My Man Abe

Finally, I have finished my Abe Lincoln Quilt!

This was a challenge with my friends Jill and Susan.  It was commemorating his 200th Birthday in 2009.  Sorry for the duplicate showing to my guild friends....

A couple of close ups so you can see the quilting.

 Here is the back.

Kind of funny, on the back one side of the script is upside down.  I wanted to use the smooth cut edge to piece and it and didn't even think about the print - then when hurrying to make the sleeve, I attached the toile' upside down to the other printed fabric.

I accepted my personal foibles with a laugh a long time ago and anyway, I am what I am.....but it is pretty funny.

Coco had her first day at camp last week.  She had to have a behavior interview (you can imagine my nerves in the waiting area).  She had a great time with the other dogs.

This is the best shot of her trying to sit by her certificate, lol.

She got so frustrated with the whole thing, she sat and sulked.

And last, but funnest, my friend and reader, MB in Illinois made 2 coffin needle books!!  Aren't they terrific?  She told me she didn't have halloween fabric, so she painted the skeleton and made the spiderweb - super talented!!

Have a Fun Week!

p.s. help! How do I get the "things you might like" thing to work??

What's Up Doc?

Happy Friday!

I thought I'd do a project update.  I definitely hear the clock ticking down the time for my guild's October 11th quilt show.

Here are 3 projects that I hope to finish in time for the show:

Mother's Garden - quilting a little everyday

It's hard to capture, but the center, top and side outlining is done.

Abe Challenge:  just pin basted it.  My machine is in the shop and has been for 4 weeks now.  I need a new button board and they are waiting for the part :(

Here is my four patch posie.  This quilt really took an interesting turn.  I've ordered over 600 crystals for this one, so stay tuned.

Here's what I've done on the tumbler doll quilt since the cruise - Nadda, nuttin', zilch...

I'll take it next week when we take Hanna to school.  I do, however, love my "free with purchase" cosmetic bag.  It's perfect for holding the entire project.

Update on gardens - after a little rain and cooler weather, they have perked up a bit.

I'm really happy with my Home Depot pots this year.  They filled in nicely.

And just for fun:
I was sending a Birthday gift to one of my best friends and I used this Asian newspaper for wrapping.   I've seen free newspapers at Greek, Asian and Mexican restaurants, so keep your eyes pealed.

Final days of summer for my kids.  Playing some sort of horribly violent and loud game on PS3

Have a Fun Weekend!

So Many Irons in the Fire

Thank you so much for all your wonderful messages and well wishes on my last post!  I so appreciated them.

Busy, Busy, Busy but getting little accomplished.

Here is are project updates -

waste not, want not.  I had to piece 2 sections of batting before I can baste my Abe Lincoln quilt.

What a good helper -

Here are sneak peaks on 2 different small quilts, one a challenge and one a swap  - can't tell you which is which....

 Making slow progress on my Mother's Garden quilting.

Gathering up about 3o quilts to take to a local quilt guild to present  a trunk show on Wednesday night.



all under the watchful eye of you know who.

Hoooray!  My son, Andrew, received an acceptance letter from Ramapo College for next fall.  Great job, Andrew!  We're waiting to hear about housing (fingers crossed).  We may be empty nesters next fall.

Have a great week.

Heres Abe!

Happy Friday!

Here is my finished top for the Abraham Lincoln Quilt Challenge.

And some close ups:

It has changed many times and here are a few of them.

Here's an early one 

This was the most recent working design -

In the end I just didn't like the scale of those log cabin blocks.  Too bad too, because I made 20 of them!~ and they are 1/2" finished logs.

This way I can incorporate the log cabins (after all he was born in one!) and also the Declaration of Independence which was a source of encouragement for him during the Civil War to keep our country united.

I had several requests to see the orange quilts in one photo.  Some girlfriends were here yesterday and were kind enough to hold them.

Also, I was remiss in telling everyone the 5 things I see as them having in common; they were:

Color - all the same; solids, except for the purples which were a tone on tone on muslin.

Flying Geese - they all contained these units even the one on the left, which looks like a jesters collar.

Drop diamond Machine Quilting - over the whole surface, right over the applique, off white thread.

Border Treatment - they all have pieced top and bottom borders and strips on the sides.

Berries!!

Thanks for all the other similarities that you found!  It was fun to read them like all being botanical and all having birds of some kind.

I ran across this the other day.  It is a name tag to a Gwen Marston retreat.  The theme that year was 4-block quilts, so I made a 4-block name tag for me and my Mary B.   During the course of the retreat other 4 letter names were made including Gwen.  Some women used diphthongs to create 4-block name tags.  Like

 K  A

TH Y

A diphthong is a group of consonants that make a single syllable sound.  Can your name be a 4-block?  The berries were added at the retreat as well....aren't quilters fun?

The best for last -

This week I received a surprise gift from Vicki of Load of Scrap.

It came with a beautiful note.  I can't believe how generous and thoughtful she was.  Thanks again, Vicki, I just love it.

Winner!

Winner! Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway.  I hope if you came for the giveaway you come back for inspiration.

Here are the names -

My son Andrew, thanks for all your computer help, picked form the prize basket --

And the winner is.....Donna of Cats Meow Two !!

Please send me your mailing address and congratulations!


Kate of Empty Fields sent me this lovely note and wonderful fabric!  Thanks, Kate.  Visit her blog, she has lovely things!

And finally, I'm back to Abe Challenge Quilt.


I hate this part!!  I used to skip it, then I became a big girl, and my quilts are better for it :)

French House with Cherry Tree

Good Morning!

Sorry for yet, another blog make-over, I wanted a wider column and this one is the best solution - 

This is a little quilt I made in 2005.  I usually display it in the summer.  When I made it I was disappointed when the house turned out so normal looking as I had free pieced it.  So, the solution?  Make a whimsical  cherry tree  in the side yard.

Here is some of the machine quilting and the back.

Isn't this a funny Parisian print for the back?


So, I've been discussing things with Abe and here is where we are now.

I've sketched out the block I intend to use in the second round.  I've played around with many layouts but I like this one the best.  I have a growing pile of "nope" blocks, that don't play nicely with the quilt.

Here is how Jill's is progressing - great, isn't it?

Just received this book from Amazon used books (love that!).  This in definitely on my "life list" of things to make.  I am in the process of collecting books and images.

I would love to be able to cut my own pattern. So far I really like the look of this one -

I also loved this one.  My son plays the Ukulele and I love the drums in this modern version.

 And lastly, I picked up this step stool at Ikea.  It is fantastic.  Super sturdy and doesn't tip or slide.  Finally I can safely move things around on the design board, "it's a good thing" AMWS....