My Reward

You may recall I decided to reward myself by working on the Friends of Baltimore quilt.  Here is block #2 almost ready to be stitched down.  I still need to make a few circles and add a white strip to the boat but it's close enough to be shared with you.

Baltimore Album quilts were made from 1846 to 1854.  Many feel the trend ended with quiltmakers turning their attention to the Civil War.  Dr William Dunton, a psychiatrist, began collecting Baltimore Album quilts in the 1920s.  He became so interested in them that he self published a book of album quilts in 1946.  Only 2000 copies were printed so finding one in any condition is rare.  Here's my copy. 

I am a book-a-holic so knew I had to have a copy.  Dr Dunton alludes to quiltmaking as a therapeutic occupation.  He says "In making a quilt top the worker has the stimulation of color and she also has to concentrate upon her task of sewing the pieces together...."  He goes on to say "It is easily understood that a nervous lady who is concentrating on making a quilt block has no time to worry over her fancied physical ill health or even worse over wrongs or slights which may be real, so she is cultivating a more healthy mental attitude and habit."  

......and I thought quiltmaking was just fun.  Didn't know I was contributing to my mental well being. 

This week I also started creating a new block of the month for Sew Graceful Quilting.  After working on the album quilt, these pieces seem SO large.

I'm going to the spring quilt market in Salt Lake City next week so will have some things to share with you from SLC.  Mom has chemo #6 tomorrow and I have a quilt to bind to keep my hands busy. 

Hope you have a great weekend!

Baltimore Album Quilts

I met my deadline and the quilt for market is at the quilter.  Since I was good and stayed focused I decided to reward myself by working on my Friends of Baltimore quilt designed by Sue Garman.  As a reminder, here's the quilt.  Some of you are probably scratching your head saying "THAT is a reward??!"

Here's the first block.  I prepared my pieces and spent a lovely day Tuesday with friends stitching them down. 

I am working on the second block -- the ship.

Baltimore album quilts fascinate me.  The next few posts I want to share my favorite album books. 

Mom is doing very well.  Yesterday she told me she has hair growing back - fuzzy, soft, barely visible white hair.  For those in the area, stay dry.  Hopefully we will be able to dry out soon.

Great news!

Ever have a week where each day seems like a month?  That was the week between mom's PET scan and the visit with the oncologist.  Our prayers were answered - she is cancer free.  Doc wants at least two more chemo treatments to be sure the cancer is in remission.  She had a treatment yesterday so we may have just ONE more.  One of my friends put it so well when she said "It's like getting a new birthday." 

I haven't got a lot to show.  Had too much nervous energy to focus on anything.  I did work on the quilt for Lynette Anderson for spring quilt market.  Here's a sample of the yummy fabrics she created.

I also worked on another holiday project.  Here's a sneak peak.

It was so much fun helping at Sew Graceful's booth at the quilt show last weekend.  It was fun to catch up with many of you.  Here's a couple photos of the booth in case you didn't get a chance to make it out to the show.

I'd better cut this short and get back to sewing.  I have to finish Lynette's quilt and get it to Darlene for quilting soon.  Hope you have a wonderful week!

The Quil brothers have left the house but, unfortunately, didn't leave the area as I know several who have the crud.  Get well soon!  With energy returning, sunny days, and lots of projects in the wings I had a pretty busy week. 

I finished this project including the quilting.  Background is brushed cotton and the applique pieces are wool.  I enjoy having a wool project in my stitching bag because it's very forgiving.  By that I mean that if my stitches aren't uniform, it's OK.  You can get the pattern for this piece here.

I don't know if you remember that I made the quilt for Lynette Anderson for her new line of fabric that came out during the fall quilt market.  Suffice it to say that I did not quilt it - Darlene did.

Lynette asked Darlene and I if we'd help with the quilt for the spring market in Salt Lake City in May.  Of course, we said yes.  I have been working on the quilt but can't show it just yet BUT I can show you some of the fabrics I'm using.  Sew Graceful Quilting will be getting in the line later this year (late June/early July).  The pattern will be free - can't beat the price! 

The fabric is wonderful to work with and the colors are just so me.  As you can probably tell, I am having a lot of fun with this project. 
 
Mom has her follow-up PET scan this Friday.  Please say a prayer that the cancer is all gone.  She felt well enough to go to church with me yesterday and that was a huge blessing.  I don't know how many of you go to church with your mother but let me tell you that when she's not sitting next to me things just don't seem right. 

If you live in the area, don't miss the annual quilt show this Friday and Saturday.  It will be at the Benton County Fairgrounds, 9:00-6:00.  Admisson is $5.  Lots of vendors and pretty quilts.  Have a great week!

