Knitting at the Kent Market

Knitting seems to be all the rage lately, especially if you follow Mrs. DillyDally's blog, which I do.  So, when the opportunity came up to learn to knit socks right at our little market in Kent, I grabbed four needles and some yarn.

A lovely lady with lots of patience, Carol, got me started with the casting on and needle management techniques.  I have knitted in the past, but only with two needles.  I needed a refresher course for sure.  It was fun sitting on the picnic bench, sipping good coffee and chatting with the market shoppers as I struggled with the needles - four seems like two too many. 

After awhile, Zoe and her dad, my son joined me to check on my progress.  The top of the sock was coming along very slowly - knit one, purl one, start with the fourth needle etc.

Zoe stood by our mural poem; she loves poetry and the market scones.

"Swiss Chard leaves
Wave like bright flags
In the breeze." 

The village smithy was at the market giving demonstrations on how a blacksmith works.  Fascinating and HOT!

It was an exciting morning at the market for sure.

Now I am on my own with the knitting and I already goofed it up.  I started knitting with three needles instead of adding in the fourth - DUH!  I have go go back to the market for "back up" lessons.  It is not as easy to fix a knitting mistake; not at all like picking out stitches in quilting.  I will catch on.  I just have think before I knit!  

Plainfield Cemetery QBee Day

A summer sewing day at Miss Carol's of Sweet Peas and Possum is always an adventure.  On my recent visit, during the afternoon, I took a break to walk up with Carol into the little cemetery by her house.  If you read my recent blog posts, you will understand my new found interest in cemeteries.  She wanted to show me a tombstone that was very unique, maybe even one of a kind.

Here is the view of Carol's house and studio from the Plainfield Cemetery.  She really does have quiet neighbors.  Below is the tombstone that we walked up to see:

We decided that this gentleman really loved watching football on TV.  If you look closely you can see the knobs next to the TV screen and the planters are footballs.  Very original!

More Snowman Quilts:

Yes, Barbie was still working on snowmen.  If you do snowmen quilts in summer, you get winter quilts with bare feet.  

Miss Carol had a show and tell.  She made a pincushion from a Bonnie Hunter pattern.  So cute!  I love Hexies!

You can find the pattern for this hexagon pincushion at Quiltville.  CLICK HERE FOR A LINK

Happy Summer Quilting!

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~ Henry James

Rah Rah Retreat in Berlin, Ohio

Amy Jones organized the retreat along with  Karen Maddox
Amy is from the Dover Ohio Guild.  

Quilters love retreats because we can sew, eat, and share ideas! This weekend two dedicated ladies, Amy and Karen, put together a  wonderful retreat at Zinck's Inn in Berlin.  There were about 27 ladies and one gentleman working on their projects . . . or on a mystery quilt!  As you may know, I love mystery quilts.

Barbie was busy working on her mystery quilt.  I, on the other hand, was busy taking pictures or visiting or eating.

Barbie busy working . . . my empty seat!

Strip Poker:

It's not all work!  We played strip poker and guess who won a big jackpot of strips?  Barbie!

Quilt Projects:

Ruth showed me her English Paper Piecing project.  I found out that I can learn how to do this project at one of our local quilt shops.   Her blocks are so lovely and creative!  

Monica is a fellow blogger!  Check out her blog at
monicam-day by day

Sherri, who shared our table, is Barbie's daughter's neighbor in Dover!  Small World!

Look at that border!  Awesome quilt!

These fishies are going to swim around the Nemo quilt below.

Judy is making this creative quilt for a granddaughter!  It turned out that Judy is a massage therapist!  During the retreat, Barbie and I had the best chair massage ever from Judy.  What a treat!

Teresa is a member of my quilt guild in Streetsboro.  I always enjoy visiting with her!

Mystery Revealed:

Not sure what the name of this mystery quilt really is, but I would call it a weaved fence.  I like it!  

