Road Trips....

Because this is my quilting diary.  I want to keep things documented correctly.  We went to visit my son and daughter-in-law in March.  I had something for each of their pups-- Monogrammed Dog collars, something for Eric... and I wanted Carolyn to have something as well.

Eric has always been very cautious and stated, " Don't decorate Carolyn's house.... let her do it."  I completely get it and respect what he means.  I still laugh when we are all together and and someone will look at  Carolyn and look at me when we are having a discussion and then turn to Eric and say, " My God, you have married your mother..."  While I don't know how Carolyn feels about it-- I taken it as the utmost in compliments.

Back to the quilt.  It was Wednesday before we were to leave on Friday morning when I whipped up four blocks and quilted the piece. My the end of March-- Everyone will welcome anything that says Springtime....  I was literally stitching down the binding in the car on the road trip. That's why I only have the cell phone pictures.

A little nervous, I thought about what Eric said --- and still remained confident the table topper was the right call....

And it was.  She loved it.

Courtney and Morgan's Journey

She asked me to make a signature quilt for her wedding.  It just needs to have a lot of white space... for 300 people to sign.... There will be plenty of burlap and lace... Navy bridesmaid dresses.  Quilting is a really personal thing for me and the thought of being judged by 300 people made me nauseous,but it was for Courtney.

It's made with Edyta Sitar's pattern Journey....Loved the name.

I embroidered the tag on the back.  They were married in a courthouse because it affect his tour of duty in the service and now they are having the ceremony.

Quilting  has been slow. We've been remodeling our kitchen. Exhausting, but so worth it. Life is busy. 

For the Record...

Because I guess I think---No scratch that--- Because I know that I believe there's a quilt for everything.

A friend lost her mom. I threw five bucks in a card that was being passed around the office.  But I wanted to do something more.   I wanted to tell her that her mom wasn't hurting anymore.  That she was a great daughter-- beside her mom to the end taking care of her (a true luxury I'll never have). I wanted to let her know that in time-- her sadness would give way to a ton of great memories.

For all those things that for some reason I'm having a tough time telling her I made her this:

A Nine patch table topper.

The base fabric is a Thimbleberries piece, part of a plan to make a quilt that I never gathered the remaining pieces.  By far my favorite fabric of all the Lynette Jensen designed. It was time to quit saving it for myself.

A corner patch sewed in to make a label.

You can see the snow is pulling away from the trees.  We will get a spring.  This journal started out as a daily chat about life and quilt stuff.  For some reason it seems to have changed.  But I still want to keep it to log my quilts.  What they are made of, What I'm thinking about as I sew and the fabrics they are made of.

As a family,we were sitting together a few weeks ago and were talking about our jobs.  Don and the kids talked so passionately about each of their own.  I spoke about how I work hard but my job always seems to be about making it to quitting time.  Don tells me-- it's because you are not passionate about it. ''Mel, your passion is in your quilting.  Always has been.''  While I am far from a perfect seamstress and I'm continuing to improve with every project I find myself grateful for every piece of fabric to quilt and time I have to devote to it.  

Spring Hopes.....

For all of those growing little weary at this winter's weather.  Our motto in the U.P. is, " If it were easy-- everyone would want to live here..."

But even the faithful grow tired of the frigid temperatures and even colder wind chills.

Our days are getting longer with three minutes of sunlight gain daily.  My sewing room needed cleaning up after Chelsey's quilt before I could get back to another quilting project.  Too tired, I grabbed a piece of Aida cloth and embroidery thread.  So nightly, I made a few x-stitches with a free Pinterest pattern. I really wanted to use linen. Linen projects will have to wait until March when I can get new glasses.  The contacts just don't focus my eyes well enough to see the threads.

I have three or four of these little pieces printed out to complete and sit on a shelf -- just to remind me Spring will come....

Strawberries

While I did not get to stitch on these this weekend -- here is the project I want to work on....

My Strawberries.  Photographs don't do the fabrics justice.  I even moved the blocks outside trying to get the lighting bright enough to let you see how much I love them.  I read journals of other people who made the quilt who talked about not having the fabrics work together.  Kind of made me weary of trying different fabrics outside a fabric line.  I just didn't want to waste fabric.  But I also realized I didn't want a cookie-cutter quilt this time - It was mine and I wanted it different.  I chose fabrics I loved and decided I had never see a bowl of strawberries all the same color...

The plaid is going to be the binding and backing and the green piece is a half yard print being auditioned for a border.

Heading into the week with the right attitude.   Work sponsors the fun on weekends.

In Honor of Bertie, Dinah, and Penelope

Chelsey turned 25 and my Eric and Carolyn got a new Puppy -- Awesome, pup,  Don and I have just been so excited to meet her.  Chelsey - still at 25 -- the baby of the family responds --" You never got this thrilled over my cats..."

