My New Years Wish

Happy New Year to my dear blog readers. 

May we love others more deeply this year, 

regardless of political beliefs, 

regardless of race, 

regardless of the country you live in, 

regardless of economics.

Life is not a competition to see who can have the most money, 

the most friends, 

the most fabric, 

make the most quilts, 

wear the best clothing, 

have the biggest house, 

have the smallest waist. 

It is about loving one another freely, without compensation. 

Having regard for every human being and treating each other with respect. 

Love to you all from Lori at Humble Quilts

Merry Christmas and A Happy New year!

Hey friends, ready for a quick tour around my home for the holidays? Christmas is just a few days away! 

This is one of my favorite quilts. I made 2 or 3 blocks a month starting in January a few years ago and in the fall my quilt top was ready to quilt. I had it on display that Christmas. It is on my bed this year and I love it. Not all the blocks are the same, but that is what makes it so fun and quirky!

Here is my other favorite quilt.  (I took these after the sun went down, sorry for the poor lighting)

Here is my entryway. 

A vintage Santa suit that my FIL wore when his kids were little.

My new Danish Maileg mice. I adore all things Maileg!

This is a tiny creche, one of many I have.

It's a been a difficult December. My stepmom died the same day my friend, Carol, died. She hadn't even been sick, just died sitting in her recliner. 

And then Monday we had another serious accident a few miles outside of town that took the life of a dad and 10 year year old son. The wife and daughter are in the hospital. Their lives will forever be changed and Christmas will always have the cloud of their death surrounding it. Hold your loved ones a little closer and always remember to tell others that you love them. Never take a day for granted. 

Here's my Instagram feed for the week. 

I'm going to sign off my blog until the new year. Let's plan on showing our completed Porch quilt top on January 2nd. (Ill give a reminder on Facebook) 

 Elsa says Merry Christmas!

And Porter says Happy New Year!

Thank you all for your comments, encouragement, swaps, and following the sewalongs. I appreciate you all so much and you make my life much richer!

This, That and a Winner

I started the quilting of Windmill for mom and baby this weekend. I only have the outside border to quilt. My plan was to have it all quilted this weekend, but hubby had an errand so we braved the crowds and went to Bend for lunch and a giftcard.  That pretty much shoots the whole day.

We got the finale directions of the wool applique mystery which you can read about HERE and HERE if you'd like. I have to add the wavy borders and a hanging sleeve and it will be complete.

And the winner of the IQF pile of goodies was commenter #173  Profile name Quilter! Congratulations! Thankfully she left an email address and she has been contacted.

There were many of you that have no email in your profile and I left a comment telling you that. A few of you have fixed it, but most have not. Take a look at your comment and see if I left you a message. You can jump back HERE.

Thank you for your comments and kind words! I appreciate you all so much. I hope you are taking time to enjoy the holiday season and to reflect and be grateful. Love to you!

A Tribute to a Friend

When someone you know and love dies, it would be nice if the world would stop for a moment to pay respect. Since that is not going to happen I thought I'd pay my respects to Carol here at Humble Quilts.

 Several of us met in 1997 and the common denominator was we were all doing the Jane Stickle Quilt! This photo was taken in 2012 when Carol, Gabe and I rented a place in Eagle Crest and attended the Sisters Quilt show together. Here is my Jane quilt after years of hand quilting it was finally complete!

 Backing up a few years, here is Carol and I at the Sisters show in 1999 when we first met in person after knowing each other 2 years online.

 Another time our group got together in Lancaster, PA. 

 We did many swaps and quilts together. This is one called Hidden Stars and I believe it was in American Patchwork and Quilting magazine

 Here is a Civil War sampler that Carol did. Seeing hers prompted our original Hands Across Time Sampler.

 Here is her completed Benjamin Bigg's quilt. 

 This quilt was from Kansas City Star- I think Barbara Brackman did the monthly block through the newspaper.

 She finished this African print quilt at Eagle Crest. 

 We took Gwen Marston's liberated basket quilt class.

 These were Carol's baskets. I wish I had saved a photo of her completed top. She wasn't just a starter of quilts, but a finisher!

Below are several of my quiltalongs that she participated in. 

Can you imagine almost 20 years of friendship (mostly online) because of quilting? We shared our daily lives with each other- we probably know more about her children then her children would want us to know! LOL
After having grandchildren and especially twin girls, she traveled often and was overjoyed to share photos with us. She made quilts for many occasions and gave many away.
She had a funny and dry sense of humor. Two Canadians (her and her friend), one Australian and me at Eagle Crest! We never lacked for a topic, that's for sure.

Carol, my friend, you will be missed immensely.

December Giveaway

This is a random assortment of sewing and quilting stuff! There's a wee bit of everything. If you'd like to win it, please be a follower of my blog and leave a comment. If you are a no reply commenter please leave your email address. I'm going to post in the comments if you are a no reply, because I know many of you don't know. I'll draw next week.
Drawing is Closed! Thank you all for entering!

Baby quilt basted, hombre small quilt started. (Oops, machine quilting baby quilt soon!)

Elsa enjoying her first snow with us! She loves digging her nose in the snow to look for her ball.

More snow predicted today!

Monday Muses

Here's a cute little quilt I finally got hung up this weekend. I made this quilt start to finish  in 3 days while visiting a friend in Ohio in 2000. It is a pattern by Cheri. The basket handles, holly leaves, and berries are done all raw edge applique. 

This baby quilt is a lot bigger than I thought! So, I'm calling it a mom and baby snuggle quilt. I'm going to bind it in a wide blue. I'll have to piece the backing too since my ABC fabric is not large enough. 

I made this little table topper with the antique redwork. Or it could eventually be a pillow, or a wall hanging or whatever the recipient would like to do with it. Nothing like options, right?! LOL

I shared this on my facebook page. The linen and screen print were purchased at IQF.  It's a fun reminder of my daughter and I riding bikes through Paris.

Quilt for Baby

 This was a quilt I made this past summer in Sujata's class during the Sisters quilt show. I  always contemplated in the back of my mind that I may use it as a baby quilt.  My niece is pregnant and will be having a boy. (soon!)

 I want to add a border and found this blue I got from Paula Nadelstern in Houston (she generously shared with the education staff)  and thought it might work. eh......

 I like the green better, but it feels like it needs a narrow border between the quilt and the green. Red? Blue?

When I went to First Friday at Quiltworks I tried out a few pieces. I can't say I liked the red border either, but I did purchase a bit, maybe for the narrow border before the green? I'm not going to fuss over it too much. My niece is appreciative of my quilts and I know she will use this, no matter how humble it is. 

I'm open for suggestions..... I need to get crackin on it soon!

I did get this colorful piece for the backing- at least that will look like a quilt for a child.

After I had this post ready to go I took a few more photos. Our snow may turn to freezing rain and
if that happens I'm staying home and sewing:)

We  got our first snow yesterday! Elsa was thrilled to pieces!

She was trying to play with her ball but it kept disappearing under the snow!

Porter likes the snow too, but also knows he likes a warm bed inside!

Here's my Instagram feed for the week. 

Take care!