Andy's Quilts....

This small quilt was made for the son of my opthomologist, who is autistic. I've been aware of that through many years of eye care from his dad. Dr. has been kind to beyond belief, during a time of extreme difficulty and 3 retina surgeries in 3 months. What to do to show my gratitude? And what is acceptable by all. I decided something for Andy would be acceptable. So I made him this quilt. In the bug bottles, you'll find crayons, kittens, butterfies,owls, snowmen, sheep and so much more. The EYE fabric below I used for the a and the d in Andy's name. Machine pieced and hand quilted..*S* It has bright green frogs on the backing.

For Tonya...

Keeping a promise to Tonya..one of my favorite fabrics..."the EYE fabric"..*VBG* 

Sam's Bug Bottles...

Friday afternoon...a busy 24 hours since I have been here. It's a clear, windy, sunny and beautiful last day of September here in WI. My youngest son is here visiting til tomorrow and keeping me busy. He's off to visit with his two sons now, so I have a few hours to blog and to sew...finally. Like bugs, it's NEVER just one, bug bottles invade your life. This one was made for a very, very special little boy with special needs. I decided not to let the limitations of his ability to communicate stop me from giving him a bug bottles quilt and adding his name. It's a bright and happy quilt, and goes with him quite often. Machine pieced and quilted 2002 

All the stars in the Heavens...

Thursday morning..cold, clear and bright. I wanted to thank my blogger friends and fellow mavericks for being so wonderful. Every day you surprise, excite,stir my imagination and humble me. With everyone's life soooo busy, you found time to post your stars, and I thank you for the sharing. All the stars are wonderful, bright, filled with imagination, grounding and a link between us.
I hadn't realized when I wrote about wishing on a star, exactly what was bothering me, except the blogger world was unusually quiet. And my faith in the Universe 'wobbled'. I don't think I had thought about "hope" or "hopeless" per sec, until I wrote "if there were a store that sold "what ifs" wouldn't we all go and get some". "And what is "what if" but hope, and isn't that much like wishing on a star?"
Since Saturday, when I wrote that, "hope" keeps popping up every where. Yesterday I heard a dr. say "hopelessness was every where, and the only cure for that is "hope". All across the world a sense of despair and hopelessness. He was talking about the "The Purpose Driven Life". It's not a book I have heard much about, or read.
But what I understand is that when we feel that way, we can "wish on a star", or find another way to re-affirm our hope that "all is right with the world". That as long as there is hope, we can go onward. And I can say with confidence, "no doubt the world is unfolding as it should".

There is not really anything wrong in my world...nothing serious, nor drastic, or life changing. And how lucky and blessed I am to be able to say that. But in a low moment of seperation anxiety, I call out to you for stars to wish on, and there you were....with stars...thank you. *S*

Tanner's Bug Bottles...

Oh those boys and how they grow. Birthday for Tanner and his "bug bottles" from Gram. This was taken at his house. All 3 boys are brothers..but you probably figured that out.The little gal is my DGD. 

Five of Finn's favorites

Wednesday morning..today I'm going to share a few more of my favorite things, and also 5 of my favorite "stars". These are 5 of my 9 grandsons. I have one granddaughter, but we had to "marry in" to get her ! Drives my oldest DGS crazy since she's 2 years older than him and the only girl. Needless to say, It's good to be the Princess ! Behind me(different haircut back then) is my christmas Shoo Fly quilt. For the record we've never managed to get all 9 boys together at the same time..still trying..*VBS*

Evening Star

Monday evening...while I was taking pictures of the pineapple quilt today, I decided to pull this one out of the closet also. Snapped a digital closeup of the fabric and some of the quilting on the Evening Star quilt. You can see that I quilted the one quarter inch in on the cream fabric. I quilted in the ditch around the larger cream squares and then quilted a maple type leaf in each one. All the dark floral is quilted in one quarter inch, but there is no quilting in any of the rusty red, except the border.

Pineapple log cabin

Monday afternoon...sunny but cold. A rainy weekend here in WI. I pulled out this Welcome Autumn quilt this morning. As you can "sort of" see, I was doing my log cabin pineapple in autumn colors. This is a snapshot of it, and certainly not the best color I've seen. I did it back in the 1990 when the book Pineapple Passion came out, and had it own Pineapple ruler. It was just one of many rulers that have come since to do the pineapple layout. This quilt has hung in a show at Danbury, WI..not because of it's exceptional beauty(NOT !) but because it was a "Log Cabin" show, and I was the only one in my guild who had made a pineapple log cabin..funny! Machine pieced and hand quilted. I'll try for a better picture of it with my digital camera.

