Retail Therapy at Hamilton Booksellers...

I have a list of books that I would LOVE to find. Some are out of print such as the ones by Pilgram and Roy.Some are just not easily found due to their age. So I faithfully "check" what Hamilton Books cycles through that website. Mr. Edward Hamilton is a friend to quilters everywhere, in my opinion...*VBS* His prices are top notch, the service excellent, and the shipping rates LOW. These are the new ones shuffling off to my house this week..*VBS*
I'm not much for applique, but I have almost ALL the "Twenty Little ----" books that Gwen Marston has published. So this one was a MUST have...and only $4.95 instead of the suggested $24.95.
I'm not familiar with this author or the book, but the quilts and projects are based on the life and times of Laura Ingalls Wilder. How can I go wrong at $4.95??? And this is one I have coveted for awhile now...it's pricey!
From my little corner of the world, I think twice or maybe 3 times before paying $21.95 for a book! It's better in price than anywhere else I've seen it, but still pricey. I think it will be worth it, however. With Hamilton, they always tell you the shipping will be in 3-15 business days...which sounds LONG...but my experience is that most of mine have arrived in less than a week. The link is on the sidebar. When you get there, look at the list on the left hand side of the page, scroll down to Needlecrafts. That will take you to a page where you can select the Needlecraft of your choice. Yesterday there were 255 quilting books to choose from...*VBS* The selection changes often, and he includes an indicator of what is being handled in number. If it says "remainer", the amount he has to sell is just that...what ever was left in the warehouse.
BUT....I found Gwen Marston/Freddy Moran's newest book at Hamilton while some of you were waiting for first shipment from Amazon or Barnes and Noble...*VBS* Ya just NEVER know..*VBS* (No affiliation to Hamilton..just a happy customer!)

FABRIC DEAL...GOING, GOING, GONE.....

Sorry gals.....the phones are closed. The fabric samples are spoken for....with the PLAIDS going to Dot at Rantala Rags, and the POPCORN TIN FULL to Amy at Calico Cat(unless she changes her mind..a bit of a mix up on shipping). If Amy doesn't want them...Gypsy Quilter is in line next.

Be on your toes, I probably will be offering more 'stuff' in this "pay the shipping please" manner. I have things that need a good home! Not orphans, but 'stuff'..*VBS* Thanks everyone!

ATTENTION FABRIC LOVERS......

Finn sez: "The beat goes on.....time for 'Let's Make a Deal' or 'The Price Is Right' *VBS* Onward and onward and onward I go...into the Valley of the 600..oppps, better make that 'the Valley of Organized'! Fabric samples that are supplied to quilt shops....TO GIVE AWAY TO A GOOD HOME( USA ONLY)! But.....you will have to pay postage this time *G*
My Trader Joe's tin was stuffed full of plaid samples. Each little stapled together pack has from 6, 10 up to 20+ pieces. A few are 1.5" by 3". Most are 2" squares. The amount is about a gallon bag, and I will add from my plaids collection to make sure your box is full! Most of these are Roberta Horton plaids.
A close up of what the little fabric packs look like. If you love plaids and little pieces for little quilts..you'll love these. A $5- priority box will do the mailing trick.
The other offer is this large popcorn tin of samples. They were really packed in there! Between 2 and 3 gallons plus. Again, each little packet has multiple pieces stacked and stapled. Biggest size I saw looked to be 3" or maybe 3.5" squares. Many are 2.5" and some are 2" squares as well as some rectangles. A $10 priority box should hold them, or I can split them and send half to 2 people($5 priority box). I will make sure the box is FULL! This is a definitely a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED DEAL! Tell me you want some, what you want and then GET AN EMAIL TO ME with your addy, and asking for mine.
Altho I love playing with these top quality samples, my cup runneth over...literally!

