Hannah's Big Weekend

This was Hannah's big weekend - her graduation with high honors from the University of Michigan after three years. We are all so very proud of her and it was a joy to celebrate this great occasion all together as a family. Norah and Chad came from Chicago, Molly and Doug came from Portland, Uncle Bill and Aunt Ann were here from KC. Here she is with Mom and Dad just before leaving for commencement. The speaker was President Obama and the crowd was huge! I think there has only been one other time in my life when I was in in a crowd that large. It really makes you see that we're like a grain of sand on this earth. I had also never seen a seated president and, although you could hardly see him with the naked eye from the stands, they had the big screens showing all that was going on. It was just great!When we got back to the house Hannah shares with five other girls, it was party time. Above are Hannah and Her Sisters involved in a little game of Beer Pong with three other folks on the other end. These three girls are my pride and joy, if you haven't guessed already! There was pizza and lots of other good stuff for the party goers and some good sparkling wine with strawberries. Very festive! At least five parties were taking place up and down the same street.

Hannah came back with us and after awhile got out a book to read - that didn't last long. Our little graduate was pretty well tired out after her wonderful weekend. Then this fall, she will be going into the Peace Corps. Needless to say, we are all so proud of her in all that she has achieved so far and for knowing what she wants to do and then doing it. Congratulations, Hannah Alice! We're all right behind you backing you up in anything and everything you do.

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A Bummer

I'm pouting again! Today when I was over to the Carriage House for the setting up of our quilt show that starts tomorrow, I took over one hundred pictures. My camera usually takes wonderful shots. When I transferred them to my computer, I was so disappointed! Most of them were fuzzy and not pretty at all.

I did come up with some good ones - maybe thirty or so. However, something was out of whack. I actually think it may have been the battery and I had another one in my purse but it still showed on the screen that there was still power in it. It took a while for the shutter to snap some of the time so maybe that was it. However, here is a little representation of what went on today. Above, the room all ready for the quilts.

As the quilts were checked in, they were put in the appropriate piles on the floor awaiting the keen eyes and flawless placement by Janna, who has been directing the hanging of the quilts ever since we have had our shows. Janna has a knack for putting things together in such a pleasing way!

As she looked through the quilts, they were taken to the area where they would hang. This looks jumbled, but no quilts were harmed in this step!

Another very important area is our bazaar! Tons of great stuff - the girls made things to sell, brought books, magazines and FABRIC. Here is Amanda, our youngest member and a sweetie, going through the fabric bundles and getting like priced bags together. She had a buddy helping her, too, and I am so sorry I can't remember her name. Don't forget I am old!!

Now, girls, since I am not going to be at the show this weekend, please take your cameras and take more pictures if you would. Somehow we can get them on my computer so we will have a better record than what I ended up with. It's better than nothing, but there are so many beautiful quilts there. I am hoping my camera works better for the weekend with my family! (Click to enlarge)

All Done with "Wild Flowers"

It's all quilted and bound now and will be in the quilt show this weekend. I need to spritz it with water where I marked some of the quilting lines with the blue pen. Decided "Wild Flowers" was a good name for it. Today I printed out four labels for quilts going to our show and will sew them on this evening. Usually I like to do some cute ones but these are pretty plain. They get the job done, however. I plan to be spending all day helping out setting up our show then take pictures for the quilt blog. We always have such pretty quilts - a good group of quilters. (Click to enlarge)

From a Plastic Bin in the Basement

In the basement again this past weekend and got out a big old plastic bin that contains unfinished projects--it's been a long, long time since I checked it out. This top was in there. It is one that I worked on at one of the first retreats I after I joined our guild. I actually had all this fabric in my stash and I do just love all the old prints. Wish I had more of them. Wouldn't it make a great hexagon quilt? I even have a backing pieced for this and I will have it quilted by one of the gals in our guild who has a long arm. It's not a full bed size - but would make a cozy couch quilt.

Next up--two pillow tops.

These are the same fabrics as the quilt on my bed. I did these a long time ago and that is some of my first machine quilting. It is not very good, but I did it in invisible thread so doesn't look too bad. Now, why don't I finish those. It would be so easy. I will leave them where I can see them and maybe get that done as they would look pretty on the bed.

And yet another quilt about the size of the first one. I had lots of fabric that looked mottled and pastel so did this one. I started machine quilting it but it was a hassle. However, there is too much done to rip out so maybe I will try and work on it more now that I am more comfortable doing it. Yet another one! This time a watercolor. Started handquilting this one and that is definitely not going to be finished by hand quilting. So I could machine quilt this little thing quite easily now and may just do that. I found a couple of other smaller ufo's which I will post later. One day I will get into the chest in the bedroom where I have two very large, very old quilts that are handquilted and unfinished. OMG, shame on me! Tell me I'm not the only one with these things squirreled away! (Click to enlarge)

A Tisket A Tasket

This little quilt is now all quilted, bound and only lacking a few buttons for the embellishments. It is ready for our guild's quilt show next weekend.

Here is the back--decided to piece it and I think that worked out just fine. I had a lot of the charm squares left and cut more to make enough.

I am happy with the way the quilting went.

The girl that designed this block of the month has another one going. So far, I am just saving the patterns which are for snowmen. The blocks are sweet and quite simple so I might do them later on. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

This was taken in 1976 on the occasion of my 30th high school reunion in Chillicothe, Illinois.
Ray and I were dressed up to go to the banquet on Saturday night. Ray is looking handsome in his light colored leisure suit and dark printed shirt. He had quite a few leisure suits and wore them to work all the time. I am dressed in a green and white knit long skirted dress with a great white necklace and earrings. Still have those! And look how close to God I was with my high hair. I think I mentioned the saying that was on an old picture stating "The higher the hair, the closer to God". I think I qualify for that quote. This would have been taken about the time I first got into quilting. Long, long ago.

Some Odds and Ends

Q2, our guild, is having it's annual show weekend after this and this year one of the features will be a blind auction. I will be donating this wallhanging for the auction. I don't think I have posted a picture of it so here it is. This is actually the second one I did like this and I'm sure most of you will recognize that it came from a book that was out a few years ago and which I can't remember who wrote it. Lovely book, though, and a fun quilt to do. This is all oriental prints which I love.

We also have a bazaar which is absolutely widely popular with our attendees. It has really done a lot to augment our bank account. Magazines, books and fabric are very well received. I spent a lot of the weekend in the basement going through my stash and bagging up some of it. Of course, I didn't make too much of a dent in what I have but at least will get some of it to a new home. If I have to use up all my fabric before I leave this earth, I should make it to at least 150!

I have also been finishing up two wallhangings that I started last year and will have in the show. When they are done, I will post their pictures. I am sewing the little button embellishments on Tisket A Tasket and finishing the quilting on the one with the bright appliqued flowers.

And isn't this absolutely gorgeous? The colors are electric and I love the oranges, pinks, hot pinks - sooooo pretty. I had a call from the local florist Monday morning saying they had a delivery for me and would I be home. I would be home - but it wasn't my birthday - no holiday - who would be sending me flowers? When they came they were from Bill and Ann, my son and his wife, with love for Mother's Day a little early. I called to let them know how gorgeous they were, but no one was home. Later, Bill called me. The reason they sent them early was they were close to being able to get free airline tickets and decided they would send the flowers to qualify for their tickets. I love it! And I love them, too. Took pictures of the bouquet and sent them one so they could see how pretty they are. Now you can enjoy seeing them, too.

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