Truth be told -- we're dog people.  Don and I both have grown up with dogs and never had cats.  I'm even a little afraid of them.  But when you love Chelsey-- it means loving all of her.... including her cats.

When she first moved to a new town, she was incredibly lonely.  Her apartment did not allow dogs. So while selling an ad campaign for the local animal shelter she rescued a cat that has 7 or 8 toes on each paw.  Bertie was an uncommon cat but loved Chelsey implicitly ---so she's ok in my book.  Tempermental --yes --- anti-social -- definitely-- but she and Chelsey made the odd couple look normal.

Chelsey realized with her long work hours that Bertie got lonely, so enter stage left--- Dinah.  A charming little calico that made Chelsey's home a darling threesome.  Life rolled on and Chelsey's Heart murmur started acting up.  Coupled her best friend getting married (a.k.a. her brother) Chelsey was just really struggling.  She took out her trash to the apartment dumpster one day and her a small voice and founded muddy Penelope four weeks old, wet, and cold. Chelsey called the shelter and they had picked up the Mom and six other kittens  found in the dumpster earlier.  They must have missed one.  Chelsey said she would bring her in on Monday.  She nursed on her all weekend and despite our saying, "Chelsey, you don't need three cats.." Chelsey's response was, "We're both in really bad places --- we need each other.""  Truthfully, she's my favorite....

So accepting her cats... I made her birthday gifts.   A Mug and Mug Rug along with Cross-Stitched picture I adapted to fit her three loved ones.

Chelsey had seen a  quilt similar to this one on Pinterest right after Christmas.  Making it for her was the only way to shut her up--- literally.  Instead of a Jelly Roll, I used 3.5 inch strips. The Pinterest one did not have a border either.  I wanted it big enough to keep someone warm.  Her living room is cream and black.  I googled 'cat silhouette' and printed out pics for the appliques.  

The appliques really intimidated me.  I was afraid they wouldn't look like cats.  I cut the pieces out and ironed on thin interfacing to stabilize them.  I'm not a 'needle-turn' applique fan  so I ironed under the edges and glued them down with a little elmer's glue stick and then machine appliqued them with a button-hole stitch.  I was going to do them by hand, but had procrastinated so with the dread of working with them so it was the logical choice.  Plus, I feel like they are really durable for tons of machine washings.  This is a quilt to be loved on---   Through naps and movies and bowls of popcorn.

Pictures don't show you -- but there are some really great fabrics in this piece.  I pulled from my stash, because of lack of time -- and because it's there to be used.

My favorite cat  and block -- Penelope.  Oops -- I need to cut that thread.

I brought it to her today.  Funny thing about being raised by a quilter.  The first thing she said was, 

"What did you put on the back???"

It reads:  

In Honor of Bertie, Dinah, and Penelope and the lessons they've taught you.

1. No one should ever be lonely.

2.  Everyone needs Friends.

3.  Sooner or later Everyone gets down in the dumps (ster)... but that doesn't mean you have to stay there.

Happy 25th Birthday.

Chelsey Turn's 25

Strawberries are on the edge of the counter, because Chelsey has a birthday and I want to make her a quilt.

Affectionately known as the "Cat Lady" Chelsey has 3 cats that keep her company in her home town.

I cross-stitched her a picture for her desk -- I found the pattern on Pinterest and adapted it for 3.  The Dresden plate topper was supposed to be a mug rug  but it is a little bigger.   The cat silhouette quilt is also made from a picture off of Pinterest.  My version is going to be black and cream with 6 cats on it.  Hopefully it will be ready for quilting this afternoon.  I might actually finish a quilt on time this year.

Exercise -- something that stays on the 'top burner' for me this year.  I try to tell myself ,'one hour of exercise a day leaves me with 23 hours for other things.  One Christmas gift that has been helping me this year is this:

We got a great black Friday deal and got family members this for Christmas - a FITBIT.  It tracks steps, and miles.  You can log on and track calories, water, and your friends can join and share data.  Don thinks it is a gimmick - but like my Daughter-in-law says, " If it is a gimmick that motivates you -- It's good."  I've been taking the long way to copiers and pushing after work with snowshoes if I haven't gotten my daily 10,000 steps.  It least wearing it keeps me focused on healthy choices. A couple of friends at work even join in.

Last year's exercise record wasn't as great as I wanted, hoping for a great 2015.

 P.S. I'm also documenting the days I pick up a needle and thread.  A gratitude reminder for when I think I never have the time I want to sew... I look and realize I really do....

Strawberries

The Strawberries are made up of three rows of fabric pieces. The strawberry bottoms are made and the stems also.  It's the middle row that is intimidating to me.  Great instructions -- Quarter triangle squares just don't come easy for me.  I'm taking it a seam it a time while watching football.

Our weather is back to single digits.  Tomorrow we have a high of -4 degrees.  Quilting weather.

