Bits and Bobs

Today was Mama's birthday.  She was born 108 years ago on May 8, 1911.  We lost her on July 1, 2007 at the age of 96.    I don't know where the years have gone. 

95th Birthday celebration

At the moment, I'm not doing much sewing.  But I did get two quilts finished earlier.  One is made from Australian fabrics and is way out of my comfort zone with all the patterns and colors used together. 

Its simply a variation of a log cabin block and very easy to sew.  There are eight sets of 3 fabrics used for the blocks.  There is a total of 26 different fabrics in the quilt.  I bought the kit in Oregon where I attended the Sisters Quilt Show last July.  They provided fabric and the pattern but I had to choose the fabric combinations. 

This next quilt is all hand applique, except for piecing the blocks together and the actual quilting.  I saw this quilt at a show in Springfield, Missouri a number of years ago.  I had decided I wanted to learn how to do needle turn applique and figured that by the time I finished this quilt I'd be pretty good at it.  It has taken me at least three years to do this quilt, working on a block at a time.  I did not work exclusively on this quilt but wove it in among my other projects. 

The quilt is called Across the Wide Missouri.  It was lots of work but I really enjoyed making it.  I learned a lot and still have a lot more to learn to be more than what I think is just adequate doing applique.  

It has been busy around here.  We had company for two weeks and the "kids" were kept busy with honey-do projects.  Before they came, they all requested a list of chores they could do for us.    I got a garage door opener at last, along with a lot of other chores that hubby and I just could not tackle for various reasons.  I don't think they'd know how to act if there was not a chore list for them upon arrival.  

Y'all take care

Sew, I Did It

Oh, where to begin.  When we left off, I had decided to give the nieces and nephews quilts at our family gathering on May 20.  Well, I did it.  I finished and delivered quilts to or for 12 of my 13 surviving nieces and nephews.  I didn't ignore the 13th one, she already had received a quilt several years ago.    So, let's show you what they got. 

Julie's Quilt 

Dana's Quilt

Eddy's Quilt 

Tammy's Quilt 

Ginger's Quilt 

Blaine's Quilt 

Robbie's Quilt 

Brian's Quilt 

Devin's Quilt 

Michael's Quilt 

Wendy's Quilt

Tera's Quilt 

In addition to these, I also delivered new quilts to the two little granddaughters. 

Sorry these are not the best pictures but I hope you can see them well enough to appreciate them.  So far as I know, they were all well received, some even with tears.  I got lots of hugs.  

Somehow, I just haven't been able to get myself enthused over a new project yet, but I think I'm getting there.  

I'll be along with more adventures soon.   Y'all take care. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I can't believe that its Thanksgiving already and that Christmas is just over four weeks away.  Be that as it may, I'm so thankful for all of my blogland pals who are an important part of my day, every day.  I'm thankful that all of you hang in and check on me once in awhile.

I have done some sewing since I last posted but need to catch up on the photos.  Here are three quilts that I finally had quilted so they are all done awaiting a new home. 

We had a bumper crop of acorns this year despite the drought.  I brought these from a chestnut oak in to show their size.  They are on a cutting mat with a one inch grid that shows how big they are.

Y'all take care. 

Quilts Full of Love

Since I'm behind times anyway, I might as well just carry on. 

In addition to the birding trip in April, I also had my semi-annual quilting retreat.  I was the coordinator for this one and there was a learning curve.  I think I've about got it figured out now.  

Just after our last retreat, we decided that the two ladies in the group who are veterans needed their own Quilt of Valor.  The owner of our retreat center, Elizabeth Mathews, is the Alabama coordinator for Quilts of Valor.  So, all sneaky like the word went out for blocks.  They were collected and put together by two different members of our group and were presented to Sara and Char at our retreat.  Boy, did we pull a good one on them. 

Sara's Quilt of Valor

Char's Quilt of Valor

These ladies never suspected a thing beforehand.  

In addition to these two special quilts, another quilt was presented to one of our girls who lost her husband back in February.  The call was put out on our online forum (not just our retreat group) and over 80 blocks were hurriedly made and sent to Char who put it together and quilted it.  Then she came over to present our gift to Margot. 

Margot's quilt 

By the time all three quilts were presented, there wasn't a dry eye in the building!!!   We love these girls so much.  

Aw, heck, I might as well go on and tell it.  In addition to Margot losing her husband in February, another local quilty friend Nancy lost her husband on March 20.  Then, to top it off, yet another local  friend Winnie (who is also a friend of Nancy) lost her husband suddenly on April 12.  She was working at the quilt show when he had a massive heart attack.  All that would be bad enough, but then I lost one of my favorite aunts on April 26.  All those losses together in so short a time just about did me in.  I still don't think the loss of my aunt has really sunk in just yet.  I know that these events have surely gotten my husband's and my attention. 

Here's my Aunt Dean and the king sized quilt I made for her three years ago.  These were the colors she wanted (batiks)and she was thrilled when I gave it to her.  She used it on her king sized bed all the time. 

I guess what I've had reaffirmed for me is that we should never take a day for granted.  We should cherish each one of them and cherish our friends and family.  

Okay, enough for now. 

Y'all take care.  

Lunch in the Log House

There's been lots happening, so let's start getting caught up.  We headed out traveling for a while and stopped near Wytheville, Virginia for a rest.  When we went into town for lunch, the first restaurant we came upon was the Log House Restaurant. 

Log House Restaurant 

This started out as a very small settler's cabin around the time of the Revolutionary War, but was completed later. 