Bits of this and that....

small random pieces pulled from my scrap bag tonight *VBS* As for the pictures..some are merely sharing.. Others, fragments of memory that are as real to me as the air I breathe...and one is to 'keep a promise'. See if you can fiugre out which is which *VBS*
My beloved 'golden' keeping his 'boy' company. It was DS#3's birthday. Packages were a big draw for Dakota...he loved to help unwrap them.
My heritage in the form of tiny lady with the roar of a lioness. Less than 5 feet tall, and well under a hundred pounds, she raised two girls completely alone. One was my Gram Lottie Mae. GGM Mary was born in 1852, and orphaned before 1860, she might well have ended up on an Orphan Train. But she didn't. She was taken in by a neighbor and raised as their daughter in every sense of the word.
Taken at Sparta, WI...in the late 1930's or early 40's. The woman on the far left is my beloved Gram. I'm not positive about the other women except for the one next to my great grandmother on the bench. She was called Aunt Cindy and was part of the family who raised GGM Mary. GGM died around 1942, this picture wasn't much before that.The last picture is for Dee, of Thea Quilts(see sidebar). I was at her blog yesterday, and she was showing little quilts made from jelly rolls and the scraps of jelly roll. Thinking about that, I realized this would be a PERFECT pattern to use with jelly rolls. It would have to be scrappy, rather than the pieces being the same in each block. The horizontal strips are 2.5" X 6.5"...3 sewn together. Another 2.5" X 6.5" strip goes across the top of one block and under the one next to it. Repeat for all. Finished block size is 6" X 8". I've shown this quilt before, and you can see a more full length version under Finn's quilts in the label section of the sidebar.

Inch by inch.....

yes....it's one of 'those' days. One of the ones where, if the earth wasn't turning on it's axis, and without contintental drift, I wouldn't be moving at all *VBS* Well, ok, maybe not QUITE that bad....lOL Inch by inch I am getting things done. Little by little, and ever so slowly, things are happening. Things that should have happened a long time ago, but who's keeping track??? LOL...ya, right!
I'm the world's slowest starter, I think. I believe you can't do a 'thing' until you know it needs doing. After all this time, I am finally 'settling in' at my little house in the Valley. They tell me you're not home til you hang pictures...*G*. Well, the picture hanging has begun. I kicked it off with little Amish (type) pieces. The quilt on the right is from 'long, long ago'...which could be a historical novel by now. About a bijillian years ago, when the first Amish doll pattern came out(the one with the girl and the boy(one size only) it included this little Amish quilt pattern. Probably 1980 something. It almost dates itself by being made with blue and mauve. Machine pieced, hand quilted in black.
The other little quilt, the four patch, is made from pieces I hand dyed in a class with Jan Myers. It's part of a series, one of the series used the brights we dyed, and one more isn't finished as yet. The picture of the Amish dolls I picked up in a thrift shop. I have one more picture of dolls in cross stitch, but need push points first, to secure it. And so it begin...the outward putting together of my life.
Today I re-arranged and cleaned my bedroom and am making some dark blue pillowcases(to act as shams). They will match the border on my bed quilt. And I am on a 'marathon' burp cloth sewing frenzy. Newest grandson is a 'burpy' baby and you know what that means *VBG* I got the hall closet emptied, swept, mopped and re-arranged...it looks great!! I have time to do a bit more I think...little by little, inch by inch.

On Keeping up Appearances.....?

Our soggy,wet,and cold rainy week has moved on eastward...sorry Katie and Sue! Yesterday dawned bright and beautiful, clear and cool..a perfect September day!!
Or so you would think while looking at my quiet little special place on the patio....but appearances can be deceiving..*G*
If you turn around from behind the camera.....this is what is happening just across the street from me. Our little 16 unit complex is being "re-drain tiled" And what a messy bunch they are. Some of us(luckly NOT me) have the 'burrow' going right across their blacktop driveways. They have to park over in my part of the complex, just to have a place to park. No putting the car in the garage this week! And in addition to the hulla-a-lou outside, DS#3 came to see me yesterday.
He works 4 ten hour days and has F,S,S off every week. Sitation normal: he arrived along with the noon whistle....LOL His ilttle family is off camping this weekend, so Grandma had gotten a special treat for his oldest son(see Aug.13th post for pic of the birthday boy!) to share with cousins. And I decided to make each of the boys a new special pillowcase just for this camping trip!! This is DD#3 being clever as he holds it up for me...LOLAnd of course each must be "different". He co-operated a bit more on the second picture. The cases are Halloween fabric from 2 or 3 years ago....lots of pictures to see and words to practice reading! DS was put to work vacuuming out my car, while I sewed, and doing a few other things that needed doing..*VBS* I'm taking lessons(from Jean) on 'being a bossy Mom'.....a whole new concept for DS#3....LOL, but he survived it quite nicely. Did I mention he's the youngest of 5???? *VBG*

