"STITCHING MENDS MY SOUL"

Thursday, August 27, 2009

MORE BLUE AND BROWNS DONE


This is block N-10, Diamond Friendship, in Harper's Ferry fabric by Nancy Gere and Thimbleberries Lodge and Lakeside.

And here's the same block in Judie Rothermel's The Old Sturbridge Village Collection. I'm really enjoying working in these colors.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

DJSS GIFT


My Dear Jane Secret Sister gift for July and August arrived. My goodness, how generous and wonderful is this???

I received 4 yards of Laurel Burch Christmas fabric, a Laurel Burch zipper case(handy for quilting tools), a tote and quilt pattern, and a mat smoother.

It is so fun receiving these gifts, as well as sending to my SS.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

SEWING IN PARADISE

These are pictures of my sewing studio in Michigan. It is 1/2 of the loft. My DH has the other half for his work -- mainly just a computer station. The sewing desk and large bookcase are from our family room, when we lived in Saudi Arabia, which is the furniture my kids (31, 33, 36) remember growing up with. The cutting table I bought here, because I really need one the proper height, and because the one that goes with the furniture is in the family eating area now. The 'kids' say it brings back memories of many family meals ages and ages ago!


Here's the floor, which will be doubling as my design wall, I think, LOL.

Here's the view. With the windows open, it feels like I'm sewing in a tree house!



That's Lake Superior in the background.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

BLUE AND BROWN


I've been working on my Blue/Brown Swap blocks. The deadline has been extended, but I'm pretending not, so that I will complete them soon!

This is B-4, Children's Delight, in Judie Rothermel Civil War fabrics.



And here it is in a Sandy Gervais shooting stars fabric with Micheal Miller Krystal chocolate brown. I love working with the Krystal. It may become one of my favorite tone-on-tones.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

NATURE'S BOUNTY


This is the first picking we've done of the many wild blueberries that grow on our property in Michigan.

Whitefish Point is the Wild Blueberry Capital of Michigan, and at one time pickers were brought in to harvest them and they were shipped out all over the country. The blueberries took over after a natural forest fire swept the land in the early 1900's. The acid and sandy soil that remained after the fire was perfect for the wild blueberries. Their growth lessened as the forest came back, but it's still very easy to find blueberries growing in the wild here wherever the sun can get through the forest.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

QUILT FOR A FELLOW QUILTER


Jennifer Chiaverini posted this photo of the completed quilt a group of us contributed blocks toward. It went to one of our SBS quilters whose son died while serving in the military. She recently received the quilt.

My block is the fifth across in the second row down, the square-in-a-square block. I wrote a condolence message in the inner square.

I hope this quilt provides some comfort to the mom. I really think it's important for all of us to honor all our military, past and present. It is so easy to sometimes take for granted their huge sacrifice.