All good things must come to an end:

The view from our retreat at Zinck's Inn in Berlin

"As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are.  Otherwise you will miss most of your life."  Buddha

June QBee Day at Sweet Peas and Possum Studio

Okay, I'm out of the cemetery, for now, and back to blogging about quilting.  On Thursday, it was open sew day at Miss Carol's studio in Plainfield.  I love the scenery at this time of year and it was a beautiful early summer day.  Here are some of our projects.  Enjoy:

Miss Carol and Barbie looking at the backing for Barbie's snow flake quilt.  It's just stunning!

Look what is right next door to Miss Carol's studio!  A cemetery!!  Oh My!

Right across the street - a cornfield.  Isn't it a lovely day?

Miss Carol's studio - I love being here!

A Quilt of Valor made by Miss Carol.

Mama Barb figuring out applique by using a window

Miss Carol's project of the day!  So 3-dimensional.  Nice effect just using HST (Half Square Triangles)

Have to run!  On my way to a Rah Rah Retreat this weekend down in Amish country.  We are doing a mystery quilt and of course I'll blog all about it soon.  HAPPY SUMMER QUILTING!

Hanging out in the Cemetery

In case you are wondering what a retired quilter is doing in a cemetery, let me explain.  Recently I have developed an interest in genealogy and started looking up old ancestors.  I know this is not for everyone, but I get excited when I find a scrap of information about my long lost relatives.  I attended a meeting to learn more about the subject and the lady in charge introduced me to the website Find A Grave (a free website).  Interesting, I thought.  So we tried a search using my grandfather's name and up popped information about where he is buried in New York state along with a little obituary.  This was like hitting gold for me.  I never knew my grandfather; he had died when my dad was only 14.

On Find A Grave, I sent the person who had added the information a little thank you note; she replied back and was kind enough to send me some old newspaper articles about my grandfather.  She also sent the links to find more articles.   Since I had joined the Find A Grave site, she wanted to know if I would become the caretaker for my grandfather's page.  Of course, I accepted.

This morning I had requests in my email from people who wanted a pictures of certain grave stones in a cemetery that is not far from me.  Right away, it seemed like an adventure, so off I went with names, camera and a bottle of water.  The Charleston Cemetery was out in the country and lovely.  I found three grave stones that were requested and took pictures to post on the website.  It was great exercise and a fun thing to do, at least for me.  You only have to photograph graves if you want to - it's not mandatory when you join the site.  I like walking around old cemeteries, reading tombstones and taking pictures, so why not!

A member requested this grave picture.  It is her great-aunt.

Another thing I have been doing lately is reading poetry by Carl Sandburg.  Anyone remember him?  He was a great American poet and here is a poem from him that I like.  It does go along with the cemetery theme and has great imagery.  Sorry, it's the English teacher in me!

Carl Sandburg

THE JUNK MAN by Carl Sandburg

I AM glad God saw Death
And gave Death a job taking care of all who are tired
     of living:

When all the wheels in a clock are worn and slow and
     the connections loose
And the clock goes on ticking and telling the wrong time
     from hour to hour
And people around the house joke about what a bum
     clock it is,
How glad the clock is when the big Junk Man drives
     his wagon
Up to the house and puts his arms around the clock and
     says:
          "You don't belong here,
          You gotta come
          Along with me,"
How glad the clock is then, when it feels the arms of the
     Junk Man close around it and carry it away.

Spring QBee Day

Oh joy!  Last Saturday I drove down south for a QBee day at Miss Carol's of Sweet Peas and Possum Blog!  I think the last time I had a QBee day was in January.  It has been too long and I miss my quilting friends and all the fun we have with our projects.

We started off with a show and tell.  I brought my 007 project.  NO pictures yet!  

Miss Carol had Easy Street all quilted and ready for me to take home.  Woo Hoo!  I was thrilled and love the quilting pattern she used.  I forgot the name of it, maybe "Cascade."  Miss Carol, is that correct?  Anyhow it is gorgeous!!

