Thanksgiving

I am thankful for a wonderful husband who takes me to Las Vegas to get away from it all! Here are a few views of the Bellagio Hotel from a different angle. The first two are from the balcony overlooking the Conservatory that is by the Spa. I spent most of my free time in the spa with specialized services that were fabulous!


And this picture is the high skylight just outside Sensei Restaurant where we had a tasty lunch.

We went to the Venetian to see the Phantom of the Opera. It was done so well, and we even had front row seats. The scenery, visual effects, the beautiful voices and great dancing made us both feel as if we had experienced something pretty special!

Last, this is a quilt I machine pieced using Judy Dales' methods in 2001. I call it Joy. It's a pretty good time to share it, I think!

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood`

It was a glorious, beautiful day today in the Midwest! We decided that we would get Christmas decorations outside, and move the last of the summer garden stuff inside the shed. We managed to get all but one tree lit, along with 12 wreaths hung along our walkway. Our neighbors add their identical wreaths along our shared fence, and when it snows, it looks like a lovely lane with the greenery and the red bows.

We're taking off in the morning for a quick trip to Las Vegas. I'm missing my mom a lot these days. Her birthday was a few days ago, and Thanksgiving was always *her*day to gather us all together. Instead of trying to duplicate that for the rest of the family, Hubby decided that I should be whisked off for a spa day at the Bellagio, and dinner at our favorite restaurant, Picasso's. We'll also see Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian, and probably walk the Strip if the weather is decent just to people-watch. We're hoping the winter storm that has been mentioned by the weather-guessers will hold off until we return. We actually should be home on Wednesday night, and have a nice quiet day of football on T-Day. You know we'll be glued to the TV for the KU/MU game here, too!

I've been helping a new friend do a memory quilt for one of her daughters. She was here on Thursday, and this is what we got accomplished. She has one more section to add to the bottom that has another large star in it, but that will wait until after Thanksgiving. I'm liking the looks of it a lot!

Hopefully, the Bellagio will have a beautiful Thanksgiving display in the Conservatory while we are there. I'll post pictures when I return. Stay safe!

Moving right along!

I've been running along side myself as I wind up the year's projects and wanna-dos! Today was a good day, I think!

Here's my soon to be 9 year old grand daughter's little quilt 50" X 60" kitty quilt. She really, really, really wanted to Crazy Dogz quilt, and since I didn't have time to do another one of those, this one will be her surprise on December 13th. The label has her picture on it with her birthday cake from last year, and I added "Kaitlyn's Kitties" on the cake in Photoshop. It really is straight, just crooked photography!

You can double click for a larger, closer picture of it to see the purple chenille squares and binding. If anyone ever hears me talking or even thinking about working with chenille again, please remind me how much I diskliked working with it. It took two vacuum cleaner containers to get the fuzz and shreds up. And my fingers are almost bleeding from using it on the binding. Yuck!

But all in all, I really like it, and I know she will, too!

Here's my little round robin 4" block that was sent to TX for it's first round of 15. My theme is Garden Thyme, and I've asked for batiks to be used. I also included a picture of my garden with the wind sculpture in it that looks like this (sort of!).

Now, I am going to work on a sweatshirt jacket for my friend, Linda. She makes the most beautiful socks, so we decided to barter a jacket for socks. She chose the fabric, and I chose the yarn, so I am certain we will both be pleased with the outcome.

November?

The year is slipping away fast, isn't it? But we've had the most glorious Fall that I can remember!!! Today it's supposed to turn cold - something like in the 20's by evening, with a lot of wind. We decided to get out yesterday and take some pictures of the yard before the autumn leaves left us in the whirlwinds. I'm glad we did, because it's already windy and the leaves are twirling around and flying down the street!


While we were in the backyard by the gazebo, I thought it would be a good time to take a picture of my Flipped Out Circles. I decided that I was finally full of circles, and stopped when I had enough to make a lap quilt. I found a really great piece of fabric at the Needle Nest for the borders and the backing, so it got done fairly quickly. I offered it for a class, but had no takers, so it's home now, and on my sofa in the hearth room. Should make a nice snuggler tonight when it gets cold, eh?