P.S..........

I wanted to say "hi" to Gloria Smith, who has been reading and left such a nice comment. Please don't ever hesitate to leave a comment if you want to, or drop me an email. My addy is listed under 'view complete profile'. It always thrills me when someone who isn't a blogger leaves a comment because THEY CAN. I deliberately have removed the feature that stops anonymous comments. That's the only way some people can say "hi"..*VBS* Consider yourself welcome here Gloria, and all of the rest of you too.
And...I wanted to say thank you for all the lovely comments about my award...you make me blush. Same with the 'pride' thing. My parents weren't cruel, and maybe once they were "different", or kinder, but a lot of life happened to them very early in their marriage and when I was 15 months old. Coming up and out of the Depression years was a challenge financially. Add to that my maternal Grandmother coming to live with us.
My mom was 27, my Dad,31. She was destitute after the untimely death of my grandfather. She didn't drive nor work outside the home. My father took care of her. as part of our family. almost all the rest of her life. To have the family increase in size overnight was a cruel blow. He never said a word about it that I know of. That's the way it was with him...hardships all his life.
And I understand I wasn't an easy child. I was independent, unruly, unladylike, and a free spirit. I didn't like authority, altho I respected it. I usually argued about things, and I asked way too many questions. It's no wonder they lost interest in praising me, if they ever had any to begin with. My sister and I have talked about it, and she also doesn't remember being told she did a good job of things.
My only point in writing the post is to CLAIM my newly found pride in things I've accomplished...even a little thing like WTIL quilt tops..*VBS*
AND....that isn't all of my quilts. I have a regular photo album filled to overflowing with the ones I've remembered to take pictures of. That little journal is something "newly begun"...my pride in participating with Linda J's group. It's my very own special little book of accomplishment...*VBS*
And it has prompted me to begin a "scrapbook" of sorts, about my life and my stories. My talented DD#1 will be "teaching" me to scrapbook my project..*VBS* And I'm creating a Memories box. A place for the little things I've saved over the years that won't go into an album. And I'm going to make them pretty. Because I can..*VBS* And I'm proud of that.

A block from Ms. Jan and more one patch quilts...

Last weeks mail brought me this very lovely block from Ms. Jan at Ms. Jan Quilts(see sidebar for link). I'm sad that she didn't sign it, but I'll figure it out *VBG* I'm thinking this one will go right in the MIDDLE of the Memories quilt. Thank you Jan!!
And continuing on from last week, I'm still caught up in the 'one patch' idea and sharing. Today I'm offering you the lowest of low in the one patch world, the square.If you can see the world in a grain of sand, there is no end to what you can do with a square of fabric. Even without dividing it into parts. A very simple one patch doll quilt, made from 2" squares
Or a more planned and color chosen bargello, from a pattern idea of Bonnie's (www.quiltville.com) I have made four of these now.
Or wandering back to my scrap bag, pieces for a 9 patch..."Looking Old and Blue". A 5/4 combination with the emphasis on the lights. Betsy made one at the same time...she set hers with red. Nothing special, just squares. I don't using strip piecing very much, and these 9 patches were cut the old fashioned way....LOL. Betsy laughs at me as I do my "each by each by each" method, as she calls it. Everything was cut into a seperate square before it became a block.
It might be that it's a square at it's most basic level, but like the 'idea' of bread, once you begin, there are so many possibilities. Why not try one that appeals to you??

