Small Star and Stripes

In our big family room, the breaker box, ugly and gray stands out like a sore thumb.  I wanted to make a little quilt to cover it.  Right now I have it pinned to the wall but will have a better hanger soon.  The Stars were practice blocks from a class I took a few years ago and the rest of the fabric is from other projects.  I tried to keep the colors that are in the star blocks.  It turned out pretty good.  There are a few areas I am not completely happy with but all in all, it is what it is.  I am now working on another smaller one so I can trade off from time to time.  No one wants to see the breaker box.  

Sun Bonnet Sue

This is a pillowcase.  The skirt has three layers so the bottom ruffle really stands out.  I have been looking at various Sun Bonnet Girl patterns for a quilt for my granddaughter (s) and trying to find the right one that I would like to do.  Bought a couple books with all kinds of them thru and thru and they are all so different.  The pillowcase came from the thrift store for 25 cents!  I have seen other quilts and pillows with various versions, all slightly different.   This book is from the Oxmoor House Quilts Made Easy series.  It has about 8 or 9 patterns for Sun Bonnet Sue and Overall Sam.

Minnesota Quilts

This book is such a treasure load of stories and photos of quilters and quilts.  I know other states have books about quilters and quilts from their areas and I am glad they are out there to share  our love and passion.   The stories cover vintage, antique and modern works from all over this state and I am amazed at the talent and creativity being shared.  Isn't this a wonderful crazy quilt?  I would love to make something this pretty.   It is different than most of the crazy quilts I have seen and I just love it.  This book is just filled with amazing works of art.

Out My Kitchen Window

As winter winds down and spring is coming on, I want to share a moment in time, a moment of pure glory.  I looked out my kitchen window and there was the most lovely sight.  It lasted only a few moments and then it was dark.  The sun was setting and the light was so bright.  If I hadn't looked up, I would have missed it.  We had had a freezing rain and then snow, not a lot of snow but still enough to make a beautiful coating.  The sun sparkled off the ice beneath the snows and it just shimmered.  I am in awe.  Thank You God for this gift!

I have been going thru my quilt books looking for inspiration and took this book off my shelf.  It was published in 1996 and had several quilts that will be fun to work on.  I am not a very experienced quilt maker but love the idea of quilting.  I love this little 9 patch with the stars.  It is so cheerful!  I think I want to give it a try.  I marked 10 projects that looked like something I would want to do.  I can see some being full sized quilts and others the small quilts would make a pretty wall hanging.

Study Time

I am using this time to study quilt patterns and review my quilt books.  One of my favorite books right now is 5,500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone.  I have been using this to identify patterns for quilts I have that will be posted as soon as possible.  I have a beautiful scrappy LaMoyne Star quilt, a Postage Stamp Basket quilt top, and Altered Nine Patch and a few more.

Mr. Puff-n-Stuff and I went to an old antique store a few weeks ago and found some great quilts which we didn't buy.  Instead of bindings, the quilts were edged with crocheting around each one.  One was done in hot pink crochet thread for a green and pink Flower Garden Quilt.  The second quilt was an album quilt and I am pretty sure they were made by the same quilter as the fabric pieces were the same for both quilt.  That quilt was edged in off white crocheting instead of binding.  This is the only time I have seen quilts finished in this manner.  Each had a pretty hefty price attached to it and while I thought they were beautiful, I had to pass them by.

Needle Keeper Book

My Great Aunt Cecle was an avid quilter.  My family spent a lot of time out on her little farm in Northern Idaho when I was a little girl.  She always had a quilt in the frame and several more tops ready to go into the frame.  She made little Needle Keepers out of flannel and had several needles threaded in the keepers so that it would speed up her quilting time with less breaks for re-threading.  This keeper is almost 60 years old that she made.  I have added needles to it.  The size is 4 inches wide and 8 inches long.  It has 4 long pieces of flannel inside with the paper strips for needles.  Around her quilting frame, there would be a keeper for each side with threaded needles.

Thanksgiving Prep. & Happy Thanksgiving All

I don't know how much I will be on the computer over the next several days as I get ready for Thanksgiving with my family.  I have much to be thankful for and I find new reasons every day!  As much as I like the food and the gathering, I also am thankful for my God, for the country I live in, for family and friends and for my great husband, Randy, who I appreciate more than I can ever say!  Life is good! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you whom ever you are and wherever you may be.

No, not a quilt picture this time.  I wanted to share this picture of another fun project.  My grandchildren and I walk around our gravel driveway looking for agates and these are a few we found and ran thru the tumbler.  I really love how they look.  The kids always act like it is great treasures and it is fun for all of us.  After the agates are tumbled and  polished, the kids can take them home.

These are pincushions that my grandmother, Ida Sandoz Ohlsen,  made in the 1950's & 1960's.  She was a very talented lady and crocheted  doilies and made lace.  It is heart warming to have treasures from her.