Humble Crafts

My two kids were here for Thanksgiving and I hardly made it into the sewing room. Here is the little cross stitch that I did finish and made into a pinkeep. I better take this as my practice piece, you think? I did enjoy it but learned a few things that might help me the next time. Use a small hoop to keep it taut and wear my magnifier glasses! It was hard and I did my fair share of uncrossing!! Don't you love how symmetrical it is? Hahaha........humble cross stitch- not just quilts!!!

My daughter is 26 and since moving out on her own has never had a big enough place for a Christmas tree. Since she was home for several days she asked if we were going to put up a tree. At my house it isn't as simple as finding an empty corner for a tree. There is furniture to be arranged and rearranged, chairs to be hauled upstairs, and decorations to be brought down from the attic. As long as we've been married neither my husband or I remember having a tree up in November! Because we have such a dry climate and a gas fireplace it may not have any needles left by the time Christmas comes. I'm glad we did it and the kids were able to laugh at the handmade ornaments they did as small children.

Did your kids make dixie cup covered in foil bell? I think every year they made them in Sunday School and I have several on my tree.

This is my daughter's paper Santa. She thought is was pretty sweet!

So, the tree is up and the house is almost clean. I hope you are all looking forward to the holidays, I know I am!

Happy Thanksgiving!

You've seen it on many blogs already, I'm sure. But I am truly grateful today!
Thank you all for commenting, being a bloggy follower and sharing this small place of Humble Quilts.
If I would have known what I was missing I would have started this blog a whole lot sooner.
Thank you for all the smiles you bring to me each day!

I'm also grateful for this beautiful view!!

I Won!

Has anyone seen Vegas Vacation when the family is trying to win back some money and the older man next to them wins Keno and he says, "I won! I won! I won! I won! I won!" If you havne't seen it, this won't make any sense, but that is what I was saying when Lynda from Primitive Pieces posted that I had won this wonderful wool turkey wallhanging!! I hung it up in a prominent place and will get many smiles from it!! Thanks again Lynda.
You can see a better photo of it on her website.

NW Quilt Shops

Last Friday I had to go into Portland and I finally made it to Vancouver, WA to the Primitive Thimble. Oh my! This shop is definitely right up my alley. The owner so so nice and made the experience that much more pleasant. She was so cheerful, friendly and helpful. I sure wish I was closer so I could take some classes.
I've always loved this quilt!! It's called Juniper and Mistletoe by Barbara Brackman.

They had the cutest displays throughout the whole store.

Lovely wool.

Look at the adorable partially hooked turkey!

I did manage to find a few items that had to come home with me.


This next shop is new to me and new to the area. Carrie gave me the heads up. I stopped in last week and had a short visit with the owner and was back today to snap a few photos. I think the owner, Leslie, intended to start a little fabric store so people could find quality fabric for bags, pj's, aprons and other clothing. What she didn't expect was quilters to come in looking for quilt fabric and supplies. The owner doesn't quilt but she is so willing to carry what people want. Even if she isn't quilt savvy I want to see her succeed. Isn't that how we feel when someone is friendly and helpful? So here is my blatant advertising for a new business. (she opened in June) If you are ever in the area be sure to look her up!!
You have to look closely or you'll miss it! It's called Material Girls fabric on 7th street in Redmond, Oregon.

Leslie has a nice selection of clothing patterns.

It's a small shop and she is leaning towards the brighter fabrics. She also has some wonderful gifty type items.

She has quite of bit of cute trims, ribbons and rick rack too.

One more stop I made in Portland was to Acorns & Threads- a cross stitch shop. I've been wanting to try my hand at a little primitive cross stitch. The store and the web site is amazing. The place was really busy so I didn't feel comfortable taking any photos, but I did pick up some linen and a cute pattern. I'm hoping to show you the very humble results later in the week. Please don't laugh too hard. I've decided to stick with quilting!!!

Weekend Update

Don't leave! You have the right blog! LOL No, this isn't my usual style, but I have had a lot of fun making these simple colorful string blocks. This is a secondary block for a Christmas gift I am working on. I finished them up this weekend and have all the paper tore off. I used Bonnie's suggestion and used telephone pages to paper piece them. It worked like a dream!

Here is the second little collage I finished.

And I redid the ribbon one the first one. I like this a lot better. It is adorable lace made by Moda. I backed them with craft paper and attached hooks for hanging so they would be ready to go.
Here are a few more blocks waiting for a project. The photo on the right was taken before I aged it. I love those Pennsylvania Dutch colors.

I've had a busy weekend. I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year, and although there will only be 8 of us I needed to get my recipes together, write my grocery list, get my linens washed, get rid of dust bunnies and fluff the guest beds. I wrapped my first two Christmas gifts! I'm never this early but wanted to get them sent with family members at Thanksgiving.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Safe travels to those who will be on the road.

