Rosie's Habitat Quilt

My friend, Rosie Soltow, died a few years ago. Her estate gave $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity, Lansing this year.

I helped clean out Rosies' sewing room awhile back. I kept some solids to make a quilt for the "House that Rosie Built" family.
Friends from lunch bunch helped me make the blocks and they are now together.
I'm looking for someone to machine quilt it - for charity.

Rosie liked solid fabrics - maybe not these colors. The backing is pure Rosie. It's a pre-printed amish look fabric.

We finally had a day of no rainthis past week..............so I worked top soil into the garden and planted tomatoes and carrot and bean seeds. The seeds may have washed into the creek as we have had 2 inches or more of rain since then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My herb seeds may be goners, too............I'll wait and see on those.

Sewing Machine and Block Exchange

I drove to Grand Rapids this morning to have my sewing machine serviced - needed a couple updated parts and oiling, etc. Pat came from Hart and we enjoyed some time together - good lunch at Panera, too.


Not too many pictures from block exchange this evening. But a good dinner and time with quilt friends - valuable!!!!

Ruths' Christmas blocks - and the new spacer blocks - really will look good!!!!!

Terry is having us make blocks representing broadway plays for Erin.

Shown here - Josephs Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat, Chicago and A Chorus Line

Four blocks for Georgia..........

Some blocks for Bonnie.

My blocks. I can sew these together as I get them - soooo colorful.

I gave John his new quilt yesterday......the wool batt is fluffier than his other quilts. It almost feels like a comforter. He asked why I didn't save it until Father's Day - and I told him he was not my father!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now it's 75 degrees and a wool quilt is not necessary - but he will be ready for cooler weather. Hey......it's Michigan - we have had a fire in the fireplace on teh 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!

East Lansing Art Fair 2011

Last thing first - Ruth gave me a little sister for Serena!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Serena came from Sauder Village last month.
Now I have 2 spiders on the front porch to greet you!!!!!!!!!
New little sister needs a name..............any suggestions? I arrived at opening this morning and had plenty of room to see the art work. I really liked these tiles - and bought a small pendant of the little girl in the trees - she's holding a baby bird.

I saw the booths on the East Lansing side first...............then went across the street to the Union.

Found Eileen and Anna.............and picked up my prize winning little bag. Thanks, Eileen.

LOTS of yard ornaments - and this man uses lots of tools and old silverware to make bugs and birds and animals and statues.........really neat. But I have real woodpeckers attacking my house - don't want any more!!!!!

However, I did visit Renate.............and got these 2 pairs of earrings. I won't count how many of her earrings that I have............they are sooo cool.

She remembers me every year - even asked about the kids I had with me last year!!!! This is the first year in a few that I have been to the fair by myself - and I throughly enjoyed it.

I did purchase this. The spiral rotates and the ball seems to move around - optical illusion................and looks really neat out my kitchen window on the front deck.

After seeing lots of art - and crafty stuff, too - I got my ice cream cookie sandwich and enjoyed some music............. good jazz.

and good singing from Michaela Anna

The weather was perfect - sunny and 78 or so..........yes, my face got a little sun today!!!!!!

Sunday will bring golf with John - depending on the weather - and maybe the quilt show..........

oh yes.........some laundry, too!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday sewing

This is what I have been working on the past week.

The center is hand pieced - done quite some time ago with no plan. Obviously, I just wanted to hand piece something with curves - don't remember!!!!

The borders are loosly taken from Material Obsession book. It needs the top border of appliqued flowers (like the circles in the foreground) and maybe something more. I am out of fabric, so it may end right there!!!!!!!!

However, if I can find something that works, a 6 inch border all the way around would make it fit a queen bed........

OK.....now on to kid pj's.

Quilt and Kids

Ashley got her comfort quilt................made by my quilt friends. She spread it out on the living room floor and all had fun looking at all the fun fabrics - from bras to cats to flip flops to flowers and bugs and so much more to see.
Thanks again to all who worked on this for her. I know she will love and cherish it.



P.S. - the quilt is on the back of the loveseat in the dining room - visible at all times and ready to snuggle under..........
Three beautiful children - note the pink streak in Allisons hair!!!!




A year ago, this one would not let you take a picture of him...................now it's "take a picture of me doing this" - and sneaking into pictures that you don't really want him in!!!!!


At 4 and a half, he is a joy - most of the time!!!!!!!!

Allison outside with the Barbies..........

The yellow Schwinn Pixie has been thru many children - Ashley got it from Santa when she was 4............

It's a very heavy bike - real metal!!!!

Methinks Alexander needs something a little bigger!!!!!!!!!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

My reason for Mother's Day arrived late Friday evening.

Saturday morning, Allison had an appointment with Teri to get her hair trimmed Teri is excellent with straight hair.

She explained her new scissors to Allison.

Almost done - trimming the back after the cut. There is a little shaping on the front edges.......


We went down the street to get a fancy wide tooth comb and also got something special to add to her hair - pink extensions!!!!!!!!!

Alexander brought his clarinet and played a couple songs. He forgot his music, and he really needs a new, better quality clarinet. Something we will look for this summer when he comes to visit.

We are looking for a benefactor that will pay for this............hopefully!!!!!!!!

Saturday morning we did Easter Baskets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids could not come Easter weekend, so we waited......... I leave clues for them and they go upstairs, downstairs, upstairs, downstairs, etc until the final clue leads them to their baskets.

I did a shorted number of clues for Andrew..................he wants more next year!!!!

Allison found a Barbie doll in her basket.

The boys found Star Wars Lego guys in theirs...............among other things - car bingo, bubbles, pencils, and the usual candy.........

Saturday afternoon, we all enjoyed being outside.

Andrew rode that little Schwinn Pixie bike that had been thru Ashley, a couple cousins, Alexander, Allison and now him!!!!!!!!! Alexander rode a bike that I had gotten at a garage sale years ago.

The boys also got out the nerf guns!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they enjoy attacking!!!!!!!!

Mother's Day we had my mother - and father - over for brunch. Egg Souffle, Banana Bread, Strawberry Bread, Melon, Strawberries and Mango...........YUM!!!!!

Allsion showed them something that was in the easter baskets - the old iron filings faces!!!!

Notice the pink hair extensions - her own hair had been braided while wet so they show up more than usual !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Four generations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a nice quick weekend...................and it was so nice to spend it with the person who made me a mother - and her children - who make me a grandma..............

Sauder Village Quilt Show 2011

This is the group that went to Sauder Village on Sunday.

We recruited a nice man who was waiting for his wife outside the quilt shop to take our picture - with 6 different cameras!!!! My fav of the challenge quilts for this year.

Winning wall hanging.

Me and "Below Zero in February"

Me and "Quilt Along With Bonnie"

Me and "No Blackbirds"

Award winning quilt by Cindy - "Killing Me Softly"

Prize winner - great machine quilting on this one.

Love the pink, green and black/white. This quilt was made by Rebecka Coolman!!!!

I introduced myself to her after the pick up - she gets her name spelled my way and I get it her way - especially from kids who thought I was the coolest teacher!!!!!!

This was made for her grandaughter.......

A large 4-block applique quilt that I liked - the bright colors attract me!!!

Ruth and her award winning Koi quilt.

Lisa and her quilt.

Cindy, Deb, Lori and Carol admiring one of Cindys' quilts. This one uses the blocks from Bonnies' Quilt-a-Long.

The weather was good for the trip - no rain and we did see some sunshine!!!

I came home to a Kuhlman Manhattan waiting for me. Thanks, John.