Aunt Jane of Kentucky (free ebook)

This is a quick post to share one of the best little finds I've found in awhile. 

 

Aunt Jane of Kentucky  was written in the early 1900's.  I stumbled across this book by reading a portion of it reprinted in another quilting book.

Aunt Jane was a quilter and a wonderful story teller.  I promise that Chapter 1 will have you in stitches and for those of us who love quilts and quilting, you will love Chapter 3.  This book is filled with short stories, making it an easy read.   If you are looking for something fun to read and something that takes you back to many many years ago, this is your book.

It is a free download on Amazon.  Click this link to take you there.

A Pumpkin Sunday

Papa and I spent the afternoon with these precious little ones yesterday. 

And this one:

Isn't she growing up???

We went to Kersey Valley (where their mommy works) and spent a fall afternoon.  There were pumpkins, a cow train, duck races, jumping pads, trolley rides... we had a nice afternoon with the family.

The 1991**Didn't know what I was doing* quilt

In 1991, I was in my late 20's and was making quilts.  I have learned a lot since then, but I want to share this quilt with you:

This quilt makes me happy and it makes me sad. 

When my grandmother died, my grandfather gave me a box of fabric scraps that  had belonged to her.  She was a quilter, too.  I made this quilt for my daughter.... she was 4 years old... and I dreamed of the day that she would grow up and it would become a part of her home.

You see, I did not even know how to make the blanket stitch for appliqueing the pieces.  But I thought I had taught myself.  I whipped these little sunbonnet sue girls up in no time.

I embroidered some of my favorite Bible verses on each dress, thinking that one day my daughter would look up these verses, to see what  scripture had spoken to her mother.

 I hand quilted this quilt on a wooden frame, that sat in the living room until the quilt was finished.  My children played underneath the frame while I quilted away.  I look at my quilting stitches now and am amazed that I had such small neat stitches 'back in the day'.  My stitches no longer look that nice.

When I finished quilting the quilt and turned the edges over for binding (I did not know how to make binding  or how to  bind a quilt in 1991) I promptly washed the quilt. 
To my horror, when I pulled it out of the washer, all of my blanket stitches that I used to hold the sun bonnet girls on with, had shifted.... pulled away and were distorted. It's a wonder there were any Sue's hanging on at all!

So, it was at that moment, that I decided my little girl could not 'use' the quilt at all while she was a little girl, as I knew it would get dirty and not be able to withstand frequent washings.   I folded it away and put inside a plastic container and there it has sat for years!

My little girl is 27 years old now and has a house of her own.  I still have not parted with the quilt, because I know what will happen when she washes it.  

I've been thinking of putting the quilt on my sewing machine and machine stitching the Sunbonnet Sues in place and calling it ok.  I will then send it to my daughter and she can decide if she will display it, use it, or keep it in plastic its entire life. 

Any suggestions?  Man! I wish I could still quilt like that!

Underground Railroad completed

I am definitely an 'under' achiever with my quilting goals, but I have managed to finally finish my Underground Railroad quilt sampler.  

This picture was taken in a hurry with assistance from  an impatient husband.  The sunshine is washing out the lower portion of the quilt in the photo.  I bought the fabric 2-3 years ago, using Christmas money given to me as a gift.  I very slowly worked my way through Eleanor Burn's Underground Railroad pattern book.  By the time I was finished with the blocks, I was pretty bored with the color of the fabrics (attempting to use Civil War type fabric colors).  I decided on the black and red to make the blocks pop a little more and then chose the blue border because I wanted the quilt to look happier than it was looking at the time.  ;) 

The backing and binding were made from several yards of fabric that I found at Goodwill somewhere along the way.  I think I paid $2 for approx. 6 yards of fabric. 

Of course, it is all machine quilted.  I saved the quilting for the black sashing for last and debated on whether to even meander stitch on them.   Well, I did it, but not sure I would do that again... especially with contrasting thread colors.  On a happy note, I straight stitched 'in the ditch' the entire quilt before I started any  free motion stippling.  This is the first quilt that I have machine quilted that didn't have a huge pucker or fold on the back somewhere. 

This quilt now belongs to my husband because he claimed it right from the start.  He loved the colors and still loved the colors when I was done.  Those must be 'man' colors.   I'm happy it's finished, because it just feels good to mark an unfinished project off the list! 

