Done It Now

Ok so last post I said I was going to go take pictures. Hollered up at the hubby to hold the quilts for me and he obediently came down stairs to help. He had the first quilt up and ready and I you get this I dropped the camera. I have dropped it before with no problems but not this time. It must have hit just right and broke a piece of the lens cover. Well we all know that if the lens does not work properly then you are just out of luck.  So my wonderful hubby goes and gets his older camera/recorder. I don't know how to use this so I hold the quilts and he takes the pictures. I don't like this camera, I think the pictures it takes are horrible but I can't tell him that so with knowing that here are the pics.

This is Margie's quilt, yes I forgot to rotate it. As I said the quality of these photos are not the best. The colors are more vibrant than it shows, and not so fuzzy. She made this out of scraps of all other quilts she did. It is so colorful! I love it. Too bad I have to give it back to her.

This is Paul's. I showed it here before, so for new ones it was a kit that was given to me and I gave to him. Of course it is from the 70's so quality is effie, but you know what lots of fabrics from the 70's is still around so who is to really say what is good and what isn't. But anyhow I quilted it for him and he took it home. Then he decided I could do the quilting on the applique too. Normally when someone hand quilts I do NOT machine quilt on it, I leave that up to them. But he wanted me to. So this is the pic after I did all the quilting on the applique. This sat in my living room for months waiting for me to get a pic of it. I really think it was starting to think it belonged with me, I had it so long.

This quilt I have named 'Winner' Ok the story is: When my family gets together we have to rent a place for all of us. So to raise money we hold a family auction. Anyone that wants to can bring a handmade item to sell. The person who brings in the most money for the family gets a gift. This was the winners gift and I won it. This quilt was made by my mother and quilted by my sister. It goes pretty good in my living room too.

Here is the opportunity quilt that my local quilt club is making. It is all needle turn applique and I have really been pleased with the participation of our members. I am working on the inner mass right now. As you can see the quality of this pic is horrible. But once again I can't tell the hubby this, he tried.






I did buy a new camera but have yet to take it out of the box. Maybe sometime this week. I have grand kids this weekend so no time to play. Or shall I say I'm afraid to play with them around. I started a new project for a co worker that was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. This time she is having a mastectomy so I got the bright idea to make her a quilt. I thought it would be nice if her co workers all made a block signed it with thoughts and wishes and I would put it together. I picked out a simple block and cut it out. Typed out instructions and bagged up everything. Took it to work held a meeting and passed them out. It went over well, I had to make more. So this week is dedicated to making this for her. Surgery is not for a couple weeks yet so I have a little time to breathe but I want to have it done so we can give it to her on her last day before the surgery.
Better go check on the grand kids or the house.
Sew On
Susan

What in the world!!!!!!

It seems like only yesterday I made a post but then I look up and it has been well over a month. Gosh what in the world is going on. I just got back from vacation but then I look at the date and it has been a couple of weeks. What in the world is going on. Life it seems is just flying by and I am getting nothing done. So vacation consisted of going home, South West Missouri, South East Kansas area. We had a great family reunion at my parents house and I tie-dyed for the first time (ok that I can remember). Surely I did this back in the 70's but I don't remember it. We had kids of all ages from 3 years to 83 years. And it was a blast! My big vacation plan was to do a shop hop with quilt shops I had never been to, so with one sister driving and mother, cousin and another sister and me off we went.

Here is the first shop we stopped at. It was out in the country just outside of Pea Ridge Arkansas. For some reason I think I have been past this shop some other time in my life. It was on a curve and a house sit right around that curve. It just reminded me of some other place I have seen some other time in my life. The staff in there was so pleasant and very helpful. These are my finds there 

I needed some black and white for a binding I had at home in waiting. BUT didn't use it after all so aww shucks I have extra fabric. The wagon wheel fabric just seemed to call my name. WHY? I like brights and do any of these look bright. Oh what is happening to me.