My first Project...

For a couple of months I've been digging through fabrics and choosing the right ones for this project.  I purchased the background - to have enough yardage of the same.  I'm ready to cut up strawberries.

I am working on this project with a couple of friends-- each of us taking our own twist to the project.  The cover quilt is awesome.  It's what caught my eye...But I'm using Three Sisters Moda fabrics for own Strawberry Social.  While the pattern calls for 25 strawberries, I'm making mine with 36---I want to make sure it's big enough to cover up any one for a summer's nap.

Happy New Year ---

It's frigid outside... but warm inside.   

Looking for to all the possibilities and quilting 2015 brings--

Blessings to you and your families....

Happy New Year...

In the Mail....

My Mom is 82.  We're 1250 miles apart.  We talk almost daily, but I've found we've begun playing the same game.  That's the game of not discussing things that make the other person worry.  Though I constantly talk about how it is important to talk to me about things, I don't practice what I preach... Neither does my Mom...

A few weeks ago she got a bad mammogram, after 2 weeks of testing, they decided it was nothing--- and Mom decided at 82 she's not going to have another one....I support her decision-- she was so frightened.  She didn't tell me until the ordeal was over.  I want to fuss and yell-'Why are you telling me now???' but instead - my heart breaks and I tell her, 'I'm so sorry for your pain'....

The week before Thanksgiving she comes down with the Shingles-- again doesn't tell me until a month later....blames it on the doctors scaring her with breast cancer-- you and I know the difference, but I don't argue and tell her I wish I could hug her.

The second week in December we have a conversation, she's gloomy and refuses to get a tree.--

"Mom, you don't have to have a tree to celebrate Christmas, you can still decorate without one, Don't miss out on Christmas-- I wish I was closer." 

We talk the day after Christmas-- her only brother has passed away at 87. 

 'I wish he could have lived to be 90-- Daddy lived to be 90".  

"But Momma, he was so sick-- he's not hurting now..."

"I guess you are right.."

We  discussed  our gifts and the fact that she didn't put up a tree. Again.

 "Melanie, You didn't make me any Handwork-- you always make me something.."

Truthfully I didn't think she'd notice.  She never really comments on my quilting, even when I send photos or gifts...But I realized something-- I can't control medical tests, or take care of her when she's sick, or getting the silly tree -- but I can do handwork (Her word for quilting).. I spent Last Sunday cutting and stitching.  I went to Pinterest and found the block named -'Round the corner..'  It seemed to fit.  And made her a new table topper.  

As fate would have it the backing got tucked up in the quilting process.  I thought the label would hide most of it.

A recycled gift was addressed and taken to the post office this morning with a handwritten letter.  I can't wait for her to get it....

It's about to be a new year -- I tell her 2015 is going to be great...

Typed Because I want to Remember...

So three weeks earlier – Chelsey brought a friend from Germany home to visit, His name was George and he was studying for a master’s degree in Management.  So while there was a definite German dialect to his voice, he spoke English incredibly well. Chelsey told me he spoke 4 or 5 languages.  Smart guy.

Don tells me this story after George went home that night. He’d been around the house about half of a day when he and Don decided to go downstairs and play a game of pool.  Don is racking up the balls.  George picks out a pool cue.  They are making small talk--- the weather, football, how many days left in the semester.  Then out of nowhere the following is spoken:

“You sure have a lot of blankets…”

Don grins ---, “No Shit..., not much chance of any of us getting cold around here…” 

Don laughs, George smiles and the pool match continues.

Yes – George’s “Blankets” were my quilts.  I started looking around.  Yep – they were everywhere. I started evaluating. Is it too much----are there too many??? At what point does creativity become obsession?  Did my home look like a house of a crazy person—you know like the one in the movies about a woman who can stuff animals so consequently there’s all these stuffed animals all over the place…. 

So fast forward to Thanksgiving weekend.  The house is full of people.  Eric and Carolyn come home.  Chelsey brings friends.  My take is ---the more the merrier.

 Our famous family saying is ” We don’t go to sleep in our house, in the winter time we go into Cryostasis instead.” Don like it cooler and we pile on the covers. My kids grew up piling on the quilts.

That first night I had all the air mattresses and beds layered with sheets and quilts.  The next morning I asked how everyone slept…The general agreement was they were ”chilly” to put it nicely.  As a Mom--- I felt horrible.  That second night,  I put my ’blanket obsession’ away  and gratitude was replaced as the quilts were pulled from the ladder rungs, yanked from the quilt racks and unfolded from the quilt chests.  Everyone slept warm that night. I’ll never entertain the idea of having too many quilts round my northwoods home again

I guess I’m typing this because I want to remember this – and what it means to be a quilter.

Merry Christmas....

What's Left of my only Christmas project this season....

