Woman's Day and Flowers

Memory Lane via Woman's Day

While trying to organize my ever increasing supply of quilting magazines, I came across a couple of Woman's Day magazines from 1970 and 1972 that Barbie sent home with me.  Wow!  These magazines are 40 years old and only cost 20/25 cents!

I couldn't resist sitting down and browsing through them, just like I did 40 years ago.  Honestly, when I opened the pages it was like they had never left my hands.  They transported me back in time to when I was a young housewife with four kids underfoot.  

Remember the Collector's Cook Book?  I used to save these all the time even if I didn't make the recipes.  I always had good intentions.

They were advertising the Encyclopaedia Britannica.  No Internet.

. . . And cigarettes for women.  It was not that long ago that smoking was very acceptable.  Look at that picture; no wonder we wanted to smoke. 

  Charlie Brown!  I forgot that you could find him and Snoopy in Woman's Day.  Charles Shulz wrote a whole story, six magazine pages long, for this edition.  

How many remember making ponchos for their kids?  I do!

How about those hats?  The patterns are right in magazine if anyone is interested.  

If we didn't have rain, we wouldn't have flowers . . . 

These hydrangeas belong to the neighbour, but I get to enjoy them when I walk out my side door.

The rain beat down my poor little rose.  

Common Name - Gooseneck Flowers 

Scientific Name - "Spreadallovertheplace"

Rose of Sharon is starting to bloom.  

My little yard is not always the best kept yard; lots of weeds are taking over by the fence.  I am afraid to work out there this time of year since I have caught poison ivy or poison oak twice while pulling weeds.  Miserable experience!  Both times I had to get cortisone from the doc to clear it up, so must have an allergy.  However, I can still isolate the beauty of the flowers with my camera.  Enjoy!

As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs. ~ Sam Abell 

Surprise Mail and Wolff's Blueberry Farm

Surprise Mail

My mail is usually full of ads, bills, or offers for Medicare plans.  Not much fun . . . until yesterday when a mysterious envelope appeared in the pile of junk mail.

Hummm . . . the address is from New Hampshire and the name is Victoria.  Ah-Ha!  That is Vic from Park Hill Farm Blog.  Suddenly, I'm excited to have real "snail mail."   What could this be?

I tore into it and found the best thing yet . . . material and a pattern!  Love it!!

Sweet Summer Blooms!

I really like this material; Vic knows I am fond of florals.  The pattern looks challenging.  It has applique', which I don't usually attempt; however, it is flowers and I am retired now.  It's time to expand my comfort zone and try this pattern.  Thank you so much for thinking of me, Vic.  You made my day happy!

Blueberry Picking

It has been 90 degrees for a couple of days now, but in spite of the heat, I decided to go blueberry picking - early.  I don't think Ohio is well known for blueberries, but we do have a nice little blueberry farm about 10 miles from my house where you can pick your own berries.  They give you a bucket with a bag inside and away you go.  You can walk and walk and pick and pick.  The nice thing about picking blueberries, besides eating them, is that you don't have to bend over.  The bushes are just the right height.  Then the berries are weighed and you are charged $1.80 per pound.  So you get a great price along with exercise, sunshine, and a belly full of blueberries.  

Wolff's Blueberry Farm Website states: " 

We are a family-owned business that started planting in 1972. There are over 5000 plants representing 4 blueberry varieties on our 8-acres farm.
Our blueberries are: Bluecrop, Colbalt, Jersey and Blueray. "

Don't you just adore the blueberry house?

There are many more berries to ripen 

"As long as there's a few farmers out there, we'll keep fighting for them." ~ Willie Nelson

More Quilts from the Columbus Quilt Show

I posted pictures of some of the red, white and blue quilts that we saw in Columbus, but there were also many other quilts worth sharing.

Barbie was eager to get inside to the show!

This was one of my favourites.  It is full of joy and lovely colors!

Whenever I see a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt . . . 

I want to get right in the middle of the garden.

Since Barbie ordered 100 chicks, this one tickled our fancy.

. . . especially Roger!

I had to step back to see the shadows, but really like this technique.

Barbie was drawn to the Hawaiian quilt for a future project.  

Love old barns and barn quilts!

Who does not like a log cabin pattern with the red chimney?  This one is lovely!

I hope you enjoyed viewing a few more quilts from the Columbus Quilt Show.  Maybe it will give you some ideas or inspiration for future projects.  Thanks for stopping by my blog!

"This world is but a canvas to our imagination."

 ~ Henry David Thoreau

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate America!

Celebrate America - 44th Annual National Quilt Show 

Columbus Ohio, 2013

Happy 4th of July!  Last week I had the pleasure of attending the National Quilt Show in Columbus at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  Barbie and I travelled to Columbus by bus with Material Girl Quilt Shop out of Dover.  It was a treat seeing all the lovely quilts and visiting the vendors.  

The theme of the show was "Celebrate America" so today is the perfect day to share some of the red, white and blue quilts.  I hope you enjoy viewing the creative quilts that were lovingly made in honour of America and our troops.

 A Big "Thank You" to all my Friends at ECOT!

Here I am, enjoying my retirement, spending a sunny day on the porch, when the mail man brings a special surprise from my teacher friends at ECOT.  They sent a lovely card along with a gift card and encouraged me to use it for quilting - not that I need any encouraging with that!  Big smiles all day!  I really appreciate their thoughtfulness and generosity.

When I use this gift for a quilt, it will have to be diverse, colourful and designed to work well together; just like our English department.  I am going to miss working with my dear friends but hope they will stop by my blog to say hello.

Tomorrow is the Columbus Quilt Show and I'll be travelling down on a bus trip with my QBees.  Material Girl, a little quilt shop in Dover, Ohio sponsored the trip and I'm so looking forward to seeing all the quilts and visiting the vendors; looking for more retirement stash.  Of course, I'll be blogging about it.

Another Big Thank You to my Dear Friend, Jan.

As if I'm not already blessed with so many good things, Jan, my friend since high school, invited me over to go through her quilting "stash" since she is moving to Florida and wants to get rid of some stuff.  When I am there she insists I take her serger machine.  This is unexpected and again, deeply appreciated.   And I'm sure, with the help of my sister-in-law, Michelle, we will "serge."  Hopefully!  Isn't it cute?  

I think this quote from Oprah sums up how I feel today!

June is Bustin' Out All Over

QBee Day at Miss Carol's from Sweet Peas and Possum

I feel like singing "June is Bustin' Out All Over" when the day is full of sunshine and roses.  The corn is almost as high as an elephant's eye . . . Oh, what a beautiful morning!

Corn is about knee high

  A perfect weekend to head south to Plainfield for a sewing day with Miss Carol, Barbie and Gina.  My daughter, Earlene, came along to work on her very first quilt ever, a jelly roll strip quilt!  I'm so happy that she is quilting with me even though her machine was being a pain at first.  Miss Carol got it straightened out and sewing right. 

Earlene working on her jelly roll quilt using batiks

Hooray for the red, white and blue!

Gina and her Flag quilt that she is hand quilting - big stitch.  Neat pattern!

Miss Carol with her Tumbler Flag Quilt.  It looks like it is waving in the breeze.  

 Barbie has been busy sewing quilts . . . 

Brick and Mortar with Christmas material

Red Bird Quilt

Barbie's colorful quilt - Wow!

Miss Carol's UFO's - Show and Tell!

Brick and Mortar - Looks modern.  I like it!

Shark Quilt.  Nice pattern for a feature fabric.  

What a great way to kick off my retirement; quilting with my daughter and my QBees.  I'm looking forward to many happy, summer quilting days at Miss Carol's studio.