Over the River and Through the Woods

To my sister’s house we go! We will soon be on our way to a fabulous feast with family and friends. We are at 33 (and counting) this year. Our record was 42 back in 1982.

For nearly 40 years my family has been making the trek through rain, sleet and often snow to meet up at my oldest sister’s house in the western mountains of Maine. I will head up Wednesday night to help with preparations and then the masses arrive sometime before dinner on Thursday.

It is fun to see the ever so slight changes in this event over the years. We used to take the little ones to the Nutcracker the next day in Portland. Then in a flash the little ones grew up and went shopping in nearby North Conway on Black Friday. Now, that generation has little ones and we are all content to hike up the hill to view the snow on Mount Washington and come back for a nice hot coffee and piece of pie!

I am very thankful for my family and my friends old and new. Thanks to all of you for reading my blog and sharing your quilting life with all of us.

What are your Thanksgiving traditions? However you celebrate, I hope you have a very happy and thankful day.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I won this fantastic magazine from Karen Griska’s Selvage Blog give away. She even signed the block that she designed.

I highly recommend getting a copy for yourself. There are lots of wonderful blocks (uh, 100 in all, I think) designed by very talented people.

Enjoy your day!

SVBAQ Touch Me Not block

Well, this one was a doozie! As I was half way through the applique, I was really second guessing my decision to reduce these blocks from the original 19” to 10”. Look at all these little buds! I eliminated two – can you spot which ones? 

I didn’t think so. There is a red Touch Me Not block coming up, but there are not as many buds on that one. I think Esther made the pink one first and when she came to the red one she figured out it looked just fine with half the buds!

I love the back of this one too. Because I am doing this in the potholder method, all of my backs will be a different chintz type fabric. Fun!

If you read my Blog regularly you know I don’t use commercial patterns very often. They did a fantastic job reproducing these patterns. They really are a pleasure to do. And, the proceeds from the sale of this pattern goes to the Virginia Quilt Museum, so you just can’t go wrong! Hope you will go to the link (here) and see all the great blocks. There is so much creativity out there. You will be surprised at all the different fabrics, colors and methods that some are using to make their blocks. Just plain fun!

Thank a Veteran Today!

When I was a little girl, on fair weather days, we visited our family cemetery on Sunday after church. My Dad would weed and water and take care of the graves of my grandparents, my brother, my uncles & aunts and dozens of relations and friends who passed long before I was born. It was a ritual I enjoyed (and still do when I am in my old home town).

So, the day my Dad told me he was to be buried (along with his brother) in the Veteran’s Cemetery in Augusta was the day I realized that his service to his country was the most important thing in his life.

I thank you Dad, Uncle Charlie and all the men and women who serve and have served this country. You are who make America great!

Bloggers are the best!

This 21^st century pen pal thing we call a Blog is really tremendous. I have enjoyed so meeting (in writing) so many wonderful people in such a short period of time.

I have enjoyed participating in sew-a-longs and swaps. But sometimes Blog friends send you something just to make your day!

When Randy (Barrister’sBlock) came to visit Maine a few weeks ago she brought me this beautiful pin cushion. Look at those tiny pieces!  

When I mentioned to Janet (Rogue Quilter) that I loved homemade soap, she sent me some of her own. All I can say is mmmm… it smells so good and feels even better! 

 And, when Kevin (Kevin the Quilter) went to Houston last week he sent me this fabulous photo! Vanna could not have done it better! BTW you should check out Kevin's post of some of the sensational quilts he saw in Houston. There is a lot of talent in the quilt world today!

 So, just a big old “thank you” to all of you who read and comment on my Blog. I 
appreciate you all.

and here is another great photo of Teri and Kara (Telling Stories Through the Needles's Eye). 

Thanks so much! I keep kicking myself for not going to Houston when I had a quilt there. But, I'm more sorry that I didn't get to meet some of my wonderful Blog friends in person. Next year for sure!

My Little Quilty 365 tin is nearly empty

There are 360  4” blocks in the quilt. So, I have just one more block and then 5 additional little circles appliqued on top of larger circles to complete the top. 

I started on November 8, 2015 and I have appliqued one circle a day since then. They have become my daily vitamin. I have decided that when I have completed all 365 circles on Sunday, November 6, that I will piece the top together and baste it. It sounds like a big goal for one day, but my DH will be at a boat show in the Caribbean so I will have the entire living room floor to spread it out on. I’m not much of a baster, but I will secure the edges and away we go! I will quilt around one block each day until finished next November! I’ll post my progress until Audrey (Quilty Folk) decides she has had enough of the ”link up”!

I can't thank Audrey enough for the inspiration to keep moving along on this project. Check out Audrey's post (here) for all the wonderful little circles! What fun it has been!