Log Cabin closeup

Color choices for Autumn..I used the name Welcome Autumn because of the symbolism of pineapple standing for "welcome".

When you wish upon a star....

Star light,
Star bright,
first star
I see
tonight....

children standing at a window, or sitting in a swing; alone on a hill top or walking home from play....is there a child who did not know this verse? Do boy children know this verse, or just the little girls? So many questions.
Are you still tempted in the failing light of day to wish upon a star? Do you "wish I may, wish I might,have the wish I wish tonight"? Do the dreams of children go someplace as they age? Do wishes become things that are uttered with a tired sign as " oh, I wish........and then whatever is their burden?

Does it seem to anyone else that wishes are magical things as a child ? And that they become utterings of quiet desperation as an adult? Why is "I wish it would rain" or "I wish you a happy holiday season" so different from "I wish I had more money", or "less stress", or "some alone time"?
Do we ever still wonder if maybe we went to the third star from the right, we'd go straight on til morning? Have we lost the magic? If there was a store selling "what ifs", wouldn't we all want to rush out and get some? And what is a "what if" but hope ? And isn't that just what wishing on a star is all about?

I'm feeling quite unsettled this evening. Displaced in time and space. I'm not sure if everyone is extra busy today, or the gremlins are at work, but none of my daily blog reads have any posting from today. I checked to see if I had accidently put my computer in the "working offline" mode, but I hadn't. So where is everyone? The absence of input has caused a disturbance in the force. And that has caused me to wish on the Evening Star as dusk fell.
This quilt is called Evening Star. I don't do many 3 fabric quilts. Probably could count on 1 hand how many I've done that aren't scrap. But I fell in love with the rust, black and brown floral in Longmont, CO. It became this quilt. Machine pieced, hand quilted. 1997 I will try for a better picture with my digital.

Saturday morning..chilly and overcast. Autumn is tapping us on the shoulder trying to get our attention. The hardwood trees are listening, as are the Canadian Geese. And since we have been in Orlando for awhile now I'll share my only glimpse of Cinderella with you. I had hoped to get my picture taken with her, for my sister. That was not to be, but I did catch this glimpse of her in the Magic Kingdom parade on Friday afternoon. It passes in front of her castle. Sorry PonyGirl..*S*

And here is her castle. 

And since I'm saving the best for first, this is what captured my delight the most. If you travel to the Magic Kingdom, which I did, and are lost a GREAT deal in your wanderings, you'll come upon a tiny house. It has a delightfully bent roof, low eaves, a wonnky picket fence, and a wecoming open door. It's the House of Minnie Mouse.
There is a charming living room, with a polka dotted chair, but was so overrun with little people dressed as Minnie(in red polka dotted dresses) that I couldn't get a picture. So I wandered to the next room and there was what we ALL love...a sewing area! I was just delighted...*VBS* And, as you can see, she's a QUILTER !! Gotta love it !

Friday Morning...a very cool sunny morning. Temps in the low 60's today. So glad you can stop by today. And I have a tale to tell...at least part of it....but in the words of Robert Frost.."the woods are lovely, dark and deep....but I have promises to keep, and miles to go, before I sleep". So I bid you..to sit comfortably, and SCROLL DOWN to the beginning of the story I'm telling you. Wish Picasa could enable me to think backwards..but since it hasn't, the beginning is at the END, and the END is where you are beginning..*VBS* Hope everyone is safe and well, and has sunshine on their shoulders today...*S* 

This tree is fascinating. It lives thousands of years, no longer has any need to have leaves or use sunlight for growth. I'll have to check my papers to remember it's name. This is one of the largest in the preserve. 

Well...it's looking safer here..what a tall fellow this is, wonder if he ever gets a sore throat? I think we'd better keep moving....... 

Hmmmmm...ok...looks like we've tea cup spun into the WILD Kingdom..and I think I am stilling see elephants..! And I'm beginning to hear a Disney song in my head about....could it be?....pink elephants on the ceiling? Could I be getting close to Dumbo??? 

Fantasy Island?? Nope...Disney World

Still dizzy from all that spinning...I thought I saw an elephant...! OH MY ! Looks like these folks thought they were seeing it too... 

Choices...

If you don't care of a cup of tea...how about just a cup? Or maybe just a spin around the block? I'd love the company.... 

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party...

Come and join me in a cup of tea..... 

Home again...

