Early Summer

Since last I blogged I found out that Sew Neat in Joplin (that I visited just 3 weeks ago) was destroyed by the tornado.  I've heard that the owner is not going to try to build it back.  So sad.  My quilt guild (Green Country Quilters' Guild) has sent 40 small quilts over to help those in need in Joplin.  If you have a desire to make one, I'd be glad to get it there through our guild or other shops in the area that are helping.  Joplin is only an hour and a half from my home and is located in my home state of Missouri.

In other news:

My tennis elbow was a good excuse to get my daughter over here to do some weeding and planting for me.  (That, and the fact that I hate doing it and she doesn't mind).  She got a little help from the youngest member of the family.

He started out on the blanket....

....but that didn't last long.

There's something about dirt that attracts boys.

He likes rocks, too.  It comes from being the grandson of a geologist and a rock collector.

He'll be walking soon.

Recently we celebrated my second daughter's birthday.  Since it's so unusual to wrap a present in this family (in anything other than a Wal Mart bag) we thought we should get a picture of it.

Yes, I AM still sewing.  This is the next to the last border of my applique quilt.  The last one is almost done, too and soon I'll be putting it together.

In the meantime, I started the quilt that I'll use for my bedspread.  Nothing else matches since we painted the walls this past winter.  3 blocks done....78 to go.

The flowers are blooming...

These lilies are doing well.  The ones in the backyard are being eaten by a family of rabbits.

Somehow they managed to bloom anyway, even though they have hardly any leaves left.

This hydrangea survived the winter.  It's partner 2 feet away did not.  Sigh.

Skippy, our cat watches tv...

...for hours sometimes.  She changes positions from time to time and gets up for a snack and a bathroom break occasionally.

woops...more flowers.

My oldest grandson "graduated" from 5th grade and will go to a different school next year.  The second one finished kindergarten and tells me he'll be skipping 1st grade.  Since I don't have a picture of either, I thought I'd post a picture of my high school graduation some....years....ago.  Thanks to Jeff Neier for posting it on Facebook for all the world to see. 

Bits and Pieces

Several people have asked me about the workhsop that I took last weekend.  It was taught by Candace Kenyon and was called Fabric Collage.  I haven't had time to do any more work on the piece I started, but after I finish "quilting" it (don't know if you can really call it quilting because it has no batting) then it will be washed to remove the Sulky Solvy.  Then I'll stretch it over an artist's canvas and have it framed.  Hope that answers some of the questions.

Yesterday, I met my sister in Sprinfield, MO for her to pick up the quilt/comforter she had left with Kat LeFevre to quilt.  She bought the fabric for it when I was with her in St. Louis last summer.  She asked my opinion and I told her I was glad she was the one making it and not me.  The fabric was slick, ravelly, synthetic--you name it--everything that THIS quilter doesn't use.  But Greta loved the fabric and wanted to make it into a comforter for her bed.

Time passes...Greta visits me after Chritmas.  Greta brings fabric with her.  Teresa and Greta make comforter together.  One of my machines hated the fabric as much as I did and refused to sew it.  Thankfully, I had another machine which was quite "comfort"-able with it.  So we got it put together.  We bought cotton backing and Kat agreed to quilt it. 

It turned out really nice and we've both had a new experience!  And we're still sisters.
I think it will look beautiful on her bed when she finishes the binding (I got 2 sides and all 4 corners done for her)

The printed fabric tends to change colors in different lights.  It also appears shiney in some lights.  But it really is gorgeous.  It was so good to see Greta and her husband yesterday.  We met in the middle at Tim's dad and stepmom's house.  Thanks Linda for all the great food!