I Got Nothin'

Not much sewing progress lately, but I have been looking through books.  I love the simplicity of this quilt.  Jan and I split a bolt of unbleached muslin last fall (which I haven't dipped into yet).  I have 25 yards at home, but none where I'm spending the winter.  My buddy Jan sent me a 1/2 yd so I can get a start.  I'm on vacation next week, so maybe I can make some progress. 

 

Hubby and I were browsing through an antique shop and look what came home with me!  The detailing is in great shape.  I think the machine is from the 1930's.  It's a portable, but heavy.  Only thing that would make it better is if it was in a wooden base - this one has the canvas type fabric.  The machine runs great.  This makes up for the featherweight that got away (and this one was half the price of the featherweight - so win, win).

I went off the grid a couple weeks ago and ran away to the Mt. Dora Antique Extravaganza - what fun and the weather was perfect!  What do you think this contraption was used for?  A fabric pleater.  Heated rods were inserted in the channels, a turn of the crank and, voila, pleats!  Looks like a pasta press.

This row of aprons has to put a smile on your face!

And if the aprons don't make you smile, maybe these crazy orchids will!

Ta and Da

Next weekend Jan and I are having a sew-in at my house.  We've got plenty of firewood and good movies, but we were missing a design wall.  So, after a trip to Jo-Ann's for batting (50% off coupon - Woo Hoo) and the big-box store for insulation board, we now have two 4x8 walls hanging down my hall!  As my hubby says, 'Ta and Da!'  What a treat - hoping I'm motivated to finish some projects that have been languishing in boxes (like the two in the pic at right).

Jan and I took a trip to the quilter's yesterday for drop-off/pick-up.  We stopped at two great IL quilt shops - Quilt Merchant in Winfield and Prairie Stitches in Oswego.  Prairie Stitches is a featured shop in the current Quilt Sampler.  Their quilt is on the cover - what a beauty in person! 

Docia from Quilt Merchant graciously allowed the following pics to share on the blog:  

Halloween fun

New BOM

Geoff's Mom Pattern Co - The Storyteller

Jan and I both loved this doll quilt - looks old, but is new

Never say never!  Over lunch I mentioned to Jan that I don't buy fabric for a particular project - always adding to stash.  Within an hour, I added a new project and purchased 4 yds of the following Jo Morton fabric for background.  Stay tuned!

The Silver Lining ...

of a 'big' birthday - great friends!  I celebrated a decade-turning BD in July.  Jan and I caught up yesterday - look at the beautiful doll quilt she made me.  I'm a lucky girl!  What a treasure (both the quilt and the friend).  Some of my recent yardage stash purchases are resting on the chair arm. 

But that wasn't the only BD surprise.  My quilting peeps - Pat, Susan, Sandy, Bev, and Jan - made me birthday blocks!  Yankee Puzzle in beautiful, rich colors.  The blocks are sitting on the doll quilt back - one of my favorite fabrics (isn't Jan the best)!  Can't wait to go digging in the stash for the perfect fabric to pull together these beautiful blocks.  I'm not going to tell the number of blocks cause I know you see the correlation between blocks and years - I'll just say there are alot of blocks.  All these quilting surprises took the sting out of turning a 'decade' page.

Labor Day Weekend Sewing Update.  I had the house to myself Thursday night, so I pulled out some Lady Circle Patchwork Quilts magazines.  One little photo set the agenda for my sewing weekend.  Jan and I were dropping off tops for quilting and I needed a back.  Here's a pic of my inspiration (Bear's Paw) -

So, this stack of large triangles became this quilt back.  The top was fun
and quick - can't wait to get it back.

Bye, Bye, Blackbird

When life gets a tad trying, I retreat by planning a new project - browsing thru quilt books, calculating yardage, auditioning fabric...  I 'pack up all my care and woe' and fill my head with new possibilities.  Quilts of Virginia 1607 - 1899  traveled with me last week.  I was drawn to the 'Martz Quilt', dated 1838, on pg 75.  It's a simple quilt, but very pleasing to the eye.  Things are still in the sample stage (and it doesn't look like much just yet), but I'm nearing some decisions.  I don't mind having alot of 'projects in flight' - I need the visual reminder.  

Janet asked about the quilt in the blog header.  The quilt was on exhibit at the Chicago International Quilt Festival in 2010.  I call it 'Eagles and Roses'. 

My four grandchildren (from two families) are visiting next week.  The girls (9 and 10) want to make doll quilts.  Can't wait!

    

Since Last We Met....

I started a new quilt and am planning another!  Temecula used the 9 Patch gray 5's fabric (Judie Rothermel Sturbridge Village IV) as a background in one of their quilts and I loved it.  I was re-acquainted with a quilt from Kim Diehl's Simple Comforts book and pulled the gray from stash to use as background.  I have lots of 4 Patch blocks to make, but I think this one will come together quickly.  The 9 Patch blocks are complete.

The quilt I'm planning is from my bucket list.  It's the cover quilt from Quilts:  An American Heritage by Terri Zegart.  This book can be found 'used' online at ridiculously low prices - the book price is cheaper than the shipping.  The book is only 128 pages, but the picture quality is wonderful.  I found this book almost three years ago and instantly added the cover quilt to my list.  This picture has been rotating thru my screensaver.  This is the second time my screensaver has pushed me to start something new.  It's great incentive - my favorites keep flashing by.

I'm recharging my winter battery in FL this week.  My first stop was a quilt show in Punta Gorda.  I'll post show pictures next time.

Scrappy

Finally back to normal life for a couple days. We had a great (quick) trip. The quilts at the Packwood were wonderful. My favorites were a red/green applique c. 1860 and a LeMoyne star in an unusual setting (notes taken).

We fabric shopped on Saturday and had way too much fun! We ventured to a couple new places - one was Burkholder's in Cocalico, PA (appropriate name). This quilt was hanging at the back of the store. I stood back and stared for quite awhile (while Jan shopped). The sample was in hand-dyes, which was striking, but I'm thinking it would be great in repros. I was just commenting that I didn't have a project that I could just pull from a stack of pre-cut pieces - whatever comes to hand. I think this is the ticket. I found these pictures on the web.