT GIRLS - FIRST BLOCK DONE

Here is block one of the Polka Dot Girls quilt.    Let's see if I can get the top put together by the 15th of March!  

A LITTLE PROGRESS AND SOME MEMORIES

I am still working on hand piecing my tumbler quilt and added 2 more to each row. I am going to stitch about 3 or 4 more rows and then will start joining the rows together. This is not my top priority project right now.Before we leave on a 2 week vacation to Oregon to visit DS#1 & family, I want to get my Polka Dot Girls quilt top put together. I have all the sticheries finished and the hearts machine appliqued. I'm thinking about entering it in a quilt show this summer, but haven't decided yet. I don't think work is perfect enough to enter in a show.
I found this piece of fabric at a garage sale and it brought back sweet memories. I feel pretty sure it is the same fabric that my Mom made kitchen curtains out of for the house we moved into when I was 5 years old. My sister remembers it too, but she thinks it might have been a dish towel. (My sister now lives in the house. My Dad, grandpa and uncles built the house in 1948).
I can't remember what the kitchen counters were like now. That was a long time ago!