Personal pride and predjustice....

and I'm definitely OLD enough to have opinions about both. As usual, this is what is on my mind today..it's taken most of the day to 'jell' into thoughts I can write down. I believe the human 'condition' almost REQUIRES us to 'tell our stories' to share our humanity in spoken, written, painted, sewn or dance form. I've probably missed something there, but you get the idea. Today I'm sharing a little project, recently begun. It's NOT a big deal.
A $1, spiral bound journal is on it's way to becoming an outward sign of a PRIDE that is new to me, a pride in what I 'do'....*VBS*
These are tops that I pieced for Wrap Them In Love, 'Bama Belle's group in particular. Linda J.is kind and is willing to take my tops and finish them for her groups donation projects. It allows me to continue piecing quilts. Physically I'm not able to complete as many quilts as I can piece tops for...sad truth. I had almost given up making anything new, and mostly played and dabbled in new ideas that never saw completion. Now they do, which delights me.
I'm aware how SMALL a deal this is, but it has taught me things I didn't know about myself. Until the project sharing with Linda J, I didn't know I didn't take pride in things I do. In my childrens accomplishments, yes, or those of my ex,but not in my own. Because they "don't count". I was only doing what needed doing, what I wanted to accomplish or what I had no choice but to take care of. Things I made were made with love, but DUTY is what rang out at the end. Satisfaction....but not pride. You'd have to wonder why??? First, you'd have to realize it was the norm for you to see it that way. So, why?? Family. And I think it might be that simple. I grew up without being told I was doing a good job, or that someone was proud of me. I was "checked on", but only to see if the job was complete. Teachers in the 40's and 50's(at least in my schools) were NOT big on praise, not encouraging comments. Nothing written on my report cards was ever terrible, but something prompted me to destroy ALL of them, and I had them a;; the way back to Kindergarten. "Sylvia doesn't live up to her potential", "Sylvia doesn't use her time productively", "Sylvia spends too much time looking out the window when she should be working".
It seems performance is all that mattered, not how hard you tried or if you did a good a job. And then I met and fell in love(?)with a guy whose family was totally lacking demonstrations of affection. They didn't hug, they didn't give birthday presents, they didn't thank each other. Life was duty. He and I were a bit like oil and water. Trust me, oil burns hotter *VBS*,water is flat,often stormy and is almost always deceptive.
Luckily by the time we adopted our first child, there wasn't a force on earth that could have kept me from saying I loved huou, or that she was doing a good job, or how clever she was in whatever task it was. It isn't just that children need reassurance that they are doing well, I believe ALL living things need do. Maybe the trees don't need it as much as the crews who clear away the snow, but are you sure??? I'm not.
In my late 40's, when so much was going wrong in my marriage and life, it dawned on me that I longed for someone to tell me "you're doing a great job", and even more, "my goodness but you're clever(or smart, or pretty, or something?). What was missing, was 'family', I think.
Years later. when my oldest DD said to me(one year at Christmas time) "Mom, how on earth did you do it all?", I was quite stunned by the question. I asked what did she mean? She meant 'taking care of home, 5 kids, my dad and being an administrator's wife....and making sure the kids had enough each Christmas to be happy'. Apparently just Christmas shopping for 5 kids(plus adults)had just become something she noticed...LOL Later, as I thought about her remark, I realized how much it meant to me,the maturity to see what "walking in my shoes" was like.
Anyway, as an Honorary Bama Belle, I was thrilled when Linda sent me pictures of the quilts made from my tops *VBS* I chose to make the little "book" of them, and I did so with PRIDE...each gets it's own page, and today....I added Winnie the Pooh stickers here and there. Just because I could and I wanted to...DIDN'T I DO GREAT????
Predjudice is another whole post I think....

A cold rainy Sunday night.....

