Climbing Vines

This is 'Climbing Vines' taken from Thimbleberries guide for Weekend Quilters. My friend, Bren and I decided to do a quilt together in 2006. A weekend quilt sounded good to us. We shopped for material and then proceeded to cut it out. I am a camper so took mine along and did some work on it and just kept on going. Obviously it took a little longer than planned. The needle turn applique itself took lots of hours and I have tried several ways but my preference is using freezer paper and then turning it under with a toothpick or the needle itself. This is a quick pic so I could show it to my friend and let her see 'it is finally done'. Her's is still waiting in the wings to be finished. Quilting was done by Ann Hussey. I opted not to do it myself as I wanted to hang in our quilt show and felt stressed as the time was drawing near. Another UFO done!!!
Close up.

Perfect Binding

I am teaching this technique at our quilt show this weekend. I have recently learned how to finish off a binding that you cannot tell where you start or end. It may have been around for a while and I am just finding it out. I put these pics together to help people see 'how' as I teach.

TO Begin: Sew binding onto quilt. Leave approximately 7" tail at beginning that is not sewn down. When ending binding leave enough so you can work comfortably when these two ends are sewn together. I left approximately 12" gap.

#1. Measure 6-7" of first tail and cut off

#2. Take the 2nd tail and butt ends together and fold back excess on itself.
Measure the width of your binding strips and cut the same width (I used 2 1/2").

#3. Make the cut IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE IT IS CUT THE WIDTH OF BINDING.
#4. Take the 1st tail and place WRONG SIDE up. Mark a 45 degree line.

Place on the 2nd tail that is RIGHT SIDE up as shown. Pin and Stitch.

SEW!! Perfect binding every time.
Trust this is helpful to you. If it is not clear please email me.

Embroidered Wall Hanging - Bl. & White Sampler

It has been a busy week but I feel like I have accomplished some things. Casey's retreat held on Saturday was a plus for me and I accomplished a lot. I am determined to finish my UFO's.

This Bareroots embroidered wall hanging is done except for the binding. I will use it to teach a new technique of binding off a quilt at our May 3-4 quilt show. This is the first time I have taught publicly. Quilters are friendly people and always ready to learn something new. Should be fun!











Below is a close up of one of the panels. It was a long process from start to finish. I find embroidery very relaxing and it is something I enjoy doing while sitting watching TV with my husband.

Taking a break

I have been so busy this week. It seems all the quilt groups I am involved in had all their meetings this week. I also work 2 days a week. I just felt overwhelmed so decided that today I just could not get up and get ready 'to go'. So cancelled out Kay's meeting, 12 of us meet twice a month and have potluck dinner together and quilt. It is a great group and tomorrow we are having out annual retreat. Instead of a new project we decided it would be a UFO day. So I am working to get things ready to take.

I live on a small farm and my husband is away for a few days. There are mother's in-waiting and mother's with calves. So I am playing nursemaid right now. This one particular cow has hung on for a week waiting to birth. My husband checks her 2-3 times during the night. My son who lives about a mile away thought it would be this morning, but she is up again and we are just 'waiting'. I wonder if they get tired like we do?

BRQ is having a quilt show May 3rd and I have committed to putting some quilts in the show, plus teaching 'how to finish off a binding' with this new technique that I have learned.

I washed and pressed a quilt that will be going into the show that I made for my husband, Richard so it would be ready and not be a last minute project. It needs a sleeve and name tag. I am 'in learning' as far as 'short arm quilting and I looked at it today remembered I was interested in getting it finished that I got happy and just quilted without being aware of continuity and the size of the meandering. It was so great that machine and tension, thread all seemed to be going smooth that I just kept stitching away. So I have a few places that could have been improved. I am trying to decide which way to hang it so the inperfections of quilting will not show. Now when you finish a quilt for a bed it really does not matter. But if you are hanging a quilt you want the best part to show. Women are going to carefully scrutinize every detail. And depending on the level of viewer of that quilter it will be judged accordingly. We forget to consider the skill of the creator. At least I am guilty of that. I need to always remember I had a began at some point and isn't it always a learning process. I know I do not have it all together yet.

It is a simple quilt as I think it is important to have basic quilts as well as well as highly skilled from those with beautiful artistry that are being done today. I always want to remember that loving hands made the quilt and the truth is I am better than some and not as good as others. I am a pianist and tell that to myself all the time. It is easy to be intimidated and not participate. We encourage the girls whatever their skill level that it is important to share it with others. In getting this label together I used a picture of my husband with his cows(pictured). I made it on the computer...but I see the color ink was not so great..also two tools I really like to remove threads etc. A surgical ripper and an eyebrow remover to pull out those stubborn threads.


My break has been long enough...so need to get back to work.


I had a fellow quilter send this quote. Something to ponder.
"Take too many pictures, laugh too much and love like you've never been 'hurt' because every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

My saying is "The person that laughs LASTS"

Thoughts & 90th Birthday

'Be Still and Know that I am God'....that is a scripture from Psalm 46. It has been ringing in my heart for a couple of weeks....this is how God speaks to me. Stillness, what a wonderful word. It speaks of quietness, freedom from disturbance or agitation, and peacefulness. There are many more adjectives and also a Hebrew meaning from the Bible. But what it is saying to me is to listen, look, comprehend what is around me...stop chattering, be observant. It is in the quietness that we hear and then can move in that direction. I have been with many people in the last few weeks at different gatherings. And there seems to be a lot of 'noise'. Everyone wanting to be heard, laughter, sharing. It is all wonderful, but at times we just need to come aside and 'listen'. Soon the frogs will be croaking in the ponds and streams. What a wonderful sound as you lay in bed at night listening to them make a statement. The coyote down in our pastures ready to pounce on a new born calf. All nature resounds!! Life itself can be filled with a lot of 'racket' so to speak and cause a lot of stress. But for me, I just need to stop, be still and listen and let quietness sweep over me and bring rest. Just a thought for today that I wanted to share for someone who may need a little 'stillness' in their life.

It is 60 degrees today here in Central Maine and there is a bustle in the air. The robins are digging into the lawns, the Martins have come to take residence in our birdhouses. The cows are delivering their offspring. The flowers gardens are starting to green up and stand tall and produce their beauty. All the residue of winter is being cleared from the lawns. How can one truly describe what happens after winter and life comes to take residence again. How Majestic nature is.

Today, 12 of us met at a local restaurant to honor Arlene, a fellow quilter, for her 90th birthday party. She is a delightful lady and one of the founding members of our quilting group.



Her latest project was something someone threw away. She saw the potentional beauty in it and is hand quilting it to make it a treasure and will be donating it to a charity. She also shared her wool purse that she had made. It is knitted wool and is then put in hot water to shrink. Of course, we all agreed it was a beauty and some of us would like to try our hand at it. You know how it is with women when we see something new.

She shared some wonderful stories. She even sang a song called 'the Umbrella man' She was telling in her younger years of the milk man, the bread man and others that came selling their wares. None of us had heard of anyone who would fix an umbrella but of course we are not 90. She has put it on tape for her grandchild telling the story of how it came about and singing the song. The little one plays it every night when she goes to bed. What a treasure.

It was a wonderful day of just being 'still' and enjoying one another with no agenda for a little while.