Still Mourning

As promised, here is the photo of the finished quilt.  I chose to call it "Still Mourning" because as I researched the mourning blacks and grays, I found out that some women chose to wear mourning colors the rest of their lives after losing their husband.  My best friend lost her dad to Pulmonary Fibrosis last year, and I've watched her go thru the mourning process.  I'm told it never stops, it just looks different after a while.  It also makes me think about all the turmoil in the world right now.  Terrorists, violence against the police, natural disasters, human trafficking, the list could go on and on.  Makes me squeeze my girls a little tighter and look forward to the hope of heaven.  Sorry, that was a little heavy.  You can purchase the patterns at The Quilt Merchant here.

My parents and I went exploring in downtown Nicholasville last weekend when they were here and we found the most amazing antique store.  There were the typical booths of adorable stuff, but then there were collections.  Collections of Wagner cast iron, Guardianware, Corningware, and Tupperware!  It was amazing!

I haven't unpacked my sewing space yet.  Its a little daunting but I'm hoping to get to it this week.  It will be our first "normal" week here, meaning no visitors and no traveling.  Looking forward to getting in a groove!

Quilt Progress and other stitching

I always have helpers when I'm quilting.  Sometimes its my children, but most often its a feline.  Last week our sweet foster kitty, Corin, was helping me hold the quilt to the floor.  Hehe.  He's the sweetest thing and has some permanent handicaps from an accident.  His balance and vision are not good, which makes for a very clumsy kitty!  He's finally learned that he has to go slowly down the stairs so he doesn't tumble down them instead.  Anyway, I digress.  I actually have all the borders on this lovely purple quilt, but its folded nicely and waiting to go to my mom's for quilting, so you'll just have to wait!  But here's the center completed, without borders.

 

I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  Sometimes they don't look the same in cloth as they do in my head and that's disappointing.  But this one makes me happy.  I hope you like it too!

Since my entire stash is still in storage, and this puppy is done, I've been turning to some long-neglected hand projects to keep me from going stir crazy.  A couple years ago I decided to start some hexis using the Martha Washington's Flower Garden layout.  Are you familiar with that?  I've seen a few quilts on The Quilt Index , www.quiltindex.org (if you have a couple hours to kill and love antique quilts, look it up - super fun) with this layout and have always loved it. 

I had two blocks done and another cut and ready to assemble, so during swimming lessons the last two weeks I've been stitching!

I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to lay them out, but I'm thinking there will be scrappy lights in between them, no matter how I arrange them.  I chose 5/8" hexagons, which may seem odd, but I love the size.  I felt like 1/2" was too small and 3/4" was too big.  What can I say?!

I have a couple garment projects for my girls that I hope to get done before August, so my machine will see some action as soon as I bring the "garment fabric" bin back from the storage locker!

Happy Thursday.  Have a great 4th!

The Question of the Ages....

Are you still going to quilt?

Are you going to open a quilt shop?

Are you going to buy a long-arm?

I'll answer those questions in order.

Yes!
Nope.
Absolutely not.

I sat at my sewing machine on Saturday night for the first time in over a month!  My fabric stash has to be packed away to de-clutter the house, but I refused to remove my machine and sewing table.  We just moved them out of the pictures for the listing photos.  Anyway, I kept a couple projects in the closet to work on after the house sold to preserve my sanity.  I'll give you details a little later.

Many of the customers at The Quilt Merchant have asked me if Docia and I are going to open a quilt shop after we move.  The answer is no.  Between the farm and future foster children, I plan to be plenty busy with family and sewing for fun!

I have ZERO desire to own a long-arm.  I've used my mom's Gammil a couple times and it terrifies me.  So I am happy to leave that job to the professionals.

So what am I working on?  Before I had to drop everything and get the house ready to sell I was working on a new pattern for the shop.  Purples, grays and blacks.  My heart wanted to do real LeMoyne Stars, but my inner shop keeper (and Valerie) agreed that mock-stars made out of Half Square Triangles would appeal to more people.

So here's the first block I started on April 9.  Yikes!  I didn't realize that was so long ago!  I was able to start piecing the top before I had to pack it all up.  

Better and more pictures soon.  Gotta get this one finished up before we leave!

I guess it would be silly to try and include everything that's happened in the last 9 months in one post.  So I'll just pick up now and try to be better...lets see how this goes.

I did finish that quilt I was working on.  Not quilted yet, but here's a picture of the top.  I'm trying to find motivation to write the instructions.  Not a cup of tea for y-seams.

One I have finished with less difficulty is Cocoa Stars.  I love pink and brown.  I used Monique Dillard's Fit to Be Quarter ruler to trim up my hourglass blocks.  They all turned out nearly perfect in the blocks.  Totally worth the time.

Here's an update on my girls.  Eliza started kindergarten today.  We're so proud of her.  She's so excited about school and is going to do so well.  Sniff sniff!

Lena is getting bigger every day and is ready to take over the world!  She's funny, determined and does everything with great enthusiasm.  We love her so.  She was born Jan. 24.

New Project

So it's been an eternity. I know. But since I've written last we've sold the shop and I'm almost done growing a baby!

So here's a new project I've been finishing. Guess that's my form of nesting. It's an antique Repro and I LOVE it. I've been hand piecing the blocks for a long time on and off and decided it was time to finish.

And here's a recent picture of Eliza. We made gingerbread cookies yesterday and she approved.

Adrenaline Hangover

This week has been CRAZY!  But oh so much fun.  Leonie and Deidre from The Quilted Crow have been visiting with us all week.  We had a trunk show Friday night and an all day workshop on Saturday.  These girls are so talented and equally sweet and wonderful.  What a great time we've had.  Here's a photo that should give you an idea of what its been like around our shop.

I got to spend all week working on the kits for the workshop on Saturday and it got me in the wooly mood.  I've drawn out a couple wool designs and we'll see how they turn out.  As soon as the wool arrives and I have something to show I promise I'll post pictures.

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather outside.  It usually means horrible allergies for me, so I get to watch from the inside, but I know its beautiful too!

Mother Goose and life stuff.

I looked at how long it's been since my last post and couldn't believe it! How does so much time go by so fast?

Since I last posted my Dad was diagnosed with lymphoma. He has started chemo and is doing so well. Most days he still goes into work for a while and is taking the whole thing like a champ. But let me tell you something. God is amazing. He has graced my dad with the best case scenario thru this whole thing and just keeps answering prayer. Thank you so much to everyone that has prayed for us. We know it works.

I have managed to put a new pattern together however. Can we say stress management? Here is Mother Goose. The newest addition to my pattern line. This one's pretty big. 80" x 92". It features the vast majority of the Old Savannah collection by Paula Barnes. Hope you like it! Kits and patterns can be ordered from The Quilt Merchant as always.