A brand new yellow pencil..shape of things to come *VBG* It's been a cold, rainy weekend. Major flooding in southern MN,middle son told me tonight 17" of rain at their place...a bit much! I've added lattice to the bow ties, and worked to combine some blocks I had made a few months ago. Tomorrow, maybe pictures! I do have appointments, etc, a busy Monday.I'll try to fit in pictures. I have a new block in the mail to share, but again, it awaits a picture.
I am very honored to have been nonimated for this "nice" award by Libby. Thank you Libby *VBS* I do my best to be a "nice" person. I found out years ago that being nice, and being honest, trying to keep your word, and "doing no harm" are an excellent way to "be" in the world. These days it often seems that rudeness and anger are the "norm". It's a beautiful logo that accompanies the award. I'm not sure who designed it ..but it's lovely.
I now get to nominate more people to recieve the award ..5 or 6, I believe. I could happily nominate everyone whose path has crossed mine..*VBS* But I think I'll single out a few that I believe are "really, really nice" gals, and who maybe haven't already been awarded..*VBS*
In no paticular order, I happily nominate:(all links are on my sidebar)
Carol E. of Giraffe Dreams
Fiona of Scraps In Progress
Ms Jan of Ms Jan Quilts
Sandy of Rabbit Stitching
Barb of Thinking Out Loud

and just because I can...Bren of Pieces From Me,Jenny of Welcome To Blogland Baby Girl, and Carolyn of Lakeside Quilting *VBS*

Being Simply Charming....

as I am, and still working on bow ties join up, today is 'quilty' but not new. This is a page of beginning to be more complicated triangles from the book.
Kathie is NJ(my dear friend *VBS*)asked if it was worth buying. Boy, that's a hard one! As a senior on the 'ole fixed income train' not if I had to pay the original AQS price(which I don't know) but guess it was in that $18-20 range. This book is from Hamilton BookSellers(see sidebar for link). Hamilton is a quilters dream come true!! Lots and lots of brand new quilt books at bargin basement prices. Their shipping is just incredibly reasonable, and many of the books are as low as $1.95,$2.95 and up. I'm thinking I paid either $2.95 or $3.50 for the Charm Quilts book. I didn't know the authors, but gambled on it being about One Patch.According to the back cover, there are 30 different charm patterns(cradle, picket fence, apple core and more) A dozen traditional quilt projects for all skill levels, and a feature is the "Beg and Borrow" Novelty quilts made with fabric swatches from textile companies.***Translation into 2007 speak: I Spy quilts *VBS*

This is one of the very, very simple doll quilts I made from 'leftovers' for the the day care.
A page of more complicated shapes, and I do find these interesting. Was thinking that a doll quilt from either one might be fun.
This is my second flower garden. I deliberately used fabrics that find less favor and acceptance, as do many children.It's easy to pick(and use)the pretty ones *S* I called it "In my Heart's Garden". The name came quite a long time after the quilt was finished, and is partly based on giving it to my oldest daughter's birth mother for her birthday. It is hand pieced and hand quilted, and now lives in Michigan. And before you ask, that's the other Mom in the picture..*VBS* We are close in age and in friendship. She is about 4 years younger than I am, and DD was not a teenager's baby. She is however, an only child for her birth mom, which doubles the blessing that she is to both of us.

Fight Out at Finn's OK Corral.....

Good old gunslinging Norton, 'duking' it out with the whole World Wide Web, apparently. Poor luck with uploads today, but finally...I hope! I promised patterns from the Charm Quilts with Style book, but scanning was against the rules today also. Soooo...we have this one for now. I never thought of this quilt as a one patch, but it is, and a neat one.
The one pattern piece is shown here. I can tell you it is 4 7/8" X 2.5". Which would finished at 4" X 2"..except for that triangle join up to the next piece. The finished size of the ACTUAL piece is 2" X 4" X 2"high because it has 3 'parts' that need measuring.
If this is something you would want to do, and need more directions, drop me a line. I promise you don't really need a pattern, or if YOU do, you can make it quite easily.
Quilt Pixie asked if the book is about one patch only..for the most part, yes. There are 7 or 8 pages like the one below with a one patch shape that could be used. Then there is ONE page that gives you a few shapes they call "for mulitple patterns" a couple of them are two part and one is a three part. And of course they suggest that variations on a theme include the triangle or diamond used with hexagon, or a square used used with snowball shapes.
This is pretty typical of any one of the pages of possible shapes. This is the simplest set of Triangles, they have MANY that are more complicated. A wide variety. And a page of curved shapes like the Apple Core. I will scan a couple of more tomorrow, or later tonight...if the computer co-operates! Last of all I give you one of my many One Patch Quilts.This is my Trianglemania quilt from a few summers ago. I posted it the first time on Nov. 4, 2005 if you want the details.
Libby was saying she had only made ONE quilt using One patch, her hexagons. I think she forgot she's worked with all triangles or maybe all squares or strips as in fence rail. 9 patches and 4 patches are just as much ONE patch quilts as a real old 'one patcher'...*VBS*