Thursday morning...autumn came with a BANG in WI and MN last evening. Above average temperatures the past few days spawned high winds, tornadoes, 2" hail and an ocean of rain. Many homes torn apart last evening between 6 and 9 p.m. in MN. Flash flood warnings and massive power outages. As of this a.m. the metro area has closed many schools and almost 200,000 are without power. Nothing like Katrina, but much clean up needed.

The storm also brought relief from the 80-90 degree temps. It's a brisk 55 degrees in my little corner of the world today. High in the mid 60's.
I am very happy to be home from the happiest place on earth, and just slightly dizzy from my time at the Mad Hatter's tea party...those tea cups are something else...LOL.

I've been tagged by MaggieAnn to do one of the 5 things me-mes...so here goes....

5 Things I want to do before I die:

See the Alaskan wilderness
Fly in a helicopter
Drive a trotting horse with a harness racing rig
See the grand canyon, again
Walk the Pacific coast line in Oregan, again

5 Things I can do:
Make awesome BBQ'd meatballs
Put my palms flat on the floor bending from the waist, knees straight
Make something from almost nothing..always
Find a balance under most circumstances
See the bright side of situations

5 Things I cannot do..yet:
Dance
Hold my breath underwater without pincing my nose
Sleep sitting up or on my back
Sing on key or in tune
Tolerate snakes

5 Things that attract me to the opposite sex:
A sense of humor
Humility
Integrity
Not taking themselves too seriously
Kindness to all living things

5 Celeberity crushes:
Alan Alda
Sean Connery
Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart

5 People I'd like to do this:
You
You
You
You and
You

Flying Away....

"I'm leavin' on a jet plane..don't know when I'll be back again...." Oh...but I do KNOW..*VBS* I'll be back in WI next week on Tuesday evening. My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. The garbage is out, the dishwasher is running with it's tiny final load of dishes. I haven't been on vacation since this picture was taken in New Mexico. I'm planning on having a wonderful time on this vacation that starts tomorrow. I'll give you a hint...LOL..I'm going to the happiest place on earth..*G* And I'm planning on riding in the magic tea cups..*S* How's that for a "gramma gig"? Stay well all my blogger friends, and you mavericks...keep those stitches running. 

Almost vacation...

Wednesday morning...minus 24 and counting.Tomorrow morning I fly away on vacation. I'm excited but also nervous. I'm flying NWA. The mechanics have been on strike for a month now, with no end in sight. I have decided to go anyway, and leave things in God's hands. It's been a busy time since Monday. We have had no less than 3 thunderstom,high winds and possible tornadoes through my corner of the world. There was a power surge on Monday, but I had shut the computer down, and turned off the sewing machine, so I came out ok. I've made endless phone calls to confirm flights, hotels and transportation. Today I need to get cash, pick up a spare key and do laundry. It doesn't feel like there is time for sewing and pictures...so I offer you one of my favorite "little" art pieces. I've had it for many years. It's a postcard size copy of an original painting(1993) by patrice avon marvin. It's call "take up the guantlet". I can't explain it's appeal. Maybe it's the woodcut quality it has, maybe it's the colors. Maybe I just like all those hands or guantlets. Hope everyone has sunshine on their shoulders today, and some in their hearts as well...*VBS* 

Sample blocks for Mile A Minute

Picasa just told me "4 of 4", and so I will add, "4 of 4, and just one more". Here is a single m.a.m. block. The pieces look big enough to have used somewhere else, and that might be true, but since there are no rules, I used them here..*VBS* I mix in almost everything. I have much novelty fabric and kids prints, and I put it where I will, it makes me happy to see it in these quilts. Tells me the world is NOT such a serious place that I can't laugh and play.

Mile a Minute blocks...

A Quartet of Color...for Joanne. Here are four of my little mile a minute blocks. Finish size will be 6". These are like eating peanuts. I can't stop with just one. I throw all my smaller pieces (and sometimes things I've seen TOO much of) into a scrap basket on my shelf.Then, when I have a "lower than snakehips" day, or my mind is distracted with a problem, I sit and make m.a.m. blocks. I have done several twin size quilts from these. Also some cuddle size and baby quilts. The rule is there is no rule. You can cut down orphans, add to orphans, use left over triangles, bits of pockets or advertising..anything that trickles your fancy. They are truly "Pieces from my scrapbag".

Buying fabric again...