I've been busy getting odds and ends done, mostly odds - so there isn't much to show for it. Right now, I have some school uniforms in the wash. I'm going to cut them up to make stars of various sizes, and end up with a nice size quilt for a school auction. Last year I made a baby quilt, but I think something from/for their school will have a higher interest level. I have until February, but I know if I don't get it started now, that time will be here, and I'll be having to scurry, and worry.

I'm also working on a couple of round robins. I have my mini-round robin all ready to go, along with my wish list. On my sidebar is the group of bloggers who are doing this over the next 15 months. It will be a little thing when we are done - something like 9" X 15"? I can't exactly remember, but it's small! Should be a fun and easy thing to do each month.

The other round robin I'm working on is for my BuddiesRus small friendship group. There are two in California (Wendy and Sherri) and two in Kansas (me and Carolyn). We're having a camp in Cambria next Spring, and we thought this was a good way of getting to know each other before then. We've made our second exchange, and my brain has been working overtime, let me tell you! I wish I could share the pictures, but I can't since I know they are regulars readers, too!

I've been helping a new friend plan a memory quilt for her daughter, and as soon as I have some pictures of that, you'll see them here, too. There's also a kitty quilt with purple chenille in the works for a future birthday present in December.

So there's a lot going on, just nothing all lined up and in a row. Now, I'm off to clean house (gasp!!!) and perhaps sew later today.

Last Birthday Quilt of the year

Well, we've been through all of our birthday stitch days, so that must mean the end of the year is closing in on us fast.

This is today's efforts for Carol, who is seated in our group picture. Our dear friend, Ibby, wasn't able to join us today, but we still pieced all the blocks. You will notice that Carol was kind to us, and had half of them ready before she got here (the solid squares). The number bandied around was that each of us had about 25 blocks to do. I know I didn't do that many, so someone else picked up my burden, that's for sure.


The name of this pattern is Six Degrees, from Miss Rosie. Our groups group seems to like this company's patterns! It will finish around 77" square, but if I know Carol, it will be bigger than that when SHE is finished with it!

Born to Quilt

Yesterday was the big sale at Needle Nest. I hope I dressed appropriately.

If I leaned over just right as I was cutting fabric, you could see my entire "tattoo". It got a lot of laughs!

Today, I finished up one of the Gwen Marston retreat quilts. It ended up being 49" X 60" - far from the king size I had planned originally. I like the look of it, and I especially like the streak of lightening setting. I don't think I could have worked at it for an entire huge quilt, though. The colors are just not what makes my heart sing. This is destined for a lap throw in Hubby's office.

Time to Join

Every once in a while in my life's journey, I find some things that are just too good to pass by.

Take for instance, the Reader's Challenge blog. As most of you know, I am a voracious reader, reading into the wee hours of the morning; worrying more about what books I am taking on vacation than clothes, wondering if the 10 books by my bedside will be enough to get me through a holiday weekend with no stores open?

I usually read contemporary fiction, something with meat in it, lots of character development, and something that makes me think. Most of the time - which is not to say that I don't read pulp fiction. I do, but only if it is recommended by someone else I trust. I do read it, and mostly enjoy it, but sometimes I walk away thinking that I wasted time with the process. Just as I was going through these throes again, MsJan posted about the Readers Challenge. And of course, I went, I saw, I joined.

I am going to participate in the Pulitzer Project. The goal is to read all 81 Pulitzer award winning books. There's no time frame to read them all, but as you might guess, each year that goes by, there will be yet another to add to the list. What is surprising to me, is how many of them I have already read without even knowing it. In a few days, I am going to list them on Granny's Hands blog, so I can keep up with them. I will also list the 10 that I want to read in the next 10 months. Right now I am reading Gilead by Robinson and it was the prize winner in 2005.

I also joined the Paperback Book Swap Club, too. Free to join, and for only the cost of shipping you get a credit to use with anyone who has a book posted you want. Not only paperbacks, but hardbacks and CDs too. Pretty nice, I think. If you are interested, you can click through the link on my sidebar to check it out. Since I've joined, I've posted 39 books, shipped out 14, received 3 and have several more credits waiting for me to choose something. Of course, the somethings I will choose will be from the list I am going to make to read for the Reader's Challenge.