Sewing, sewing, sewing....

and being "charming"....of course *VBS* The time I can sit and sew seems to increase abit more each day. Same with time in the computer chair. My knee still isn't happy in any position what so ever, but if I keep adjusting it, that works. The swelling is finally almost ALL gone from EVERYWHERE. And that means the bruising in now running full tilt. Believe it or not, my forehead is just showing it's bruise...and it's been since Friday night!!! The swelling opened the door for the pain to follow it in, and IN IT CAME! But, all in all, I'm on the mend *VBS* I've scanned the cover of a book I picked up from Hamilton Books a while back. Actually I don't view it as much about "Charm" quilts, as ONE patches. I'm quite fond of one patches and all the things you can do with a single shape. In a true charm quilt, the "trick" or "rule, if you will" is that you use EACH fabric only ONCE. In a one patch, you use just ONE shape...for example Grandmother's Flower Garden should use HEXAGONS, not the triangle variation if it's a true one patch.
In this book there are many, many patterns for a one patch block and what combining them can result in.
Since I've been madly sewing some bow tie blocks to finish up a top and am not ready for a picture, I'll scan one or two of the one patch ideas tomorrow.

Birthday Boy ~ Blocks in the mail...

My darling grandson is one year closer to grown up. It's hard to believe that 8 years ago today, on Friday the 13th, I watched him slid into the world. He's the only one of my grandchildren that I have had the priviledge of seeing born. He's special to me in soooo many ways, including that one...*VBS*
He was an adorable bouncy baby, and a real heart stealer with deep dimples and his Daddy's curls. He's 3 in the firetruck picture. I am not always blessed with new pictures since his mom and dad split up. This picture(2005-age 6) that my DS#3 snapped with my digital camera. I love it! He looks just like his Daddy *VBS*
I won't get to see him today, but I made sure my card and gift were at his Daddy's house last week, already and waiting for him to turn 8!The last picture is of the blocks I got in the mail on Saturday. Saturday's mail would still be in the mail box except for the fact I received a package, and the mailman brought everything to the door.
The blocks are from Michele whose blog is With Hearts and Hands, A quilting journey(see sidebar for link) for my Blog-a-versary and for the Orphan quilt *VBS* I love them and the gifts Michele!! Thank you soooo very much *VBS*
I'm not as stiff today, but I definitely have lots of aches and pains in the bruised places. I'm still taking it easy, but able to do a few things for a short time. Thanks for all the well wishes..*VBS* Hugs for all....

I'm dreaming.....

of something like this.....which would be a great relief from our 90+ degree heat! Altho I'm not going to complain, it's MUCH hotter all across the southland from coast to coast!
The Universe had other plans for me this weekend. The delightful trip to see some of my grandsons(including the newest one, Zander)got cancelled unexpectedly Friday night. I had turned off the bedroom light and crossed the room to open the window a bit wider and adjust the blinds. When I turned back to go to bed,I caught my big toe(left foot) in the laundry basket and a took a full length "header" across the room. I grabbed for something that wasn't there, and took the full impact on my left knee, right shoulder and forehead! Definitely NOT a graceful landing. I saw multicolored stars, a flash of white light and maybe Daffy Duck dashing past..LOL. Amazingly I didn't knock myself out completely and I didn't break anything. For that alone I am most grateful and blessed. My left knee is much worse for the impact,too stiff to bend and very painful. Getting up and down from a chair requires some thinking.
My shoulder is stiff, but it mostly works, and I managed not to give myself a black eye when I hit my forehead.
I thought maybe I could still manage the trip, but morning brought a whole new set of things to deal with, and 7 hours in a truck didn't seem intelligent. I got hold of DD#1 and she asked DH to ride along, which he did. THe packages got delivered to the grandkids and all's well that ends well.
I've slept quite abit off and on yesterday and today,seems odd, but it must be what my body needs. I'm less stiff tonight, but I'm not jumping over any boxes or laundry baskets. I've learned my lesson,next time I'll put the clean clothes away right away!

