Ebby comes home...! A crazy, crazy day. The kind you aren't expecting...ya. People in and out all day, and then 2 of my 5 offspring arriving and asking "what's for supper"?

And of course that came right in conjuction with my new black cat...*VBS* And she's gorgeous...not a petite gal by any means, but she has a beautiful face and nicely shaped head. Almost has the look of a Siamese in the shape of her head. She's spent the majority of her hours here(so far) under the end table, behind the couch or under the bed. She's the only one who doesn' know what this is "all about". But she did come out to wander around abit and let me pet her and scratch her ears, and I think we are going to be just fine...*VBS*

I was reading a few blogs before bedtime last evening, and Libby, over at -A Simple Girl- (see my sidebar for addy) had a autumn valentine to share with us. The simple straight line stitching and primative "feel" got me to thinking about the appeal of line drawings. Sepia type color and the beauty of just a line.
Among my simple pleasures are brown and white English Ironstone. The little plate shown is the only one I have. Can't even remember where I found it to buy. Photo taken against my Rock Bottom Blues vintage fabric mini quilt. In the second picture, I'm showing you my ONLY tea cup. In all the years of collecting, it's the only one I've EVER found. And it
found at GoodWill for $2.49. Not a single chip out of it..*VBS*
The saucer is one of many I have, and is J.W. Hanley & Co. I prefer my ironstone to be from Johnson Brothers. But I will buy other companies except for Meakin. Their ink is a much deeper brown, and I don't care for it. I love the look of old faded ink in fine line penmanship. Back when penmanship was taught in schools and every young lady needed to be able to write an attractive hand. I've forgotten quite abit about Johnson Brothers, but I believe most of what I collect was made about 1850 and beyond. I'm not the least bit obsessive about it, and seem to go in "spurts"...buying nothing for years, and then adding some again. I'll show you the piece that got me started...but not til tomorrow..*VBS* 

Simple Pleasures....and what do you need to find a simple kind of comfort, pleasure, satifaction or contentment in your day? A question with lots of
possible answers. A mug of fresh tea or coffee, a hug from a friend or loved one. Sunshine on your shoulder, a verse of scripture. Maybe all of the above. Any or all of those things and many more, for me. And I would include a needle and thread in my hand. Sometimes I think we(and I suppose I am mostly thinking women) have conquered the world, settled the vast wilderness of these United States, Canada and Mexico with a needle in our hand or carefully tucked away to use in a moment of leisure. I looked up the definition of "leisure" and it is defined as freedom or a spare moment.
These are yo-yos. My yo-yos. I don't particularily like yo-yo quilts. To me, they are not quilts. They are pieced but never quilted. There is no lining or batt, nor any backing unless you do a variation. They are eye catching, and I'm sure were a novelity at some time or another. Thus, we have yo-yo coverlets. I make yo-yos. They are hand sewing, and that is part of what I need to complete my day. Sometimes the hand sewing part comes early in the day, or in the afternoon. Where it falls doesn't really matter.
The yo-yos I'm showing you are fabrics from the 1950's. Mostly funky in their own way. They measure 2" across finished. What I use for a circle might surprise you...LOL. Yo know those darn CD's that we keep getting in the mail, trying to sell us on AOL, or Target, etc?? Yup, that's my template. They are incredibly handy things. Need a half circle drawn for quilting. Grab the CD.
Dawn, I believe, asked about my perfect circle in the utility quilting...LOL. Yup, a CD that I drew around, and probably a mug or glass for the inner one. I like to turn the quarter inch under as I baste around the edge of the yo-yo. I don't use paper to baste over, I just turn the edge under as I go. when it's complete, I gently pull on my thread til it's gathered about as tight as it will go, and then I make a couple of knots and cut the thread.
What will my yo-yos become? Embellishments. Clusters of flowers on something. Stacked circles for one things or another. Maybe even a yo-yo doll or clown. You see it really doesn't matter what their purpose is....I like hand sewing, and they are quite mindless, and a great way to use up larger scrapes of ugly fabric. I think the CDs are about 5". Just measured one...4 3/4".
The other question to answer today is about "Ebby", my kitty-to-be". Sounds like she will be arriving on Friday. Special delivery from her current owner and my darling oldest daughter...*VBS* 