I also joined the Round Robin Bloggers. You can click through the logo that's on the right of my blog to see the 15 participants, if you'd like. I'll be one of 15 bloggers who will participate in a 15 month long round robin. The finished product will only be 9" X 13". Here's the results from another group who just completed this same type of round robin. I've chosen my theme - Garden Thyme, and I've made my block. Until it's safe to show it, I will wait to post it, but it will remind you of the surprise wind sculpture that hubby got for the garden last spring.

As promised in the last entry, here's my gift from Vicky (she's holding them). Aren't they perfect? The ice cream was tasty and the company inspiring as always!

And last, here's a unique way to use those antique buttons you have hiding in your stash. This is simply lining fabric constructed into a curved belt with a tab closure. All the buttons are sewn on, and voila! You are a fashion plate!

I'm Still Here!

My new car tag arrived, so I am now one "sweet granny!" LOL! I am still wondering where all the time has gone! I suffered from the same problem in my last entry, and I hope it will get better as time goes by!

I've been working Saturdays at the Needle Nest, and I also made them a blog spot, along with a monthly newsletter blog. I think this will work well for them, since their webmaster was so slow in getting things done for them. This is their anniversary sale week, and I expect Saturday to be a busy, busy, busy day!

My little basket quilt is next on board for finishing, as well as a Round Robin (that I can't show here) that is due to be finished at the end of the month, if not before. I managed to get the flip circles bordered AND quilted, but no picture. I'll try to add that soon.

Just so I can show you more great quilt pictures, here are some of the Amazing Quilt Babes at our last stitch Saturday. First is Ibby with her new quilt top completed in her new bedroom colors. She always chooses the most mellow colors. I love this one!

Next is Vicky and her soon-to-be grandson's quilt. I guess you know what the baby's name is, huh? I love this one, too!

And this last one is our group in front of Vicky's birthday quilt that we helped put together. Since no one was here to take the picture, I am the photographer and not in the picture! The Dresden plates were the ones shared from Ibby's birthday quilt that we all took home and made tops from, too. I think almost everyone is done, now - except Ibby's! LOL!

This Thursday night, we all have a date to exchange our summer gifts to each other. The rules were that we were to make something, and it shouldn't take more than 5 hours. We'll put them in a pile and draw a number for which one we get to choose - they will be wrapped so it won't be so easy. I'll show what I made and then what I received on Friday. The hardest thing about this? Our meeting is going to be the private room at Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Parlour!

Now, some pictures!

Thank you Blogger for allowing me to post some pictures!

I had a nice afternoon with my friend yesterday at a High Tea. This is the organization for whom we made the basket quilt last summer. It was auctioned off for $300.00, with a matching cash donation. Terrific! It was a lovely tea, despite the rain, rain, and more rain all afternoon.

Here's my new car! Isn't it a beauty? I've only driven it twice with the top up, but with the weather changing to rain, I think that practice will be stopping soon! LOL! It's also the first time that I've ever driven with the audio system on in any car I've owned and LOUD, too!!


This is the sweatshirt jacket I've made for the LQS where I teach and play sometimes. I love these jackets. Fran Morgan from Fabric Cafe has a really nice booklet out to help you make them a little nicer finished, and not so....welll...sweatshirt like!


And what's a picture from my home without some extra wildlife? If you drive south of my house about 1/4 mile, there are some small horse ranches/farms. Recently, we've seen more cattle on the grounds, and if you drive west about 1/2 mile, there are long horn steer there. Hmmmmm, wonder why? Our taxes are quite high, here, and in order to save tax money, these folks have gotten smart! If you graze cattle, then your property is agricultural! So here are the smallest of the ones that are out there. Another day, maybe the big bulls with the 5' horn span will be closer for a portrait!

Whew!

Where have I been?

Everywhere! I tell you everywhere!

