START

Today after church I started getting ready for my Grandmother's Choice BOM.  Step one, select fabrics.  Gold and black or gold and deep violet were often the colors used for suffrage banners, etc., in the United States.  To be true to the cause for the quilt, I've washed and pressed this grouping, all from stash.  Looks like I might need a few more mediums, but we'll see.  The gold of that era was more what we call cheddar today.  I think I'll look for more of that in my stash.  I'm sure my CW bin must have some.






The BOW just started yesterday.  Maybe I can keep up.  That would be a first!  Here's a link in case you'd like to join along, or just read more about the struggle for women to vote, not only in America, but around the globe.

LABOR DAY ALREADY

Traditionally Labor Day marks the end of the summer.  Wow!  Sure came fast this year! 

Upper Michigan has a unique way to celebrate. They open lanes on the Mackinac Bridge to walkers. The bridge connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, is 5 miles long, and was built in 1957. Click here for more info on this structure. 

I was a 6-year-old when the bridge opened, and like many trolls (those living below the bridge in Michigan) my family was eager to check it out.  It was quite exciting to no longer spend the day waiting for, and traveling across on the auto ferries!

This is a large mass of humanity walking the bridge. It's not on my bucket list, but here's to those who do it -- some every year.  So, how are you celebrating this week end?  I'm hoping to get some stitching in.

GRANDMOTHER'S CHOICE

Barbara Brackman is doing it again!  This time her BOW is in honor of Women's Suffrage.  This starts Sept. 1 and lasts through Aug., 2013.  Click here to go to the Grandmother's Choice blog.  There will be lots to learn as well as a quilt block each week.

I took a course in Women's History in the U.S.A. in college, and found it really, really, interesting.  This quilt will discuss Women's Suffrage around the globe, not just in the USA.  I can't wait!  Just two more days.

THREAD HEAD QUILT ALONG

Thread Head is having another Quilt Along.  Click on the button or here for details.  This one starts in September.  Not sure if I'll join in or just follow the fun.  Either way, I look forward to this one. 

 

FRIENDSHIP EMBROIDERY

http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/friendship-embroidery-mini-quilt-swap/

I signed up for this little swap, did you?  Click for all the info.  I love embroidery and quilting mixed.  This should be fun!

THE PATH LESS TRAVELED

 Company is gone.

 Just the two of us now.

Or a pink and blue quilt on the horizon?

JULY LOTTO BLOCKS

I won my small group's block lotto for July.  Yeah!  Love these black/white/reds.  I think I'll be using them with other same color group blocks for a larger quilt.  There are 16 in all, but my one is hiding somewhere.  These are the 15 sent to me.

LOYAL UNION SAMPLER QUILT

Jennifer Chiaverini posted this picture on her FB yesterday.  It's her new quilt pattern, Loyal Union Sampler, that will be published Sept. 2013. Looks to me like this version is made in Jennifer's Anneke's Collection.


This is the quilt I'm collecting blue and grays for.  The clouds I showed a few days ago inspired my color scheme, as well as the obvious blue and gray CW sides.

Here's the start of my collection.  Good thing I have a year!  This will be an awesome quilt, and I'm sure many will want to stitch one.

PLETHORA OF PRESENTS!

My Dear Jane Secret Sister gift for June arrived yesterday.  Yes, she's behind, but quickly catching up with a vengeance!  The fabric int he background may go into my blue/gray bag.  The black/white/red will go with current project.  New seam ripper, well who doesn't need one?  New marking tools, ditto.  And the sweet needle minder will get a work-out.  The little booklets have bookmarks, stickers, and postcards, all quilt-related.  Dear SS, you if you are reading, you sure are thoughtful!  Thanks.

QUILT INSPIRATIONS

What inspires the color schemes in your quilts?  I'm often inspired by nature.  We had some wonderful storm clouds over Lake Superior last week.  1000 shades of gray, LOL!  Oh, and the vibrant blues.  I'm planning to do a new CW quilt next year.  It will be called, "The Blue and the Gray".  The inspiration for the color scheme, right here in the storm clouds. 

 I'll have a year to collect FQs.  I think I have lots of blues, but not much gray.

100+ FLORAL CHARMS

This is what 100+ floral charms look like!  Goodness me!  Lots of project ideas floating in my head here.  What to do, what to do?  They are from a swap where I cut 5 each from 20 fabrics and got back 100+ unique ones.

"MUST HAVE" MOCCASINS

When my daughter was in boarding school and college, I often visited her for a 'mom and me' weekend filled with girl stuff.  We generally bought and wore matching pajamas.  Now that she's all grown up, we decided to revive the tradition while she was visiting us in Upper Michigan.  We got matching Minnetonka moccasins; this time slippers with a very cozy fleece lining.

Minnetonkas are a 'must' souvenir when vising northern Michigan.  I always got them, and an Indian doll (that's what they were, and are still, called -- not native American) when my family traveled "up north" when I was a kid.  Her 4 kiddos all got slippers too this year.  Two got Minnetonkas, one bears, and one moose, to match their pj's.

Fun, fun, making and reviving memories and traditions.