School Days...from long ago

Life's little pieces....a scrap here, a scrap there. All tossed together. Mixed and mingled and all but forgotten. In days gone by, the sound of the school
bell ringing brought pencil boxes, and new crayons, freshly shapened pencils and erasers that were pink and new. A new year, a new spelling book. Back packs were far off in the distant future, and we carried school bags instead. And maybe a lunch box, or maybe not, if you lived near by. Many of us did live just a block or two from that old red brick school house...South Side School. No buses arrived.No special needs vans. The kids in the neighborhood went to the school nearest to them.And they walked to get there. The country kids went to the many country schools which had K-8 grades, or K-6 if they were smaller. In a community of about 10,000 we wouldn't meet our future classmates til we reach Junior High. For some, not til high school...9-12 in a seperate building. I never went to school in a NEW school. All the buildings were various shades of "old". Marble steps, faded red brick exteriors, old fashioned water fountains, merry go rounds, swings, and a slide. We played hopscotch, jacks, marbles and lots of "tag" on the playground. In autumn we made leaf houses under the big trees, and re-arranged them daily. There was so much that we had, and so much that we didn't, compared to now.
We had new cotton dresses, almost always plaids. Crisp white collars, pockets for handkerchiefs, anklets, maybe saddleshoes this year, or maybe just the plain brown oxford type that tied. Knee socks came later, and there were no tights. We didn't wear jeans as regular clothing..no one did but the boys. We girls could put them on under our dresses, for play, and as the weather got colder. Everyone wore overshoes ... boots weren't on the scene as yet. It would be years before the zip up the front boots with fur around the top came into view. Almost everyone had snowpants. How else could you go iceskating or sledding? Most jackets were wool at that time. Nylon, such as it was, could only be found in parachutes. Stocking were cotton or wool, or rayon. Nothing had much stretch.Held up with garter belts.
We wore our hair in braids primarily, but some girls had curls, or cut short bobs. Long hair was still the norm.
A new sweater or two, to wear over your dress on chilly mornings, and probably a raincoat.
We wrote with carefully sharpened pencils on tablet paper...the old off white newsprint type, with the blue lines.
There were no spiral notebooks or looseleaf notebooks to be found. We each had a ruler, measuring a foot, and probably a hand held pencil sharpener. Along with 2 pencils, and the crayons, that was pretty much the sum total of our school pencil box on those first days in Sept.This is way before ball point pens.
We sat in the desks with the slanted top, a pencil tray cut into them across the top, so the pencils didn't roll. The books were put in the open space right below the desk top, and the chairs were afixed to the whole thing...and then each desk to each other. Not much of anything was moveable. We sat in rows that ran vertically from the front of the room to the back. And yes, if you were unlucky enough to sit in front of a BOY, you probably got your braids pulled or monkeyed with at least once a day. Hair ribbons got taken, and mothers were upset when you came home with only one.
We started about 8 a.m. and were in school until about 3:30 or quarter of 4. Lunch was an hour, and there was a 15 minute recess twice a day.
The old school bell in the tower rang out the opening of school, and the call in from lunchhour. We lined up in two columns to march inside. No buzzers, even the fire alarm was a bell pounding against a piece of metal.
Sunlight streamed through the old high dusty windows, making dancing patterns on the highly polished floors. Everything smelled like chalk dust and furniture polish and fresh new varnish.
There is so much you don't know about school as a child. Things that never occur to you. Like the kids out in the country schools that would eventually come into town, in buses, swelling my class(1958) to the 155 that graduated that May. You don't know or think about a Superintendent of Schools, who has an office in a whole different building and whom you never really see til he hands out diplomas. Or about how many other neighborhood schools there are in your town, all doing just what yours is doing. Or the 3 Catholic schools and one Catholic High School that educate some of our town's children.
All you really know about is your little school, both friend and foe, depending on the day. Your lunch or snack, if you have pencils and paper. If your homework is done, and if you know your spelling words. I guess I could honestly say, "it was the best of time, it was the worst of times", but mostly it was good. And I was happy, and very innocent about many things. And maybe that is a true gift of childhood...the ability to be happy in the moment, and have no knowledge of all that lies ahead. 

