Thursday, March 31, 2011

What's Red and White and Stitched all over???????

Yup, "Infinite Variety" The red and white quilt show in NYC.  It is such a treat to be able to attend this!  Here are some pics of this once in a lifetime show:


Ran into our friend Mary Kerr there.  As you might recall our miniquilt group has been inspired by her "vintage revisited" projects:

Kim, Julie and Mary


You have to wonder if the ladies who made these (below) were seeing crosseyed afterwards...and they were pieced so perfectly!!!
It was a spectacular day.  Thank you to all who made this possible!  What an unforgettable day!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Christmas through the Year!!!

I'm currently on a small respite.  My mother is between surgeries and I've been able to attend to some of the (much neglected) other parts of my life.  With that said, I have to tell you a funny thing.  I won a washbasket full of fabric at guild (we had a variation of a Chinese auction that night).  All the fabric was donated by members and was fabric people no longer wanted.  Here is a look at my washbasket after I washed all the cloth:
Say, do you know what that bear fabric is?  YES!!!!  That is tablecloth material from the 1980s.  I know because my best friend had a whole bear ensemble of this fabric way back then when our kids were little.  It's a rather course polyester blend and I received ROLLS of this.  Now me, I love a challenge so I thought this was a blast.  At first, I intended to make placemats and did one prototype but didn't care for it.  So did this instead:


Yup more gift bags!  So far I've done about a dozen of them and have cut out another dozen to make.  I like these small projects that I can finish in a short time.  I think I need the satisfaction of that these days.  Will post more projects later this week.......

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Donating to Japan

I was just wandering around the web when I got a pop up from McAffee about the new scam on the internet.  Apparently there are now cybercriminals emailing folks to donate to the Japanese through them.  You can read about it here as well as a list of reputable charities. 

In the meantime, quilters may want to check out Quilters Newsletter Magazine and consider sending a quilt to Japan via the magazine.  You can read about that here

Have a good day and please share this info with all you can!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

For your viewing pleasure.....

A fun way to do a dresden plate!  I was watching this quilt at a local flea market for over a year.  Finally the price dropped and I scooped this baby up!  I think it is a SO cheerful and what a fun way to put a dresden plate together!

I learn so much from old quilts!!! :)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Child's Coverlet.. Miss Janette, any idea?

I purchased this coverlet a while ago and have been studying it lately.  It reminds me of Ruby McKim's angular animals but I'm not sure if it is hers or not.  I do think it is kit quilt and will have to look it up soon.  Anyway, it sure is interesting...
My friend Janette works on McKim patterns frequently so I am a-calling out to her......

Greyhound dog?







Sunday, March 13, 2011

Inspirations

These are sad times. The past few months we've had disasters in Australia and New Zealand and now the incomprehensible devastation of Japan.  I've adopted my Nana's philosophy and now pray while I work and particularly while I sew.

As I take up my needle and thread again, I've also been thinking of all the people that make me so grateful.  It's true, I'm trying to balance all the bad with positive energy.  Today, I've been thinking of Martha and Mary Kerr.  who have taught me that I am never too old to learn. 

I like their philosophies.  As an antique quilt collector,  I've tended to treat everything that has come my way doorway as fragile pieces of the past that must be respected and babied.  For the most part of my collection, this is a practical philosophy...but what about the unfinished pieces, the blocks, the linens, and the tops that are less than stellar?

Mary and Martha incorporate these vintage pieces in their work. Be it reusing vintage fabric or recycling old blocks and unfinished pieces, they make beauty out of things that are often overlooked or worse, discarded.  I love their philosophies and these days, I've been going through some of these old things with new eyes, such as this piece:
When people hear I have a blog, they sometimes look at me oddly as if I am trying to be hip or something.  The truth is, I've found lots of valuable things to learn from the web and been blessed to have established so many relationships with quilters I've met while surfing. 

So thanks to Martha and Mary for teaching this old pup some new tricks and tips.  I've appreciated it so much!

Back to Japan now and praying while I sew....

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Sweet Dreams



Three more premie quilts completed:
This one looks more crooked than it is:


Saturday, March 5, 2011

Fast acting relief

"For fast acting relief, try slowing down."  --Lily Tomlin

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

wait for me santa!!!

Well this month I didn't get anything done for Allie's Christmas through the Year.   But be sure to check out all the neat ideas posted by the crew.  Hopefully, I'll get to work on the mug rugs I have planned after the 8th.  This is a crazy time for me.  I'm giving some programs locally featuring my antique quilts and between nursing Mom, writing the program, and keeping the home fires going, I've had a lot going on.  My husband is coming home for about 4 days again this week (I think that will make 8 days he is home in 2011). 

My dryer broke but I've managed that the last 10 days because it has only been me at home (and the dogs).  Sometimes this old house is handy and all my old radiators became my impromptu dryers :) 
All in all, we are doing okay just too busy!