A Prairie Home Quilts

I’ve been working on things these last two months but just haven’t had the brain power to put together something coherent to post. I’ve been silently creative / creating. My mom and youngest son are currently undergoing tests for cancer. Well, my mom is actually still waiting to have her biopsy scheduled after much shuffling back & forth and needless hassle from doctor’s office staff & waiting on insurance approval, etc. My son is waiting on the results from his blood test. His cancer scenario is less likely; but you know, when it’s your kid, you worry. Mom’s is a little more scary as she had breast cancer previously in 1998.

Anyway, that’s why I’ve been remiss about posting and about showing you my OttLite that I won. I love it! Everyone needs one. When I first received it, I had it set up behind my chair that I hand piece & quilt in.

But because I use (a very dilapidated) magnifying lamp when I’m doing hand work & the light from it was canceling out the natural lighting of the OttLite, I decided to put the OttLite over by my sewing machine. I have to say, it’s wunnerful. Everybody needs one.

Well, it was only about 7 weeks ago, but here are some wedding pictures finally. And, no, I never did get the quilt top done in time for the wedding, but my wonderful son understands fully because. . . he’s just like his mama. *smile*

My new daughter-in-love, Koren

The beautiful bride

The handsome groom

My son, Nathan, and his dad

I managed to snap a few pictures from the local quilt show we attended yesterday. There were two appliquéd quilts that were beautiful–one captured Best of Show. (Pictures are clickable to see an enlarged view)

On the left: Dian Lamb’s “Guardian Angel” First Place – Machine pieced & Machine quilted On the right: Lynda Caffey’s “Crazy Quilt” Third Place – Any piecing method & Hand quilted [Lynda's quilt has black & white photos of family members, her grandmother's lace and wonderful embroidery work]

On the left: Sonia Wittenberg’s “Black & Brights” – Machine pieced & Machine quilted On the right: Wanda Smith’s “Block of the Month” Third place – Comination piecing & Machine quilted [This one is done in batiks]

On the left: Wanda Smith “Bear Mountain Cabin” First Place – Machine pieced & Machine quilted On the right: Diane Johnston “Dad’s Tulips” Second place – Combination of quilting [This one is done is plaids]

Shirley Pierce “Baskets & Hearts” Best of Show & First Place – Any piecing method & Hand quilted

What does that have to do with quilting you ask? Well, I guess if I wasn’t having so much fun gardening and quilting my life away, I could be sitting in the casino playing penny slots and winning like one local gentleman. Unfortunately, I prefer to drop my pennies at the LQS for $1 FQs and $4 a yd sale fabrics. Besides I don’t gamble so it’s unlikely I’ll be winning the megabucks jackpot soon. Instead I garden and quilt which is probably cheaper than a gambling habit (really!) and definitely more fulfilling. At least I think so. :)

I finished 3 small machine quilting projects–2 table runners and small wallhanging. (I think I made the picture clickable so you can see a closeup.)

The one at the top of the photo is a repro doll quilt that Rachelle made from scraps to sell in the space that Mom and I have at the local craft and antique mall. I quilted it with a loose allover feather pattern. The pink one on the left is her’s also… another scrap project to sell. It’s quilted with roses and rosebuds. The table runner on the bottom right is something I whipped up quickly for my Mom to send to her youngest sister in NB, Canada from an extra bit of fabric she had leftover. I quilted it with a pinecone and pineneedle pattern. I have 2 more repro doll quilts to machine quilt for Rachelle before I start on the 2 QOVs I have to do.

I’ve also finished up the borders, sewed up and ironed the binding and put the backing together for Jessica’s Montana Hugs & Kisses. Her quilt will go on the frame after the 2 QOVs.

And I’ve got the parts of the backing piece done for my Psalm 8 quilt. The top section is done, the hills are done and the ocean piece is sewn to the hill section. Thank goodness for steam and spray starch! I had a difficult time with creases forming on the top curve of the middle most hill. I think it was because the fabric wasn’t as thick and stiff as the others I was using all around it. Next time I notice that, I’m going to try to remember to starch the piece first and see if that helps. I’m working on the most tedious portion right now… the “S” curves where the night and daytime sky come together. There’s much too much pinning to be done–it’s literally going to take me hours to sew this seam. [sigh]

Tomorrow I’m going to be getting together with a few friends to spend the day sewing. We used to get together frequently but haven’t for about 6 months now. It’ll be fun to “show ‘n tell” and catch up with what’s been going on with one another. I’m taking Mom’s wallhanging to work on.

Wouldn’t you know that when I’m finally ready to spend some more time piecing, the town gets hit with a power outage. LOL Not only that, but it’s been abnormally chilly here! I *did* get some time at the sewing machine. I finished up another block for my Mom’s wallhanging. I spent most of the day sitting under a quilt browsing old quilt magazines trying to keep warm!

Piecing: 2 days of 2