Easy Street Mystery Quilt Clue 1

Just call me the backwards quilter.  For Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, Easy Street, I started out cutting little squares from my strips even though I know that sewing the strips together first is faster and easier.  Luckily I came to my senses . . . and did just that.  Then I went to my sister-in-law, Michelle's house, for a mini Mystery Quilt retreat last night, along with a yummy supper, and forgot the cord for my sewing machine . . . ugh!  Michelle kindly let me use one of her machines, since she has about five machines, and even claimed to be related to Bonnie Hunter.  I told her she has a long way to go to catch up with Bonnie.  

I had fun shopping for black and white material.  All the black and white in my stash was too dark.  My favorite is the little coat hangers.

Squares and strips

I'm not sure I understand the concept of "spinning the seams" in the blocks yet.  I have never tried that before.  I am a fairly new quilter and am discovering new tricks and tips all the time.  I will try the spinning and if I can't do it, will ask Bonnie to show it on quilt cam.

This week I will work on turning the strips into squares.  Sew much fun!

Thanksgiving Quilt Poem

Happy Thanksgiving 

On this Thanksgiving eve, I am counting all my blessings – my family, my health, my Q-Bees and my stash.  I am so thankful for my blog and all the new friends it has brought into my life,  Using vocabulary from the quilting world, I decided to put my feelings in a poem and called it the “Thanksgiving Quilt”

            Thanksgiving Quilt

Start with one constant, like God,

Add scrappy pieces of family

Throw in some Zinger friends

Press together with harmonious colors

And threads of music, books and art

Find backing that fits

Batting for warmth

Layer together . . .

Knot and tie with strong thread

Or stitch with long arms of love and thankfulness.

Forgive and un-sew when necessary! 

Blessings to you and your family on this Thanksgiving.

Wonky Log Cabin Squares

Wonky Log Cabin Squares for the Sandy Quilt Drive sponsored by Quilting Gallery.  

On the wall - my first wonky squares ever and it was really fun to put these together without the fuss of measuring everything exactly.  They are not squared up yet.  First they are mailed to a team leader where they are squared up and then made into the quilts.

This is going to be an ongoing project, so if anyone is interested in making and donating blocks for the Hurricane Sandy survivors, click on the picture link below:

Christmas at Warther's Museum

Only 47 Days till Christmas!  

After quilting with my QBees at Miss Carol's studio on Saturday, Barb, Jenna and I went to Warther's Museum in Dover, Ohio to see the 2012 Warther's Hospital Auxiliary Christmas Tree Show.  It was right on my way home and what better way to end a lovely day of quilting.

If you have never visited Warther's Museum, it is well worth the trip to Dover.  One amazing exhibit is where Ernest “Mooney” Warther carved a whole working model of a steel mill from memory - it still runs.  There is so much to see.  He was a genius for sure!

The trees in the show all had a theme and you could vote for your favorite large and small tree - it reminded me of a quilt show.   The trees were sold and auctioned off for charity to benefit the Union Hospital Auxiliary.
One of my favorites was a tea time tree . . .

And then . . . what do you know . . . a Grinch display complete with a quilt - just like Mitzi's quilt.

 "He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!" 

Strolling through the trees and decorations, I started thinking about all the Christmas shopping, decorating, baking, quilting, and . . . OH NO!  Only 47 days till Christmas!  
Post Script:  As soon as I got home, I ordered the Grinch quilt kit on Ebay.  

We better celebrate Thanksgiving first!

Quilts for Hurricane Sandy Survivors

The quilting community is donating quilts to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Bonnie Hunter posted on her blog Quiltville an email from Carrie Crowley Davis.

 

I am the Long Island Chapter Coordinator for Quilts for Kids .org and am hoping that you can send a shout out for child size quilts. 

We are working with the local schools in Long Beach, pediatricians in the Rockaways and the Community Outreach Center of Nassau Community Hospital and Winthrop Hospital to help get warm quilts to people. 

We are also going straight to where the Red Cross Disaster Relief Vehicles are and directly giving to people in need.

Quilts can be sent to:

Carrie Crowley Davis
Long Island Quilts for Kids
304 North Ocean Avenue
Patchogue, NY   11772

Any questions can be emailed to me at ccrowleycsw@aol.com

Let's get busy doing what we can.  

Zippy, Zippy Zigzag Birthday Quilt

As my son Adam's 40th Birthday approached, I wanted to make a quilt that would reflect his life style and interests.  He works with computers, enjoys video games, plays piano, likes Charlie Brown, had worked at a newspaper and loves his family.  I was hoping the prints along with the black stripes would work well together and not be too crazy.  Miss Carol from Sweet Peas and Possum did a fabulous job quilting it in a geometric pattern - very cool for the look of this quilt.

The plan started before Adam's birthday in May, but the quilt was not finished until the end of October.  That happens sometimes in a zigzag world:

The name of the backing is called "Baby Geniuses Grow up" so I named the quilt "Baby Genius Grows up"  Michelle made a  lovely embroidered label to go on the quilt.

You can see the quilting pattern in this picture.

Happy "late" Birthday, Adam.  I hope you enjoy your quilt for many years!

What I Learned About Life Making a Zigzag Quilt

Life does not go in a straight, even line;

It has its ups and downs.

It may be cut apart in patches of time

Then sewn back together in jagged rows.

It’s okay!

You try to match up the seams and dreams,

But, if it still does not fit

Help comes from family, friends and unseen means.

