My Rendition Sampler & thoughts

Here is another UFO finished!!
I call this My Rendition Sampler. It's Middle section layout was designed by Koleen Painchard. It was part of a workshop that I took at her studio. I added the 4 patch and 4" border and quilted on my super quilter. I think I have finally wrapped my brain around 'how to' use my quilter and really enjoyed doing this one. I have a brother sewing machine and it is very tempermental and likes certain needles, thread and absolutely no lint and it has to be threaded exactly and then you have to deal with putting each layer on and attaching it to the leaders. I float both the batting and the top. This is different than suggested but works for me. I also learned how to finish the binding a different way than I normally do and the process looked better and was easier than anything I ever tried. You can find it detailed on my friend, Sue's blog. http://northwindsquilting.blogspot.com/ . You will also find a lot of other neat things she is doing.

This quilt I call a 'utility quilt' and will be on my couch. The grandchildren will make tents, toss it around etc. It is fun to watch them gather all the afghans, quilts etc and begin to lay them out so they are completely enclosed under the various furniture they use. Aren't grand kids a JOY!

This will be my last entry until I return from attending the Quilters Heritage Celebration in Lancaster, PA. About 12 of us fellow quilters will be a part of a group of30 riding on a bus for about 10-11 hours. What fun!! Shopping! Eating! Laughing! and probably not much sleep...

Yesterday were very strong winds..today it is 26 degrees and the sun is shining and of course we are looking for signs of Spring, the flowers are peeking their heads up in some places and the greenery is starting to show ever so slightly. It always amazes me that in the Fall the leaves fall and the next leaf is there waiting it's timing to spring forth. Such a joy to watch and experience the wonders of nature as everything starts to live again after the cold, dark, lifeless winter.

BRQ Round Robins

Backroad Quilters started a Round Robin last Fall and this past Monday they displayed the finished tops. It takes ‘stepping out of the box’ for those who had never done it. The thought and design that went into them and how each one fit the personality of the person receiving them were amazing. The designs were so unique and exquisite.

I will explain simply the process of a Round Robin. There is a recipe (instructions).The originator does a block of any design she chooses. This is then passed on to another person. She works on it for the appointed time adding her own particular design. Then it is passed to the next person and so on until the finish. Then the big REVEAL! Enjoy them….they are really very beautiful ....Excellent job!

Black & White Sampler

Have you ever had a block that was not your favorite. The spool block is not mine. My group is doing a sampler and I really did not want to do this particular one. I decided not to be a rebel and do my own thing. Samplers give quilters opportunities to do different techniques. I chose black and white, but then found I really needed to add some color and put red and yellow throughout. On this block I used a template and hand pieced the block. When sewn together will be 12 1/2". We have 4 more blocks to do.It is really the choice of fabric that makes a block look nice. I am very happy with this and glad I decided to follow the crowd this time.

Today it is sunny and 20 degrees. Spring is just around the corner ....our clock's have been set ahead and my inside clock is having a hard time adjusting.

Tbis year I have decided to finish my UFO's. It is very hard not to start something new. The materials are gorgeous! But I am refraining myself. I am headed to Lancaster, Pa. the end of the month with a bus load of quilters to shop and attend the Quilter's Heritage Celebration. And of course, there will be many opportunities to purchase. You know how it is when women get together. Oh such fun we will have....we can hardly wait.

Barb's Veggies

Twice a month a group of ladies meet at the home of Kay and we are called Casey Quilters. Just a group of friends who love to quilt and we share dinner together. It is always a fun time where we do our own UFO or present project or sometimes have a planned project.

This is Barb and she loves 'gadgets'. Just ask about something 'new' and she usually knows about it or has it. She is a very gifted lady who will see something and goes home and makes her own pattern. She not only quilts but does pocketbooks, aprons, wall hangings, you name it and she has done it. She always has several 'show and tell' and we 'ooh and 'aah. Pictured is 'one' of the projects she shared this week. This is a something she saw and knew she could do, drew a pattern and she was off and running and created this adorable carrot and tomato. She will add a hot pepper and eggplant. It is always fun to see what she has in 'her bag' to share.

Kathryn' Crib & Quilt

Our church youth were doing a fun raiser for missions. I saw this doll crib and decided to purchase. It sat in my closet for about 3 years and my intention was to give it to one of my grandchildren. But they had some so I began to ask the Lord what to do with it and He spoke and gave me the name of a family in my church. They were going to come pick it up and I got to thinking little girls need bedding and a blanket. So I looked through my 'stash' and made a mattress -quilt and pillow. Ms. Kathryn now has a complete bed for her dolly. It is more blessed to give than to receive. It was a joy to do this.

The following is what I include in all my quilts...I use pictures of hearts and overlay this message and print out directions unique for each person. This is the one for Kathryn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - KATHRYN
I am a quilt to keep your dolly warm. But when you have the need to wash me

(pillow, mattress and quilt) throw me in the washer on gentle and

slightly swish me around in cool water. You can dry me in the dryer on low heat,

but do not put me in the sun as I fade quickly as I am all cotton.

…If you take care of me

I will last a long time…I have been made with love. Enjoy!
February, 2008

Eagle Pic for classroom

My son came home excited from Tn. with panels of Eagle scene material that he had found on sale and had bought the whole thing It sat for over a year in my studio as I was wondering what to do with it. When you make quilts from scratch what do you do with panels. Just did not seem like much of a challenge. A lot of options went through my head and finally I made 3 throw pillows and this picture about 45x50". I simply put a border on it and stitched it on my super quilter.. did some fussy stitching edging the border with a fancy stitch with my Janome 6500.

