Christmas Quilt - Old and New Sisters

The first picture is a quilt that was made back in the 1980's. I belonged to the now defunct Embroiderers' Guild and also to a little sub-group of quilters. This group shared some deep red and green fabrics and made star blocks for each other. I put 9 blocks together on point and hand quilted an elaborate fan pattern in the plain blocks. The stitches are unbelievably small and delicate - something I could not replicate. This quilt has hung in the family room at Christmas time for many years. I hang my Christmas quilts shortly after Thanksgiving so we have time to enjoy them.

The second quilt has a story. Almost 2 years ago at National Quilting Day there was an auction of UFO projects. I spotted a bag with "sister" blocks and fabric from that little quilt group. After buttering up the auctioneer, I got the bag I wanted. It has sat in my closet for awhile. Last week I got it out, looked at the blocks, and put them together. I made the 4 Ohio Star blocks for the outside corners and the backing is almost all of the fabric that was in the bag. There is a little bit left that will be returned to the original owner with a little house wall hanging using our special fabrics. Merry Christmas Jean.......and thank you!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

For Thanksgiving we had 13 people at dinner. In addition to Ashley and family and my parents, I have 2 brothers who were here - one from Wyoming and one from Indiana who had his two daughters with him. A nephew who is attending Kalamazoo College joined us too.
I bought a "roasting oven" to cook the turkey in and give oven space for corn casserole, squash, green bean casserole, etc. It cooked a moist turkey and it was nicely browned, too.
Alexander made pumpkin pies in the morning and Allison helped with the corn casserole. They both like working in the kitchen - breaking eggs are a speciality!!!! And yes....we have had a few on the floor - not today, though.


On Friday we went to Munn Ice Arena at Michigan State and enjoyed ice skating together. Alexander was going pretty good on hockey skates and only bounced his head on the ice once. Allison needed more help, but was finally "walking" on the skates and propelling herself a little. She enjoyed skating while holding hands with cousins, Erin and Sarah or me. Andrew slept on the floor under the seating --for a short nap so adults could enjoy skating. Alexander was the last one off the ice and watched the zamboni refinish the skating surface for the next group.

After skating, we returned to the "Greats" house and decorated gingerbread houses. This has been a tradition for many years and everyone enjoys being creative. The houses are always a work of art!!!!!

Saturday Alexander and Grandpa John went to the MSU Basketball game - got to ride the bus from the parking ramp. The "girls" - and Andrew - went to Horrocks and a walk in the neighborhood since the weather was so nice. Andrew took a good nap in the backpack and was a very happy baby for the evening.

Sunday morning Alexander and Allison helped Grandpa John hang the Christmas lights and wreaths outside. They also dumped the pumpkins down by the creek for the deer and other critters to enjoy.

After lunch I drove the kids to meet Alex in Bowling Green Ohio - about half way for each of us drivers. The highways were crowded, but the drive was just fine.

Today I'm cleaning up after the long weekend.......then a regular work week starts........

Fall Wallhanging

I have been working on this for the last couple weeks.
I started it when leaves were looking very pretty and had lots of color.

The printed leaf patterns on squares of fabric were purchased at a quilt show in Marshall. I knew that I had to do something with them. I cannot tell you where the design came from - I just started laying things on my design wall and let it flow...........

The machine quilting across the quilt is supposed to be the wind blowing the leaves. The extra leaves are machine appliqued with a free motion method.

I don't have a name for it yet......I need something better than Fall Wallhanging. Blowin' in the Wind? Anyone have another idea? I'm open to suggestions.........thanks

Japanese House Block #6

I now have six house blocks from the Japanese Block Exchange.

This latest is top row, center.
It was made by Liz Borajkiewicz - the friend who is living in Japan and started this exchange. She let the fabric "do the work" for parts of the house. The front door has fantastic handles - beads that look like large porcelain door handles. The patterns in the weave made for great detail in my house blocks.

With each block, the maker also sends a piece of Japanese fabric. I will use these in putting the blocks together. I have cut a small "vitamin" size piece to applique for my journal quilt - yes, that is still going and there are only 47 more days in the year to document!!!! That quilt will remind me of many memories of the year 2006.

Many thanks to the makers of these blocks..........they are treasures.

African Quilt Workshop

Today I took a workshop from Theadra Fleming - a quilt artist from Ypsilanti.

She spoke at the Lansing Area Patchers meeting on Thursday evening. She had examples of African fabrics that were outstanding - including mud cloth pictures on the intricately woven fabric.

In the workshop today, we cut strips from 10 fat quarters of African fabrics and then cut them into pieces. We shuffled the pieces and sewed them into one really long strip - it went all across the room!!!!! That strip was cut into equal pieces, sewn together and then cut into strips again - and then sew THOSE strips together........LOTS OF SEAMS!!!!
Theadra calls this the Keep It Simple technique. It is inspired by the weaving traditions of the makers of Kente Cloth.
We may have had similiar african fabrics, but all the quilts from this class will look different. Hope some are finished for the LAP 2008 show!!!!!

I came home and ironed it good. The borders are from fabric that I purchased from Theadra today. I will have to get some cheap african style fabric to use as backing- don't want to use the neat stuff I purchased from Theadra!!!

When I machine quilted the quilt, the borders were cut down from this picture.

Japanese House number 5

I have another house - and WHAT a house!!

It was made by Naomi, who designed it herself. It is the house in the upper right hand corner of the picture. Thank you Naomi!!!!

It is a unique Japanese thatched farmhouse from a historical area called Shirakawago. There are approzimately 180 thatched farmhouses, sheds and barns, most built about 200 or more years ago. The architectural style known as Gasso-zurkuri is characterized by its large steeply pitched thatched gable roof. This unique steeply sloped roof structure provides work space the the house and prevents excessive mass of snow in this heavy snowfall region of Japan.

Naomi designed this block from pictures obtained on the web......technology and creativity --she is really using her talents!!!!

I have a wonderful assortment of houses - and 3 more to come!!!!! I hope to use the pieces of fabric that accompany each house to make another house - 9 blocks make a better wall hanging than 8.

Our Special Day DInner and Halloween Costumes

Thirty years ago, we were fortunate to receive a beautiful baby girl from Korea. We have celebrated Our Special Day ever since - the day we "got her." This year she drove from her home in Ohio with her three beautiful children to be with us for a special dinner. The "Greats" were here too.
Those lucky children have four great-grandparents!!!!!

While here, it was Halloween costume time.
It is my pleasure to make Halloween costumes - tell me what you want to be and I'll make it.
This year it was Princess Ariel ("She's my favorite princess") and a Knight - a very classy Knight!!! Baby Andrew had a pumpkin outfit. Sewing on satin and organza for Ariel was no fun, and adding all the trim to the knight tunic was easy. The sword and scabard were the BIGGEST hit. Alexander and Allison love to play with dress ups here.

Baby Andrew is starting to coo and vocalize when you hold him. He has a cute little smile and he watched the MSU football comeback with his grandfather - he needs some Spartan duds!!

It was nice to have the quick visit with them. We want to be a part of the grandchildrens' lives - and do things with them that will be special memories forever.