Chickens....

Rabbit Stitching asked about the pattern for the chickens in my post day before yesterday. It's a rotary cut(by measurements)pattern from a Country Threads book. I think it was the first one, The Quilt Shop Series, but they have chicken patterns in almost everything they publish. The block is 10.5" unfinished.
On the home front, another quiet day at home..temps outside mid to high 90's and altho the humidity has dropped, my breathing still isn't the best. Tomorrow I get to ride along with DD#1 while she delivers a riding lawn mower to her middle brother. It will give me a chance to see several of my many grandsons. It'll be 7 hours of riding, but it will be air conditioned...LOL.
See you all on Sunday probably.

Block in the mail...

It's such fun to be getting these blocks in the mail *VBS* Today's block is from Momma See in Washington State. She's a friend of Sue's(From the Magpie's Nest) and has decided to play along with our Orphan Train Challenge. The block is just beautiful Momma See, thank you so much for sending it..*VBS*
On a totally unrelated topic...my e-mail from Momma See asks questions about a couple of things. I try to answer e-mail as soon as I can. I don't always make it right away. I think each of us tries to accommidate our readers.

If you have a question about a posting, one possibility is to look at the list of posts on the side bar. Under Orphan Train, or Orphan Quilts you'll see a number. That indicates how many posts I have made about that 'subject'.If you click on it, it will give you a new screen with ALL the times I've talked about that subject.
Beyond that..look at the top of the blog..there is a BLANK search box...type in what you are curious about, for example: Pay It Forward and blogger will give you all the posts about that subject. That saves you the time of having to scroll through months and months of postings..*VBS* That SEARCH box is at the top of every Blogspot blog. And it's there to help in finding what you want to know.
One other things.....I've set my comments sections so ANYONE may comment. Even without a blog, you ARE ABLE to click on comment and write a message. IF it asks who you are posting as, click on anonymous. Then please sign at least your first name to the comment so I know who to respond to.
I hope that helps, Momma See....and anyone else who needs it *VBS*

Piecing for pleasure....

makes for a happy Finn *VBS* what can I say?...I love to play.
Worked on more of the pink string blocks today and am very happy with the way they are turning out.And I played with "orphans" this afternoon. I foundled and sorted and laid some to one side. This particular orphan quilt is taking on 'its own' personality...I keep leaning towards using them all, but the brighter, clearer colors call to me, and I skip right past the somber colored ones. So now we know this quilt will be for a child..*VBS* Bright and happy despite it's humble status.

Fun in my mailbox...

Yesterday's mail brought me a block for my memory quilt. I got this lovely block from Linda J. She blogs at http://catsnqlts2.blogspot.com/ As you can see, she knows me quite well! Ebby and I just LOVE it, Linda!! Thanks a million!
Our weather has turned hot and humid again, and I'm inside and staying close to home this week. I did venture out for a quick cup of tea with Betsy yesterday and to see her new King Salmon quilt. It's quite amazing and I will go back with my camera. I've been working on these blocks, since seeing Judy's August Hour-a-Day challenge. I have a tin full of pink strips, time to use them up.
The centers will all be the hand dyed fuschia color, and then half the block lighter pinks and the other half, darker pinks and rose. I hope to get enough for one whole top. Check out Judy's challenge: addy on the sidebar.

Old Pieces and new...

