Time to Share Pictures

I joined a Yahoo Group dedicated to small quilts. The hostess issues a challenge every 2-3 months. This was their first challenge. All fabrics from my stash!

This is an itty-bitty Tumblers piece, finished about 15" square. I found a baggie with a lot of tiny tumblers already cut and three rows had been put together - so I sewed up the rest - and whalla - a tiny wall quilt. It is hand quilted - something I've not done in a long time.
Yes - another baggie with 50 cut Tumbler pieces - a tad bigger than the one above. This is machine pieced and quilted.
Broken Dishes blocks - also have a bag full of these. Machine pieced and quilted. Measures about 18 x 22".
And would you believe another baggie of blocks? Well yes - and there's more of these made up, too. Machine pieced and quilted.

Aren't baggies wonderful? Nice to have something quick to sew up when your in the mood. The only problem is, I'd forgotten about all these blocks and found them when I was looking for something - worse yet, I forgot now what it was I was looking for to begin with. Does this happen to anyone else?

Today is Chet's 71st birthday. We celebrated the day by going to Rushville and picking up three quilts I had at the longarm quilter gal. Stopped on the way home and bought sweet corn which he quickly cleaned. Made a stop at Long John Silver's for a fish sandwich - he loves fish. This evening he's gone to Bible Study group with "the boys." Tracy called this evening to wish him a Happy Birthday and he's gone - she'll call back tomorrow night.

Till next time - - take care.

(Hope this post stays as lined up as it is now - before I hit the "Publish Post" button!)

Here we are, half way through July already - where does time go! We were please to visit with Tia & Tori for a little while last week. They spent the week with Mark and had friends for sleep-overs and visited at their homes. Both girls have grown into nice, polite young ladies. I did manage to take a couple of pictures but am having difficulty getting them to show here.

Tracy & Family arrived on Monday night and left this morning at 4:00. Just spoke to her and they were within miles of home. The kids had a ball with kids in the neighborhood and were on the go all the time. They swam at the neighbors and at the city pool, played miniature golf (Tracy won) and went to the County Fair on Friday night. We spent an afternoon/evening out at Marks on the pontoon boat and the kids went tubing .
















Mark & Jonathan Jeremy & Anna Grace















Tiffany, Tracy, Dan - the man at the helm and Mark. Jonathan and Jeremy on the tube.

Quilty Time! Each of the kids sat patiently at the sewing machine, watching it stitch out the embroidery design of their choice. Later we finished the embroideries into little pillow.

















Then we had "choose a quilt" time. The stack of finished quilts was tipping over so each one choose a quilt to take with them. Tracy (shown with Jon) choose the Batik Maple Leaves with Flying Geese sashings and borders. You'll notice some areas of the border do not have the Flying Geese - that's cuz I just plain got tired of making them!
















Mark (the husband/dad) admired a throw I have in the family room - Hour Glass design - and I just happen to have another in the stack - I call it Happy Hour Glass - love the perky colors in it. This throw was made from a fabric exchange we had in quilt guild. Tiffany (age 15) took the Girly-Girl colored piece - all pinks/greens/creams.















Jon (age 14) choose a Split 9 Patch and Anna Grace (age 8) took the bright yellow and blue Stack & Whack.















Jeremy (age 13) took a really scrappy look, also a Split 9 Patch design. This is the backside of Jeremy's quilt - I am trying to use up fabrics from my "solids bin". The difference between this quilt and Jon's quilt is the size of the block - Jeremy's is 6" and Jon's is 9" and it is "controlled scrappy" using only blues, burgandies and creams.

Each year we take a picture of all the kids in the neighborhood that come over to play. Amazing to see how they change.

Till next time. . . . Stay well.

(I've worked very hard to have everything in today's post line up nice and neat. For some reason, after I publish it it goes totally wacky. Perhaps some day I'll be able to master it.)

OOPS - Forgot something important

This gal is an important person in my life. She's my hairdresser, my therapist, my sister away from blood sisters and one of my favorite people.

Joann Mokanyk is the lady's name - and magic fingers are her fame!

Joann is a breast cancer survivor, heads up programs at a nearby hospital on a weekly basis and teachers Catechism at the local Catholic Church also on a weekly basis. She is a mom to three and grandmom to six.

She knits for "needy" kids - hats, gloves and scarves. I'm trying to talk her into taking up quilting but I don't think her schedule will allow it.

