Nature's Gift

I love the rain. We haven't had enough of it this summer. I woke up this morning to the sound of a soft, gentle rain tap tapping against the window and my heart lifted up just a little.

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the sun. But sunny days often make me feel pressured, unlike rainy days.  When it rains, I feel justified sitting inside reading or sewing or just doing nothing. I believe it stems back from my childhood when, if the day was bright and sunny, my mom would nag me to "go outside and play, get some exercise - it's a beautiful day! Why waste it sitting inside reading?" Hah! Since when is reading ever wasting my time, I thought. But during summer vacation from a long stressful school year  there were so many days where all I wanted to do was read or be quiet, not go out and play in the hot sun even if it was good for me as my mother believed. I'm still like this.

 

Rain places no such expectations upon us. Rain gives me permission to stay inside and be quiet if I want to and reflect, not necessarily be DOING something. If it's raining, it's okay to curl up with a quilt and a cup of tea and read a good book.

 

 

 

 

"Anyone who thinks that sunshine is true happiness has never walked in the  rain. . . . " With a dog, I might add.

 

Life gets busy and hectic for all of us at times. I found a great App for my phone for when I feel like I'm spinning my wheels a little too much and need to slow down a bit and take a breath - Simply Being - a meditation App that you can set for a few minutes or more (up to 20 actually). You can get it for all types of phones or your ipod. One of the options is to relax and listen to nature sounds instead of calming music. I always keep mine set on Rain (of course I do). Just listening to the quiet sounds of rain refreshes my spirit.

 

 

 

                                      

 

It's my birthday month and more often than not, for as long as I can remember, it has rained on my birthday. I like to consider it Nature's special gift to me and have learned to be grateful for it. Slow down, life is good, take a breath, you made it through another year. . . .

                    

 

 

 

Back to School

 

 

Little Red Schoolhouse

Quilt of the month for September

(from Prairie Children & Their Quilts)

 

 

An antique Schoolhouse Quilt I bought several years ago. It's a little frayed here and there and patched in places but these types of quilts are so rare. I love it very much just the way it is but perhaps will try to restore it someday.

 

 

September always means back to school time. Even for those of us who are not school age anymore. Quilters go to school too and I know many of you take quilting classes. The latest thing appears to be video classes on your computer,  taken at your own convenience and leisure.

 

Today I am offering two of you a chance to enter a giveaway here for a crafting class. Take a look at Daily Craft TV.  They have some wonderful video classes taught by popular, experienced teachers. And there are not just quilting videos either -  there are classes on knitting, crocheting and scrapbooking  as well.

 

                                            

 

A class on bindings taught by Liz Porter

 

 

A class on making Log Cabin quilts taught by Marti Michell

 

 

How to make a quilt of valor

 

There are many classes to choose from. So here's how it works - you can enter a comment here on my blog and then when I pick the 2 winners they will be e-mailed an access pass code to get into the class of their choice for free. Simple. The hard part is going to be following directions carefully. Listen good.

 

In your comment, tell me one of your memories from when you first started school. What was it that really sticks in your mind that made you either love or hate school? Try to keep it short.

                                                   

 +  =  +  =  +  =  +

 

I had a love-hate relationship with school. I loved learning and playing school with my friends was a favorite game. I always did well in class but I was a very shy, anxious little girl and being at school all day, away from my mom, was difficult. Some teachers were mean and did not understand and just told me to grow up when I cried or got a stomach ache while others - like dear Mrs Riccio and later Mr Hollander - understood. They nurtured me and became my friends and because of them I went on to become a successful student. Compassionate teachers hold the key I believe. My son is a teacher now and I know he understands and is one of those nurturers himself. 

 

Good luck to everyone!  Include some way for me to reach you (e-mail) in your comment. Winners will be posted in a few days. Maybe as soon as Monday.  I know you're all eager to go back to school . . . .

 

 

Stay Safe This Weekend

If you are traveling this weekend to celebrate Labor Day, don't drink and drive. If, like me, you are staying home, don't drink and quilt -

 

See what can happen??

Honest, all I had was 2 cups of coffee this morning . . . . Probably should have stopped at one.

 

(My husband tells me that I shouldn't fix it - that the person who gets this block in the signature swap is a lucky duck. Might be worth something someday.)

 

To my friends in the U.S.  - Have a Happy Labor Day

 

Some of us will be laboring away this weekend, trying to finish those 120 "What Was I Thinking" signature blocks for 2 swaps -

 

 

Others, not so much:

 

 

(In her defense, it's a thankless job chasing squirrels and chipmunks and just looking so darned cute all day long. But somebody's got to do it.)

 

No chores for me this weekend. I've had a busy time of it recently launching my daughter (no, not to the moon, although some days I thought about it . . . . ) off to school. I already told my husband he's on Home Duty. I'm taking time off for good behavior -  I did not kill or maim any members of my family (who shall remain unamed) this summer. Moms, back me up here!  

 

When things get too tough at the sewing table I plan on taking a break and doing some reading this weekend as well.

