My First Piecing

Thirty-four years ago, I pieced my first quilt - and this is it.  It was a crib quilt for my first grandchild who was born that August and who is now expecting her first child this August.  My daughter washed it and brought it over last night so that I can tuck it in the box with the little wallhanging. 

It always amazes me what there was in the way of fabric back in the mid to late 70's.  Quilter's dots, small calicoes, solids, gingham checks - not much zing for sure.  However, there were still very pretty quilts being made.  For this one, I had some cardboard templates and a ballpoint pen that I traced with.  That was a lot of tracing and cutting with the scissors.  How much easier and more accurate the rotary cutter and mat have made prep work.  I am also amazed that I matched my points pretty well. 

The center of the little quilt - Trip Around the World.  Actually the colors are holding up quite well.  This was one of the quilts that I took to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to be quilted.  The lady who did the quilting did a lovely job.  Later on I did a red one (a picture is on the side bar) and had it quilted there, also. 

I think this little Steiff bear from Germany that I have had for some time is going to go along for the ride in the box with the quilt and wallhanging and move into the nursery in Colorado and be there to welcome the new little baby.  (Click to enlarge)

Back to My Hexies

Figruing out the layout of the strips for the hexagon quilt.  Either four or five floral strips separated by plain ones for pretty quilting.  Here I have tucked strips of color on each side of the flowers and like the way that looks.  Each strip could be a single fabric or it could have multiple  pieces - will try both.  I hand appliqued the first hexie down but have since done two with blind stitch machine applique using monofiliment thread.  Much, much faster and hard to tell which is which.  Being in my 80's, I think I am going for the "fast"!!
(Click to enlarge)

The Little Fur Family, etc.

Home Sweet Home!  This is the dwelling of  "The Little Fur Family" that was a very favorite book of my seven plus months pregnant oldest granddaughter, Norah.  The wallhanging I have been working on is now complete and ready to be on its way to Colorado to be hung in the nursery of the little fellow that is due on my birthday.

Some trees in the woods behind their home.  There is a brown thread hanging on the left tree that makes me want to pick it off - but, unless I wanted to reshoot the picture, that, of course is not doable.  My quilting is not the best, but I think it gets the idea across. 

Here's the little guy running past his front door.  I just drew the face on with the micron pens - not too good but not too bad.  The baby will love him, I am sure.

Here is Chad, the happy daddy, refinishing a rocker and with an antique dresser belonging to my husband's mother ready to be stained - both being part of the nursery where the baby will sleep and where the wallhanging will hang.

And here is Norah, our happy, pregnant mommy, and Lacey, the happy doggie, awaiting the arrival of a little fellow on or about August 21st. 
 

It will be here before we know it!  (Click to enlarge)

Thinking Hexies

The little wallhanging for the baby is almost all done - just the binding, sleeve and label which I should get done tomorrow.   We have our sit and sew day and that is what I will sit and sew on.   After that, I will post it's final picture.  In the meantime, I have done a little bit on something that has been waiting in the wings - my hexagon flowers.  I found this yummy background batik that features very soft green dots and went through my stash to find greens for leaves and vines.

This is the quilt that I am loosely working from.  It's the Nancy Page Magic Vine quilt from back in maybe the 1930's.   Will do the panels with flowers and leaves and then a blank strip for quilting.  At least, that's the idea at the moment.  I would like to make this a bed size quilt and a strippie quilt is a good one for that.  There is a pattern for this quilt at http://sentimentalstitches.net/free-stuff/block-of-the-month-quilt-designs/nancy-page-club/nancy-page-club-magic-vine-quilt/   along with a lot of other free patterns for old quilts.  It's a fun place to visit.   The blocks in the above quilt are 6 x 6 - I am making mine 6 x 11 and sewing them together after the leaves and vines have been buttonhole appliqued down.  Right now, I am planning to hand applique the hexie flowers.  (Click to enlarge)

All Figured Out and Ready to Sandwich

Ready to be made into the quilt sandwich and then be quilted.  Probably getting tired to seeing this little thing, but I have been so preoccupied with it these past several days.  Promise no more until quilting is done.  The top window in the tree may get changed or get lost - jury is out on that one yet.  I did the mitered corners and am feeling pretty good about that - don't do those very often but they sure look good with fabric like this.  Hope I don't break my arm patting myself on the back!!

Here is the little bear close up.  Not perfect by any means but he does look kind of like a bear.  I did a little coloring with crayon on his face and am just going to leave it like that. 

Looks like a cozy little home for the Little Fur Family.  Am anxious to start quilting it and hope I don't screw it up!!   (Click to enlarge)

OMG, What Kind of a Mother Am I?

Fifty-eight years ago today, we had a  birthday party for this sweet little two year old girl who has now turned 60.   Can you imagine I forgot to put up a birthday post for my daughter?   I didn't forget her birthday - just didn't do a post.  Oh, me, oh, my, the mind is starting to go!  Here she is with the whole family, except for my brother who was in the air force at the time.  Sherry is in her new wagon between daddy and (a pregnant) mommy.  In back is my sister, Jo, her two grandmas - Ray's mom and mine, her grandpa who always had gum for "Sherry's mouth",  her great grandmother, Maggie Pearce, whose was 82 that same
day, and her great aunt Leah, my mom's sister.

Here she is with her brother, Bill, and his 57 Chevie when we lived in Newton, Kansas, in the very early 1970's,   

Here is a cute picture of Sher showing off her new fingernails she had done in Portland before Molly's wedding last summer.  This summer she and Barclay will be grandparents for the first time.  Their girls are scattered all over but they are still such a close family.  Molly in Portland, Norah now in Denver and that Hannah way over there in Mozambique.  She will be coming back for a visit at Christmas and that will be wonderful.  She will need to meet her new little nephew!

The entire family last summer at Molly and Doug's wedding.
So, my dear daughter, the day isn't over so I did get this in on your actual birthday.  Just want you to know I am so very glad we had you - you are quite a woman!   I am very proud of you and love you so much.  Many more happy birthdays to you, Sher.  God bless!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

The flowers I planted several weeks ago are coming along nicely.  Notice the really old mailbox I have hanging on the fence - remember those?   I love old pieces like that.

The big pot I planted - it's really pretty.  Notice the little green plants growing at the edge of the patio in the rocks.  Those are the moonflower plants coming up from seeds of the plant that came up from seeds last year.  I am going to pot some of them and share them with my neighbor and also my daughter.  They are getting big enough to pot now. 

Just love this pretty blue lobelia growing in a hanging planter at the side of the house.  Usually don't have much luck with this sweet little plant - maybe this year will be different.

A closer look at some of the flowers in the big pot.  I'm a softie for blue flowers!  Aren't these pretty?  And the little petunias are wonderful.   (Click to enlarge)