Miss Carol has also been going "bananas" with an I-Spy quilt - It is just too cute!

Mama Barb was working on a snowflake quilt.  After this long winter, I'm not sure I would want to sew around snowflakes right now.  Nevertheless, she is on a mission, cutting out lacy shapes and sewing the flakes on the background using the raw-edge applique technique.  It is very cool!  Pardon the pun.

  

Maverick Stars from Scraps

Miss Carol was also working on using up little triangles left over from her other quilts.  The free pattern for Maverick Stars is on Bonnie Hunter's Blog:  CLICK HERE FOR THE PATTERN

I like them!  I never thought to save those leftover triangle scraps before, but now, of course, I have to do just that.  Oh, goodie!!  More scraps for my collection/stash.  We never seem to run out of ideas or projects.

Disappearing Pinwheel Quilt

Miss Carol also finished a "Disappearing Pinwheel" quilt for a new little girl.  Isn't it adorable?  The border really sets it off!  You can find this pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Co. on You Tube.  HERE IS THE LINK

This is the backing for the Disappearing Pinwheel.  Sweet!

Enders and Leaders Happy Scrappy I-Spy

Say that three times fast!  Here is a baby or toddler quilt that I worked on at QBee day:

Looking back at our different projects, it never ceases to amaze me; especially since visiting Paducah, of the diversity among quilts and quilters.  It is, in my opinion, the very best time in the world to be a quilter!  We have patterns and fabrics at our fingertips; we have tutorials and great workshops, and best of all we have our quilting buddies! 

 Have fun and quilt on!  

How Does My Garden Grow?

I have been quilting, but can't show my latest quilt since it is a 007 project.  Therefore, I will show you some pictures of my backyard; it is greening up and looking pretty.

First of all, I have to admit that my backyard is not kept up as well as it should be.  I start off well in the spring and then it always goes a little wild.  I don't use pesticides or weed killers because I want it to be nature friendly.  That makes it weed friendly too.

Here are some close-up pictures of some plants in my yard.  What you don't see is the side of the garage that needs painted and the fence that is falling apart in one section.  Ah well, I still love my yard.

Ferns and Pachysandra grow well since there is a lot of shade.

My postage stamp garden has onions, lettuce and Swiss Chard.  We will be eating onions soon.  My granddaughter, Zoe, loves green onions from the garden.

The shy Lily-of-the-Valley

The Rhubarb will soon be ready for a pie.  This is an old fashioned plant that used to be called "Pie Plant."

In the lawn there are many dandelions and violets.  I think they are pretty weeds!

It is so nice to be able to get outside, in between the raindrops, and enjoy the flowers.

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt" ~ Margaret Atwood.

Paducah Rotary Antique Quilt Show

It's a rainy afternoon here in Ohio and a good time to re-visit our fun trip in Paducah last month.  The week was jam-packed with events, and one show that we really enjoyed was the 26th Annual Paducah Rotary Antique Quilt Show.  We found great vendors, a display of Hoffman Challenge quilts and an impressive display of antique quilts.  So impressive in fact, I had to drag Barbie out in order to catch the bus.

The Rotary Club uses the admission to the show to fund college scholarships and educational programs.  A very good cause!  

It really was amazing to see these antique quilts up close and personal.  Here are some that I admired, along with descriptions:

Hand Pieced - Hand Quilted

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Variable Star with Flying Geese Border - Hand Pieced/Hand Quilted

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I didn't get a picture of the description paper for the quilt below, but I'm pretty sure it is the "Multudinous-Pieced Mosaic quilt," c 1920.  Quiltmaker unknown, but over 8000 pieces.  Hand pieced and hand quilted.

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If you do get a chance to go to Paducah, Kentucky next year for the "big" show, don't forget to check out the Rotary Quilt Show located at the Robert Cherry Civic Center on 2701 Park Avenue.