First, I created a new blog for the LQS that I sometimes play (work) at, and that led to creating a calendar, and then setting up a second blog for their newsletter. It still needs work, but I think it's a good start!

While at the shop, one of the customers came in wanting to make a baby quilt for a teacher. She wanted 14 kindergarteners to help. This is what we designed - she completed, and will be gifted this next week. Isn't it great! Way to go Jeanette!


Then, I've gotten a new car. Or should I say that hubby got me a new car. Since I got it, I've driven everywhere with the top down, and I've put over 1,000 miles on it in about a month. For someone who doesn't really enjoy driving, this says a lot!

I've been working on some samples for classes at the shop, which include a "sophisticated" sweatshirt jacket from the Sensational Sweatshirt Secrets booklet from Fran Morgan (Fabric Cafe), and another flipped circles lap quilt. But, since blogger doesn't seem to want me to add any more pictures tonight, I'll have to add more tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am back at working on some charity quilts, and then this weekend, my friend and my basket quilt will be auctioned at a high tea.

Sorry it's been so long since the last blog. I really miss posting, and I know it won't take so long the next time!

FINALLY!

I know, I know, I know! It's been almost an entire week since I said I would tell more about the retreat. But, life somehow gets in the way, and I've been playing, ahem, working at the LQS all week. They are getting ready to be a first time vendor at a quilt show next weekend, and they needed all the extra hands that could be spared! I've been cutting fat quarters, fat quarters, fat quarters, and making travel size pillowcase kits, and some more fat quarters.

So, the retreat was fantastic, as usual! My friend, Carolyn and I arrived on Sunday afternoon, a full two days ahead of schedule. That allowed us to get the grocery shopping done, a little sight seeing, a little quilt shop hopping, and get all set up to sew before the rest of the gals arrived on Tuesday afternoon. A few more gals from out of state arrived Monday, so that was nice to get caught up with them too.

Gwen shared all her fabulous basket quilts, since that was this year's theme. Some of them were blocks, some were tops, some were antique quilts, some were contemporary, some were liberated. We also had a wonderful show and tell from other participants. I think there were a total of 35 quilters this year - so show and tell was great!!!

This is Carolyn and I on the second night, trying to figure out how this quilt of Gwen's will fit into one of our suitcases - and more importantly, would she miss it!


Isn't this just the cutest little reproduction basket quilt? And the handle sort of took a life of their own, I think. One of our class friends called this her pocket purse quilt since her kids couldn't ever figure out whether their gramma carried a purse or a handbag.


And, this is our crazy friend Kitty from Louisville, showing off how she matches her big purse quilt that she played with in the class. No, she wasn't wearing the water bottle, but I just couldn't get it out of the view! LOL!



There were oh, so many more really great quilts done this week, but once again, I am not able to post more of them. So many folks want to share their work on their own, and I need to respect that. But, believe me when I tell you that their creativity was so inspirational!

I worked on some small 8" baskets in 1800's reproductions, and finished up the center of a lap quilt, then started on some 12" blocks that I just love. I still need to add the borders, but that can always happen later.


Because Traverse City is the Cherry Capitol of the United States, one of the little shops there carries a lot of cherry fabrics. So, I went shopping! Imagine that! So my 12" baskets will be all of cherry fabrics. I used Gwen's handle technique where you just fold a bias strip (3 times as wide as you want)into thirds, baste it with the machine to hold it folded, then simply stitch along the edge as you lay it into the curve you want for the handle. These are much more my style because they are playful and happy. I decided to piece the handles with different stripes and to use ric-rac on most of them, too.

Back from Michigan

Yes, I've been back since Sunday, and on the run since then. So for now, I'll add one of my favorite pictures, and then return with lots more pictures and fun stories about my time at the retreat with Gwen Marston.

If you don't know our profiles, Gwen is on the right, and I am on the left. This rainbow lasted about 10 minutes, and you could see the entire spectrum. We decided that the end of the rainbow was right over the local fabric store in Elk Rapids - really!

Hi! Ho! Silver! Away!