I made my Mother-in Law a quilt from Civil War Reproduction fabrics- 

 The Quilt is the Pattern Love Knots

I forgot to take a photo so she sent me one.  I loved making it.I sewed the label in as part of the backing fabric.

Hoping the holidays allow every time to sit back and count their blessings. I'm praying for contentment and happiness in the coming year.

Catching Up on Life.....

While the summer may not have had much quilting, it was filled with Wedding Showers, Rehearsal Suppers and a Wedding....

Eric got married.

Our family has a wonderful new member. 

Eric is just so happy!!!

They make the cutest couple.  

Sterling's Quilt

The goal was made.... A baby quilt for every new baby  in my life.... Church friends, work friends, family....I wanted them to each have one this year.

A young couple at work was expecting their third child.  He'd worked there for two years.  I asked around....was there a baby shower planned???.  There had been several this year --- just wanted to get my timeline for the quilt in order.  'Melanie, it's their 3rd kid....we usually don't do anything."
 
I got it.  I understood...but there was this thing inside me--- A third child is special.   Don't forget the third child. So I went on choosing fabric and cutting it up.  They planned on not finding out  the baby's sex --- and truthfully I knew very little about this young engineer and his family.  I chose Classic fabrics -- with the thoughts that mom could love the quilt long after the baby out grew it.

So a disappearing nine patch was the pattern and yellows, greens, and cranberries were the colors.  I knew the due date and I didn't want to be late.  I found out the day after the baby was born.  Sterling was 7.5 pounds--- a little boy.

I wrapped up the quilt and left it on Keith's desks early the next morning.  After a few days, He had not returned to work.  I went into his office wondering if he had picked up the quilt--I asked a couple of people -- Where's Keith?? The baby had to be rushed to Green Bay -- with high fever.
'Oh Melanie -- we're waiting on gifts..not know the condition of the infant..."

Honestly, if I had known about the baby's illness, I might have waited -- But I knew that little guy needed the love of a quilt more that ever -- and so did his momma.  I held my breath -- but had no regrets on the timing.  Sterling made it through and is home now with his big brother and sister


......and his handmade disappearing a nine-patch quilt.

My Wednesday--

Got up at  5 A.M.
Worked Out.
Worked.
Helped a Friend with some Bookkeeping.
Came home.
Pancakes and Bacon - The pups and I are dining alone...It's one of our favorites.
Made the weekly trek to the roadside with the Garbage cans( Tomorrow is Garbage pick up day.  I never complain about bringing it to the road -- I don't have to dump it, right?!?!?)
Oh yeah, did I say it was raining????
Stopped to check the mail.....
Rewards for my efforts....

Kicking back with a cup of coffee.

What I'm working on to relax this evening.....

Tulips...

So that I can have purple tulips when it is 20 below zero outside.

Now to get it on the quilting frame....

The story behind the blocks….

For me there’s always a reason.  A reason for choosing a color, a reason for cutting beautiful pieces of fabrics to only have to stitch them back again, A reason for wanting to make a quilt, every quilt.

In February, I went through a tough time. I’m not sure if it was the tough winter, my kids continuing to grow and feeling like I wasn’t, or maybe for a short period of time I was simply sad.  I attempted to doctor myself the best I could.  I studied my Bible – My source of strength and faith, I leaned on Don.  I tried not to lean on my kids.  But being a close family and even though we are scattered dots on a map, the day of intervention came.

Chelsey said it.

“Mom, you have to come out of the basement.  You have to come out of your sewing room and start living again.”

I had always considered my sewing room a haven, not a hide out.  So without the ‘Yeah, but’s”… I thought about it and regrouped. Maybe she had a point.  I wasn’t going to give up my quilting or my sewing room, but I needed a new perspective.

I started with extra snowshoe runs….I needed to work out the blues—literally.

I started with cleaning the corner cove of the basement saved for quilting and that included a bulletin board that held, patterns, ideas, envelopes from quilters, threads, needles etc.   After a trip to get copies of photos from my journal, and a half an hour on Pinterest--the end result was this:

I had a free pattern picked up from a quilt shop that long ago closed its doors, but was memorable enough not to be forgotten.  Not an entire quilt, no samples sitting beside it…..just a simple tulip block with one page of directions. 

I knew I needed flowers and after stripping wallpaper from my kitchen, I knew I wanted a shot at a color I had never used before – purple. 

After about a three week break – and a new attitude I ventured back to the sewing room and started making blocks. I've doodling out different layouts, even kicked around adding an extra color.

I’ve got flowers, real flowers in my yard right now – But I'm piecing this quilt for that reminder when I do need flowers and can’t have them.

Saturday Highs and Lows

The thrill of getting 30 blocks completed quickly left me when I Laid the blocks out and realized I need 32.

Back to the sewing machine...

Saturdays are made for quilting,,,,

A black-eyed Susan With dew on the pedals.....