The end design may be a little crazy,

But love remains true

Even in a zigzag world.

Fall Quilting with Sweet Peas & Possum

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

~Robert Frost - excerpt from his poem "October"

Fall is the perfect season for sewing.  It seems like forever since I was down to Miss Carol's, from Sweet Peas and Possum, for a "much needed" day of quilting.   Lucky for us, she arranged to have an open sew on a Saturday, so I headed south along with Michelle and Mitzi.

 I wanted the day to go "slow, slow," like the poem, but it went fast, fast!  We spent the first half hour gabbing and catching up on family news and our latest projects.  After show and tell, we finally got down to the business of sewing.

Gina was sewing up a log cabin pumpkin with fun borders . . . The face is the perfect touch.

Michelle finished the top for her sister's quilt . . . Colorado Log Cabin - Stunning!

Mama Barb worked on tying an adorable rag quilt for a new grandson - Notice the "Life is Short - Eat Dessert First" shirt?   There is a story behind that one. 

Mitzi was working on a quilt top for a Christmas present  . . . 

Is this not the cutest Grinch Quilt ever?   Nice job, Mitzi!

Here is Miss Carol's Quilt project for the day.  Gus decided to try it out right away.

In case you think that all I did was eat, gab and take pictures, I have to say that I did do some sewing.  However, I can't show my super, secret projects on my blog just in case a relative happens to stop by.

Shhh . . .  It's a secret.  

Thank you, Miss Carol for a fun, fall day of sewing and laughter.  

Streetsboro Quilt Show - Continued

This was the favorite pick of the Streetsboro Quilt Show - Rachel's Baskets made by Helen Rankin of Aurora, Ohio.  I can see why it was the pick of the show.  It was hand quilted, has soft lovely colors and an interesting log cabin frame.   

Prisoners Quilting Project - Grafton Correctional Institution

An interesting display of quilts at the show was made by the all male population at a state prison in Ohio, Grafton Correctional Institution.  How wonderful that the men quilt, knit, crotchet and cross stitch.  The finished products are then donated to charities.  They are giving back to the community and I think this is a charity that I would like to support.   If you are interested in this program, the contact person and number on the flyer is Barbara King, Deputy Warden at 440-748-1049 ext 203. Look at the beautiful quilts make by the prisoners!

Pictures of the prisoners in Grafton

Pineapple quilt made by the men in Grafton

Quilt made by the Grafton Prison Inmates

More Quilts for your enjoyment . . . 

Local quilt shows are so awesome!  I hope you enjoyed the show!

"Quilting is sharing yourself with others." 

Streetsboro Quilt Show

Raffle Quilt

Oh joy for a weekend at the Streetsboro Quilt Show!  I love seeing the quilts from all the talented quilters in our area, and for the first time ever, I entered a quilt in a show and had it judged.  I have been quilting for about four years, so I guess it was about time to join the quilters who dare to put  "pieces" of themselves on display - pardon the pun.

The Streetsboro Quilt Guild puts so much time and energy into this wonderful show.   They make and raffle a quilt and baskets, and even included a sewing machine.  Much of the profit goes to the local food bank.  What an awesome guild!

I tried to win this cute, little Bernina, Bernette, but no luck.  Talking to Nancy from the Twinsburg Bernina Shop, I found out this Bernette 46 is only $150.  I think that is a good price for a portable machine and it sews great; I tried it out!

 Every quilt has a story and my BOM Civil war quilt is no different.   It earned a 2nd place ribbon, but I know that the ribbon belongs not to me alone.  The honor is shared with all the people who encouraged me and helped me along on my quilting journey: the quilt shop ladies, Michelle, Kathy, Barbie and Miss Carol just to name a few. Most of all, I have to thank the good Lord for granting me the patience to put all the little pieces together in the first place.  Without them, this quilt would not be finished.
After it was finally sewed together, Eva Birch added her quilting magic of swirls and feathers . . . such a lovely final touch.

My son Adam is holding up the quilt for me. 

You can see a bit of the quilting here. 

Here I am by my BOM Civil War Quilt.  Does my head look bigger than usual?

"Finished is way better than perfect!"

Tomorrow I'll post more pictures from the show.

Kent Haymaker Farmers' Market Mural Update

Last Saturday at the  market, I was amazed at the progress on the mural being done by the artist, Elaine Hullihen.  It's so much fun to see what has been added each week.  To get some perspective on size, look at Zoe in front of the giant ear of corn.

Now that is an ear of corn!

Sunflowers growing from stone

One of my favorite local musicians was performing at the market, Kathy Johnson.  I own her CD called Small Town Girl, and play it over and over - it is just wonderful.  She writes some really fun, original music like "Nancy Drew" and "Well-Tanned, Hairy-Chested, Bare-armed Men."  She sang those for us on Saturday, and we purchased her Christmas CD, Home For the Holidays.  The title song is an original that Kathy wrote.  She is a wonderful singer and I really enjoy her original lyrics and style.  Here is her Website if you are interested in learning more about her and listening to a sample of her music.  I would highly recommend her CD's.  http://www.kathysongs.com/

I love the jars of honey and jam!

I know that the artist is trying to get this mural finished before winter.  I hope the weather cooperates.  However, this weekend the weatherman did add in that four letter word that begins with S.  We are in for the 30's by Saturday night.    

I can't wait to see the man with the hat when it is done!