Eagles are so impressive soaring with their huge wings above the storm clouds. I am reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 40:31, 'Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint'.

This will go into a 5th grade classroom in Tn. I boxed it up Monday and off it went. Now I still have 2 more panel and he wants a throw....our kids are always our kids no matter how old they are and mom can do anything!! (smile) What joy we find in doing for them.

Husband's Quilt-Giant Star Quilt

My husband and I celebrated 50 years of marriage in January of this year. Sometimes you forget the ones you love the most. I thought I would make him a quilt. It is called 'Giant Star Quilt' made at a quilter's retreat last year.If you look close those are small cow figures. He has owned cows since he was 14 years old. I always told the Lord I did not want to marry a farmer. But.....I met him and fell in love and my story is, "I never smelled the stink on him". We have laughed about that for years. If you have ever been around a farm it is a smell that is very distinct. We raise beef cows and have our own meat which is a real blessing.

A workshop was being held and I collected my materials and made this quilt.And when I gave it to him he said, 'he had been praying I would make him one'. Not sure why he just did not ask me. He has been my most encouragement for buying my sewing machines and short arm quilter. So now he has his quilt and uses it most every day as we sit in our leather swival rocking chairs with our wood furnace keeping us warm and many times find ourselves taking a snooze.

Ohio Collection

What you are seeing is a project I started in 2004. It is the Ohio Collection by Anita Shackelford. It was a class at a local quilt shop and we did one or two squares a month. They are all different sizes. I laid them out on a table to give me more of a perspective. I thought if I took a picture I could work from that and fit them together. This is a big challenge for me as I have never done anything like this before. I am a person who has to prepare and know where I am going before I start. I guess I just need to take the plunge and get going.

I have now posted enough so my friends can see the things that I have done and am doing. I am so glad my friend, Sue challenged me to do this. I am really going to enjoy this...Until next time...

Tea Time for Marilyn

We have dear friends in Florida Wayne and Marilyn. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and decided we would visit them. I wanted to make something for her as she has a servants heart and is always giving to other's. It needed to be something simple as when we get older we do not need a lot of 'stuff'. Whenever I picture her it is with a cup of tea. I got this book 'Teapots to applique' by Kay MacKenzie. I purchased the material for the teapot and the rest of it came as a gift from a quilt shop that our group visited. Would you believe it had cups and saucers, the reds and browns. I appliqued the teapot and then finished hand quilting the background in hatching. (guess that is what you call it) I am not really up on the quilting lingo that everyone uses. How perfect it was and fit over an old cabinet they call a 'pie safe' that was stained brick red with punched tin in the doors. She added a couple of teapots that blended and it made a statement.

Botanical Welcome Wall hangings

This pair of holly and poinsettia wall hangings are called 'Botanical Welcome' taken from McCalls Quilting Dec. 2007. When I saw them I really liked them and wanted something that would work up quick and look nice to display for the holidays. The applique shapes were simply fused to the background and the edges left unfinished. It was fast and fun.

'A Little Taste of Maine' Mike's

This was done for our son Mike for Christmas last year. It is titled "A little Taste of Maine" I wanted to give him a little feeling of home. There were flying geese all the way around each block. I intended to do two ...one for each son....but decided that one was enough. Not sure I really like doing sooo many flying geese at a time.I had this one machine quilted by Koleen http://www.quiltworksunlimited.com/ who does outstanding work. Check out her website there is much to see.

A Touch of Country - Bruce's

This was made for Bruce, our oldest son here in Maine. Entitled 'A Touch of Country' I put together the design as I did it, trusting it would come out nice. I machine quilted it on my short arm. He says the more that it is washed the cozier it feels. Isn't that true.

Vickie's Quilt-Wisteria Wreaths

This quilt was for my daughter-in-law Vickie. It is called 'Wisteria Wreaths'. It was a kit from The Quilter May 2007. This was the first time I had used a kit but decided to try it because it was the perfect colors for her. I really enjoyed the applique process and I finished it on my short arm quilter just in time for Christmas.

Nancy's Turning Twenty Quilt

I met with friends on Sunday afternoon.
They were making Turning Twenty quilts. I had done two already so did not want to do another at this time. Pictured is Nancy my daughter-in-law from Tn. with hers I made for Christmas. Really easy pattern ...takes 20 fat quarters. Everyone's was so unique.

This blog will keep me challenged to finish my UFO's.

Heavenly Sunshine-Tracy's quilt

I bought the yellow and blue moda fabrics and then designed the flowers and hand appliqued them. I had this quilt in mind for myself but then felt inspired to make it for my niece, Tracy 41 who had been fighting cancer for a long time.

She graduated in 2003 with her bachelors's degree in nursing while raising 2 teen age daughters. She worked as a head nurse until unable to continue. She showed courage to wage the battle every day and was an inspiration to every one around her.

The quilt finished I took it to her in June when she was very ill and she just hugged it and said it felt so good. She told me while laying taking her treatments she saw herself running through a field of blue flowers, arms outstretched so full of joy. Her favorite colors were blue, yellow. I did not know that, but the God she served did, the whole border was full of tiny blue flowers. He gave me the name 'Heavenly Sunshine' She lost her battle in Oct, 2007. She was an inspiration to me and will always be treasured in my heart.

How important quilts are to those who are ill. I remember hearing of an ABC anchorman who was injured in Iraq receiving a quilt. His wife being told how important that would be to him.

WINTER IN MAINE 2008

View from my house to barn area. It has been a long and cold winter. Very beautiful though.