Fabulous Friday

For Today:

Looking Out My Window:  Because the weather has been so cold the lake is completely frozen over.  Yesterday there were some kids out ice skating.  It really looked like fun.  I can't even remember the last time I ice skated.  (see picture below!)

My Weekend Plans Include: It's another trip to Denver.  Jessica and Martin are moving and we're the moving team, again.  The weather should be cooperative on Saturday.  Fortunately, they don't have a lot of furniture and STUFF.  It shouldn't be too hard.   We're also heading out to dinner to celebrate Elizabeth's 30th birthday.  When did that happen!

I’m Reading: I'm starting the year off in a classic theme.  I'm reading Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.  Was that high school freshmen reading or sophomore? 

Movie Marquee: There may not be too much time for movies but we have, My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, and Jane Eyre, that would be a Kyle movie.

Something Quiltie: Last night the Quiltie Buddies meet at Whole Foods to begin our new BOM.  The pattern is called Snowbound. It was a freebie from Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill.  I marvel at each person's creativity and interpretation of a pattern.  We can all look at the same original drawing and in our own eyes see something new.  That's a beautiful thing.

One of My Favorite Things: Finding a few extra stolen moments in the day to do some hand stitching.

I’m Thinking About: There have been lots of "beginning of the year" quotes floating around in blog land, but this one seemed to catch my thoughts.  

"Kiss your Life, Accept it, just as it is.  Today. Now.  So that those moments of happiness you're waiting for don't pass you by."

What’s For Dinner: I found some minestrone soup frozen in the freezer.  Tah Dah!

A Favorite Photo:

1959ish?

This picture is for you, Janet, as you enjoy

the warm Florida sun!

Do you remember where this was?

At your Aunt Harriet's house

Until Next Time-

A Real Sewing Day

It's always a fantastic

day when I make time to quilt.

I had been working on some flying geese units 

back in December.

I have been sneaking a bit of time

here and there sewing these together.

I have been using a pattern from Miss Rosie's Quilts

called Due South.

Today I completed the top.

Depending on which way you look at it, the geese

could be flying south or flip it around they would

be flying north.

Any which way, I'm pleased how it turned out.

Next step is to piece the back

and then get it quilted.

It was a good use of my stash.

Even if it was just a little.

Until Next Time-

Warm January Quilts

January is a good month to enjoy quilts

especially here in Colorado.

Everyone needs one or two to snuggle under to stay toasty warm

on those cold January nights.

Here are a few of my favorites.

"Snowed IN"

2003

A Kansas Troubles Quilters' pattern

I love using  only two colors in a pattern

Each block had 17 buttons to sew on.

That's 153 buttons!

I had to buy a large jar of mother of pearl buttons

off of Ebay to have enough.

I'm glad I had the label on the back to remind me 

of the story of this quilt.

 "Wear Warm Clothes"

1995

This pattern is from Country Threads.

It is one of my favorites.

I taught it several times as a class and

it was fun to see how everyone had fun with this collage type quilt.

I especially like the red long johns.

My label is directly behind that part of the quilt, if you 

get my drift.

 Flap door label

 " Winter Wonderland"

1990

This pattern "Snowbound" is from "Red Wagon".

It really was the first pattern I used that pushed me into the

folk art style.

Plaids and stripes were just making there way into the quilting scene.

Roberta Horton introduced us to the concept of

"casually off-grain"

I was hooked.

Maybe because there are many times I do

feel "casually off-grain".

 The quilt is done with hand applique

and hand quilted.

 

Always glad I've added a label.

  " Merry Christmas"

2008

The pattern is in Kim Diehl's book Simple Seasons.

Even though I titled this quilt Merry Christmas, 

the snowmen seem more appropriate for January.

I made this for the Stashbuster's class I teach.

I used lots of different and  favorite fabrics, but

didn't use up much.

Oh, well...

 

I machined appliqued these pieces and used white

wool for the snowmen.  

They're just so cute.

I machine quilted it.

The backing fabric was in my stash and 

was perfect combo with the top.

We've had several days of below zero temps.

The evenings find the 3 of us, Ed, me and the cat, cozy

under a pile quilts chasing away the chill.

The perfect  solution for a cold January night.

Until Next Time-Stay Warm,