Sunday, March 30, 2014

Rest in Peace Dad

My dad passed away peacefully this afternoon. He had been moved from the nursing home to an Elder Care home on Wednesday. He got up, didn't feel like eating and said he wanted to go back to bed. And he did.
To honor him here is my montage. 
Born 1925 in Buffalo, WY.


WW2 in the Philippines 1944-1946

Worked for Boeing in Washington state and raised a family.

Matching Members Only jackets!
April 2012


January 2014
It was after this visit I let my kids and brothers know that I didn't think dad's health would hold up much longer.




I was so happy when my kids made the trip to see him.
My brother, who teaches in China made the trip to see him as well.

I was sick for my dad's 89th birthday so was a little late celebrating. This was taken 10 days ago. 

All 4 of his kids got to see him since the first of the year and he had been saying he was ready to leave this world for heaven. 
It wasn't an easy life and he would be the first to say he made mistakes but I learned a lot from him too. See ya on the other side!

Nels Mikkelson
March 14, 1925- March 30, 2014



Thursday, March 27, 2014

Rude Rejection Email

In 2013 I was asked to design a quilt for Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine.  I was thrilled! (That reminds me that I need to get busy and finish my instructions.) I made another reproduction quilt last fall that I thought some magazine would like to publish. I went to my go-to magazine and they,  very politely in a nice email said no. My friend Jill Reid and Susan McDermott have designed and published many quilts so they gave me the name of a few others to email.

BTW, the quilt I made last fall  is complete and sent off to Quilt It Today magazine.




Today, 3 1/2 months AFTER submitting it online to a different  magazine they sent a rude, short, impersonal rejection email. I'm sure they get a lot of submissions, but gee, how about a little class on the form letter?
Compared to my other personal responses, I was really surprised at the editor's abruptness.

How hard would it be to write "We really love your quilt but it isn't what we are looking for right now.  Thank you for your submission. "

Had to get that off my chest......







Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Pile O' Shirts

I'm working on a new project....
 My plan is to turn this pile of shirts...
Into blocks  


My first attempt was a complete failure! 


I think it will be slow going. It will be a labor of love for sure.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Doll Quilt Swap

If you signed up to be in the swap you should have gotten your information and know who you are sending to.  Check your spam folder before contacting me.

I've had a few questions. Is Jo Morton Civil War era, yes, generally, but I wouldn't say the batik lines she is creating are. It is so hard to generalize.  When I say reproductions we don't want the cute 1930's fabric.  I'm sure if you are reading my blog you are familiar with Civil War repro's. If you need to get re-acquainted HERE. Margo at Reproduction Fabrics has a wonderful assortment of fabric which is accurate and you can see online.


Now, let's have fun and get sewing!


Friday, March 21, 2014

Baskets Galore

 Wendy's next basket block is ready to download. It's called Garden basket. Find it HERE. My points will be chopped when sewing it together, but my blog is called Humble Quilts for that very reason. It happens!


I am out of town and have this set to post. Finally made it to my dads for a belated birthday.  I'm sure it will be another difficult departure. 

This is the LAST CALL for the Civil War doll quilt swap. See the post HERE.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Doll Quilt Swap?

The Swap is now CLOSED with 61 participants!


I just adore little quilts and am feeling a need to make one. Finishing a big, long term project like the Sally Post quilt drives me to a cute simple one.
I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing a little swap. I would collect names and hook you up with a partner.
Rules? 24" x 24" or smaller. (It doesn't have to be square), Civil War reproductions, a label, with a deadline of mailing before Easter, which falls on April 20th.

If you cannot (for whatever reason) send international please let me know.

If you are interested please send me your full name, mailing address and if you do NOT want an international partner.
loridweightwatchers@gmail.com   (I really should change that since I no longer work for WW)
I will send you your swap partner over the weekend.

You do not need to have a blog to participate, but I would prefer if I know you or you are a regular commenter on my blog.

Below are a few I've made.







The Swap is now CLOSED with 61 participants!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Sally Post Ta-Da! and Whew!

 All 36 blocks appliqued and set! Barb V asked a very good question on my last post. Why are the blocks sideways? Sally made her quilt so you could enjoy it from either side of the bed! LOL
 So, the quilt half on the right faces that direction and the other side faces that direction. I took a poll this summer while in Sunriver and I was leaning toward keeping it quirky and that was the consensus, as well.
 Or you could look at the bottom half while getting your pjs on and the top half when you are in bed. Now I'm not sure where to put a label! lol
 I just walked over the quilt and took close ups. Obviously I didn't bother to crop or turn.







And if you've never heard of the Sally Post quilt, you can purchase the pattern from
Gay Bomers of Sentimental Stitches.. When she reproduced her vintage quilt she offered it for free. Thank you Gay! And thank you all for your positive words to keep me going on this long term project.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Sally Post Progress

These are the 6 blocks I had left to applique and here they are DONE!
First three.....
Then three more...
Why am I missing a triangle? Aargh! Remember the reds I bought the other day?
I liked it enough to purchase it twice!

I was supposed to be going to my dads today to celebrate his 89th birthday but I managed to catch a nasty cold so my visit will have to wait. I'm so hoarse I cannot even talk to him on the phone.

Maybe I'll feel up to sewing the rest of this together this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

At this Rate....

 If I can get one more block quilted this winter that will make a total of 6.  If that rate stays true I can get the center 25 blocks quilted in 3 years.

Click on photos to enlarge.
 I haven't quite determined how long the border will take!
One day of sunshine and this is what I get! Oh yes, spring is on the way.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Fabric Shopping

While I may not have any quilting projects  to show you, I thought you may enjoy a few photos of a shop I only go to once or twice a year.  It's out in the country and I have to make a special trip.

Country Manor Quilting  in Battle Ground, WA has bolts and bolts of reproduction fabrics!
Gorgeous!
Great variety of shirtings too!
This is the sale room! (PART of the sale room!)Yes, be ready to dig if you need to find the "perfect" piece of fabric.

Here are the few lovely pieces I picked up, I can never have too many reds. 
Happy Monday!