 

 

Funny how a good crime novel nearly always fits the bill.

 

Have a good weekend! 

Old Signature Blocks

Some of you who have been reading my blog for a few years may remember when I wrote about the signature blocks I received.

In 2011 I gave a presentation to a guild in Peoria, IL. Someone there had brought in 28 signature blocks made by the founding members of the guild that were hand pieced and not only signed, but signed with embroidered letters. At the meeting, they offered them up to anyone who wanted them and no one in the group did! So, Sentimental Me, I took them home. I couldn't bear for them to be tossed out or thrown away.

 

My collection of 28 signature blocks, signed by women from the recent past I do not even know, LOL - 

The embroidered signatures are just lovely.

Along with the blocks was a newspaper from 1984, which is around the time I assume the blocks were made, so no, they are not that old. An article in the Arts section contains photos of some of the women who made the blocks. Quilt blocks from 1984 certainly do not qualify as antiques, but many of them are so nice and do have an older look.

My Yahoo group is working on signature blocks for 2 different  signature block swaps right now. I've had a very busy summer and have been preoccupied with family and home stuff and so still have to sew quite a few of the 120 blocks I committed to making. Slowly but surely . . . .

 

I will not be embroidering my name on any of the blocks I'm working on now (Whew! Can you imagine??), just using a Pigma pen to sign them. The geese are finished . . . now I just have to sign the centers and put the blocks together. And then finish the other 60 odd snowball blocks for the other swap . . . They go pretty fast if I can only get enough time to work on them at one sitting without interruption - Hah! Not as easy as that sounds in my house.

 

The finished blocks will look like these. This quilt is very special to me - it's the Friendship Quilt from my last book The Civil War Sewing Circle, signed with names of some of my friends in my Yahoo group from all over the world (the pattern is in the book). 

I've blogged about my fascination with signature quilts from the past before so these old blocks were right up my alley and I was glad to receive them. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with them. You know how good I am about finishing unfinished projects . . . . especially ones that are not even mine. Sharon, Rosalie, Betty, Pat or Shirley - if you are still alive and reading this and want your blocks back and promise to make them into a quilt, they are all yours!

 

 

See more about the history of friendship quilts and signature blocks here

 

P.S.:  Notice anything especially cute in this photo below? Yes, I had my own Sentimental Quilter mug made up and I am working on making them available for purchase very soon.  If I can figure out shipping and handling that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (or more than the mug) you may soon be able to have one for your very own too.

 

 

 

Playing Around

After a couple of busy weeks I am finally getting back to working on some signature blocks I started for an exchange in my Yahoo group Small Quilt Talk. There are 2 swaps/exchanges going on simultaneously and I signed up for BOTH. So, yes, I am making 60 blocks for each swap = 120 signature blocks total. I know I am nuts. I can't imagine what I was thinking. All I can say is it sounded like a good idea at the time. When we were planning this I reminded people that if they organized themselves and paid attention it would be easy. Hah. Not that I am struggling, mind you, or stressing yet, but seriously -  120 blocks??!!  I have only 45 blocks finished so while I'm on my way to meeting the deadline in September that still means I have to get cracking.

 

 

 

I had pieces cut for a few blocks and so sat down and made a few last week. I was really getting into the swing of things but then had to stop on the weekend to clean and cook for a fondue birthday party we gave for my son's girlfriend.

 

Remember fondue? Does anyone still do this? I know at  my age I don't need to eat that much cheese so we also cooked beef and shrimp and vegs in hot oil. Oh sure, that's so much better than cheese, who am I kidding? LOL. But my kids always loved it when they were young and so it was fun to get the family together and bring out the old fondue pots again.  I never actually get too full from fondue. It always takes forever, eating one morsel at a time, and so the best part was just being with family and socializing a bit. 

 

 

On Sunday, I made sure I had  a little time to make some progress on my signature blocks. I even bought a pretty new project box so I can keep all the pieces together and close it up without losing anything if I need to work on something else.

 

 

The tool everyone in the group has been using for making Flying Geese units -

 

 

I have to admit I've never been a "tool" freak or buyer of every gadget  that comes out. This Quilt in a Day Flying Geese ruler sure came in handy though. I love using it so I also bought a few more in different sizes.

 

 

 

 

September will be here before you know it.  Why is it something always comes up to take me away from my sewing routine?  I hope to get some more finished today. But right after I finish writing this and then play with the dog. Since she lost her companion she's been awfully lonely and clingy and follows me around everywhere. I'm her companion now and she doesn't understand why I can't spend every waking minute playing. When I sew, she's always at my side and just sits there and stares at me until I get up to go outside with her.

 

 

It's lonely being an only . . . .

 

C'mon, Mom, throw the ball. You know you want to.

 

 

Playing with my dog. Much more important than sewing some days . . .

 

 

 

Fabric Giveaway Winners

Thanks for entering my giveaway and leaving a comment. You made this so much fun with your amusing posts. I wanted all of you to be winners.

