Saturday, February 28, 2009

Quilts, Quilts, Quilts

You may have heard the saying the best laid plans of mice and men. Well my best laid plans were plans not to overwhelm myself with quilts I just "had to make" this year. So of course every where I turn I need a quilt for this spot or that spot or I see a quilt in a magazine or online that I just have to make. Or, as in this case, I found some fabric I just couldn't pass up.



I'm going a very easy "big" block construction on this one. And it will be done like the Spring quilt I just did (backed with a sheet, birthed and tied) and used as a summer quilt on our bed.

And of course then there are those special occasions that arise that need a quilt. Such as a wedding. A wedding requires a quilt. Especially if it is the wedding of your child. Yes in a year I will officially be a mother-in-law! And I am thrilled beyond belief. I have the quilt planned - it will be scrappy, very strange coming from a "resist scrappy at all costs" quilter like me but there is a reason for it. I want the different fabrics to represent the different parts of their lives coming together. And the neatest thing is I have some friends who have been praying for my son and his girl-friend who are going to contribute some fabric to the quilt - so it will not only represent the different parts of their lives but it will also represent the different parts of the country where these two kids have people who love them and care enough to pray for them.

And of course you need to have a new project if you finish a project - which I have done! I finished my "Dreams Do Come True" quilt. This is the quilt I have wanted to make since I started quilting. The applique held me back for a few years but it's done and hanging over a chair in my living room now - and with a week to spare. My birthday is Friday and I really wanted to have this as a gift I would give myself.



I was trying to figure out how to do the label. I wanted something special since this quilt is very special to me. And then I realized I had it - almost. A couple of years ago I attended the local quilt guild. For various reasons I didn't go back but I had the intention of going back so I made my name tag. They had "adopted" Sunbonnet Sue as their "mascot" and each member was required to make a SBS name tag and I did. So I used my name tag as my label for this quilt.



In other exciting news we've had our first birthday of the year. Joe is now 12. He's in to football and Nascar and had a Nascar cake this year.



And of course I can't leave without a picture of Thunder. Poor baby has been through the wringer. We had him neutered. When we went to pick him up he went right passed us and straight to the door. When he got there he turned around and looked at us like "get me out of here NOW!". lol. Although I do have to say I am a bit disappointed. We were told that having them neutered calmed them down a lot. Well not here! lol. He's just as playful and hyper as he was before. Here he is peeking out of our bedroom.



Until next time, hugs and stitches, Jody

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Quilt Show!!

I always love it when I can unexpectedly go to a quilt show. I knew this one was coming but I also knew I had to work. But as luck would have it I got off work at noon on Friday so I came home, grabbed Rodger and off we went. We both needed to have our pictures taken for our driver's licenses and the licensing center was about 10 minutes past where the quilt show was so we decided to save some gas and do it all at one time.

The quilt show is a preview for the Mennonite Central Committee's yearly relief auction. They have some lovely quilts but they don't really have a lot of room to display them so it's hard to get good pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

I love Mariner's Compass quilts. I have attempted them but they are beyond me.



This would be a gorgeous addition to any home at Christmas. Simple but lovely.



This one is just too cute for Christmas.



If my kitchen had a bit more wall space this one would be on my to do list.



On the home front I finished my Spring quilt. I birthed it and then tied it so it didn't take very long. No batting because we will use it when it gets warmer.



This is one of the largest quilts I have made. We have a queen-size bed and it hangs over on all sides. I finished another small quilt today but I haven't done the pictures yet so I'll save that for another post.

Thunder wanted to show you all his new friend.



Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody