Last Glimpse of Autumn

This table runner was in its beginning stages when I left for Dallas a few weeks ago. I had pieced the background from an old group of fat quarters from a collection called "apple cider" something and then realized I had cut up most of my fall-colored prints for the pioneer braids I was making. (I keep calling them "prairie" braids, but they are really named "pioneer" braids.) Anyway, I thought that would keep me focused in the Dallas shops--just look for leaf fabrics!

I did find some beauties there--plus a lot of other stuff! I came right home and started appliqueing leaves. You can't see, but I also embroidered stems on all of the leaves. I plan to put this away until late next summer and will quilt it then.

Do you see the cluster of five brown leaves in the bottom half? That fabric is the "dirt" fabric left over from "Away in the Manger".

If you ever really want to put your applique skills to the test, make some oak leaves! LOL

Snowy Days = Sewing Days

Winter has blasted through the Midwest this past week, and there were two days when we just stayed in--perfect for sewing! I finally assembled the top of my Prairie Braid quilt for DH and started hand quilting it during the "Survivor" finale last night. It's going to be a very generous throw, with enough length to pull up to the chin and tuck around the toes.

I also started a bag for myself with scraps from the braids and also using some of the fabric I bought in Dallas two weeks ago. I also got the pattern there, "Isabella" by Sew Unique Creations. So far this bag has been fun and easy to make. I can imagine having one for every season. The next one I'd make would be in blue and green batiks!

Christmas Decorations

We've been slow in getting our Christmas decorations up this year. I enjoy decorating for fall a lot and took those things down after Thanksgiving but until today, we really didn't have much up for Christmas. That had to change, though, because tiny granddaughter, Avery, is coming over on Tuesday, and Pawpaw and Mawmaw have to dazzle her! I love to see little kids' eyes when they see holiday lights!

The floating shelves are holding some of my collection of gingerbread men, women, and children. Many others are in the kitchen. I also have several made of fabrics, including a 2-foot tall gingerbread girl with long braids that sings when you squeeze her hand. I hope Avery likes her!

I wanted my friend Debi in Texas to see that I like snowmen, too! These are some of my snowmen on the mantle. The old gun is up there all of the time, as is the clock. The gun is from my husband's family and is very old.

The tree is up and 12-inch lighted snowflakes are hanging in the front windows. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Long Time, No Blog

Oops! I almost forgot I had a blog! First I was busy getting ready to go to Dallas, then I was in Dallas, and then I was catching up from going to Dallas! I had the adventure of flying down to Big D to meet quilting friends from all over that I had met through the Quilting Passion Forum. I was warmly welcomed by the DFW Gang, especially Debi who met us at the airport, drove us safely all over the DFW area, and stayed with me in the motel. Thanks again, Debi, for making this weekend so enjoyable for me.

We visited five fabulous quilt shops, saw the Mustangs sculpture in Irving, and enjoyed an all-day "sew in" at yet another shop. I bought some wonderful fabric and patterns, which made my bag weigh about a ton! Best of all, I got to meet these great people in person. It was very memorable and just the lift I needed.

During the big "sew in", I demonstrated the applique method I use, which I learned from the wonderful teacher, Nancy Pearson. Six of us worked together to make the heart blocks for this quilt top, which Debi will quilt and bind and donated to Project Linus in North Texas. I call it "Warm Texas Hearts".

Now I am back home in St. Louis, which is coated with ice, and more is on the way. It's a good time to dig into that new fabric!

Donated "Away in a Manger" today!

Today I delivered my "Away in a Manger" quilt to the chaplain for the NICU at St. John's Mercy. I have made lots and lots of quilts, but this one has given me the most satisfaction I have ever felt in being able to do this kind of work.

Probably I will never know what effect, if any, it has on the parents of the tiny, premature babies, but I hope it gives them hope.

In the bottom picture of the angel, if you look closely, you might be able to see the hand quilted star in the upper left corner of the sky. I quilted straight lines radiating down from the star to represent beams of light.

Away in a Manger top finished!!

Hooray! The top is finished for the quilt I am making for the NICU hallway at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in suburban St. Louis. My "applique fatigue" is fading away as I have been hand quilting it. It will measure 34" x 40".

I think it's kind of hard to see in the picture, but the outer border is 4" wide and is a woodgrain. I'm pretty pleased with the "dirt" fabric I found, too! It even looks like it has some hay scattered around on it.

OMG, Another Birthday

Here it comes again--another birthday! Well, it beats the alternative, doesn't it?

This was pretty much a day like all days, except I got a great Mexican lunch out, gifts, and cake. I am pretending I am 29 again and not having my 28th anniversary of that birthday!