The second shop on our stop was in in Pea Ridge. I had to do a double take. In Celina OH. there is a Linda's Sew N Sew, so here I am at another, just not Linda's. I go in side and wow the brights! I drooled and stroked many bolts, but look what I ended up with. LOL not bright. The orangie barbed wire I thought would look good as a border for a barn quilt I am working on.  As I was getting my fabric cut the nice gentleman was telling me how the shop had been his wife Linda's but she passed 3 yrs ago from cancer. So it was another Linda's after all. He and his daughter were carrying on at the shop.  He was a wonderful gentlemen and a joy to buy form.                                                                                               

The Rabbits Lair was next and in Rogers Arkansas. Oh my if you were into wool that was you place. It had alot of embroidery floss also. Neither my cup of tea but oh they did have some beautiful fabrics too. After leaving there our chauffeur did drive me by The Rabbits Lair 2, the yarn shop. You notice I said drive by not stop. I wanted to cry but I was the only one in the car that caress' yarn too. I am a big girl and can handle life little disappointments so just by more fabric right!

See the yummies I got at The Rabbits lair! A wonderful batik  and a bluiesh I think will go with something I had already. Have I checked yet? NO but I will, I swear I will.

Sager Creek Quilts was next and it sits right on the creek in Siloam Springs, Ark. Oh and guess what it has knitting supplies. So guess who got to stroke some yarn! See my hand up, it was me! me! and look it is all I bought there. I was looking for some fabric with the right selvage edge but they didn't have it so I settled for the yarn. Believe me when I say the salesman tried to find what I wanted but sold out! Nice Nice people

Village Quilting is in Belle Vista Ark and I found the selvage I wanted. Something, anything with the designer of Susan in print on the edge. So now I have some snowmen and have no clue what to do with them but I can cut the selvage off and have my name in the next selvage edge project I do. Once again the sales people here were wonderful.

Lillie's was my last shop on this trip and it was the next day and in Independence KS. They were really closed but the door was unlocked so I opened it. I explained I was from Indiana and pleaseeeeeee. So the let us in. They were getting ready to have their closeout sale but none of the prices were in effect yet. But I didn't care.  Oh hey by the way that is my tie dyed shirt I made at the family reunion!

I got a wonderful light batik and a luscious brown and a to die for green. I have plans for the brown but the other two are going in the stash room to play with the others.

Here's a quilt my Mother did and I quilted it for her. This is on  her bed, she does such a good job with her colors and her applique and well with just everything. Some one asked me if my Mom gave all her quilts out. My first thought was well yeesss. She has 6 kids and 17 grand kids and  26 great kids and she makes quilts for all of em. (Numbers are appox) I hope I haven't forgotten anyone but oh it gets too hard to remember them all.  In fact the 6 siblings have two now, so surely she gives them all out.

 WRONG here are two cabinets overflowing with quilts. Plus of course she has them hanging everywhere in the house. So now you know where I caught the bug!

Of course we all know that we surf to look at the beautiful quilts so I will add these two of my Moms. Of course I quilted both of these too. While you are looking take a peek at the needlework on the wall of this top photo. It is some type of hand embroidery but I don't remember exactly what they call it. I just know that in the 70's my Mom worked on this forever. But it sure is worth it. (It's the lady in the full skirt)

So I guess that is enough for now

Sew On

Well It's about Time I showed Up

I know over a month ago I said "I am going to do better. I am going to make a comeback".  Guess you tell that power of postive thinking has done nothing for me. So lets start with way back in July. I had my sisters and parents coming for our 'girls annual gathering'. My dad would stay here at the house and keep my husband entertained while us girls went up to MI to a lake cottage.
Here are the quilts just to keep you entertained!

This is Diane M's. These Lady bugs are so cute! How can you not love this quilt! Diane is a great piecer and I am sure will turn out to be a great quilter too. She is learning to do her own machine quilting on her domestic machine. Go girl! I bet she becomes great at it and won't need me any more so Till then I love looking and working on her tops!

Just a close up of the Lady bugs!









Three of the sisters and my parents all came together in one vehicle from MO, well the sister with the vehicle was over the line a bit into KS. A days drive and they were here. The sister from VT had already arrived and we got to have a nice quiet visit before the others arrived. Then the next day us girls set out for MI. for a wonderful weekend on the lake. While sitting on the deck staring out onto the lake us sisters have a chance to catch up. Two of my sisters quilt along with my mother, one sister is a retired art teacher and the other loves to scrapbook. So sitting there the sis from Vt starts to tell me how I have inspired her by all the internet stuff I do so she looked on the net and found 'this crazy lady doing a mystery' She then holds up a top and viola it is my mystery from this past winter/spring! Then the sister behind her holds up and top and says 'I found her too' and then my mother holds up a top and says 'me too'.