Chestnut and Vine

What a week this has been!  I had good intentions but, unfortunately, that was not to be because of having to entertain these guys.  The Quil brothers along with Mucinex have been my best buddies most of the week. 

My sweet husband brought me these.........how do you guess I repaid him...........just a hint........he's now best friends with the Quil brothers.  Poor guy!

I did do my part on the Chestnut and Vine quilt.  Debby is piecing and I'm doing the applique.  We both think we're getting the best part of the deal since she doesn't applique and I don't care to piece.  Sew Graceful Quilting is offering this as a block of the month. 

There are a few openings left for "Playtime" at Sager Creek Quilts.  I made this quilt using their wonderful selection of happy fabrics.  The pattern is exclusive to Sager so you will have a unique one-of-a-kind creation.

Since I don't have kids, grandkids, dogs, or cats and their cute antics to share, and since I don't have any other projects ready to share, I will share links to some sites you may want to check out.  Heck, these links are probably better than photos of all that stuff anyway. 

Martha Stewart has a wonderful slide show of the red and white quilt exhibit that's in NYC thru Mar 30.  The owner, Joanna Rose, wanted to share her 651 (yes 651) red and white quilts with the public.  The quilts are beautiful but the method of display leaves me speechless.

The winners of the AQS Lancaster Quilt Show which was Mar 16-19 are here.   

If you'd like to read about one quilter's life in Japan (pre- and post-earthquake) check out Tanya's blog. 

Since I have been under the weather I haven't seen Mom all week (we live only 2 miles from each other) but we talk at least twice a day.  I think she is doing OK.  It's about time for a Quil dose.  Also need to rebandage my finger.  The sewing machine ran over it.  I won't go into the gorey details but suffice it to say it wasn't a pretty sight. 

This week is going to be a good one!  I just know it!



I have been a bad blogger.  I guess I'll just attribute it to having too many irons in the fire and the fire was hot.  Mom had a rough time after her 3rd chemo and that translated to me having a hard time dealing with everything mentally.  She had her 4th session last week (her last we thought) and is doing OK.  Unfortunately, the oncologist has decided he wants her to have 4 more sessions as insurance the cancer is really gone. 

Mike and I went on a mini vacation to western Oklahoma for 3 days.  He slipped on slippery rocks and fell - cuts and a very sore tail bone.  That didn't help my mental state either! 

Enough of my whining.......I got the borders on the wool applique quilt.  It is being offered as a block of the month at Sew Graceful Quilting.  It would be a fun project to work on during their Simply Handwork or Simply Primitive meetings.

I was recently reading Marguerite Ickis' book "The Standard Book of Quilt Making and Collecting".  In it she suggests "All of your sewing problems will be simpler if you pick an easy design for your quilt.  Too often an elaborate design presents difficulties which an expert needlewoman could not master."  I guess Marguerite would not be pleased if she saw what I am now working on.

This is the first block of Sue Garman's Friends of Baltimore quilt.  This is what the quilt will look like when it's finished.  Notice all those half square triangles - 1" finished. 

As you can see, I have a long road ahead of me!  My friend who is relatively new to applique has the first 4 blocks prepped and ready to stitch down.  At this speed I may be 100 before I finish this project but I am determined to finish it. 

Well, as you can see I have a lot of "work" to get done so better close this post and get busy.  Hope you are having a great week!

More Wool Applique

Hope you had a great week and got some quiet time just for yourself.  A friend often tells me that I need to work on a project to feed my soul.  I did just that and enjoyed some time with just me, my needle, and my thoughts. 

Here's what I've done so far.  I need to add borders but am waiting for fabric to arrive.  Backgrounds are fabric and the applique is wool.  I love using Valdani thread for wool applique - no need to separate strands.  Just thread your needle and you're ready to go. 

Darlene at Sew Graceful Quilting is offering this as a block of the month.  Call her at 479-372-7403 to get your name on the list for more information. 

I also am playing around with another new design using Blackbird Designs' Antique Fair line.  I haven't seen a Blackbird line of fabric that I didn't like and this one certainly is no exception.  You can touch and feel the fabrics here. 

I've also started on a Baltimore album quilt but don't have enough to show to make a photo worthwhile.  My friend Joan started a couple weeks before me and has THREE, yes THREE, blocks finished.......and she has a full-time job, four children, a husband, and the most adorable puppy ever.  I have one out of those 4 (a very low maintenance husband) and don't even have one ready to show.  It's not a race, it's not a race, it's not a race.  (Insert smiley face here)

Mom's chemo round 3 is finished.  Unfortunately, she's not feeling well at all.  I'm calling the oncology office tomorrow to see about getting her some pain meds as she feels achy all over.  She's pretty discouraged and I'm trying to be strong and positive but on the inside I'm a bundle of nerves. 

Anyway, hope you have a great week and have a chance to feed your soul.