Friday Frolic!

A friend sent me a box of precious blocks! These are just a handful of terrific fabric with madder. All of the blocks are pretty crispy. Any thoughts about washing? Or just piece them together as is? I didn't iron them but they look pretty accurate despite my photo!

I'm continuing lectures that had to be rescheduled from last year. 

It isn't as good as real life, but it is so nice that it is possible to stay connected to quilters!

This is what we call false spring. Just a tease. The hill we were climbing was steep!

It is so nice I can get away during the week on my son's day off. 

 

Have a lovely weekend dear friends!!

Zoom! Zoom!

It looks like for now Zoom is how most quilt guilds will be meeting. 

I hope it is only temporary. Nothing replaces meeting together in person!

Also, quilts are better in person too!

This is the 2nd quilt I made in a quilt class at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters. 

I even hand quilted it!

I think this is the only label I've ever cross stitched. 

The front of this quilt is showing its 26 year age, but the back is still bright. 

I'm getting a specific lecture ready and need to take good photos. 

The last few are fairly large and I'm going to need some help hanging them. 

Piles here. Piles there....

I'm not planning on any company for awhile, so I guess that's a good thing!

I am committing to doing lectures on Zoom and hope to figure it out enough to do a workshop this fall.

If you are interested in an online Zoom lecture for your guild, please let me know! 

 After 5 months a letter from Italy made it Madras! That was in quarantine for a really long time! Rina and I thought for sure it was never going to be seen again. LOL

I had 6 friends recover from Covid. One is over 80! We hear the doom and gloom but very rarely the good news. Most people are recovering from this virus!! I'm so sorry for those who have lost loved ones- I have friends who have lost family members to Covid. We will get through this!!

Much love to you all...

Reruns Lecture, Antique Quilts and Outings

I had a whirlwind trip to Washington state to present my lecture, Reruns; Quilts Inspired by the Past. 

I had checked out my map earlier to see what was on the way to my SIL's that I could stop and get a bit of exercise. 

I ended up about 15 minutes away from where I was staying. I stopped at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Of course, the middle of the day, at 85 degrees,  isn't the best time to see wildlife, but there was a nice breeze blowing off the Puget Sound. This was an estuary where the fresh water creeks meet the salty sound. 

 The tide was out and I brought my binoculars and saw blue heron, bald eagles, and salmon. It was right off the freeway and worth the stop if you are ever in the area. Be forewarned, it is a 4 mile out and back to the end of the boardwalk overlooking the Puget Sound.

  This was more of the refuge off the water. 

The next morning I got in a quick urban run before heading to Gig Harbor for lunch and my first lecture. It looks nice and cool but it was warm and humid at 8AM!

I asked guild members to bring antique/ vintage quilts to share and we had a lot! So much fun for them to be able to share these lovely quilts with others! (and me!) It goes right along with the lecture.

I loved this setting and had never seen anything like it. It was beautiful!

 I give a guesstimate on the age of the quilt and assure them I'm not an appraiser or a certified expert.
The quilt above, the quilt below were the oldest ones. Look at the quilting!

Look at this amazing border!!

The quilt was enormous! Also an indicator of age. 

The solide color blocks had corners on them that once made the snowball block. I'm not quite sure why we cannot see any color. 

 This was very sweet. The blocks were found in the woman's MIL's house so she set them into this charming quilt.

This courthouse steps block had lots of 40's prints. I'm not sure what to think of the lime sashing- other than I love it!

 My favorite. A man brought this in and said he got it from his grandmother's estate. They lived very primitively in Tennessee and were tobacco farmers. He remembers they used an outhouse for a long time and didn't have electricity until the mid- 50's. (please correct me if I have the story wrong!) I'm trying to wrap my head around where she would have gotten all that cheddar..... AND

 The backing is this lovely print. I suggested maybe she traded work for fabric. His cousins (or siblings) have 2 more quilts and he is anxious to see them- I'd love to see them too!!

These may have been 4" blocks. There is quite a variety of prints and the large fan stitching looks very primitive compared to the blocks. 

If quilts could talk.......

Then I was off to Port Orchard. I had a little time so went to the harbor and had a snack. 

 How beautiful is this??

 Right across the inlet is the Puget Sound Navy ship yard in Bremerton. 

Here is the lovely group who assembled in Port Orchard!! 

Thank you all for your warm welcome and kind comments!!

Quilt Lectures- Now and Then

Last week I had the pleasure of sharing "The 10 Reasons I Quilt" with the Mt Hood Quilt Guild.

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome and kind comments on my lecture!! 

 I try and figure out why I am so non-photogenic at my lectures and I think I put my finger on it. I'm very expressive and that comes across in the photos. I'd rather have fun sharing about my quilts then put everyone to sleep! <I didn't see one person sleeping! yay!>

 It was the first time I've shared this quilt at a lecture.

What a lovely group! Thanks again!!

If you are in the Washington area next month I will be sharing on September 4th

Reruns: Quilts Inspired by the Past

with The Gig Harbor Quilters.

It takes place at Gig harbor Yacht Club at 1:30 in the afternoon

More details about the group HERE.

Then a few hours later I will be sharing the same lecture with the 

West Sound Quilters guild in 

Port Orchard at 6:30PM.

More info HERE

These will be my last 2 lectures of 2019. 

Please come and introduce yourself!

I hope your week is going wonderfully!

Marvelous Monday

I got a bit of sewing done over the weekend but it is my string quilt and won't share that until next week. 

I started to gather my quilts for next month's lecture. I would like to bring my newer quilts so will be changing up the lecture.  I thought while I was going through quilts I'd hang a few ones too. 

This springy/summery quilt was designed by Cheri Payne. 

We have this old tv stand that I use to store some quilts in. Once when my son's friend came home with him from college, he said "oh a TV" then he opened it and only said "quilts". He was obviously disappointed!! 

I'll be getting more organized this week.

Here are a few I will be hanging up around the house. 

I've picked this handquilting back up for a few nights. Feels good to be working on it again.

The last hike we went on in Zion was full of amazing flowers! I can't help but think that mother nature sure knows how to combine colors!

Those red paintbrush seem to be growing from the rock face!

Always pack your headlamp, because you'll never know how fast the sun will set!!

On May 29th we will be sharing our Spencer Museum Quilt (even if it doesn't have anything to do with the museum! LOL) 

May 31 we will be sharing our string quilts. 

3 swap quilts are in overseas transit. I'm crossing my fingers these last few will make it to their destination. So far on the linky party there are 73 links. I hope you've taken a peek! There are some beauties! Great job this year friends!!