Me standing under the three mystery tops. Sister on left and Mom on right are from MO and sister in middle is from VT. You know I still can't find mine. I know you say how can you loose a top. Well my family has been here and they have seen. I have totes of tops done and when I look one then they seem to get shuffled around. I have to admit I really haven't looked to hard for mine since I don't have time to quilt it anyway. I believe these quilts are all being donated to Joplin MO tornado survivors! I know I need to get mine and put right along with these. Put that on a list of to dos.


So  while here at this cottage I took a spill down the stairs. Sprained both my ankles. Not one but BOTH! We are going on 6 weeks now and I put my tennis shoes on for the first time today. Granted the laces were pulled out but I had them on. Weeks ago just the shoe against my foot and ankle hurt. Yes they still hurt and are still swelling. I went to the DR just a few days after I did it and they didn't examine them or even take x-rays. I would think you see this old fat lady and think hmmm brittle bones better check em. But she looked and said it was swollen and wrapped the left one and didn't do a thing on the right one, then sent me on my way. Now mind you the left one is still swelling like a cave mans club and if you put the ace bandage on it it HURTS. The right one hurts on the inside sharp pains but not as much swelling. Crazy I tell ya crazy. so I went to my family Doc on Mon and had x-rays and made an appointment with an ortho doc. Got the call from my Dr today that they took x-rays of the feet not the ankles. So I get to go back again. Yep what ever (if anything) I did to them they will be healed that way by the time I get to the Ortho Dr. So I really haven't been doing much of anything but having my feet up. But here are some quilts I did before all this happend.

This is Kathy's and it is made from recycled mens shirts. Our local club had a challenge for their quilt show this year and it was to use a mans shirt. Soem got energetic and went to Salvation Army and bought more of them and made whole tops out of nothing but mens shirts and others just added a yo yo or two out of the shirt fabric. Me I didnt' even get it started. Next year! Yes I will do it I have to I have the darn shirt here.
But Kathy told me she was going to give this to her Dad so I quilted vintage cars in it. Well I think her hubby has now decided that he wants it.

Here is a close up of the quilting. I don't know if you can make out the car or not. This was fun to do!

 Great job Kathy I love the quilt. Outstanding as usual!





These next two are my Moms

What a Beautiful Quilt 

Mom is an appliquer and a good one at that. I almost hate to work on her things afraid that I won't do them justice. I want to do justice to everyones but YOU MOM. Well it is just scary!

This is the pattern From Four to Nine. Last summer while visiting I showed this to my mom and she went right home and made this with some fabric that she got here in IN. She calls it Blind mans Bluff. I believe it is named becuz she feels either that even a blind man could see this fabric or it makes you go blind, and it was bought in Bluffton IN.

 Just a close up.


These are two awesome quilts.My mother always does a wonderful job. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful teacher!








I know there is more but I have been working on this post for an hour so it is time to hit the post button

Trying to catch up and a Give Away

Ok this summer has been a wild one. First I want to post a couple pics of eye candy. This first quilt belongs to Neva. I had to get this one done before the parents came. You may remember my ribbon quilt and one that ReJena did. We all did them at the same retreat.

The while getting the room ready for the parents I managed to get these two done

This is Jean's. She won the fans at her Local Quilt Clubs raffle. Lucky Jean! She made a wonderful choice in how to set them. I was honored that she brought it to me to quilt to do.

This one is Kathy's. If I am not mistaken this one is for a friends daughter. They were leaving to go on a missions trip in just a few days so I had to rush rush on this one so she could get the binding on it in time.

