Thursday, March 28, 2013

Book Reviews and Giveaway

My sewing has been slow with nothing to show, so I thought I'd jump ahead and do a giveaway.
Mary Pomponio, publicity manager at Plume books contacted me recently about reviewing "The Giving Quilt". Many of you may have already read this, but on April 1st you can get it in paperback!  She also mailed along several lovely quilt pins.
I have 3 paperbacks and will pass mine along when I am finished reading it. I'm about 1/2 way through. I think I have only read one other Elm Creek Novel and I really liked it. This is an easy, fun read that any quilter would enjoy. 

"At Elm Creek Manor, the circle of quilters is hard at work preparing for “Quiltsgiving.” Held annually the week after Thanksgiving, expert and novice quilters from near and far gather for a special winter session of quilt camp to make pieces for Project Linus. As the week unfolds, the quilters respond to the question, “Why do you give?” in ways as varied as the life experiences that drew them to Elm Creek Manor. Each of the quilters, including a librarian, a teacher, a college student, and a quilt shop clerk, uses her unique talents to teach, inspire, and give back to her fellow campers."
 
Leave a comment to be entered to win a book or a pin...or both! I'll draw on April 5. 

This Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!!


This book came at the right time. I finished two other books that I liked a lot but that weren't what I would consider fun and easy, but I  highly recommend.








Monday, March 25, 2013

 Isn't this beautiful? My friend Kathy gave this to me when I visited her in January. Looks like it is in great shape right? Not. It had been folded in half for so long that it was disintegrating. I opted to cut it out so now I have two halves of this great quilt.
 Isn't that quilting amazing? I am thinking about making a bolster with it, but am not sure. I'm open to ideas and suggestions?
 Here is a pale yellow and ecru quilt. It does have some staining issues. I've washed it, but the stains remain.  I'm not sure if it is rust or blood.
 And one more, a little embroidered crib quilt. It is hard to see, but it says "Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where have you been?"
 While I was there a neighbor came over with a quilt top that she found at a sale. As a whole it is very appealing.
 As I move in I see such a fun variety of fabrics. Looks to be about 1900- 1920.
 Isn't that fun?!

My quilt Rodeo is still for sale. Please support AAQI and Alzheimer's research by purchasing my little quilt.  Thank you.





Thursday, March 21, 2013

AAQI Quilts....Yes, Again!

Up for sale! All proceeds go to Alzheimer's research. Click on the quilt title to go to the AAQI page or click the link.
The Here and the Now-SOLD

Dark Side- Sold- Thank you!

Independence-SOLD
Rodeo http://www.alzquilts.org/13410.html

Buckin Hay- already sold

Thank you all for your support! I have to make at least 1 more quilt to reach the $1000 promise.





Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Whatnot Wednesday

I don't have anything quilty to show you today so I thought I'd show you a silly collection I have.
It started innocently with this guy who used to be my moms. 
The collection has expanded a bit. My recent favorite is the marionette on the right which my sister brought back from Italy.
Here's a bit more. I noticed after I downloaded the photos that I need to dust! Oops! maybe I'll hire my niece when she is home on spring break to come and help. Cleaning is always more fun when your not doing it by yourself.

Randy of Barrister's Block and I are working on a project together for our blogs!! We will do a medallion sewalong and  I hope you'll join in on the fun when we are ready.

Marian of Dream Weaver bought one of my little AAQI quilts recently and I emailed her a photo of my grandfather to go along with it. I hope you'll check it out.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!


Monday, March 18, 2013

Monthly Block Progress



I got three March blocks done for my red and green Christmas quilt. (lousy photo with my phone in a low light room)


I also started to get them set so I won't have it all to do at the end. 9 blocks made 11 to go!!

I'm getting better and better with the pesky set- in seams. Yay!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Get Involved! Win this Quilt!

Isn't this quilt fantastic? I didn't make it and it isn't a wimpy size like mine! It is 102" square and hand quilted!!

Throughout the year I am always looking for opportunities to donate to good causes. In January Pam Stahl from http://creativecrazygirl.blogspot.com/ now Learning to be Me blog shared a very ambitious project with me. Time is running out on her goal and I wanted to do what I can to help build a well in Africa.

Please go here and read about how this came about.

You can find out more about Blood Water mission here.
I like to check Charity Navigator as well- you can do that here.


After you do all that, please donate and try and win this amazing quilt!!

You can donate right from Pam's blog or go here.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend! Don't forget to wear green on Sunday!!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Jubilee Jubilation!!

It's done!! Finished! Acabado! Færdig! Fini! Hotový!  Finito! Ferdig! Voltooid!!  My Jubilee quilt celebrating 50 years of my life is now on my bed.