My head is tired enough,tonight, not to be thinking very much. That's probably a good thing. The weekend has woven itself almost completely into being 'the past', as I sit here tonight. And it was better than average! I had no expectations other than how long it seems to last. An unexpected visit from DS#3 and his two boys sure brightened my rainy day on Saturday. And then an invitation to a cookout tonight added a lovely ending to the weekend. A small gathering of old friends, women like myself, alone in the world but with an understanding of family and connection..*VBS* Nicely grilled chicken, veggies, potato salad and fresh fruit...perfect for a Sunday evening in August. I have much to feel grateful for. Blessings, large and small. Tomorrow is the Monday morning I look forward to each week..*S*.
My quilt offering is the "old pieces" part. Not the first Mile a Minute quilt I made(Jean has that one), but one from 2002...my "Displaced Quilter" effort the summer I sold my house and lived in Betsy's guest house. I believe the post about it is from August of 2005. I love everything about the MAM making..*VBS* Patti has just run a marathon of making over 300 blocks, and Bonnie makes them and calls them Crumb blocks. The word has spread and many of you have now tried them...*VBS* It is fun to be able to sew without the pre-planning and pre-cutting. A kind of mindless pleasure with NO rules. This is the Official Pay It Forward logo(I think). I found it in my surfing a day or two ago. Not sure where in our quilt land of blogs it started but it has spread far and wide. If you can make out the printing on the logo, it gives the statistics of how quickly 3 becomes 9 and then 27 and then 71 and so on...quite amazing!! My 3 participantes(to Pay It Forward)to: Quilt Pixie, Katie, at Mismatched Quilter and Michele at A Quilting Journey. I think they all now have their 3 people in place. I can't send them the gift unless and until they have fulfilled the asking 3 people to participate..*S* It's a fun thing to do, don't be afraid to jump right in *VBS*

The ticking clock, about being who you are..and 'mail call'....

As I came into the computer/sewing room tonight, I thought about how quickly it gets to be Friday again. It seems I just breathed a sigh of relief that it was Monday morning and the weekend was over....and now it's Friday. It hasn't been an 'average' week in any sense of the word. One of those "life keeps happening while you were making other plans" deals, and lots of "Murphy's Law". Most of it is resolved, at least most of what affects me. There is, and will be, the continuing coverage of the bridge disaster...one of the 8 bridges that connects St.Paul to Minneapolis, some 40 miles west of me. Even when you've lost no one...the images are very disturbing and scary. It's been 48 hours when people to hug would be appreciated...but not available. That's life. Time passes, everything changes and then changes again.
I've been thinking about orphans and orphan blocks again today. I sewed and posted a picture over at Riding the Orphan Train. It's a Work in Progress. but it got me to thinking about "being" who we are. I am a 'puzzle piecer' and a 'gleaner'. I think I start with a "piece"(life, home or quilt)and then look for what goes with it, not necessarily color, but another piece...like it's a puzzle. And I am a 'seeker', in that I'm detail oriented about finding things. I can 'glean' the bits from where they lie, or hide, and gather them together to make something that is 'whole'. It's what I know how to do,the direction that life pushes me...to gather the odd bits. And that's what works for me and makes me the happiest. Don't hand me a basket with a 'kit' for a quilt inside, give me the few leftover pieces that you didn't need and send me on my way. I might NOT want to leave you, especially if you make me feel secure, but I MUST, because that is who I am.
On a less serious note, mail call brought me another block for my memories quilt, the "Pieces From OUR Scrapbag" that I will be making. Katie, at Mismatched Quilter(see my sidebar for a link) has been making Tonya's wonky letters and working on a challenge quilt for Space Travel. She sent me 'hugs' that will last forever..*VBS* Thanks Katie!! I love it and that you left it big enough for me to size. The second block is from Vera at KC Quilter, *VBS*, she sent it as an orphan block, but I will use it in the "Pieces" quilt. I'll add your name to it Vera, thank you so much, it's such a sweet little bird. I love it!

And there you have, musings and mail, and reflection. Not nearly all of what is on my mind these days, but enough for today. If you love someone, tell them...*VBS*