I love teaching quilting classes ...

I have loved quilts and quilting for as long as I can remember. I made my first quilt when I was 12 years old. I collected fabrics from everyone I could think of in my family or neighborhood that sewed and had scraps. I painstakingly made 3" squares of wools, brocades, silks, polyester screen prints, knits, you name it, it was in there. I made rows and rows of 3" squares, and then put them together. And it was the ugliest darn thing you could ever imagine. But I have turned my love of this age old tradition into something else. I really enjoy passing on how to create something warm and wonderful from a few scraps or a few yards of fabric into something amazing.  And with teaching classes, I meet new people, turn others into addicts such as myself, and we laugh ... a LOT !

This weekend was the last class for Quilting 101 and my Lonestar classes. In Quilt 101, I use basic blocks made up of rectangles, squares and triangles, and I am so thankful we now have tools that make quilting easier in our modern world. My ladies in Quilt 101 were a varied group, and one woman and her sister had learned under the careful tutelage of their grandmother. For the last class they brought show and tell for the last class and I'm so sorry I didn't look for my camera before they left! They were an inspiration to all of us.

This is a sample of a few blocks put together on the diagonal that may become a table runner after adding some setting triangles.  Blocks here are 9 patch, log cabin, monkey wrench, friendship star and shoofly.

As you can see, everybody is busy !  There is always pressing, cutting, squaring, sewing !

My Lonestar ladies' stars all turned out awesome -- each one very different ...

We have Bonnie and Peggy, on the left; Bonnie's star has roses (top Left), Peggy has a holiday red and green (bottom Left). Then we have Karen and Carolyn; Carolyn's star is a red and green holiday but with a bright flair, and Karen's chose a darker holiday theme with a tint of fall colorings .. Bonnie and Peggy each chose to add more borders, yet all of them are wonderful !  Great job ladies !

Next classes will begin the 2nd week of October or thereabouts .. gotta get something going before Christmas !  Until next time ... sew on ....

Dee

The mental 'to do' list is really multi tasking ... but

I attempt to do one thing at a time. First thing upon rising, animals come first. Yesterday morning it was checking the chicken coop to make sure there were still live chickens! This is where the term 'pecking order' comes from. There were a few 'peckings' going on, but that was to be expected.  Thing I, one of my original hens, lost her eye in a carry off by the neighbor's dog. So she was the first target of the new hens. She's won out now. For the most part, the integration of 5 new hens into the flock was successful. So now my flock is up to 13, with one Sr. Rooster, and 1 Jr. Rooster.  With the addition of the new hens, I wondered just how quickly they would adapt to their new environment and start to lay eggs again. Well, the answer is immediately.  I got 6 eggs before early afternoon. I usually let the flock free range around the property during daylight hours so I let MY hens out and let the newbies explore the outdoor coop yard. My usual introduction might be to let them stay locked up and watch thru the pen, but I left the door ajar in case they wanted to do any cautious exploring.  One lil red hen tried.  And of course these hens don't know me and what happens during a day, so I started to introduce my whistle and treats when called. They're not quite sure of it, but they are noticing what everyone else does. At dusk, it's roosting time, and Sr Rooster calls everyone to fly up to the roost. These 5 are confused to say the least. They can hop, they can jump, but they sure as heck do not know what it means to get UP. They were in poor shape from multiple roosters, so having just one Sr. Rooster may be ok for now. You will notice silver streaks on their backs and wing areas -- that is an antibiotic spray that will reduce the fly attacks and help them heal.  Now they will have the chance to eat, play, chase bugs and grow some feathers. Another day of my animal caretaker routine, but I get fresh eggs. One of these days I'm going to have to try this neat recipe I have for an 8 egg custard ice cream .. maybe just once ;-D

Grandchildren are blessings

I have a lot of friends and family with grandchildren. Even my sister with her three children has 17 total.  My partner and I have four children between us, 2 sons and 2 daughters. His son Chris and wife Kim just had the first grandchild, a boy. Parker Christopher Burt was born on Saturday, August 20th. So this is 'our' first. We will be taking a trip to meet our new grandchild in September, with a sidetrip for a wedding for my niece in Mrytle Beach, SC and another to see my daughter on Cape Cod. This will be the first 'family' visit in quite a while.
My quilting is a passion, and of course, memories are made to remember with a quilt. I planned a quilt for Parker when we first learned of his coming.  It is in a sailboat theme to match his room. Grampa Doug wanted me to make a sports quilt, which will be sent to the quilter next week, and of course, a few burp cloths. I am embroidering Parker's name and/or other sayings on diapers with decorative stitching. I am new to embroidery, but it is something that has intrigued me for a very long time.