Joann is a good friend and I appreciate her more than words can say.

And only heaven knows what else she does.

Time to do an update on the Hoosiers. We had two weeks of lovely weather and yesterday summer arrived again with temps nearing 90 and today it did reach 92. We did have a rain shower last night and again late this afternoon. Chet even consented to turn on the air conditioner without my having to ask, swoon or weave around - I just do not tolerate temps over 75 well.

Last Sunday we were invited to attend a church in Southern Indiana with friends. I'm not sure where we were - Bear Creek or Bear Hollar - Bear Something - - and I know I could never find my way to that place again. Little country church, with approximately 25 pews. I've never attended a Baptist service before and I have to admit to recognizing only two of five hymns (Jesus Loves Me) and another we Lutheran's frequently sing. We wound our way on narrow two lane, black top roads and were shown where Paul lived as a child, attended church and the one room school house. The church he attended was 125 years old and burned to the ground. The church was rebuilt and some of the stained glass windows were saved.The alter, pulpit and baptismal font were only slightly damaged. There is a company in Batesville, IN that specializes in church furniture (Weberding's) and they restored the three pieces. Probably not visible in the photos is the gold leaf on the pieces.

A few more miles on a winding road and we stopped to see Paul's brother. Paul said they like to sit on their deck out back - so we drove around the building (live on top of a liquor store they once owned - sold to daughter). Couple was sitting out there enjoying the peace and quiet and Paul rolls down the window and asks if lunch is ready. Visited for a bit and went on our way to Friendship, Indiana.

Friendship is known around the world for their Muzzle Loading Competition, held twice a year. The little town with only one main street is packed with people. Flea markets abound with all the usual "goodies." Pictures below are of a few bikers.

We ended up having a sandwich in a nice resturant in Versailles. It was a lovely day out and we got home about 3:00.

I've kept the sewing machine humming the past few weeks. My Orange Crush Mystery is at the longarm quilter gal (along with two other large quilts). I picked up two that she'd finished and have the bindings sewn to the front and need to sew them to the back now. It will be a long project.

Happy Houses is now finished and looking so cute and perky.

Latest project is working on a small quilt using many greens and creams. I'm trying to show that all greens do go together. So far I'm pleased with it. Only problem was I found myself ripping more than sewing today. The blocks are finished and I've laid them out to take the picture. Let me know what you think - leave a comment or email me.

And last but not least - my Stack & Whack quilt. I had the top pieced and sitting in a box on the shelf, patiently waiting for a border. I've had it back from the longarm quilter gal for a while now. It is too pretty to use. I unfold it and admire it from time to time.

Till next time - stay safe, well and cool.

June 18,2008

I just need time out! I've been fussing with downloading pictures from my digital camera and get a message telling me it's not connected. Well - I can see the connections - I can feel the connections. Darn it anyway, these electronic gadgets are all so much fun - WHEN THEY WORK! After many tires it finally worked.

Flood waters in this area have receeded but there is alot of damage in nearby Columbus, IN. Hospital is even closed! And some stores are in bad shape, too. Mark helped a friend - they actually gutted an entire floor and are starting over. I don't think I could handle that. Good thing they are young!

We spent Sunday afternoon with Mark and his friends out at Lake Santee beach, on the pontoon boat. He has a grill on board, we cooked chicken breasts, steak, brats and hotdogs. It is so peaceful and cool on the water. Mitch and Tracy called Sunday evening to wish Chet a happy Father's Day. We had good visits with them. Nate stopped in Monday on his way to work and gave Chet a cane with a metal snake head on the handle and an autographed football - by Tony Dungee. Meant to take a picture - maybe next time!

Yesterday morning I went to the hospital lab and had blood drawn - annual checkup coming up next week. After fasting I decided I deserved a bacon/egg/cheese biscuit from McDonalds. Even went in side to place my order - and yes, they screwed it up again - got ham. I'd not had one of these in years and it just didn't taste as good as I remembered!

Okay - here come the brags. While surfing the quilt sites I found a cute house block pattern and of course I had to make some of them - picture shown below.

Next picture is a small piece - commonly known as Snail's Trail.

The binding isn't stitched to the back side yet - tonight's project.

That's it for today - hope everyone is safe and as healthy as they can be.

Flooding in our area

Park Road - the Dog Pound - water right up to the doors

Dam at Country Club on Park Road

Side yard at Nate & Deanies house.

Attire of the day!