For Sprig: http://rabbitstitchings.blogspot.com/
Some examples of "big stitch" or utility quilting. It has been around for years and years. I first saw it in a book by Roberta Horton called Plaids and Stripes.
It is done with a larger eyed needle(usually a tapestry or crewel embroidery needle) and perle cotton. The perle cotton comes in quite a few sizes, and is easier to get now that so many quilters are using it for things that look primative. I like size #8 the best, but have tried it in sizes #10,#12, and #5.
I find #12 to be about the same as two stands of embroidery floss, or regular quilting thread. And not much different with #10.
The #5 seems more like Knit Cro-sheen crochet thread to me. But it will work, better with flannel, or if you really "tug" to get it
through regular fabric. I find I MUST use one of those little round rubber "grabbers" when I work with #5. It can be bought in skeins or in balls. I like the balls best..easier to use.
These pictures are from a couple of different quilts than the one shown below. I tend to use whatever color is appealing to me at the moment. You are aiming for stitches about 1/4th" in size and about that distance apart. I find I can't load as many on the needle as with
regular quilting, but that's ok. It still goes really fast with everything bigger that reg. hand quilting.
I do "tug" my knot to the inside. Don't like the look of leaving it on the back. This type of quilting has had a big comeback the past few years, since the primative quilt "look" has gotten so popular. It's easy to do, with almost exactly the same things you'd quilt with otherwise. Just a bigger needle and a coarser thread. I've been using this method almost exclusively since the last 3 eye surgeries, about 1999 into 2000. Most of the other quilts I've shown were hand quilted before that. I do very little of the fine hand quilting anymore. I'd love to, but it's very challenging to my vision. Happy and done are good words...LOL Hope everyone has some sunshine today.

Scrap Mania....I've shown this quilt back in the summer. It's a summer weight quilt. It is utility quilted....1/4th " inside and outside each box of triangles. The close up below shows that a bit better.











I think you can see the lines of stitches here. If you have questions about utility quilting, just drop me an email. 

Rainy Saturday....and the quilting begins. I got my standing Q Snap frame set up this morning, and did
the first quilting on the star 9 patch. There are only 12 blocks, and with the grid I choose to use, the quilting will go very quickly. I have a couple of balls of blue perle cotton in size 5(which I don't like much) and will be using that. I hope to get it used up.
And then...a new beginning .... another rug. My first oval attempt. So far, so good..*VBS* Still not sewing, but I am keeping busy. 

Basting with Betsy....

a really great thing to do on a rainy Friday in September. It's our second rainy day in a
row this week, with two more coming for the weekend. I've been plugging along with the quilting on "Frankie", my last years Halloween quilt. Frankly I'm tired of Frank, Frankie and Frankenstein!
His colors are fun, but his "fused" parts aren't. I was up and had lunch with my good friend on Wednesday, and we talked about getting something basted for me to quilt. It's that time of year. This is a rather elderly 9 patch Star. I think the 9 patches from 3 or 3.5" squares made 3, almost 4 quilts. I did the 9 patch Star that I showed awhile back(keyboard lattice) and the 9 patches and Country Bears I sent down to Linda J. She or Cher, can't remember which, got the leftover blocks...14 or 15. I had thought about donating this top, also, but I seem to have had a little mouse the corner telling me one of my grandsons could use a new snuggle quilt...*VBS* He's the middle child for both his Dad(my son) and his mom(my former DIL). He's bright and beautiful and full of love, but gets outshone by the older and younger brother. I'm hoping this quilt will be special enough to him to make his snuggles happier...*S* P.S. Betsy isn't that short, she bastes sitting in her computer chair...LOL 

Politically Incorrect.......... this small walling hanging was made back in the late 1980's. I saw it in the book Pieces of The Past, that I showed you last week. That one was made by Nancy Martin in 1985, and based on many old southern quilts. She says the original pattern source is unknown but that this Southern Mammy appears in many parts of the South. I really wanted to make it, and use some of my feedsack and
older yardage for the dresses.
The pattern is not that difficult to graph if you have a picture. The quilt by Nancy Martin is 28" square. Mine is only 27" but my border is narrower than she shows. My blocks finish at 6", therefore they are 8" on the diagonal. It's not hard to measure and draw the lines to form a pattern. Mine is machine pieced and hand quilted.
And while I still like this little quilt very much, I do understand the possible implications that it might hold for some. If it offends you, I am truly sorry, that would NEVER be my intention. An inspiration that came to mind after making it, is that it would be fun to make this again, with little "green" men, wearing Hawiian shirts...*VBS* 

Adoption Pending...*S* This is Ebony..also know as "ebs" and "ebby". She lives with a single, middle aged mom. Mom is moving and Ebby can't go along. She is between 6 and 7 years old, neutered, de-clawed and a gal who prefers a quiet environment without small children. She is also a 100% indoors cat..*VBS*
After spending some nursing time with youngest son last Thursday, and enjoying his roommates cat a great deal, I reach the decision that I would like a feline friend back in my life. It's been awhile since Tigger moved to the farm and a happier life that included outdoor. I told my DD that I was thinking in that direction, but hate to it s both DSIL and oldest DS are very allergic to cats. She said "Mom, they aren't there that often". Which is true, only once or twice a year. I wanted a slightly older cat, preferrably declawed and neutered. One that had lived with a woman, and had short hair.On Monday I got an email from my DD telling me that a co-worker of DD's moving,and Ebby isn't going with her. Told DD to find out if she was shorthair, and she is...so I've agreed to take her to be my companion..*S* I have paperwork to complete for our management company, and will need a letter from my Dr. which is the only way you can bring a pet into these townhouses... She's as good as mine....and just in time for Halloween! 

