November Show and Tell

I love going through my collection

of quilts.

Here are a few that look more like "Fall".

"Castle Keep"

1985

I use to call this quilt my "gymnastic quilt".

It's hand pieced and hand quilted.

 I did a lot of the piecing while I watched

Elizabeth at gymnastic class when she was 4!

The fabric is a Jenny Beyers line and she designed the 

pattern as well.

 I "fussy cut" the fabric to create the kaleidoscope pattern

in the middle of each star.

I don't know how I got so much done back then...

a 4 year old and 1 year old twins.

This quilt was so much fun to

find, swap and use plaids.

One of my quilt groups, "Material Girls"

did a plaid exchange and 

this is what I made.

Bear Raids, Kyle's Stash

1996

All kinds of combinations were made

and even sewed "slightly off grain"

The Bear Paw pattern is one of my favorites.

Here's the label and the back.

There are bear paws appliqued across the back just for fun.

This quilt was also done with friends 

and a fabric exchange.

"Stars Galore"

1997

The stars were done with fusible applique and then 

stitched around the edges using black thread to give a 

more primitive look.

The background fabric was a Moda marble

that we referred to as "paper bag brown."
I quilted it with a big stitch and

still enjoy looking at all the different 

fabrics I used.

This last quilt is one of the oldest one I have in my collection.

I have taken classes by Barbara Brackman

and Eileen Jahnke Trestain, both women who

are experts on dating fabrics and they have 

both critiqued and dated this quilt.

1875-1900

a Nine Patch Variation set on point

Don't you love the cheddar?

It's hand quilted with both white and cheddar thread.

The binding is a small gold print called 

"California Gold" popular during the gold rush days. (1849)

The turquoise prints were popular during the 1840's.

There's also some wonderful madder browns

It's in wonderful shape.

I should be so lucky when I'm about

130 years old!

Until Next Time-Kyle

Halloween Treats

I saw this treat idea on line somewhere

and gave it a try.

They were pretty easy, except for 

designing a way to hold them up

while the chocolate dried.

Simply take large pretzel rods and 

cover with melted chocolate.

Them embellish with white

chocolate and then color

some of the white chocolate 

orange and drizzle over the 

pretzels.  I used

a small squeeze bottle with a small tip.

It worked perfect.

It's my special treat for a few

special trick or treaters tonight.

 

Until  Next Time-Kyle

Fabulous Friday

For today: 

Looking Out My Window: Well, the wind has been blowing for days and an amazing amount of the leaves have blown down.

 

My Weekend Plans Include: The Fig Leaf is having their 5th Saturday Bag day, so it means Saturday is a work day.  Sunday, of course, is Halloween and we usually only have a handful of kids come.  Of course, we have more than a handful of candy!

I’m Reading: I got the latest copy of Cooking Light in the mail and it is full of wonderful recipes.  It's good reading.

Movie Marquee:  An American Rhapsody and Young @Heart.

Something Quiltie: Earlier this week I remade my list of UFO's.  I have worked on a few already and have crossed off 5 items, 4 finished and one project has left my studio for good. Yea!  How many did I have to start?  Only 21!

One of My Favorite Things: I have never been a coffee drinker.  I don't know why, but I love the smell of coffee.  When Ed roasts his coffee beans, or grinds them, and brews it, it's one of my favorite smells.

I’m Thinking About: How positive and powerful a few encouraging words can be.  If someone is feeling down or discouraged, your words can have such a uplifting effect.  Even the words that roll around in my head to myself, need to be a positive affirmation. Those words can provide pleasure and can determine our next steps.  Lift your spirits, along with someone else, and make it a habit to say something positive.

What’s For Dinner: I made chicken noodle soup yesterday, so a repeat will be perfect for tonight as well.

A Favorite Photo:

 Jane and Kyle

Halloween, 1960

Until Next Time-Kyle