SEEING RED

These many luscious fat quarters are from a FQ birthday swap I'm in.  I had a super pattern in mind for them (everyone needs a red quilt lately), but now I'm thinking maybe Sarah's Revival.  Hmmm....................  Thanks girlfriends!

BIRTHDAY BAG AND MORE

My dear friend, Carol, sent me this sweet needle minder.  I had been ogle eyeing them on my last blog hop but passed.  I'm so happy to receive this from Carol.

She also gave me this monogrammed bag.

It will come in very handy for stitching or could be used as a purse too.  Love the pretty monogram!

Thanks so much, Carol, and especially for your friendship, which has gone on for 30-some years!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

My next few posts will share a few of my birthday gifts.  This first set is from grandsons Brendan (5) and Charlie (4), with a little help from mom.  They are going on the wall pronto! 

I love homemade gifts, especially when they have my interests at heart!  Love the art, and love the boys!

RUFFLE SCARF

I love the new ruffle scarf yarn and the way this one turned out.  In my travels I've seen the fnished scarves selling for as much as $40 (at Tamarac in WV) and as low as $25 (at the Blueberry Patch in Paradise, MI).  This one went to my sister.

SEWING WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER

Two of my granddaughters are visiting, and we've been doing some sewing.  This is Ali at the machine.  She made a little purse/bag.  It has two pockets inside, and is perfect for her camera and some cash, LOL!

She found the button to decorate it in my button box.

I love to see the young'uns taking an interest in stitching!  Makes a Nana proud.

TOWERING TREES

July is a super time to start getting ready for Christmas.  A gal at my Monday group shared this Towering Tree pattern.  Yes, it's a tad wonky, but not as much as it looks in this picture!  The sparkly stars on the fabric aren't showing up well either.  I might add more adornment, or maybe a star at the top.

HI!

No stitching lately, but just wanted to check in with my blogging friends and let you know I'm fine, surviving this heat wave my style, LOL! 

JUNE CARDS

This month as card making we created these adorable baby cards.  The note slides into the diaper.  Anyone but me remember diaper pins???  I once punctured our water bed with one in the middle of the night, but I digress.............

We also made red/white/blue patriotic cards to go in the boxes my neighborhood sends to military overseas,  I didn't have my camera with me, so no picture to share, as of course we left them.

DOLL SIGGIES

I just finished up 3 sets of doll signature blocks.  These little cuties finish at 2".  We are trading them untrimmed, and will each do our own 2.5" square up.  They are signed by the doll, her owner, the location, and the year.  I think they will make sweet dolls quilts for Christmas for my DGDs.

ROSES, ROSES SCARF

My blog is mainly about quilting, but I've been working on secret projects lately that I can't post.  So I'm sharing this new yarn, needles, and beads, for a knitting project.  It's a mystery knit-a-long (KAL) on Ravelry.com.  Edging the Pink is hostessing the mystery in 4 parts.  Part one was posted last Sat. so there's plenty of time to join if interested.  There's two versions one for light fingering yarn (1) and one for a finer yarn.

This is my first experience with lace knitting (although I'm using light fingering yarn, not the lighter lace weight), with working with beads with knitting, and with a KAL.  Should be fun!

Hop on over to Ravelry if you are interested in joining.  Once there search for the Roses Roses KAL or for Edging the Pink to find us.  You might have to join Ravelry for the second link to work for you.  It's free, and has tons of knit - crochet fun waiting for you.

PUZZLING RUFFLED SCARVES

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Have you seen the new yarns that knit up easily into ruffle scarves?  There are many brands.  I'm using Patons Pirouette.  The yarn is almost like a tape (not the sticky kind) and spreads out to creat the ruffles.  It only takes one ball of yarn.  Directions are on the wrapper, but more complete directions can be found here:
www.patonsyarns.com/PatonsPirouette

I also wanted to share the completed puzzle Carol and I did.  Something about this challenge was very addicting, and we didn't get much sewing done.  It's 1,000 pieces and 11.7" x 16.54", claimed to be "World's Smallest 1,000 Piece Puzzle" on the tin.  I picked up another one with a beach scene.

IT'S PUZZLING

My friend. Carol. is visiting.  We planned a quilting weekend.  But we've been drawn to this jig-saw puzzle.  The pieces are about the size of a fingernail.  You can compare to the penny in the top left.  The box says it's the world's smallest 1,000 piece puzzle.  We both love puzzles, and this one is taking up lots of our time.  Hope it's stretching our brains too!

BABY GIFT

Last night I finished part of my baby gift for a new little girl, due in August.  The blanket is two layers of flannel and so soft.  I like this method of making them.  I had extra of the focus fabric, since it takes more of the backing fabric, so I made two coordinating burp cloths lined in terry cloth with the extra.  I tied the extra ribbon around the burp cloths, in hopes that her Nana will use it to make her a special hair band, or such (hint).

I'll be making another similar set, and will do a tutorial while I make it, in case you are interested in the directions.  Like most things I make, the idea for how to do it started elsewhere, and blossomed in my head for 'my way', LOL!