And I threw this picture in for the grandkids.  Hoping that they will one day enjoy reading my blog, I wanted to throw in something that is sure to make them giggle one day.  These brothers are so much fun and it's cute to see Chandler growing into the little brother than can now 'play' with big brother, Avery.

M4 goals for July

I am a list maker, for sure.  Sometimes they work for me, sometimes not so much.  I have a dry erase board that I write on during the week, so hubby and I can keep track of each other and what we have to do each week.  (it's an age thing, I'm sure... we don't even know what day it is half the time!!)

For years I have been collecting patterns, fabric, books, etc. for 'one day'.  You know, one day when I have time.. .  well, you know what?  One day is here!!! I have no excuse for not getting more done!!  I have so much time these days... free time... to do just as I please.  Back when I was collecting all these dreamy treasures of fabric, patterns, etc. , I never dreamed that something like a computer would rob my time from me.  I have gotten a lot better, as the computer doesn't have the same 'pull' on me that it used to have.

I did accomplish a couple of quilty things in June:

Abel's quilt (post below this one) I finished up the binding last night.

Savannah's quilt

 

It's amazing what you can do, when you set your mind to it. 

So, I am linking up with Kathi at Design Originals by KC, to plan a few July goals. 

Click here to go

• July goals:

1. Finish binding on this quilt:

 

 

Yes, I have this top completed and quilted.  It's been sitting for months, waiting to have the binding sewn on.  Hubby keeps asking me when I'm going to make a quilt for 'us'... this will be the one.

 

 

2.  Put in a few  hand stitches on this quilt. I am so CLOSE to finishing!

 

 

 

3.  And start on one of my new projects:

 

Primitive Gatherings:  I Believe

 

Over the River and Through the Woods

by Crabapple Hill

I always drool over this pattern whenever I see it!!

 

 

So, yes, my goals are big for July!  That's not to mention that I MUST clean and organize my sewing room a little, before I even attempt the next project.  But, I can do it.  I have plenty of time.  I'm hoping that this post will keep me focused.

 

What about you?  Any goals for July?  Blog about it and link up with Kathi for a chance to win two pretty fat quarters.  (I couldn't get the pic. of the fat quarters to load for me, but click here to go see them)

 









A Quilt for Baby Abel

We have another baby due to arrive in our family in July.  This little boy belongs to our nephew's family and should be here in approx. 4 weeks!

Any baby born in July needs a red, white , and blue quilt.  Don't you think?  ;)  ;)

I'll be machine quilting today and hope to deliver to Abel's grandmama's house  sometime next week.

 

This is what our grandsons have been playing at my house.  If you can't take the boat to the water, just bring the water to the boat!  What fun!

pinwheel quilt: (note to self) made with 6 and 1/2 inch blocks (after cutting and sewing, each block measures approx. 11.5 inches). two inch striped border, 4.5 inch outer border. Binding cut at 3 inches to start.  Measures approx. 45 inches square.

Graduation Quilt

It's June already and that means graduation season for many!  One of my best friends, from work, has a sweet daughter who has become near and dear to me through the years. 

Savannah's quilt

I pieced this one together without a pattern... one of those things I tell myself to never do again!  It all starts out well and then proves to be a challenge by the end. 

Here is the pretty girl opening her quilt.  Her first question:  did you make this all by yourself?  She's too cute.

This is me with the sweet graduate.  Her mom rented the local Bed and Breakfast in town for her graduation party.  I was excited to go, not only to celebrate the graduate, but to see and tour  the large home.  I have always dreamed of having a large old farm house to restore and live in, and still think I would love it.........  But after seeing all the large rooms in this house, all I could think about was having to clean it!!! 

She's here!!

Our precious little  bundle arrived today.

Grandma and Brinley

She has sweet little cheeks and is just perfect!

Sweet Sugar Girl

 

 





Her brothers like her... this is her

Daddy and big Brother Chandler:

 

 

And Avery didn't want to hold her right away:

 

 

 

 



He was busy doing his own tricks... ha ha.

 



 

 

Sewing and Cooking

We are still waiting for Brinley Kate to arrive.  Mommy's due date is technically two weeks away, but you know how we impatient people are... we want everything early.  ;)  All is going well and we are praying for a safe delivery.... soon!

I've been doing a little sewing:

sent from iphone; small pic; sorry!

I'm working on a row quilt, as it turns out, because I have no pattern.  I'm just adding a row at a time, building this quilt as I go. 

Last night I put in a row of pinwheel blocks.... oops... not a pinwheel.  I just love my seam ripper.  ;)

I hope to put in another row today, trying a disappearing four patch block.