Making Some Progress

I've made one more Blind Man Fancy block. They really are square but are laying on the back of my couch since my design wall is busy at the moment.

Here's the ole' Stickle Girl again. The weather has cooled off enough to pull it out of the closet and a post from Susan about her Dear Jane was a bit of a reminder for me to do the same. I was losing track of which blocks needed quilting so I laid it out on my bed and put a small safety pin in the blocks- only 15 to go!! Well, actually 13 now because I've removed 2 pins. I had been quilting the sashing as I did the blocks but now I am determined to do just the blocks and go back and finish the sashing. I haven't touched the triangles and at the rate I'm going it will be another couple of years, but I don't plan on going anywhere so that shouldn't be a problem!

Fun Links

If you are anywhere near San Fransisco I have it on good authority (thanks Heidi) that there is a wonderful exhibit of Amish quilts at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. You have a bit of time as the quilts will be showing until June 2010.

This past summer I was able to go to the High Desert Museum and see a wonderful collection of old quilts. You can go look through my archives or check them out here and read the information about them.

Here is a link to Will's blog in Paris. She makes beautiful quilts and has some wonderful photos of her quilts and other vintage quilts.

One more blog that is quite a pleasure for the eyes. Wilma in the Netherlands.

Enjoy!

The quilt shown has nothing to do with these links, but it was a determining factor when deciding what to do with the striped border on the red quilt.

Pajama Party!

Saturday morning was the PJ sale at the Stitchin' Post. If you were there before 8:30 you received 30% off. Wear your jammies, get an extra 5%. I left my house at 5:30AM to pick up my friend. We are crazy for a sale aren't we?
I snapped one quick photo, trying not to seem like I was taking a picture of one particular person! That was hard.


Hmmmm, this doesn't look like anything I would buy!! I am working on a project and needed a few fun brights. I think I found them!

Here are my "usual" purchases. Lovely reproductions and a few goodies.

Americana Winners

I drew 4 lucky names today.
The Declaration of Independence Panel goes to:

Qltmom9- Lucy in IN
Ooo...I would love to have the Declaration of Independence on a pillow, for my (homeschooled) children to learn! Those are neat! Of course, the civil war generals are educational, too...so either would be nice. Thank you for the chance. I enjoy your blog daily.

The 3 Civil War generals panels go to:

Nancy E (anonymous)
I think the star is Martha Washington. Thanks so much for sharing. Please include me in the drawing. Nancy E
PS I love seeing all the old quilts!

Elaine at Soggy Bottom Flats
I have no idea what that star is, but I do love coming to your blog for a wonderfully entertaining education on quilts. I would love to be put in the draw. Thanks for all the informative pics you post, since I never seem to get around to telling you! Thanks, Elaine

Marcie from Patchalot More
I would love to put my name in the basket for the Grant and Lee panel. I just got back from Gettysburg and regret that I didn't get one while there.

Please send me your mailing addresses, loridweightwatchers (at) gmail(dot) com,
and I'll get these in the mail on Monday.


Thank you all for entering. A drawing is a fun way for me to share my extras.
For those of you that guessed the block was the Martha Washington star- you are correct!
Lea posted a comment on the medallion and mentioned something about Martha and it got me thinking about how to include her in the quilt. I kept thinking of the saying, "Behind every good man is a great woman." And I knew she'd be a perfect addition to my backing.

Have a great weekend!

Gettin' Ready for the Holidays

I was inspired by Virginia Cole at Galloping Pony Studio for this top piece. As usual, mine is humble, but I'm positive my recipient will enjoy it anyway.

When I first laid out the striped fabric on this quilt top I liked the way the stripes ran lengthwise with the quilt. I started looking around online at striped borders and realized very few put them on this way, so I thought I would run the stripes away from the center of the quilt. Then I went and looked at a few older quilts and the fabric ran either way. Brandie commented that she liked it the way it was laid out and that was my first confirmation that maybe I would attach the border the way I wanted to attach it and not the way it was "normally" done.

Anyway, I did a quick mock up in EQ and sent the photo off to a few close friends for a vote. Hands down was lengthwise. (click on photo for a larger view)

That seemed like a long explanation....the point being, go with what will make you happy.

There is still time to get your name in the pot for the patriotic panels. I'll draw tomorrow at noon PST.

All Things Americana and a Humble Giveaway

As we celebrate Veteran's Day I thought it would be good to continue on with my patriotic theme.

Here is another panel of the Declaration of Independence I picked up along the way. I thought it would be very appropriate to put on the back of President Washington's quilt. Does anybody recognize the star on the right and have any idea why I would be putting that on the back of his quilt? (Lea, you cannot answer this question in the comments) The three little stars were extra and will easily find a home on the back.