The rest of the day was spent wrestling with tiny applique pieces for "Away in a Manger". I have gotten to the point where I am adding the animals around the Madonna and Child, and they have tiny feet, ears, horns, and beaks. I hate to say it, but I am suffering from applique fatigue! I never thought I could get tired of it. I should finish the top in the next day or so, and then I need to sit down at the machine and whip up a few dozen rail fence blocks!

Making Progress

This is the progress that I have made so far on the "Away in a Manger" quilt. The angel is hovering in the starry sky over the manger. Tomorrow I am going fabric shopping to buy the manger floor (dirt fabric?) and more of the wood grain fabric for the outer borders. So I am shopping for dirt and wood at the fabric store.

As soon as I attach the floor fabric, I can begin to applique Mary, Jesus, and a group of animals clustered around them.
Maybe I will also find some fur or hide fabrics tomorrow!

So far I am happy about the way this is turning out. I hope the NICU people will like it!







In between applique sessions on the Away in a Manger quilt, I've been trying to get the Pioneer Braids assembled. There are two more strips to add before I trim it up and add the two borders. This one is shaping up well. Once again, another project has been put in front of it, but DH has about six other quilts to choose from if he gets chilly!

The last bit of progress is in the area of exercise. DH loaded the bicycles and me in his pickup truck, and we went to check out the new Levee Trail here in Chesterfield, Missouri. Our city is building this asphalt trail for jogging, walking, and cycling along the levee that borders the Missouri River. The first four miles are finished, and it is very nice. (Unfortunately, there are wetlands and trees between the levee and the river, and you can't see the river.) We rode the four miles going east and turned around at the point where construction has stopped. Eventually, it will connect to similar trails in other communities. The first part was a breeze! Then we turned around and had to peddle into the breeze--and a very stiff one at that! The return trip was not as much fun. I need to find something I can do standing up for awhile 'cause my backside is sore!

New Challenge for Me--"Away in a Manger"

I have a new challenge to start on, and I'm psyched! Today was my day to volunteer at St. John's Mercy Medical Center, and while I was there, I met with the chaplain for the Pediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care Units. She was hoping to decorate the NICU hallway for Christmas with the theme, "Away in a Manger". She was given my name by the woman who distributes my Project Linus quilts in Pediatrics. By the end of our meeting, it was decided that I would make a 34" x 40" wall hanging based on the applique patterns in the book, "Adoration Quilts". I won't be making the entire quilt as shown on the cover of the book but will use the Madonna and Baby Jesus, the angel, and several of the animals. I am on a very tight deadline, so I am starting tonight! I'll post pics as I progress.

Cool Weather.....Aaaaaaaaah!

The weather here has finally cooled off enough that we can sleep under a quilt at night! For a woman that gets overheated easily (a real hot woman--LOL), this is a real treat! The cool temperatures energize me but also make sleeping much better.

For someone who makes quilts, it is also a great pleasure to be able to get out and use the quilts I have made over the years. The closeup shot here is part of a quilt I named "North Woods Cabin". The logs are only 3/4 inch wide! What was I thinking? The craziest part is that it is all hand pieced and hand quilted and queen-sized! My hands just can't do that any more, but I'm glad I did it then because it is really special to me. I started piecing it on a trip to northern Wisconsin and bought some of the green fabrics up there. The rest is from my stash. I see two fabrics that I bought at a guild meeting from the stash of a member who had died.

There is one juried and judged show in the St. Louis area, and I entered it for several years. This quilt won a blue ribbon in the traditional pieced category, but the best compliment I got on it was when one of the other prize winners said to me, "This quilt reminds me of what 'quilt' really means."

Pretty Ponies Finished

These "Pretty Ponies" are now ready for donation to Project Linus. I really love this pattern from Fat Cat, but I don't want to make any more of these horses for awhile. It's a challenging pattern, which I love, but you can get enough of a challenge!

(By the way, if you like that pattern site, you will find it is now reorganized and there are even more patterns on it now. If you like chickens, check out the home page.)

One of my favorite things about this pony quilt is the backing, which I have had in my stash for several years. I designed the quilt top so that it would just fit the piece of backing that I had. When I was finished sewing on the binding and trimmed off the excess backing, there was no more than 1/2 inch waste on all sides! To me it is a reversible quilt. The binding is a bias-cut plaid.

Mourning Our Kitty

Our hearts are very heavy today because yesterday we had to decide to say goodbye to our little kitty, Ashley. She was 17 years old. We adopted her 16 years ago when we were visiting my in-laws in Tulsa. Their neighbors had moved away and had left her behind. The feelings of attachment were immediately mutual, and we have loved having her as our dear friend. She became ill rather suddenly and deteriorated quickly, and we just couldn't let her continue to suffer. She had such cute little ways, and we miss her terribly. (She had very fluffy grey hair and shed a lot, so her hair will probably remind us of her for a long time.)

I am posting a picture of a Project Linus quilt I made several years ago as a tribute to Ashley. Wherever she is today, I hope she is as happy as she made us.