Closing it down....

Life is just too demanding these days and I am going to shut this blog down until after the new year. I have enjoyed reading your blogs and sharing my quilting days and life in general, but for now, there is just not enough hours in the day to do all that is required.

A note about the previous post, which I have deleted. Noah is a real child and my daughter confirmed with the principal at the school that they were in fact collecting cards for him. His family recently requested that no more cards be sent though, as Noah's days were drawing to a close. They expressed their appreciation for all the love and support they had received through the cards, so if you sent one, you can know it was appreciated. So I removed the post and ask that if you forward the information to anyone else that you also let them know.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas and hope that I can reconnect through blogging in the new year. I will from time to time check in on your blogs and see what you are up to, but just won't be posting to this one.

Happy stitchin'
Teresa

Jack and Jill

I thought I would share another quilt with you tonight that my mom made. This quilt is at least 62 years old as she made it when my oldest brother, Michael, was born and used it with each of us after that. Then as her grandchildren came along, each of them got to lay on the quilt as well. I have the youngest child, and so it became mine. My grandchildren have also lain on this quilt and it is so precious to me. Mom and Dad were Marines when they met and married shortly after being discharged from duty at Pearl Harbor during WWII. The yellow border on this quilt is made from a windsock from the air base at Pearl Harbor. Don't you just love the stitchery patterns on this cherished quilt. It is hand stitched from start to finish.





We are enjoying having Mom live with us. She and I have spent a lot of time together sewing and just talking. While we watch tv or just sit together I have been handquilting butterflies on Taralyn's quilt. She is due to arrive by Nov. 20 - but actually could be any day now. I have five more butterflies to do - guess I better get stitchin!

Thanks for stopping by,Teresa

Here's an opportunity to help a young lady accomplish a great thing in Africa and possibly win this lovely quilt. Go to the Welsh Quilter blog to read all about it.

Teresa

Trick or Treat!

Meet my two grands - Tess and Timothy. They showed up with big smiles and big pumpkins - the only two trick-or-treaters I had come by the house last night, so they got extra helpings. Not to worry - Timothy did have shoes on - but he kicks them off as soon as he comes through the door and I had to get them to back up for the picture.

Do you get the Fons and Porter Love of Quilting magazine? Its one of my favorites and the November/December 2009 has this great wall hanging on the cover. I just love the center block and the looks of the trees - but I really wanted a table runner. So I decided to make the center with the trees on either end and add the border. Easy enough, don't you think? Well, I wanted to paper piece mine, and the instruction call for using a Fons and Porter Ruler, and do not tell what the finished size of the block will be. So, I can't create my foundation pattern when I don't know what size the block is supposed to be. I went with a 12.5" unfinished center block . I also substituted a dark green for the center. Here is what I have so far:

Now I have to add the border and determine what size the tree blocks need to be.

My mom moved in with us today, for a temporary stay while she finishes recouperating. We had a pleasant day, watching football (ugh) - she worked on the Gail Pan Christmas Wish patterns I traced off for her, and I did some hand quilting on butterflies on Taralyn's quilt. Hubby was here too, working on his computer doing family research. It was a very nice afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by,

Teresa

Setting-on-Point

First I have to give those of you who have been praying for and asking about my mom an update. We admitted her to rehab on Monday night and she is doing pretty good now - ready to come home. She is walking and feeling better, although still not strong enough to be on her own. My mom is determined though and I so admire her for her strong will to get better. Thank you all for your prayers.

I have done a little sewing this week, and completed a quilt top for my new granddaughter, due to arrive November 20. Her name is Taralyn, which I think is a sweet name, and of course she has to have sweet feminine quilt as well. There is an ad on tv that says "Clothes make the man" - not sure I agree with that ad, but I do think in this case, the Fabric makes the quilt. It is a very simple pattern, but these fabrics are wonderful and I think the quilt is perfect for a sweet baby girl. The fabrics are Aviary by Three Sisters for Moda. I plan to machine stitch in the ditch around the sashings, and hand quilt butterflies in the squares and border.

The only problem I had was setting the blocks on point. Its hard to believe, with all the quilts I have made that I have never set one on point - at least not without the instructions telling me what size to cut the blocks. I am sure I have quite a few instructions in my library of books and magazines, but its easy to google it and find something on the net. I found great instructions at Quiltville Custom Printing which involved some calculations. Now I use Excel software in my job and the minute I see calculations, I have to translate that to an Excel spreadsheet, which I did. So all that is necessary is to enter the block size, sashing size and it computes the size of squares to cut. If you would like a copy of this spreadsheet, I will happily share it with you - just let me know your eaddy and I will send it on out. Highlighted in blue are the numbers you have to enter - including rounding up the measurements - but no calculations, Excel does all that for you.

Happy Stitchin'

Teresa

Mom's Hollyhock Quilt

I have not had much time for sewing the last few weeks and thought I would share one of my mom's quilts with you tonight. Mom makes most of her quilts by hand, and this one is no exception. It is hand appliqued, each block hand quilted individually and then the sashing sewn on by machine on one side and hand sewn on the other side. Its a beautiful quilt and one that she gave me several years ago - I treasure it dearly.

I have also included some pictures of a close up of one of the applique blocks, one of the quilted blocks and the quilt back. My photography skills are not that great, but I hope you can see her beautiful work

Mom is not doing very well these days. She is 88 and was recently hospitalized, and just not bouncing back like she has in the past. Please keep her in your prayers.

Teresa

A found treasure.

I was supposed to be at quilt retreat this weekend but was needed at home, as my mom is not doing well. I did get a little sewing in, and wanted to share with you a very wonderful project. I was helping my mom clean up her sewing room and came across this pretty Penny Rug she had made years ago, and which unfortunately a little mouse had discovered too. Momma said she could not bring herself to throw it away, and had been keeping it for years now wanting to mend it. I just fell in love with it and I believe its the only Penny Rug my mom had ever made. So I asked her if I could mend it for her. and that is what I worked on this weekend.

Here is the mended Penny Rug - and better still - she gave it to ME!

I also completed my Noah's Ark Wall hanging. This was a fun project to do .

I hope you all had a great weekend, and to my quilting friends at White Oak - you were in my thoughts and I know you had a great time. I can't wait to see the projects you worked on!

Happy Quilting,

Teresa