I worked today at the LQS, and managed to actually come home with only 9 spools of thread in colors I didn't have, and of course needed! Why in the world would I need 9 different colors of thread at this moment?

Welllllllllll...can you guess?

I'm going to Gwen Marston's Beaver Island Retreat (not on Beaver Island anymore) in Elk Rapids, MI!!!!

This is me last year, wading in Elk Lake which is at the edge of where our retreat building is. I couldn't believe the water was as clear OR as warm as it is!

Yep, it's the second week in September, so where else would I be? This year the theme is baskets, and I have all the backgrounds cut (45 different) and all of the basket fabrics chosen, and cut into smaller manageable (read that as packable) pieces.

What is so nice about her retreats, is that she really has put the R-E-T-R-E-A-T back into quilt retreat. She sets the theme, and most everyone plays along, but some bring other things to work on too. There is minimal structured events, and mostly comraderie between about 25-30 women. This year, I plan on sleeping in a bit, sitting by the lake, reading AND working on my baskets. At this moment, I'm all packed except the last minute stuff like my toothbrush, and my eyeliner:)

Here's Gwen and I (me, a few pounds heavier then) last year...and I think I've cropped out almost all of the threads that were on my shirt!


In honor of this trip, I bought a Tutto Machine on Wheels case. I so love my Pfaff that I don't want to sew on anything else. Especially HSTs that are 1/2" finished! So, we'll see how this works toting it on the plane.

I return next Sunday, the 16th. You all be good and get lots of sewing done!

More Nashville Stories - Again!

Now it's on to the Confederate side of the family. This one is the most interesting, so I won't post all of the others that I found in (former)family fields, and unknown corners of Dickson County, TN. But I can tell you that this day of my genealogy sleuthing was very rewarding. And if you want skip the genealogy trip, and just see some quilts, scroll to the bottom of this posting, where I will reward YOU with two that I've made since I've been home!




This is Carnton Plantation in Williamson, TN, near Murfreesboro. It turns out I have Confederate ancestors buried here that I hadn't been able to locate before I read the book, Widow of the South. "Historic Carnton Plantation is a private non-profit historic site located in Franklin, Tennessee. Late on the afternoon of November 30, 1864, Carnton was witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Civil War. Carnton, the home of John and Carrie McGavock, served as the main Confederate field hospital for hundreds of wounded and dying soldiers. In 1866, the McGavocks designated two acres of their land as a final burial place for nearly 1,500 Confederate soldiers killed in the Battle of Franklin. Today the site has 48 of the original 1,400 acres and includes the restored antebellum home, a recreated one-acre 1847 garden, slave quarters, smokehouse, springhouse and the adjacent Confederate and family cemetery." The cemetery isn't far from the house.


Over time, the headstones have fallen into disrepair, and they've been replaced with square concrete markers. You need to know what section the soldier is buried in, then you can locate it in the McGavock book. Unfortunately, only one of my soldier's graves is marked with a concrete block with his initials, but the others are with the sections marked with their regimental State.

MAJ. Amzli T. Meek, 2nd Regiment, ARK, age 25, died in the Battle of Franklin, TN





And this is Moses Harvey Meek, born 25 July 1839, died 27 Sept 1929 (along with some of the rest of the family) in a small field along a road by a major highway near Burns, TN.


As a Kansas Art Quilter, I am invited to make quilts for Fabriquilt to show their new lines at the Houston Market in November. When I got home, the fabric was waiting for me - and you must use what they give you, and can't add anything else. It's to show their new lines, so that makes sense. BUT it sure makes it hard when you are a scrap quilter like me!

Here's Classic Blues. Does the pattern surprise you? LOL!

And here is Bloomsbury Square(s). I used a template I had purchased at the Nashville show to make it. It surprised me how much I liked the color of the fabrics once I put them together.

More Nashville Stories

Have you ever heard the phrase "Quilters are just friends you haven't met yet?" Well, here are some St. Louis, MO friends I hadn't met yet! I am so sorry, but I can't remember everyone's name, but the closest one to me is Debbie Reynolds...how could I NOT remember that? And the lady (mom) in the rose colored shirt is Rose.

