2 more for the collection...

It was inevitable.  I can't possibly go to a flea market and not look around.   No, I don't need anymore quilts for my collection but sometimes you get such a great deal.  This quilt is perfect for my embroidery program and another one I am working on so it was a no-brainer as far as picking it up.  It is chock full of 1940s-50s prints:

And it is bordered with this fun fabric...the color scheme which modern quilters would love:

 This one I just couldn't pass up because it was such a good deal.  Very inexpensive.  And it is a comfort--and inside there is another quilt.  I am not sure I want to pull the top off yet but I'm having fun admiring it.  The colors are off because I took this with my cell phone but it is from the 1890s.

I'll be sewing this week and hope to have some new photos posted sooner or later.  If I could just get tops done, it would be very helpful.  Hope your weather is better than ours.  At least it's not snowing here.  Have a great day!

Renningers Extravaganaza this weekend!

Hubby has poodle duty today while I head out to Renninger's Extravaganza.  Renningers is one of the many flea markets in our region and the Extravaganza is when they have a ton of dealers come in for a few days.  I got this pretty spool girl there from my friends Sharon and Bill.

Today I'm not really going to shop but to help Sharon and Bill for a few hours.  Of course, I will have to take a sneak peak around because you never know what you might find.

I'll post more probably on Sunday.  I'm hoping to spend some time cleaning out my garden next week.  I'm sorry to say that I drove out of the valley and encountered snow falling yesterday in Palmerton.  I'm trying to just focus on positive things; at least my flowers are blooming much longer in the cold than they would have had it been hot.   It pains me that I had to put the heat back on this week :(  Anyway, concentrate on the positive--things are blooming!

Think Spring and have a great day!

Disappearing 9 patch quilt: finished

Years ago, I did a "Finish the UFOs" year.  This year, I'm more interested in a stash busting year.  I think it will be a year of both actually but for now, I'll just clock in a finish.
Here is a Disappearing 9 patch I started to put together last year.  I had thought that my son and his wife would like it but he didn't like the aqua and I don't think she liked the brown and the gold (yes, it was my attempt at a compromise).  I was thinking this would make a great picnic quilt, PS, that isn't pink in the quilt, its just how the pattern comes off in this quilt.  It is burgundy, aqua, brown and gold.

My husband said: "That quilt is too nice be used for a picnic quilt."  So we nixed that and I'm working on (still another) picnic quilt for the happy couple.  This quilt is going to be given to my brother and sister in law next autumn.  Turns out, the colors are perfect for them, their family room is that gold color and the other colors should be fine in the room.  We spend a lot of time with them and are trying to support them as much as we can.  My sister-in-law was diagnosed with early onset dementia three years ago and it's difficult for both her and my brother-in-law.  She just turned 60 two weeks ago.

I hope this quilt will provide them with some comfort.  It's the first time I've had a piece professionally machine quilted and I like it a lot (it will help with the stash busting).  Here is the back of the quilt:

I wanted paisley because it coordinates with one of the fabrics:

I like the disappearing 9 patch because it provides a random look with a fairly easy technique. Years ago, I did a quilt using the Wonder Block Method for my niece Christina.  You can see it here.  The disappearing 9 patch was easier and I liked that you could showcase the fabric in the bigger blocks I used.  I have one more disappearing 9 patch in the wings that used up Christmas leftovers and I should start binding that later this week.  About two quilts per method is all I can tolerate but I did enjoy this technique.

Our program yesterday was cancelled due to tornado warnings throughout the state.  It was a relief to be safe and at home during the storms we had last night.  Hope you are all well and doing fine.  Have a great day!

Poodle Makeover...

Seamus had his day at the spa this week!  As the weather warmed, he had become increasingly uncomfortable with his fur coat.  Jen groomed him on Friday and did a great job but I always am amazed at how small my dog is under all that hair.  The vet said he is "cut" and what a poodle should look like under there but Seamus' skinny legs always crack me up.  

Before:

 After:

This week I have a ton of programs and events I am attending so my husband is holding down the home front for once, while I am the road warrior.  Today Beth and I will be at the Shawnee Inn in the Poconos doing our Civil War program for the Monroe Historical Society.  

Have a wonderful week!

Pretty poodles

 Seamus is one furry boy right now.  People keep saying to me, "He's gotten huge!" But it's really just the fur.  We had a wonderful Easter and now I'm sewing again.  More on that later.  At Easter, I was showing a relative this old rubber dog.  Greta had come to Easter and she became fixated with this rubber dog.  She couldn't understand why it didn't play with her :)

 Seamus giving Peter some loving.  In the background is my sister-in-law Diane loving up Greta.  Diane just loves animals and enjoys seeing Greta and Seamus interact.

This is the thing about poodles.  They are smart, they are different.  For Easter, Peter and Jessica brought Seamus a treat, there are two left:

I don't go overboard for treats but about every other day.  I garnish Seamus' bowl of dog food with a little ice cream cone treat.  The funny thing?  He eats his entire dinner and waits to eat the ice cream cone for dessert.  Seriously, it's just a poodle thing.

Speaking of poodles, I've discovered a fun blog, "Not Afraid of Color".  Leeanna is also a quilt professional and a poodle person so I'm already loving her blog.  There are not many poodle-quilters out there so we have to stick together:)

Anyway, have a great week!  More posting later this week as I am almost done with another quilt!

Happy Easter! Happy Passover!

We had onion snow on April Fool's Day (no kidding).  But I'm not complaining since it was in the 60s (F) yesterday and the crocuses have begun to bloom.

I know I've been lax about blogging but I have been busy with family and home and sewing.  Hopefully things will begin to settle down more--although I doubt it.  In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday and happy sewing!