I would have loved to machine quilt it myself, but I knew my good friend Kathy would be able to understand what I wanted for this quilt. When I was there in January I brought it with me to leave for her to work her magic. And work it she did!!
I loved the electric look of the center radiating from my funky little spikes. Just a reminder that I saw the center block in the NYC Folk Art museum and used my photo to duplicate it. It wasn't an easy task.
Someone commented the dates reminded them of birth-death so I put  a label on the back so nobody would be confused. I suppose something could happen in the next few months and then the label could be removed off the back! lol



If you want to see how this quilt came about click on the post label that says Jubilee to see my past blog posts about this quilt.
When I saw this backing I knew it was the ONE for my jubilee!!
Thanks for following along this year on my 50th Jubilee quilt! And I actually finished it in my 50th year! Woo-Hoo!!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Porch Time Quilt in Denmark

Here's proof my quilt made it to the lovely country of Denmark. This photo should be the third one down, but I wanted to highlight it as I love Lene and love seeing her beaming face!
Here she is before seeing the quilt, but reading the letter I sent along. Seeing her two sons casually touching her makes me cry!!

I got to see my son this weekend for the first time since he has returned from his trip, and he gave me this gift from Lene. She said she made these while he was visiting using the colors in the quilt. It is so like her to be generous and thinking of others.
My son posted this on Facebook while he was away. The top photo was the first time they had met at the AFS exchange building in Denmark in 2005. The lower photo was taken before he left for home February 2013. Lene's hair started falling out from chemo while he was there.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Variety is the Spice of Life

 Here are my March Sally Post blocks. I'm attempting 3 a month to have the blocks completed by the end of 2013.
 They will be sashed in pink with green cornerstones, like the original. Don't ask me why that photo is tipped!
 Here's my braided quilt, quilted and bound. I'm loving it!!
 Here's a sneak peak at my Jubilee quilt!! It's lovely and my friend Kat did a remarkable job of quilting it!! Feel free to check out her quilting link.

I got photos! That's kind of like I've got mail! Marei was a real creative machine when it came to making Mountains Trails quilts. Look at these fantastic quilts she made and donated to her quilt guild!! Thank you Marei for sending me your photos.


Have a fantastic weekend!!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

More AAQI Quilts

I just mailed these off so they will not be for sale for some time. Some time ago I made the $1000 promise and I'm hoping I'll get close to that goal with these final quilts. I will be making one more for sure, since I have a name for it already. That seems to be how it works for these little quilts. I think of a name, then I make the quilt.
What will my Mom therapy be when AAQI is no longer?
"Buckin' Hay" is one I enjoyed making the most. Lately my mom's aching joints and arthritis are always from the days of buckin' hay!! I thought the strings were appropriate because whether you are buckin' hay or feeding the cows you seem to have pieces of hay all over you.
You guys saw the center of this one I'm calling "Dark Side".  I would be referring to my dark side. There are days I just cannot let certain things my mom says pass. Are you ready to hear a dark side story?
One day she told me the girls were not doing their job so she went up and got the vacuum cleaner and vacuumed her own room. My mom hasn't vacuumed in a long time, she doesn't even see that her floor needs vacuuming so I knew that she had not done this and said that her. "No you didn't." was my response. Then, of course, that makes her upset because I don't believe her. We have a bit of an exchange, she feels bad, I feel bad...  we let it go, she forgets, I do not, so I make a little quilt for therapy! lol  Slowly, I'm learning to knock it off...
"Independence" It is so hard to move a loved one into assisted living as they think they are losing their independence. It has been the best thing we have done. I really feel like the progression of Alzheimer's has slowed down because her body and mind are so much more active now. She is well liked by the other occupants and staff.
Recognize some cowboy fabric?!  I'm calling this one "Rodeo" as my mom loves a good rodeo....and even a bad one! LOL
"The Here & The Now"

I read this saying somewhere and it really resonated with me.
"Without a memory of today or an understanding that the past is past, the future ceases to have meaning."
I only know that the present is what is important. That's the only thing she understands and if I can make her happy in the present, then that is all that really matters. Can you tell that this quilt came about after the Dark Side?! 
I'm a slow learner.

I'll be sure to let you know when these get up for sale on the AAQI site. 

Love and hugs to you all,
Lori

Monday, March 4, 2013

First Friday at Quiltworks

I was honored to be the featured quilter last month at Quiltworks. I went over on Friday to pick up my quilts and see the latest quilts for First Friday.
This was one of my favorites, done all in wool! What a beauty!
Another fun quilt in wool.  Look at the adorable label.
Red and white is always classic. Most of these blocks were old ones she had saved and made into this quilt.  I love how 5 of them have their color reversed.
Here was a whimsical quilt that had a lot of 3D elements. And, that is hand quilted by the way!!
Here was a classic beauty- hand quilted too!

Marilyn put a call out for monochromatic quilts



I can appreciate them, but it has reaffirmed my desire to NOT do one! lol