Apple pie weather....and memories of days gone by. I'm guessing most of you know that I pretty much "sail" through life these days. Only putting into port
when I feel the need to do so. Seeking a sheltered harbor if the winds of life grow too strong, or the sea is stormy. And that works quite well for me...*S* But as any long time sailor could tell you, there are days of "dead calm"...with no breeze stirring. And on those days, a sailing vessel doesn't go anywhere. I hit one of those "dead calm" patches, a few days ago, and it seems I have nothing to say. At least for "just now". Probably one of the nicest gifts of age, is the ability to do just as you please, for the most part..*S*.
Quite a number of years back, I had read a delightful book by a gal who taught at a WI 2 year college. She had written about "ambling"...as in "bears amble". To amble is a kind of slow wandering, with no particular destination in mind. To move through time and space as you choose, observing as you amble along. I rather like that idea....ambling. Care to join me??? 

***You Are Emerald Green***
Deep and mysterious, it often seems like no one truly gets you.Inside, you are very emotional and moody - though you don't let it show.People usually have a strong reaction to you... profound love or deep hate.But you can even get those who hate you to come around. There's something naturally harmonious about you.
What Color Green Are You?http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorgreenareyouquiz/

***You Are 30% Left Brained, 70% Right Brained***
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.
Are You Right or Left Brained?http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/

The Inspiration and the source of the Waterwheel pattern. This book,"Pieces of The Past" by Nancy Martin, published in 1986, was where I got my pattern. This book is pre-rotary cutter. I know my pieces were template cut, and that seems to take forever when there are lots of small triangles.
Below is a scan of what little they showed you if you wanted to make this quilt.




The antique version of this one isn't in the book. Most are shown as the antique quilt
and the newer version. This one(8" blocks) was pieced by Marsha McClousky, but is owned by Nancy Martin. A second book came out in 1990, called "Threads of Time" and I also have that one. If you truly love the look of old quilts, buy these two books if you can find them.

Water Wheel......48" X 48" Everyone was so kind with their comments about my "tease" and my hand quilting, that I'm almost embarassed to show you the quilt. The backing that someone asked about is some of that old plaid check from Springmaid..very popular back in the 1980's. And that's where this quilt comes to you from..late 1980's. The book(which I add in a second post) was published in 1986. This quilt is machine pieced and
hand quilted. The 1st pic is without
"quick fix" on my picture program. The 2nd and 3rd are "fixed". The true color is somewhere in between.
The quilt isn't this light, nor that dark...LOL Ah yes, cameras.
I think if I had used a design wall, I probably would have gotten the colors distributed a bit more evenly, but...oh well!
I do love the quilting..and very much more than needed was
just right at that time. I had just learned how to work out the corner turns, and I could still see very well. That changed in 1988, so this is from before that. This 2nd backing pic is without the "fix" of yesterday. Used on the wall, this quilt is the companion piece for a bed quilt from the same book. It's also one I haven't shown you yet...*VBS* 

The coming of Autumn...Miss Autumn has begun her long slow dance of chilly nights, gorgeous days, brightly colored leaves, that dance on the wind. All day the corn harvest and last balings of the straw rumble on the horizon. The school bus lurches and roars onward towards education, and in the distance, the Canadian Geese gather and begin the trek southward. My summer sunflowers and Miss Liberty give way to the harvest of orange and gold. Welcome to my little home..*VBS* It's autumn.
And on my little patio(and it is LITTLE), this wax begonia bloom for all it's worth. It seems to love the warm days and cool night, and puts on a show far superior to any of it's summer blossoms. I'll try to save it, as Miss Autumn brings the last stages of her dance...the frost. It won't like
the house as well though, but I will try.
The last picture is a "tease", the back, a detail of the quilting, on a quilt I'll show you tomorrow..*VBG* On the sewing front, I've made 4 blocks now of the butterfly challenge. I could show you the challenge fabric, but sorry, you can't see the "project"..hehehehe! "After later", as my youngest son use to say...*VBS*..then you can see it. Hoping you all have sun on your shoulders today...*S* 

