a quilt story

Way back in the 1980's I was inspired by this quilt.

The pattern is "Flywheel".
My friend had it hanging way up on a wall in her entry.

It was made during the Depression era for my friend's mother as a wedding gift.

I was fascinated by the soft yellow background, rather unusual.

So I decided to make a copy. It was hard to find any yellow fabric at the time nor could I find an accurate pattern. This was before the internet or the use of all the tools we now have for quilt making.

Using a similar pattern I made this.

It is a much softer yellow than in the photos.

I am thinking I hand cut out all those pieces while watching some games, not the Olympics, but another international competition, maybe the Goodwill Games in 1986.

I was in a small quilt group at the time where we helped hand-piece blocks for each other. 

And Geez Louise, I've been hand-quilting it from time to time ever since!

So the first night of the Winter Olympic Games, I pulled it out once again so I could quilt while watching the competitions.

Making headway with the goal of finally finishing this very 80's quilt THIS year.

I may break down and machine quilt the boarders. 

I think our quilting foremothers would be just fine with that.

A bit of progress

Well, last year at this time I enthusiastically began this blog with high hopes it would help spur me on to finishing the master bedroom. 

Nope.

But other things were completed and it was a grand year anyway!

Here is the master bedroom now.

I purchased new pillow shams that I've had my eye on for a long while. (Pick Stitch, Pottery Barn).

I think they go well with the quilt on the bed. The quilt made completely by hand: hand pieced, hand quilted. It is just the right weight for sleeping.

I asked a favorite blogger, Melissa at The Inspired Room, about the use of mirrors in a room. We hung a full length mirror up before the wedding, especially for the bride!

I wondered if a mirror above the bed or above the dresser would be too much in the room.

She thought not, especially if the mirror is round. So I am on the hunt! 

And I am still looking for affordable lamps. 

Picky, I guess, heheh.

Stitchery

As Christmas gets wrapped up and put into the memory books, my thoughts turn to many things. One of those is sewing! I am finding myself thinking about red and white quilts, for one. And children's clothing. 

Last year I made skirts for my darling little great nieces.

For Sofie, who was 3 years old at the time, I made a patchwork bordered skirt.

It was from a design I originally spotted on Pinterest but I had to figure out the dimensions of the pieces and the length of the skirt from measurements sent by my niece. 

I decided to do an elastic waist, also from the measurements sent by Megan.

For 1 1/2 year old Gracie, I designed a different skirt with a rick rack trim.

Do you spot the little button initial?

Gracie now knows which skirt is hers and that there is a "G" for her name.  I'd hoped the little buttons would be something the special to the girls. And I love that the girls could still wear their skirts on this recent Christmas Eve.

And let me wish you all a Happy New Year!

Christmas is coming. . .

Welcome to our home, all decorated for Christmas!

We've had sunny, crisp, gorgeous days lately. Such a treat for this time of year around here.

I've been wishing for some real snowflakes.

Our tree is filled with collected ornaments from over the years including the very first one we purchased when we were engaged to be married 40 years ago.

Baby's first Christmas ornaments, too.

I've been wanting these large Heritage Hill jars for quite some time and finally purchased two in time for holiday fun. 

Funny story here: see the barn among these tin ornaments? Well, a few weeks ago I suddenly decided my Christmas theme this year would be barns. I began to hunt online for vintage toy barns. I also discovered Hallmark tin barn ornaments so purchased a couple on eBay. Last week I pulled out a box labeled "Christmas Village" thinking it would be my ceramic village pieces I haven't used in several years. It contained those plus all these tin buildings - that I did NOT remember I had, at all. I already had the barn, too! 

I did not do the barn theme after all, either. Heh.

No matter what theme I decide for Christmas decorating, the snowman always come to the party!

Our first Christmas with our new family members, yay!

Can't wait!

99% Finished

Good Morning!

Remember the bathroom remodel we were working on earlier this year? Well, it was mostly finished this summer before the wedding preparations began.

I've hesitated doing a long awaited reveal (yes, a reveal - cool!) because my little phone camera doesn't take clear photos in that space. I've tried from different angles using different lighting. Now I've decided not to wait any longer. 

First, here is the bathroom some 25 years ago.

And here it is today.

Between than and now I took down the wallpaper, painted the walls green and purchased a new shower curtain (after some 20 years using the lace one - it wore like iron plus I was SO indecisive, heh!). I can't seem to find any photos of that stage of the room.

I love, love, love the new hardware which will also be installed in the rest of the house. No more shiny brass!

The 1% unfinished is a mirror for the built-in frame. We just hung up the old one for now.

I am loving the heated tile floor. Highly recommend it!

A couple of pumpkins decorate the room for Autumn, of course!

I am very Thankful this season for my new bathroom.

On to the rest of the house!

Creativity

I was having a Facebook discussion with a friend recently.

She has been sharing a beautiful painting she is working on and I've been amazed at the strokes that produce such art. I told her I wished I could paint or even draw and hoped to give it a try someday. But my expectation was not to do anything like she is doing, it's not "in" me.

She then reminded me of my garden and I once again realized that it is such an important creative outlet. 

It is most definitely "in" me!!

I overflow with gratefulness when I am getting my hands dirty

or visiting a nursery

or filling the trunk of the car with plants

or weeding (truly).

I overflow with thankfulness when gifting someone with cut flowers

or a bag of homegrown carrots

or sharing photos of blooms.

Or hosting a wedding in the garden!!!

Thank you, friend, for reminding me of this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Autumn home continued. . .

Here's a few more snapshots of Autumn around our home.

The first thing I display every Fall is this darling pumpkin made by my niece when she was in high school. Makes me smile and feel at home.

I think deep orange tones compliment blue so amazingly, like Autumn leaves against the blue, blue sky.  

Like my comfy throw against the blue couch. Many a nap is taken snuggled under it!

More fun pumpkin treasures. I look for natural toned or deep orange colors instead of Halloween oranges.

Love this cute little box that I use for napkins.

I used to collect tea cups and saucers, not so much anymore. But I've kept some seasonal ones to enjoy on display.

This flower handled set is a favorite.

Old, old Royal Albert Maple Leaf cream and sugar.

My niece and I both like to have seasonal books in a basket. (How do you like my "hardwood" floors, heheh!)

There are a few flowers left in the cutting garden for the table.

I did make the table runner (machine quilted by Anne Jones). 

And I am taking notes on which dahlias were excellent cut flowers and which I'd like to replace.  Deep purple (like the wedding flowers - gorgeous!) and a rich orange bloom.

Maybe next year I'll even grow pumpkins!