 

 

Here are the 15 winners of the Linen Closet charm packs designed by Renee Nanneman for Andover Fabrics:

1.       Ann in PA - quiltfeather at yahoo.com

2.       Char - char5 at centurytel.net

3.       Christa - Christahallaert@yahoo.com

4.       Christine in WI - czarnsy@gmail.com

5.       Karen S. - meandyou1974@sbcglobal.net

6.       Kathy K. - kelley.farms@frontier.com

7.       Leslie - lesquilts@gmail.com

8.       Liz B in England

9.       Lori - lwright@spchs.org

10.   Marsha Bohling - quiltmeister55@yahoo.com

11.   Mary Miller - mmiller138@aol.com

12.   Maymewyns at yahoo dot com

13.   Sally - jmurray@ctaz.com

14.   Sandy - srowe1948@gmail.com

 

15.   Vicki - treasurednotions@gmail.com

 

Many of you came up with some great answers to the question: What's in YOUR linen closet?

 

Some of my favorites - a Christmas cactus, canned goods, candy, a black lace corset that reminds [her] of the carefree years past, 12 ceramic santas, old photos, a basket full of pennies, a slow cooker, a little potty, tupperware, 2 electric guitars, Christmas paper, home brewed beer, a toaster oven, a Mr Wonderful doll, scuba equipment, swords, almonds, Easter candy, a washer and dryer . . .

 

When I get the chance I will check - I may have some of these same things in my linen closet too. (Only one electric guitar though, no beer, and NOT the black corset, in case you were wondering.) And thanks to some of you now I know exactly where to hide the Swedish Fish . . . .

 

Winners: If you will please contact me and send me your names and addresses I will compile a list and forward it to Andover and they will send you your charm packs. I will need to hear from each one of you before I send them the list, however. (Click on my profile at the top of this blog for my email). Again, thanks for entering the giveaway and better luck next time if you did not win today.

 

Hot Summer Fabric Giveaway

 Wow! It's HOT here. But there's good news. Today and through the coming weekend 15 of you will have a chance to win a charm pack of Andover fabric designed by Renee Nanneman - from her "Linen Closet" collection - that I used to make this sweet summery pillow. (Along with some pink and brown prints from her "Villageware Toile" collection that just came out.) This should cool you off a little.

 

 

If it weren't so darned hot I'd be out here lounging on my pillow, sipping an iced tea . . .  

Linen Closet fabrics.

Just looking at these light and airy prints almost makes me feel cool in this heat wave we're having here  . . .

All you have to do is follow the instructions below and leave me a comment to enter. There will be 15 charm packs given away in all. Make sure you leave your name and a way I can contact you if you win.

 

Okay, in keeping with the theme of this fabric, here's the trick to winning - tell me what's in YOUR linen closet that doesn't belong there, something that isn't exactly like linens or isn't even close. If your closet is anything like mine, it needs cleaning out terribly but you're waiting for some of those cute wicker baskets or shelf dividers you see in magazine linen closets to be on sale before you take everything out and get it organized once and for all. And buy some new sheets and towels too.  Maybe this August. Do they still have the August White Sales??

 

If what you keep in your linen closet is your darkest secret, I promise I won't tell a soul. You can trust me! I am not prepared to show you a photo of my linen closet right now but I can tell you it probably contains some things I either just can't bear to part with or had no other place to throw them. Not linens.

 

 .

Don't you love the bees?

 

So leave me a comment here - see instructions above - and your name will be entered into the giveaway. If you left a comment yesterday or the day before on the other post I wrote, it will not count - to have a chance to win, you have to post your comment on the giveaway post that's dated July 18. Comments will close sometime on Sunday and I will announce the 15 winners on Monday. Make sure you leave your name and a way for me to contact you if you win. Good luck!

 

I know that Andover Fabrics would love it if you visited their Facebook page and thanked them for the chance to win some of this wonderful fabric. (Tell them you like the free pillow pattern too!)  Oh, yes, you can download the free pattern for the pillow here.

 

 

 

 

Northern Illinois Quilt Show

Love visiting quilt shows? If you live in northern Illinois, I will be giving a presentation at the Batavia Quilt and Textile show on Sunday, July 21.  The annual show is held at the Batavia Park District’s historic Eastside Community Center, 14 North Van Buren Street, Batavia, Illinois.  The show will feature over 150 beautiful quilts made by local quilters (including a special reproduction Civil War quilt exhibit), a vendor hall that features new products and fun demonstrations as well.  Here's the info.

This show looks like it will be a lot of fun. I'll be talking about quilts, showing off some of my quilts and selling and signing books and patterns (maybe some jewelry too?).

 

Last year I had a booth at the Galesburg, IL,  Quilt Show.

 

 

Quilt shows are soooo much fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're in the area, please come by and say Hi!

 

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Also - stop back here on Thursday, July 18. I will be holding another cool Andover Fabrics Giveaway on the blog. See what I made from some very pretty fabrics, then leave a comment and perhaps you will win something.

 

 

(FYI - Comments left today will NOT count, only AFTER  Thursday's giveaway kick-off. )