Another Japanese House Block

Last evening I got a house block from Narugue-san. Hers is the house with the striped roof - ((bottom left) very cool!! I now have four houses.

This is going to make a very special wall hanging. There will be eight houses.......and my challenge will be to put them together in a nice neighborhood!!!

Journal Quilt Update

I have been keeping up with the Journal Quilt!!!

Only 109 days left in the year!!!

My quilt is called "One A Day" - just like the vitamins - one little block a day.
Many of the blocks have special fabric representational of something done that day. Other vitamins are fabric purchased by or given to me recently. I write a little about what happened on that particular day.

When my grandchildren are here, they always ask about what is the vitamin for the day. They have helped pick out some, too.

The top picture is the whole quilt top, so far; and the second picture is a close up. Note the wedding cake - our anniversary!!

This won't be too big - ending up 60" by 90-something.
Hopefully these journal quilts will be on display at the Okemos Library next August.

THe Last Block Exchange

I finally buckled down and finished my last dreaded block for this exchange.

Georgia wanted us to do ourselves and our handprints. She had a plan to have self portraits surrounded by handprints. I did my handprints - that was easy.
I could not do a representational self portrait. I threatened to do an"op-art" style and Georgia said to do whatever we wanted.

I hope mine doesn't ruin her quilt...............it is kinda scary.............
maybe that's what I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Labor Day weekend = Family

Labor Day Weekend means Kuhlman Family gathering at the Zweering cottage on Eight Point Lake, east of Clare.

Sunday was the Kuhlman picnic. Allison went tubing by herself and so did Alexander. I will not tell how fast - or slow - the speedboat was going........ The weather was not real warm, but they had fun in the little bit of sand there on the water.
Lots of family - the Kuhlman Greats, of course; Marcia and Dick from West Virginia, Tim and Tina from PA, and all the Zweering family - Chris and Larry, Katie and Ed, Matt and Jesse and Xavier, Hugh and Zandy; Tom, Elaine, Paul and Brett, and us...don't know the total count - just that is nice to see all the family in one place. Most all the family - there are college students now that are too far away to attend --and they are missed.
Ed impressed us with his fishing - he caught a large dogfish----ugly but impressive!!!! So ugly that the picture won't print!!!!!!
The day ends with a campfire - and so'mores - YUMMY!!!!!!

Our kids came on Saturday afternoon and we had the Thomas Greats over for dinner that evening. I made a key lime pie that was enjoyed by all - even John!! Andrew is beginning to smile to whoever is entertaining him - real cutie!!!!! We all got to eat some tomatoes from my garden - the little ones are coming in again..... and we will be eating beans this week (second crop).

Monday the kids left, we had "Couples Golf" with a potluck afterwards and then CRASHED!!!!!!!
I think that is the sign of a good weekend.......good memories and pictures, too.

House Block from Japan

The block in the center is the most recent house block from Japan.

It was made by Tomizawa Kyoko.

I will have 8 house blocks when this exchange is done. They will make a beautiful and special wall hanging. The challenge will be to put them together - and I love a good challenge.

Special Baby Quilt for Andrew

Alexander and Allison helped make this quilt for their new baby brother, Andrew.

They used fabric markers to make pictures and set them with squares of interesting kid prints. They picked out the emergency vehicles for the border and construction equipment for the backing. Alexander made sure I put a special label on the back with the names of the makers and the date and who the quilt was made for.......I've taught him well!!!!!

Great times with the Grands

Our perfect grandchildren (aren't they all?!) have been visiting us for almost two weeks.
We had time for special activities - like Lake Michigan, Folk Festival, Baby shower for Claire, Aquatic Center, Delta Mills Park, family dinners - and for normal things around the house - like cleaning bathrooms, taking out the trash and school shopping for a back pack for starting kindergarten!!!!!!!!!

We went to the East Lansing Aquatic Center with Aunt Barb and her big boys, Tom and JR. Alexander was finally tall enough to be able to go down the two water slides - with intertube or body - and he LOVED this!!!!! Allison enjoyed the kiddie frog slide and being able to bounce around the large shallow area. Both - or should I say ALL - kids enjoyed the sand area and made neat drip castles in the sand and water.

We spent a couple afternoons at the Grand Ledge Country Club pool. Alexander did cannonballs jumps off the diving board!!! He was very proud of himself.

One weekend was spent at the Folk Festival - both days!!! Saturday they enjoyed the Childrens' crafts and games and lots of music. I volunteered at the quilt exhibit - where the children got to actually stitch on a quilt!!!! Thank you Jan. The kids got t-shirts as you can see in the picture - they are COOL!!! Sunday we met friends from the library - John, Mary Ellen and Maggie - shared snack and Allison and Maggie danced to the music. We also saw Aunt Barb, Great Grandpa Thomas, Lisa, Claire, Ruth, Cindy, Phyllis and other quilt friends while listening to great music.

Saturday Ashley and Alex came with baby Andrew and I got to actually see and touch and hold him!!!!!! He is a big baby - over 10 pounds at 3 weeks old. He stayed with us on Saturday while his parents went to a meeting. Ashley left bottles of pumped milk and we did just fine. We had family drop by to see him - Aunt Chris, Uncle Larry and Xavier and Great Grandma Kuhlman all got to hold Andrew. We were able to give him the special quilt that Alexander, Allison and I had made him - they drew pictures on fabric and helped pick the borders and backing. They also picked the flannels for a double flannel blanket. In the picture, Andrew is sitting in a doll stroller - both Allison and Alexander pushed him around the house in it!!!


Alexander and Allison are really wonderful children. I can't believe the time went by so quickly as we were very busy. It's good to have special memories with them that will last for a long time. I got lots of pictures to look at to help remind us of our times together. It was good to meet Andrew and he will grow in our hearts with love from his grandparents.