Spring Flowers

 

My favorite time of the year. My garden is in full bloom. In another few weeks the lilies and bee balm will begin. It has taken a few years, but I have been trying hard to have something blooming continuously throughout the summer months. It helps when we have sufficient rainfall.

This afternoon we applied for our passports so that we can go to Canada when we are up in the north woods. Oh, but do I look old in my passport photo without my glasses on! Ouch!

After that we drove to Jordie's Cafe in Bowlus for lunch. I had gotten some certificates on Shop 'n Save for Jordie's because I wanted to support KYES Radio and try something new in the process. I would use the word Bohemian to describe the decor. Lots of vintage with mix and match dining chairs and tablecloths and overtones of faith in the many plaques about the place. I would have loved a copy of the watercolor painting of Jordie's hanging in the restroom. It was gorgeous. Arthur had the Hen Sandwich which came dripping with melted cheese. It looked really good, but he said he would not choose it again because the chicken was tasteless. I can't pass up sour cream, so I tried the Stroganoff Burger. It too was a drippy mess, but I liked it. The Skinny Fries that we had were also very good. I had thought of trying Granny's Potato, Ham and Chive Soup, but decided to go for the fries because they would be less filling. Had we had room in our tummies after we ate, Arthur would have tried a piece of homemade pie. I would have tried some ice cream. After lunch we took a walk in the cafe garden. We had a little four-footed tabby prancer in white boots to escort us. We seem to be cat magnets. The garden was very charming. There was a pond with koi, but my favorites were the rustic roof over a tree stump, and a bird cage with ceramic birds in it hanging from a shepherd's hook. I could do that! After that we took a walk on the Lake Wobegon Trail. Then we headed home so Arthur could beat me at a game of Scrabble. 

I have been continuing my sewing spree. Late last night I cut out the borders for one of the lap quilts, and then all of the binding for the three table runners and the two small quilts. Next I will need to convert my sewing machine for machine quilting. It will take me ages to get everything done. I am glad that each item is on the small side. But I also have two larger quilt tops to finish. I'll have to buy more wine. 

My sister gave me a bag of books for the granddaughters.  In it were two Nancy Drew Diaries. I started reading one on Sunday. It is a far cry from the old Nancy Drews in classiness and kindness. Nancy and her friends were always polite and smartly dressed and kind, and they always used formal English in the old mysteries. In the first of the diaries, I can't tell you how many times I have read the words "Okay" and "Yeah". The girls are sarcastic to each other as well. Bess calls George a nerd, and the girls roll their eyes at each other to express their impatience and exasperation. It leaves something to be desired in promoting virtue. But I will finish the first one to find out whodunnit. 

More Stampin Up



Designed and made by Mary Lehn

I had to share this fun  card designed and made by my friend and Stampin Up demonstrator, Mary Lehn. I saved it to remember her use of two colors for the background. I want to copy her technique. The stamp set is fun. I like Stampin Up's use of the patterns on the balloon and gift stamps, and on the owl's breast. The colors Mary chose are both cheerful and restful. The party banner balances the picture well. The leaves on the tree branch are so cool.

I started attending another monthly stamp camp series with Betty Weisbrich. Participants have to attend for four months, and are required to spend a minimum of $20 on products each month. During one of those months I receive the hostess benefits. I have so many SU products that I want that spending that amount each month will be no problem! Quite a change from years ago when the only thing I ordered was paper. (I am still using my stash.) I am hopefully shopping wiser now. For each stamp pad I order I am purchasing the ink refill. I did not do that previously, and my inks are drying out before my paper is used up. Most of the old colors have been discontinued, and now it is too late. I have also decided that if I buy a particular set for which there are matching pieces like designer series papers, roller stamps or punches, I may as well get the accessories to maximize the use of the stamp set. I had decided at my last party to forgo the purchase of the Big Shot and instead concentrate on punches. I might change my mind on that later! I might swing the scoring pad during my hostess month. A few more weeks and I will be able to tell.

I am making headway on my quilting. Maria's quilt, so called because I had her start it when she was at my house for a sewing day, is nearing completion. We had intended it for Catholic Charities, but it may be nice enough when finished to give to Quilt Bingo. The colors were mostly from my boxes of five inch squares, but they coordinate well, and with a border added, it will  be big enough for St. Anthony's. The decider will be some pieces which were printed off-grain, and some pieces which we could not tell which side was the right or wrong side while we were sewing, and so the colors look slightly different. I am really happy about how well the colors work together, though. It is a mixture of aqua blues and peaches.

Quilting

I finished my second UFO quilt this past week. I did a Disappearing Nine Patch out of my stash of five inch squares. I goofed in cutting a few spots, and sewed some of the patches in different orders so that the finished quilt had some seams which were flipped the wrong way. Nex time I will know what to watch for.  The colors were dull on this one. Next time I will choose  brighter, more coordinated pieces and sew them in random order,  or go totally scrappy. (I saw a scrappy done with red as the center piece instead of  black, and I liked it very much.) I ran out of fabric cutting borders because I did not pre-measure, so I did mix and match. I did not like that. I called it a practice quilt and donated it to Catholic Charities. I can come up with something nicer for St. Anthony's. After all, it is not as if I am out of fabric! 