Labor Day Flannel...my latest acquistion. Shopped the Labor Day sale at my favorite mill ends store. And they had these $8.99 bundles of homespun type flannel on sale for $3.99. So I got two. At home I had the deepest purple and the lime-ist green FQs, a gift from friend Betsy. Also had the yard piece it's all laying on. Not sure what quilt I will make from these, but it probably will have to be one of the FQ Friendly ones, I have the both books..*S* A project to sew on retreat in northern MN next month.

My Two Cents worth....

Friday Morning....I loved reading about Tonya's tready pieces yesterday. But she mentioned something that I think we need to remind ourselves about. Here at Quilt Mavericks we make quilts..that's a given. Its' probably our passion, part of our identity and something that we like to talk about and are proud of.BUT............

I don't think that EXCLUDES other areas of interest. If we are what we think is "pure" quilter, that is fine, but many of us have a love or fondness for other needlework projects or expressions.
Maybe it would be helpful for us to feel confident that we can post WHAT we want and what we are interested in on our blogs, and NOT have the worry that we might be shunned or scorned by others. I can see why Tonya might have felt hesitant to put her thready pieces up. We have hit the quilt pictures hard lately...and it's wonderful..I LOVE IT !! but I also read many of the blogs from the Quilters who embellish, and I really like what I see over on A Bird in the Hand, angry chicken, and Turkey Feathers. All 3 of those gals do needle art. It might be a quilt, but also pillows,bags, embroidery, small stufed creatures, etc.

Their creations are charming and make me feel so proud of that younger generation of women who want to make and wear an apron, or embroider or make jam. Turkey Feathers has the most wonderful pictures of her children helping her make strawberry jam. It multiplies the things that their children are learning about life. Some like Knitting Kat, and Ms*Robyn's Parcels*tied with string* offer us a gentle view of life through their eyes.

It is one or two or three bricks in the foundation that we build for our childrens life. And I love whimsey...I love Tonya's kookieness about some of her pieces...I love tongue in cheek commentary...I love the view of life that lets you take the scraps and make something warm and wonderful and useful. Or just fun.

Back in the depression years, an expressive of the time was " DO, WHAT YOU CAN, WHERE YOU ARE, with WHAT YOU HAVE". And I'd like to add, to love what you are doing with it.

Hurricane Katrina news...

Thursday....a rainy morning has turned into a sunny afternoon. I push onward with the tops I am piecing for flood relief. Unfortunately I am not as "on task"a person as Bonnie, and I tend to wander away and get preoccupied with something else. But the need isn't going to change and I do have enough time to finish what I have started.

Got the news yesterday that a small quilt shop in River Falls, WI about 25 miles from here, will be collecting quilts. Her deadline is November, 12th, I think. Those will probably be staying in WI or MN. Trust me folks, they will be needed for southerners coming up here. I'm afraid it will be quite a shock to them, how cold it gets.

Went up to have tea with friend Betsy yesterday, and to check and see how dear friend, in the guesthouse, is faring. Betsy had baked a lovely fresh apple cake, and we endulged ourselves, at 3 in the afternoon, like kids spoiling out suppers. As I age, I have discovered that "Life is short" eat dessert first"..*VBG*
Betsy is also making quilts for flood relief in her spare time. Since she is still a working gal, that's considerably less time than I have. It's good to have companionship in this project. We will unite and get them tied by helping each other.

Other than that, things are really quiet in my life. I'm suppose to be going on vacation next week, the 15th through the 20th. Could someone please tell me why THIS year was the year I decided to go to Orlando in Sept??????????? So, IF NWA is still flying (mechanics strike) and IF the planes actually can fly with only replacement mechanics servicing them, and IF the 3 or 4 hurricanes forming off the eastern seaboard don't make landfall, I AM going to go. But as with everything else, the variables are not within my ability to control, so I'll keep praying for a good outcome and see what happens by next Thursday when my flight leaves at 10:20...maybe !!!!

Down Memory Lane we go...

A blast from the past.....I appliqued this English cottage block more years ago than I can remember. The fabrics sort of give that away. Remember when a pindot was a wonderful thing??? Came across this today in my "dig" through UFO's and orphans. I think I will embroider the curved door and window it's suppose to have, and then maybe add some little things to the landscape. After all, it's a "senior" now....just like me..*VBG* It deserves some respect.

Churn Dash Blocks...

Churn Dash blocks..a scrap quilt started years ago with the grand idea of making a few every now and then til I had enough. I had 25 finished. I need more. But I added a 2" strip on each of the 4 sides, so they finish at 9" now.I'm going to make at least 5 more tomorrow, and decide if I need an additional lattice in between them. Heading for 60" X something. They look pretty good. Only the one yellow one fades away.