The summer then brought my parents, they are from SW Missouri, and I was happy to see them. Even tho getting them a bedroom downstairs forced me to clean out the junk room and totally exhausted me for weeks I was happy to do it for them. We had a wonderful time. I do hope they did too.Now I know it was trying for my hubby and a bit boring for my Dad. Dad being a carpenter all his life likes to still dabble in and is always doing something around their house. He just built them a garage and a front parch in the past couple of years. So for him taking a vacation is almost like a punishment. Well he found a wall in his room that wasn't finished so that became his project. I will get a pic of it sometime, but for now it is done, and he seemed to enjoy his stay l little better with something to do. The last weekend that my folks were here my sisters, 2 from SW MO and one from SE KS all came up then we met my sister that is in VT at a lake in SW MI. We (including mom) ( no guys allowed)stayed in a nice (big) lake cottage of my BIL  at a small lake just inland from lake MI . It had been a long time, (actually never) since we had all gotten together and done something like this. We had a great time. Well I did and they seemed to too. I think we are going to try to do this every year. NOTE spend as much time with your family as you can.  The hubby and I took the parents back home to SW MO. I decided it was time for him to see where I grew up Erie, KS. Now there is not much to see but at least now he knows where my love for old houses comes in. I took him by our old place and it still looks a regal as I remember. Mind you in is not a grand old house just an old big house. Some one was walking in the door she saw me gawking and I should have just jumped out and talked with her. Maybe I could have seen the inside again.   AAAHHHHHHHHH the memories it would have held.We then got together with a couple of high school classmates of mine. Love ya Sheryl and Melody, so glad to have seen you after all these years.Hubby and I then jumped over to Pittsburgh KS. We had seen the food war  on TV's travel channel about the two chicken places their. I had eaten at one or maybe both growing up and I thought it would be great for him to try it. BUT they were closed due to being the 4th of July. Shucks! We did stay at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast called the Himmel House

the people that own this beauty should be proud. They are delightful and very helpful. Will stay there again if they let us. No I really didn't cause any problems. Beautiful place can't say enough nice things for that overnight stay. We sat in their 'garden patio' and watched the cities fireworks display through the trees. this was after walking the neighborhood and drooling over the other beautiful homes, and watching the locals shoot off fireworks just above our heads. What a 4th to remember. So back home to Indiana. Computer had crashed while we were gone. Still don't have everything back as it was but am thankful that I got the puter back. I don't know what happened but the computer was blown up while gone then hooked the laptop to the router and it went out on us. So it was not the best homecoming but life goes on.

 Trunk show in Ohio and class to teach. Boy I think I may have scheduled them a little to close together but they got done and I think everyone had fun. I had Mom's quilts to do then. She left a couple of them for me to do and since I was going back down in a couple weeks I wanted to get them done so to save on shipping.                                                               

She had made this quilt from a pattern she had gotten from me a couple of years earlier when they were here. The book I remember I got a Christmas present at my Local Quilt Club. Fat Quarter Quilt Blocks, published by House of White Birches here in Berne, IN. So I guess that is one Christmas present that I can say has now been used.

Now this second quilt was left over batiks from the first one. I love scrappies so both of these are just right up my alley.

I then went back to Kansas the first of AUG for (I know this will shock some of you) my Army Reserve Reunion. Yes I was in the Army Reserves. I wish I had never gotten out but at the time I thought it was best for my family if I did. These are some of the people I love the most, think the world of, cherish highly, honor to no end, and just generally glad to have met, are the men and women I served with. I have pics of that too,

There weren't many of us here this year, I think that they heard that I was coming and stayed home. Last year they had over 30, this year 14. Two are missing from photo. I think that the heat, yes it was over 100 and very humid that weekend, kept alot of them home and in the air conditioning.

I took my sister that lives there and had her be my photographer. Another great weekend except the hotel pool was closed. So no swimming but then I don't know when I would have found the time. I met up with high school classmates (different than those the month before) and spent small amounts of time with each. My sister and I decided to go back to Pittsburgh to eat,what else but Chicken. Oh the hubby will be mad. But as the meal went on I decided that I could take chicken home from both places for him. My room had the lil fridge. So left overs and a to go order. We both picked Chicken Annie's, even tho Mary's won on the Show but we still think that the chicken we had in Miche Tavern in VA was the best. Sorry Annie's and Mary's.

So life has slowed down now and pretty much back to normal. The computer is back out of the hospital even tho I lost a bunch of stuff, I am sure I can live with out it. The mystery that I wanted to do on here is gone, but maybe someday I will get the directions wrote back up. That is if I can remember what all the notes and marking on the rough draft mean. So to make it up to my faithful followers that were looking forward to this mystery, I am going to do a give away. I have two leaflets Quilting Toppers for Every Table. Has 7 seasonal Table Runners NICE!  Second is Quilting Bold and Bright Kids' Quilts features 3-D Designs

The rules are leave a comment to this post and gain one entry. Either state that you are a follower or become a follower and get 3 entries. If you blog and you link to this post (and not a follower) than that is 3 entries also. If you blog and are a follower and you link then that is 5 entries. I will have a random drawing on the 1st of SEP. Good luck and hope every ones Summer has been as hectic and wonderful as mine!!!