MINNESOTA QUILTS

Hello Blog Friends!

Sadly, I have to report that I have not worked on any sewing or scrapping projects since my last post...But, I have a good reason!  Denis and I were out of town last weekend to LaCrosse (on the Mississippi River) and to Houston County, just across the river in Minnesota.  We were on the hunt for barn quilts, and we found some.  Here are some of our favorites:

In addition to very lovely quilts on barns, we saw some very beautiful and awesome scenery, too!

We were actually in LaCrosse for a train show, and while we were waiting for that to open at Copeland Park, we watched dragonboat races that were going on...how fun is this?  

It was a great weekend.   I'm hoping to get back to crafting this week...we'll see how that plan works out.  

Here is a great shot of a fantastic sunset, taken from Riverside Park in LaCrosse.

Til next post....

LULU'S JELLY ROLL RACE

Hello Blog Friends,

This week I have completed the quilt top for my work friend Sally, whom I've known about a year.  Last week I mentioned that I was retiring from my job in September, and am making lasting remembrance gifts for those closest to me.  Sally joined our work family last August, and has been a joy to come to know.  She's faced some adversity lately, as her mother passed away about a month ago.  

For her quilt, I have chosen to make her a throw quilt using the jelly roll race quilt technique.  The fabric line is called Lulu by Chez Moi for Moda Fabrics.  It is rich with pinks, blues, yellow and greens.  I have had this jelly roll for several years, and I decided to use it for Sally's quilt.  The colors and patterns are cheerful and comforting.  Just what Sally will need in the next few months as she mourns her mother's loss.  I have the quilt top finished, and will work on quilting it over the next week.

Here's my progress so far:

Next week...hopefully I'll be able to show you the finished product!

Till then...

NORTHWOODS REVISITED

Hello Blog Friends,

I've been sewing again after such a busy spring.  I am retiring from my job in September (86 days, but who's counting? LOL) and have decided to make  some lasting reminders to those who mean so much to me at work.  We are more than co-workers and are very close friends.  

Remember the quilt I made for my young friend, Heather, at work...it was named Northwoods.  Heather is like a daughter to me (she is same age as my youngest, Kerri) and I love her very much.  Here is a picture of the finished quilt:

It was made of the most luxurious flannels I have ever worked with.  They are from the "Winter in the Pines" collection by Holly Taylor for Moda.  These flannels are fantastic!  I had quite a bit of leftover fabric, and had intended to make a couple of matching throw pillows to give with the quilt, but alas, I ran out of time last fall.  So, I've dug those remnants out, and have made two coordinating pillows.  Each pillow is the same block pattern as in the quilt, with outer sashing and cornerstones.  I think they turned out very nicely, and I was able to use up most of my leftovers.  Here they are:

I have another project in the works for the other girl who works in our office, Sally.  She is about 10 years younger than I am, so is like a sister to me.  Although I've known her just about a year, I'm fond of her.   More on her project next week!

See you then....

Calypso and Happy Times Pages

Hello again, Blog Friends!

As I mentioned in my last post, in the past month, I've created 6 (12 pages total) two-page scrapbooking layouts.  The scrapbooking group that I belong to meets once a month (currently at my house) and is led by my daughter, Kristy, who is a Close to My Heart consultant.  She designs the pages.  And, she gets dinner out of it, too!  Last week was meat loaf, baked potatoes, salad.

Here are the pages we made at the end of May.  These were made using the Calypso paper packet:

These pages were made just this past week, using the Happy Times paper packet, a special packet offered only in May for National Scrapbooking month.

My thanks once again to Kristy for creating some pretty awesome layouts.

Next time:  an update on sewing projects in process.  See you then!  

I'M BACK, WHAT A SPRING!

Hello Blog Friends!  

I hope you haven't given up on me!  It's been a heck of a spring!  I'll try to be brief while I catch you up on what's been happening in my life.   

Since I wrote to you last:

• I've been on a scrapbooking retreat.
• I've sewn 20+ pillowcases.
• I've been to Colorado.
• I've made 2 six-page scrapbooking layouts.
• I've made 2 throw pillows.
• I've been to a quilt show.
• I have 1 quilt top ready for quilting.
• My husband and I have been to 4  plays (local community theater).
• The construction season has begun, and I'm working 45 - 50 hours/week now.

Whew!  That's quite a list.

Here's a fun pic from the scrapbooking retreat:  

Here's the pile of pillowcases, along with some of my favorites.

Here I am with Denis and Mom at Loveland Pass, just west of Denver on U.S. 6.  Denis, my brother and I traveled there to scatter our mother's ashes high in the mountains.  Elevation 11,990 ft..  

Here are some photos from the 2016 Evergreen Quilters Guild Quilt Show in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay).  These are the ones we liked the best.

 I love this one, it is a landscape of National Parks:

 This next one is a "Slice" quilt.  You take a picture or drawing, cut it into slices, then each quilter makes her slice, then you join them all up again.  A great group project.  

More next post on the scrapping layouts I've created.  See you then!

Penelope Pages

Hello Blog Friends,

I've been doing some spring cleaning lately, and very little sewing.  I have had a chance, however, to do a little scrapbooking with my monthly scrapping group.  Last week we made some pages using the Close to My Heart Penelope paper packet and accessories.  Here are the three 2-page layouts we made:

Meanwhile, I am working slowly on the pillowcase project, and next post will be a show and tell of pillowcase progress.

Till then...

Sun Prairie Quilt Show

Hello Blog Friends,

Denis and I took a day off work and visited Sun Prairie, just east of Madison.  We attended the Sun Prairie Quilt Show on Monday, March 8.  Here are some favorites:

"My Colorwheel" by Donna Willadsen.  2nd Place Ribbon

"Celtic Circles" by Karen Capps.  1st Place Ribbon

"Maggie's Birth Quilt" by Joanie Zeier Poole.  2nd Place

After the quilt show, we had lunch in Sun Prairie and took a look at their downtown.  Here's the highlights:

 

Historical Marker.  Artist Georgia O'Keefe was born in Sun Prairie.

This water tower was built in 1899 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A totally fun day!