This was made from the cover pattern of Create and Decorate Magazine. A week ago I was stressing over fallen leaves--- Note to Self: There are MANY more important things to feel bad for…. leaves not one of them. After church, a family asked me what I was doing this afternoon. My response was “Pretty much nothing.”




“Well, we’re coming over to rake leaves.”

“No – I can’t have you doing that…”

“Well you just stay inside and we’ll take care of it…”



They were coming over at 2:30 pm. Mortified at the thought of how lazy I was -- and the dog poop that was probably out there--- I went home and raked like a mad woman--- kicking myself as to why I ever felt sorry for myself. For 2 ½ hours I raked and got everything but the very front yard done. They came and laughed at me. "Like we've never seen dog poop"  they giggled with their labrador in tow.  We finished up in twenty minutes. I just needed that kick in the pants I guess.



The candle cozy was funny to make and was made of muslin coffee dyed after the stitchery was made.



The homestretch is on--- Don will be home in three weeks. I’ve mostly just taken care of myself the months. I need to get busy. A Minor meltdown… Ransom has become arthritic. One we got him on the right medicine he’s rebounding real well. With the active puppy around, he tries to keep up.



Chelsey has been coming home regularly “babysitting” me. I’ve really enjoyed her. Oh—and I’m no longer afraid of the dark….



Gratitudes:

Baby Aspirin

A warm autumn for the U.P.

Fabric Scraps

Scrappy Stars

Keeping in touch…..I’ve begun the slow progress of piecing blocks for Eric’s quilt. With the time change I seem to get sleepier with the nightfall so I stitch less. I’m hoping to get the actual blocks together by Sunday. There’s lots of chain piecing which is kind of like therapy for me.

I decided the yard was not going to rake itself. So I made an imaginary map and divided it into six sections. If God wants those leaves out of that yard, he’ll give me six good days to get it done….. Some have said—“Mel, $75.00 and it’s done, hire it out…” But honestly, there’s pride involved and if I was going to spend $75.00, it would be on quilt fabric…….

Eric got the H1N1 vaccine. He and Aimee (the girl he calls “the One”) do tons of volunteering in health clinics and are pretty much involved in ‘Germ Saturation’…. So they decided to get the vaccine.

Chelsey has her own column in the newspaper in Marquette. She calls it “A Northern State of Mind” --- College life in Northern Michigan. So she’s living life…. And Lord help us… writing about it…. I keep telling her I want a quilt story…..


Next Post--- quilt blocks…..

Gratitudes –
A Gorgeous Full Moon…The pups and I are up at 1:00am the past few mornings
The Oldies Radio Station – 60’s, 70’s 80’s music….I’m an oldie….
San---- thanks again….

Weekend Cut Out

I started cutting out pieces for my latest project and got discouraged. So I emailed a quilter who had made the same project and asked her advice. That's all it took and I got busy.
Thanks again for the advice....

She had recommended breaking things down into sets of ten. I liked the idea. So doing housework --- I'd cut out 100 pieces and stop and work on the house a little more. Before you know it I'm labelling zip lock bags and have all 1176 pieces cut out for this quilt. Tonight, hopefully I start half-square triangles. I plan on --again-- breaking things down in sets--- rather than being overwhemed by thehugs undertaking. Yep-- you'll probably be sick of me talking about it before it's over with....

This weekend. Chelsey was home about 10:30 Saturday night. She's still got the cold-bug she's had. She's been tested for H1N1, but she's just got the oldfashioned, vanilla flavored cold. The pups were thrilled to see her. But I was even more glad. I got up early Sunday and cooked a huge lunch and left instructions for oven times and temps for her. I went off to church and an outstanding sunday school class. Came home to Chelsey and football. I snuck in the afternoon nap while she was at a friends. When she got home we cooked spaghetti and then watched 'The secret life of Bees." If you haven't seen it... you must. It's a great story.

I talked with Eric... he's out healing the world giving out flu vaccines or testing people's sugar counts or something. They really make the students focus on volunteer hours. He's got a life and he's living it to the most.

The weather was cold, dreary, and rainy... but you couldn't tell it by my attiude -- it was perfect for quilting. Again-- watch that movie....

Quilting Catch Up

OK – I’ve decided it’s a lot of work taking care of yourself….while I haven’t got it quite mastered, I’m improving at it all the time. It’s catch up time. Three weeks ago.. Let’s start.

I went to a quilt show in a neighboring town that Saturday. Fun--- I love admiring others work. There wasn’t an ugly quilt there. While it was a small show, they even had a section for children making kids quilts. I always say that if we don’t teach the next generation the art of quilting it will die out. The one thing I wished that they had done was to include something from the artist as to why each quilt was created. Quilting is kind of this “soulful” experience for me and as much as I love the piece itself I love knowing what inspired the quilter.