One more top to complete, but I have been sort of cheating by pressing and cutting the laundry basket of scraps (old clothes) which Mary gave me. Those  fabrics are vintage, but because they are used, will go into something for Cathoic Charities, or for dolly blankets.

I purchased backs for some St. Anthony's quilts, so pieced those and cut and sewed binding. I was thinking that quilting is an awful lot of work by the time all of the piecing, quilting, and binding is finished. I cannot imagine the time it would take to do an entire quilt by hand, and with templates drawn on scraps instead of fabric cut with a rotary cutter. We are very spoiled today as compared to what our grandmothers had to do. The quilting ladies comment about how they used to have to quilt on both sides of a seam when they used wool batting, and how they had to periodically take the quilts apart,  re-card the wool and then re-quilt them.

My mom said that at home they sewed a muslin strip along the top of the quilts to keep them clean. My aunt said that other than hanging the quilts outside and letting the rain run through them, they did not wash their quilts. Given the delicacy of used fabric, possibly hand-sewn, I can sure understand why. I would not relish the thought of having to hand wash and rinse a quilt in a bathtub, and then having to haul the wet thing somewhere to lay it out until it was dry. As Anne would say, "Wheeeew!".

Running with Scissors

     Yesterday I attended the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters Show, Running with Scissors, at the College of St. Benedict. The quilters hold the show once every two years. I'm not a member, and not even really much of a quilter, but I like to attend. Once again I went by my lonesome, since none of the quilters at St. Anthony's were able to go with me. Had to give my husband a full report when I got home just to relate my adventure. Good thing he did not ask how much money I spent, although I did not hide my bags of vendor purchases. More on that later.

     The time for submitting Viewer's Choice Awards entries was over by the time I arrived, but I would surely have nominated the Grandma's Fower Garden hexagon quilt and bed runner (Bed runner! Great idea for people with cold feet, or people with white bedspreads who need a splash of color in the room, or who have smaller amounts of fabric to use up, or less time or patience!). I think the quilter had actually named this her "Forever" quilt, since it took forever to make. She had taken up the project when her youngest child went off to college, so that she would have something to worry about. It was completely hand-pieced and hand-quilted in gorgeous pastels. The green used was very spring-ish, fresh and restful.  The hand quilting was a nice 1/4" away from the seams in all of the hexagons.  I also drooled over Barb Kuklok's machine embroidered and embellished quilts. I have been to Just Sew! Studio (formerly Associated Sewing) where Barb works, for a few classes and trunk shows, and I always enjoy the beautiful machine embroidery. It has such a polished, finished look, besides being well executed. I was thinking that Barb's quilts would hold together for a very long time.

     I had planned at least three hours for viewing, so I was able to read many of the stories accompanying the quilts.

     One woman submitted several quilts made from her mother's fabric stash, quilts which would be shared amongst 11 siblings. Two of her commnents brought tears, her saying that her mother was afraid that all of her fabrics would end up in a dumpster, and also that the daughters making the quilts wanted them to become lumpy and fuzzy like the well-loved quilts that their mom had made for them.

     I marveled at the frequency of comments on the stories such as, I got frustrated and had to put this project aside for a few years, or, I did not know what to do with this fabric so I set it aside, or, I decided I needed to finish old projects before starting something new, or, I found this while  cleaning out my closet. These sentiments are sure familiar to me, and I am sure to many other crafters. Two weeks ago when I got to St. Anthony's for quilting, I looked at the new quilt on the frame and asked where it had come from. One of the quilters had found it in her closet about twenty years after she had put it there. The other comments which struck me were the candid confessions of difficulties and mistakes, even from the experienced quilters of the guild.

     I purchased a new pattern book from Barb at the Quilts on Broadway table. I told her I had to, since she made me laught twice that day! I also bought a Bittersweet wool felt pattern which I can use for projects with my mom, and another bag of walnut shells for stuffing, because they are hard to find without having to stop at the Crow River Mercantile in St. Michael.

     For inspiration I also have to check out the book, One Block Wonder, which some of the quilters used. I am tucking into my memory the vintage sheet quilt made simply of squares, much prettier than those which I have seen on Pinterest. I also saw a quilt with large design motifs cut apart and appliqued onto the fabrics. Good idea. I also have to look up the terms "prairie style", and prairie architecture.

     Oh! Two of the quilts used Downton Abbey fabrics from Andover Fabrics. I had to laugh when I saw those.

     Last but not least, I won a quilt in the small raffle drawing.

Rejuvination

Yesterday Anne and I made a trip to Quilts on Broadway in Foley. I spent money on patterns, and yes, some fabric. I got another Minnesota Shop Hop fabric apron, which I am tempted to keep for myself, because it covers both top and bottom. I also purchased some bag patterns using charm packs, and one that will work for an embroidery bag for Maria. Barb showed me how she buries her thread when she uses perled cotton. I enjoy stopping at her shop, and came away ready to hit the sewing machine again. She also thought that Anne looked like me!

After our shop hop Anne and Brenden made dinner for Arthur and me. Anne has their apartment decorated for the Christmas season. Even the bathroom had a splash of Christmas color.

I looked through Anne's knit and crochet purse pattern book. I might have to borrow that when my afghan, prayer shawl, Anne's scarf and hand warmers, and my socks, are finished!