I had some leftover patriotic blue and white toile that I'll piece into the back too.

No, this won't go on the back. Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant came a bit later. I thought Baum did an excellent job on this. This is one of the nicest panels I've ever seen. I plan on making a pillow and not a Lincoln quilt.

Now for a small humble giveaway. I have an extra Declaration of Independence panel and three Civil War General panels. Just let me know if you'd like one, if you have a preference, and I'll do a random drawing Saturday afternoon.

Please feel free to comment even if you don't want one.

Quilts!

I put together this little top this past summer using some blocks that I had leftover. I had with it, what I thought was going to be the border. (it isn't the one you see in the photo) I laid it out the other day with the border fabric and I thought it would make a nice colorful Christmas quilt. It just so happened that very day I made a random stop at a quilt store that is back open for their liquidation sale. I saw this striped fabric almost immediately and thought of this quilt top. I think it'll be a fun happy holiday quilt!! Now I just want to figure out how wide I can cut the borders to miter and use the whole fabric. I can't imagine using this in any other project. What do you think of it? I'll probably have the stripes going away from the fabric instead of down the side like it is laid out.

Here is the adorable label Sue Spargo made for the donation quilts to The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. It could be a little quilt all by itself!

Here are the two little quilts ready to send in. Yeah, I know the one on the right is a wee bit slanted. Well, that adds to the charm, don't you think? LOL That one is all wool with a cotton back and binding. The one on the left is a mix of wool and cotton.

I've had these block finished for awhile too and thought it was time to get them together. My design wall isn't large enough so I laid them out in a spare room. (that's hardly large enough either!) I snapped this quick photo so I could see what blocks need to be rearranged a bit. For some reason I can see these things better with a photo.

Time to get my day started!!

Alzheimer's Quilts

Ami has put quilts up for sale on the The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative site and one of them is mine! If you want to support a good cause and own a little folk art quilt (designer Sue Spargo)here is your opportunity.
It is #4500 and is called Mercy Me!

Of course there are many quilts for sale, but I'd love for mine to sell.
Thanks so much!!

My quilt has sold to a dear friend whose mother passed away from Alzheimer's 6 months ago. Be sure to look at the other ones!

A Friday Finish!!

I hope you all are not getting tired of seeing Mr. George in varying stages of doneness. I got the final border on this afternoon and I promise you won't see it again until it's quilted and bound.
I am pretty happy at the finished quilt but I know now why I could never be a designer. How do you make a pieced border fit 37 3/4"??? Me either!!!! hahaha

Have a terrific weekend!!!

A Little of This, A Little of That

I haven't had a lot to show of my own, but I have been working on a few projects.

This little quilt designed by Sue Spargo is another one for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Sue made two adorable labels for me to apply to my AAQI donation quilts. Well, I sent the dancing lady off before I received the two labels so I thought I better get busy and make 2 more. The labels are dated 2009 and that's a perfect goal. The one above is done by hand and I made a wee bit of an attempt to do some embellishing. (OK, a button and some couching!!) I'm working on the second one in the evenings, all by hand. When that's done I'll do a little hand quilting, get them registered and post another photo on my blog.

On a side note, if you don't know about the Quilt Federation SmackDown, where have you been keeping yourself!? Have you checked out the bids? It looks like Hollis Chatelain is in the lead with a bid on her quilt of $2000. All the quilts are amazing. If you can't afford to bid on a quilt how about a donation and a chance to vote on a Viewers Choice? $5 bucks gets you 5 votes.

Blind Man's Fancy has been on my "list" for awhile and here is my practice block. It's full of funky sizes and this one has a few problems, but I think it's a go for a long term quilt.


And these little stars keep getting put aside. Slowly I am getting more assembled.

More Vintage Quilts

We stopped at a few antique malls while cruising the backroads after the quilt show last week. Check out this unusual pattern and look at the wagon wheel quilting!! (Click to enlarge) I love the quilting!! I'm also a sucker for red, white and blue.

There's more cheddar and brown...with blue. Interesting combination, but it works.

The feathered star is another favorite of mine.

Has anybody seen this quilt pattern before? I haven't' checked Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia yet, but I think I will. I thought it was very unusual.

Here's a wonderful string quilt from the 30's. It's so worn and faded, but I could snuggle up with it in a heartbeat.

Instead of taking the main freeways and highways home we took the backroads. It was a beautiful drive.

We certainly wouldn't want to do it any later in the year, as our paved road turned to a small dirt road! We came out at Timothy Lake on Mt Hood. Hubby and I don't get to spend as much time together as we would like so this was a fun and memorable adventure.