Retail Therapy..Chapter 2

When I bought the polka dotted fabrics last Wednesday, I also picked these up out of the sale bin. $2.50 a yard. There were lots more but I settled for these as my favorites. Love the little red houses and green pine trees..*VBS* The yellow is called Spring Fling, and love the shade of yellow in the background. I have no purpose in mind for these either. I've donated about 60 yards of fabric so far this year, and I feel ok about adding the 4 and a half yards I bought last week..*VBS*
On the sewing front, I have to proclaim "I SEWED, I SEWED" this morning. I made the first cuts and did the first piecing on a butterfly fabric challenge I've been included in...*VBS* Thanks Cher! Thanks Linda!
It won't be specatcular or a prize winner, but it will be fun, I hope. Time to catch up on some household stuff, and then I can sew a bit more...oh happy day!!!
Hugs for everybody who wants or needs one.

A Brand New Day....with no mistakes in it...and another chance to live our dreams and reach our
goals. Yesterday for remembering, today for moving on...and tomorrow is just a promise.
Having completed my first crocheted rug, I found myself needing something for my hands to do, in the evening. So I began another rug. Maybe at some point there will be a rhyme or reason to what I pick up to use, but not much as yet. I had some badly fade damaged med. blue, and tore that up.It's the largest of the blue sections. The white is odds and ends plus part of a childs Sesame St. sheet. I'm out to 19" and my next round will be darker again. I sewed up those strips this morning. Most of my life, including the quilt piecing seems to be on "hold" right now. Sooner or later, something will push me into action again...*VBS* in the meantime I'm keeping busy with other stuff. Some of you asked about the polka dots. I have no specific goal in mind for them. I just have trouble resisting them..LOL. As for the bubbles on, the selvadge edge say "for SSI...but in the quarter yard piece, the designer has been cut off...sorry. Maybe you could find it at their web site tho. I've gone there looking for what was new a few years back. 

A Day Of Remembrance...................I suppose there are people for whom the events of 9/11 hold no great meaning. I'm not one of them. I carry the sorrow and loss in my heart and soul. The scars have closed over the wound, but healing has not taken place. I'm sure when Lincoln was killed in the Ford Theatre, people thought they would never forget. And when John Kennedy was shot, we all knew exactly where we were and what we were doing when it happened. But time slips by, the years drop off the end of the decade and then the century. And
now, it's not as hard to think about. I can't see a space ahead of me, far enough distant, that I won't have this pain.
I didn't lose someone on Sept 11th 5 years ago. But I do understand loss. By the time I was 27, I had buried both grandfathers, an infant brother, my paternal grandmother, a very close cousin,
and my mom. My maternal grandmother lived on long after her youngest child(my mom) was gone. These pictures are among my most favorite....this is my Gramma F. My beloved Gram Lottie. She is young in the first picture, taken about 1943, I'm the little blond potbellied girl with the
wind in her hair. Gram Lottie had already lived with us for over a year. Her huband died unexpectedly in 1942, and she came to live with her only daugher. The other lady is my paternal grandmother, whom I never knew very well. Her husband, my paternal grandfather had died a very short time before this picture was taken. The middle picture if of both of my grandparents(maternal)with their oldest son, my Uncle Jim. The 3rd pic is of Grandma Lottie at my church camp picnic, the first day, a Sunday. I love that picture. She peers out and up at me like a little bright eyed bird. She was such a sweet, shy person, always afraid of giving offense or causing a problem or commotion. She was quiet, sweet and unassuming. Maybe having to live on the charity of others bring that about. I think about that alot. I was a young teenager at that bible camp in WI. The last picture is one I took after I was married and came home for a visit. It's my most favorite picture of her. It's everything I love about her. Her shy, sweet smile as she sits on the chair she kept on her tiny back porch. The blue morning glories in all their beauty blooming along the opposite prorch rail. The little "Jenny" Wren birdhouse, hanging among them, so the little birds, she so loved, felt safe and protected from prying eyes. I used to get to watch them from inside her screen door, at a safe distance, so I didn't frighten them. The picture had been in black and white, and I color tined the 5 X 7 with my mothers oil pencils. A few years ago, my middle sister*VBS* took the tinted picture to a store and upgraded it to be almost a colored picture. The one above was her gift to me for my birthday that year...along with a nickle dated 1940.
Right now, it still feels like I will never forget what happened to us, our country, and our loved ones on 09/11/01. Actually I HOPE I never forget what changed our nation that day. It feels like it divided the way we "mark time". It become "before 9/11" or "after 9/11", and it hurts. And on this day of remembrance, mine includes other losses in my life, of those I loved, as well as the incredible destruction that began on this day 5 years ago. I send my love, prayers and lots of big hugs to all of you, and those whom you remember.