Over the 200 plus years, it has been added onto in a higgledy piggledy manner and is now an absolute warren of rooms and passageways and nooks and crannies.  And it's a fabulous place.  Most of the interior was such close quarters that I couldn't take any pictures with my lens.  There was an atrium, brick floors, woodwork and all manner of whimsical decor.  


The other end of this "booth" just inside the entrance faced a fireplace.  That makes sense since it would trap the heat and make the eating place warmer.  I'm sure there is a name for this arrangement, but I don't know what it is at the moment. 

And I was transfixed by the dried roses in the light fixture. 

As we were led to our table, I almost gasped.  We were seated directly in front of a log cabin quilt that had to be at least 100 years old and it was hanging on the wall as decoration!!  As a quilter, I was both pleased and appalled.  I was pleased to see such a treasure, but appalled that it was being displayed in a way that allowed it to get dirty and be exposed to rough treatment. 

After lunch, we were invited to wander the grounds and take as many pictures as we liked.   We explored the whole place and it was made up of many small rooms, hallways and niches.  

Then we went outside and I was in heaven.  The entire garden was bursting with shrubs, flowers and statuary of some sort. 

View of back door of restaurant and dovecote

The dovecote (just to the right of the blue door) had white doves inside.  Then brick paths wandered throughout the garden.  There was one surprise after the other.   

Grinder man in the rabbit pen 

Entrance to gift shop and bar area 

Its too bad that the gift shop was closed.  And, who wouldn't love to have a glass of something on this porch. 

Part of the outdoor bar area 

It was such a wonderful surprise to find all of this, because from the street you can only see the front of the building.  We had no idea how big it was and how it stretched and twisted, or what wonderful gardens were behind it. 


So, all I've got to say is that if you are ever near Wytheville, Virginia, go find the Log House Restaurant and see for yourself.


Y'all take care. 

Time's A Flying!

Where does the time go?  Every time I blink, another week has passed!!  My mother always told me that the older you are, the faster time passes and, boy, do I believe here now!!! 


So, what's been going on around here?  Shortly after the Arcadia Mill foray, I hosted a String Piecing Workshop here at my house.  The teacher didn't have room at her house, so I volunteered. 

This is the pattern we were working on, using whatever kind of fabrics we wanted.  We could make the "star" all in one fabric or we could mix them us as was done here.   This class was inspired by the following quilt which is just gorgeous.

Sorry I can't show you all of it, but its huge and was made by various members of the instructor's family for a young lady who is about to marry into the family.  Now, isn't that sweet?


Then, of course, there was the Pensacola Quilt Show.  It is always a good show and I enjoyed it immensely.  The talent and creativity exhibited there (or at most any quilt show) simply astounds me.


Over the past number of months, I've been slowly, very slowly, working on a charity quilt from donated fabrics.  Discovered that I didn't like the fabrics and it was hard for me to work on.  Not that I didn't like some of the fabrics individually, but collectively they were a bit much. I finally got it finished and was surprised to find that its not half bad!   

Then, there was the Jelly Roll Race at the Guild quilt bee.  What a blast.  I was the timekeeper since I had done this before and none of the participants had.    I think most of them agreed that it was a great way to quickly get a quilt top done.  But I also think once and done is the attitude of a couple!!!   There's a bit more stress during the race than if working on it at home, so maybe they'll give it another chance.   Here's my quilt top from an earlier race. 

So many of the ladies were skeptics at the beginning of the day that anything attractive would result from just sewing stuff together.  But, at the end of the day, there were lots of believers.  The strips can be sewn together diagonally as above, or simply straight sewn.  They look great either way. 


And there were a couple of birding trips thrown in the mix.  I actually start having withdrawal symptoms if I don't get my bird fix ever so often!  I do have lovely birds in my back yard, but its not the same as getting out into the woods or to the shore and seeing what is traveling around. 


Last week, I went with Birdlady to Ft. Pickens for her "birthday" bird walk.  We didn't see her coveted hooded warbler, but we did get to see a pair of prothonontary warblers like this. 

So, it was a successful day for me!


That very same day, DH and I treated Birdlady to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and a couple of her other friends came along also.  Was a lovely evening all around. 


Okay, so what else?   Oh, the never-ending yard work!!   Spring is not an easy time when you have lots of live oaks in the yard.  We've been raking leaves for weeks and will still be at it for several weeks to come.  


I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely spring. 


Y'all take care. 

Hometown Quilt Show

Last weekend I went back to my hometown to a quilt show.  It was the first show  by this guild and they did a great job, I think.  Was fully as good as any show I've been to, albeit a little smaller. 

 One of the best surprises was to find that a childhood schoolmate and friend has become a prolific quilter!!  She had several quilts in the show and I was delighted to see her again after so MANY years.

King sized Jacob's ladder quilt

Those are 1 inch squares in the Jacob's Ladder quilt made by a husband/wife team.  Oh, my, the work put into that quilt. 

I think my favorite of the show was this Courthouse Steps quilt made by Bette Haddon from men's ties. 

Over the years, I've seen a number of quilts made from ties, bit I think this once is the best I've seen.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that she does exquisite work on all her quilts. 

In addition to the numerous large quilts, there were lots of minis also.  I've never tried to make a mini quilt as I'm intimidated by all the tiny pieces.  They are beautiful to see, though. 

Suddenly, here in the middle of this post, I'm having difficulties uploading more photos.  Aggravates me something fierce when this happens.  Let's try again.   No luck.  I'll be back later to see if I can edit this to add the other pictures.   Grrrrrrr!!!!!!


Wow, I was able to come back in an add pictures.  


Y'all take care.