My messy sewing room.  Avery (4 year old grandson) opened the door to my room during his last visit.  I heard a loud gasp and then he yells "Grandma, the dogs have torn up paper all over your floor!"  I had to admit to him that this is my mess.   I dream of having a pretty sewing room one day.  The first thing I want to do is to get rid of that CARPET.... everything sticks to it and it is so dirty.  I spent a lot of time looking at sewing rooms on Pinterest last night.  Oh my!  some of you have sewing palaces!! I don't need the palace...  I just want my room to have a functional layout; a floor that I can sweep; a rolling chair with room to roll; and a storage system that I can follow.  Think, think, think... maybe I will come up with a plan soon.  But first, I need to clean the room .... ouch.

Hubby and I have jumped on the low carb band wagon for a few weeks.  We tried it years ago when the Atkins diet was so popular.  It wasn't nearly as much fun back then, because we didn't have Pinterest.  There are so many tips and ideas out there, and I am truly convinced that cutting out sugar and possibly gluten, has helped my chronic pain issues, tremendously.

I love taking pictures of my food...  I figure it will serve as a file, or sorts, for when we need ideas of what to eat.  Do you see biscuits in the photo?  Yes, these are low carb biscuits, made with almond flour.... one carb each!! Hubby loves them. 

We really like this low carb quiche that I made back during Atkins days, too.  Easy to make and yummy.   Hubby, of course, is losing weight faster than me.  I have lost approx. 10 lbs in almost a month.  I'm not complaining, but I seem to be on a plateau already.  Any low carbers out there?  I'm open for advice!

I leave you with a picture of the creek that runs beside our house.  Thankfully, our house sits on a hill, but this is what happens when we get a lot of rain in a short amount of time.  It has happened numerous times in our ten years of living here, but it is always fascinating each and every time.  I always think of the old saying "if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise..."  It gives the phrase a whole new meaning to me when it floods.  :)

I'll be back soon with pictures of Brinley Kate,  I hope!

Waiting for Brinley Kate

It's almost time!

 

Grandma has finished our first baby girl grandbaby's quilt.  I bought this quilt kit at least five years ago, as a birthday gift for myself, while visiting a quilt shop during our beach vacation.  (maybe 6 years ago?)  I had promised myself I would make this quilt for my first grandchild.  Well, he is 4 years old now and he is a boy.  The next grandchild is almost 2 years old and he is also a boy.  This quilt looks a little too girly to give to a little boy.  (just because the kit had so much pink and lavender in it)

I'm not crazy about those face 'puffs' on the back side of the quilt, but I really didn't want to quilt through the faces on the front.   I am hoping after a few washes, the puffs won't be so visible.

This is the first quilt back I've made, incorporating a block from the front design.  I really like it.  :)

I didn't have her quilt finished in time for her baby shower, but she received LOTS of pretty outfits at her shower.  She is going to be a living baby doll for us to play with and change her many pretty outfits.   Don't you just love this shower invitation?  Her Nana made these and I cannot bear to throw it away.  I have it hanging in my sewing room now. 

So, Brinley's mommy saw the doctor yesterday and there are definite signs that Miss Brinley will be here soon.  Hopefully, we will meet her in the next 2-3 weeks.  We already love her!!

Chandler Boo Boo

Chandler

 

This is what happens when a sweet boy falls onto Grandma's brick fireplace.  I've been looking at Pinterest for ideas on how to pad the bricks.  Has anyone else done this?  This is definitely my urgent project for next week.  So glad it wasn't worse than it was... so sorry, sweet boy!  I love you.

When Pinterest goes Viral

I guess I've been using Pinterest for a couple years now.  Up until last week, I allowed the site to send an email to me, each time someone liked or repinned something I had pinned.  No big deal.... a few emails a day. 

Until this:

Beautiful photo for wedding day

Oh my goodness!!

I pinned this onto my ' photo ' board several months ago, with very few responses.  And all of a sudden, within the past couple weeks, my mailbox was FULL of notifications.  It surely must be wedding season, because over 1000 people have repinned this photo in the past couple of weeks. 

Yes, I have now changed my email settings.  I no longer receive a notification each time someone likes this photo.  But, I can appreciate why everyone loves this photo.  Isn't it great?  Mom, daughter, and grandmother with their wedding rings.  Precious photo.

You can go to this link to see if for yourself.  But be warned: if you pin it, it just might go viral. ;)