While I was at the Nashville AQS show, I sat down on the steps to wait for my friend Carolyn. Sharing the steps with me were these gals, talking about what they had bought, and of course, I had to get into the conversation, too. Carolyn arrived, and we continued the conversation with suggesting a background fabric for their gramma's 30's blocks (Kona Cotton Snow), explaining an easier way of applique, and in general sharing quilting talk - as quilters do.

We all laughed a lot when we found out they have another relative that lives fairly close to us, and they come to the Kansas City metro area several times a year. So, the pencils came out, and a list of all the fabulous quilt shops in our area were made. I hope they make a comment on this blog so I can get their email address and we can visit again when they come to town!

Another friend I hadn't met yet in person was Debby. She was so busy at the time I was there, I hope I didn't get her in a spot of trouble by taking time out for a picture! I guess I just missed Judy, but she's about an hour and a half away so maybe I'll get her here before the end of the year!! Of course, I've been trying to find some time to see her since she moved to MO, and that hasn't happened yet!

Debby and Sharon at Nashville AQS, 2007.

There were some beautiful quilts, and some fantastic quilts, wonderful ideas, and unique perspectives. I came away, as usual, with more ideas than I'll ever be able to use, and inspired to play again with color and fabric.

More on the show and the last of my genealogy trip in the next post.

Home again, home again

Home again, home again, jiggety jig! I have so many different things to blog about, it's taken me a while to think about how to do this. I am going blog chronologically and some entries will be about only one day, and others will combine days. So sit back, and fasten your seatbelt! Be prepared to go into the past to the Civil War, spend some time at a quilt show, see new work of mine, and just generally get caught up with a cup of tea or coffee!

Before I start with my trip, I'll try to answer a couple of questions asked rgarding the Cherry Limeade quilt. First of all, there is only one pattern - a circle! I've referenced Dale Fleming's book and technique before about how to make these circles, so you can learn that from her. She was on Alex Anderson's show, and you can see the reference points here. Sharon Schaumburg and Kelly Gallagher Abbot both use pretty much the same technique, but I think Dale's book is a bit more straight forward with pictures to reference. The background is also explained in her book. The green fabric with the pink polka dots is called Dipped Chicks from Clothworks. I haven't finished the final borders simply because of the trip and several other commitments that must be done SOON. I'll post it when it's completed!

Here I am home in the Midwest again, with my family and friends around me. I spent a marvelous day in Tennessee following my research of my ancestors, finding their home land and graves. I learned more about the Civil War than I ever had in the past, and met some wonderful people along the way.

I started my journey by driving south of Nashville to the Murfreesboro area. There I found the Stones River National Cemetery, where one of my ancestors lays at rest in the National Cemetery. I was able to locate his name by using an on-line civil war soldier cemetery locator, and I've had this piece of information for several years. I've just never been in this area to go find him before. Additionally, all I had was the date that he died and that he died at Murfreesboro.

At the visitor center, I found Park Ranger Bill, anxious and willing to share information with me. He was so excited to have a descendant, too! I got to sign a descendant's register, and I felt quite honored. He got out maps of the day of the battle, hour by hour, and found the regiment that my soldier was with, then proceeded to tell me where he was at all points of the battle. After I bought a book about the three day battle at Stones River, I was ready to walk the battle area. Now, you have to understand, that it was very hot this day! The temperature was 107 degrees!!!!! Whewee!

This is where I started walking. As you can tell by the marker, this is the eve of the battle.

This is where Thomas (my soldier) was having breakfast with the 49th Ohio infantry regiment when the battle began about 6 AM on Dec 31, 1862.

There is a lot to see and absorb at this site, and if you want to read more about it, you can find more information here. It's wonderfully preserved, with the original cannons, and cleared fields. Even if you don't have ancestors here, you would truly enjoy the history of the area!

This is only a partial view of the cemetery.

Thomas VanBuskirt(k) at rest. He was wounded in this battle, and moved to Murfreesboro. He died 6 months later (June), and laid to rest in this cemetery.

The next posting will be more genealogy, and some fun stuff from the Nashville AQS show.