Two weekends ago I went with a friend down to the Green Bay-Appleton area with our own version of a shop hop. We hit 3 quilt shops and had a ball. She’s a relatively new quilter—but very talented. She belongs to guilds and does a ton of charity work. I had been to the three quilt shops before. But it was amazing seeing things through her eyes. It’s the first time I ever went fabric shopping with someone other than my Mom or Chelsey. I figured with Quilt Market going on shelves may be bare, but they weren’t and it was so much fun. We went to Primitive Gatherings and I purchased this book. I have all of Lisa Bongean’s books. It even has recipes in it. My friend kind of shys away from books, but I assured her this was an afternoon date. I cup of coffee and I could get lost of hours studying her book. We Went to Piece by Piece in Appleton. With 20-foot ceilings they have quilts covering the walls. I’m going to attempt Lynda Hall’s Gathering Basket Quilt, so I’m collecting navy and tan fat quarters. This was my purchase there. We had lunch, hit a craft store and in Green Bay toured Quilter’s Connection. I always talk about quilts and fabric talking to me. Living in the Northwoods, I have my collection of pumpkin and snowman quilts. I always feel that as short as spring and summer are, I don’t have much to display. I saw this bundle of fabric with a pattern included. It’s muted pastels just said ‘Spring Time’ to me. If I make it and it seems to bright I can always tea dye it to fit a “cabin” spring . I’m working on Eric a scrappy quilt and scooped up red fat quarters whenever I saw them.

I’d been saving my Coke bottle money, rebate checks, any added chunk of change I could find, for a while. I think I’m set for quilting for the winter. I can’t even pick a favorite store. My friend is not really a traditional quilter. Every store had a variety of styles and she found great ideas and purchases for the winter. We are already penciling in our spring-time trip…

Wreaths and Angels

I’ve been intending to post all week. I’m just now finally getting a chance to hit the keyboard. I’ve been working on my Baskets of Life BOM. Here are two more completed blocks.
The Turbin Squash in the corner came from my garden. I love the colors. They’re kind of small, but for a first attempt and a really cool summer, I think they’re pretty slick.


The buggy is ready for the season. I made the wreath hanging in front. If you look closely you’ll see it’s made from old Barbed wire. Safety note—I used gloves when working with the wire, as I didn’t want rusty pokes. My bicycle has moved to the light post.
It was surrounded by Chrysanthemums until the deer had a feast one night.

Yesterday I received a surprise in the mail – an awesome Quilter’s Angel holding a thimble.
It was a “hug” just when I need it. The fabric is fat quarters from Buggy Barn’s newest line. Thanks again Karen. Your kindness will be truly remembered. I hope to pass it on to others….

Gratitudes:
Angels – both the “Quilted” and the “Quilter” ones
A good night’s rest
The weekend ahead

A Pinwheel Tablecloth

I’ve been busy --- but there’s been tons of sewing going on. It’s a bad picture. But I’ll take a better one when it’s quilted. I finished my pinwheel tablecloth. I’m definitely running a season behind….but maybe we’ll get an Indian summer day.

I’m not a perfectionist, but I’ve been working on quilt blocks being better than just “good enough”. Before I started this piece I read a lot about making pinwheel blocks. I took pictures of the method I used. And while my points aren’t perfect--- I’m really pleased.

I started with a charm square and the same size piece of muslin.


I drew an X point to point.

Then I stitched right on top of that line..

Next, I cut top to bottom and side to side..

When you open the fabric pieces, you have a great half-square triangle. I used my quarter-inch foot on my machine and game up with the pinwheel blocks.

My quilt was made with two 40 piece charm packs plus 1 block out of the border fabric. The quilt finishes nine blocks by nine blocks, with borders, 54 inches square.

I emptied all the junk out of Eric’s room. Just piles of stuff I don’t think he’ll miss. I got tired of my kitchen being trashed with things only a quilter would appreciate. I moved my machine and ironing board in his room. He won’t be home until Thanksgiving. I even have three windows…. I’m still debating on telling him….
There’s a quilt show in a neighboring town. I’m going to knock out the weekly cleaning and go. I’ll bring my camera. I’m looking forward to it.

It’s supposed to rain for the next six days. I’ve got some painting---- and quilting--- to keep me busy.

Have a good weekend –
Gratitudes
Pumpkins
Understanding sons (maybe)
Pups to keep me company

Cottage Garden.....

Keeping true to fashion...and staying just about a season behind,
I saw this book clearance on Connecting Threads and treated myself along with batting for Harvest Home. Last week they had it $14.00. I'll probably have it worn out before ever quilting a stitch. Gorgeous photographs capture the quilts perfectly. And some quilts just aren't seasonal, they're beauties year-round. Order it while they still have some.

I had a friend over for soup and salad Tuesday night. It is all part of that thing that people say I need to be more social. Being social is exhausting after working all day. I've decided not to be pressured with that anymore... if it happens it happens. I'm pretty content with work, sewing, and my sunday school class right now.

A rainy weekend is forecasted, so I just might get Harvest Home stretched on the quilting frame. I'm planning on tearing down my garden some this evening---a couple of rows a day. It's a lot more fun to put up than tear down.

Kind of missing my kids today -- I'd just like them home for supper. I'd send them back to their busy lives...but supper would be nice. Went to church last night. Completely fun....It's never something I look back on and say--"man, wish I hadn't done that..." Sleepy today, but it was worth it.

Gratitudes:
That riding lawn mower
My new tires for my jeep
Hebrews 11, 1 John 1: 6-8