Thanksgiving Day and Wonky Quilts

I was thankful for Afton and Keyona’s help in peeling potatoes for mashed potatoes for our Thanksgiving lunch.

Mother enjoys a moment with her great grandson Teryn Ray.

Quinten smoked a turkey for our lunch. Evie made gravy and carved the turkey.

After lunch I pulled out a gingerbread house for the grandchildren to help decorate.

Evie did a wonderful job squeezing the icing, letting the children place the candy on the house, and keeping order.

I think I like Dr. Seuss’ books as much as the children. And I’m always glad “that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day!”

Afton is basting her quilt getting it ready for the machine quilting.

She bundled up for an airplane ride and then had some waiting time so she diligently kept on quilting.

Keyona getting her quilt basted.

Mother’s hexagons are making beautiful flowers. Just look how nice and flat they lay.

All finished except hand stitching the binding to the back.

And June did a lot of that hand stitching.

Keyona’s “Wonky Squares” in purple.

Afton’s “Wonky Squares” in pink.

Grandmother and “Grandmother’s Flowers”

Thanksgiving Guests, Keyona and Afton Quilt

Life …

My sister June and Jim brought two of their grandchildren and Mother to Mississippi to visit us over the Thanksgiving holidays.

We took them out to Bogue Chitto Cotton Gin for a tour. Paul shows them a hand full of cotton seeds.

Keyona and Afton watch the cotton bales being wrapped for shipment.

This is our group watching the loud machines strip the cotton from the seeds. Actually there are saw blades that pick the seeds from the lint.

… as a Quilter

Keyona and Afton are trying to pick some fabric to make a small quilt.

We decided on making “wonky” squares like Gina, Carolyn, and Dana to make it easy. I set up my trusty old Bernina 1130 in my SewEasy table for Keyona.

Afton used Amy’s trusty Bernina 1260 set up on Paul’s desk.

June sat at my desk doing beautiful hand work with silk ribbon and thread on her black velvet diamonds.

Mother sat back in the corner hand stitching her hexies together, a project that Polly helped get started for her. She loves it and her points are coming out very precise and the flowers lay nice and flat.

Ashton had his own ideas about making quilt blocks and used my trusty Bernina 170 to make his creation.

My job was to cut the strips for the girls, guide them in their sewing, watch out for Ashton and do whatever else that needed to be done.

Cleaning, Finishes, Setting Sage, and Autumn Maple Quilts

Before I get to the “finishes” I want to tell you about …

Life …

We had our fall church cleaning today. Veronica ran the sweeper.

Angie washed windows.

And we had lots of other help that made the job go fast. I got to clean the sewing closet. It’s a walk-in style and big enough room to have a small Sunday School class.

In the big closet is the smaller closet where we keep finished quilts and comforters, batting, a box of scraps to be cut into carpet strips, and then on the bottom right are the tubs we use for our  communion and feet washing service.

I like these shelves that hold the fabric, backings, and projects in progress.

And now, it’s all clean.

… as a Quilter

Perry and Emily came this week. Perry to help with bean harvest and Emily to ... sew with me?

Remember how she started this little art quilt HERE and HERE? She added a tree and then spooled out thread for the leaves and covered the thread with tulle and stitched over it. 

And now it is finished!  She is calling it “Setting Sage.” It measures 14”X12” and is for sale for $99.00.

Emily also brought along her “fractured chevron quilt” and today got it all pin basted and ready to quilt.

I continue to work on my “lily” quilt.

I’m still trying to decide what color of thread to use on my lily, so I decided to make a small art quilt with a sampling of the thread on the black fabric.

I’m calling it “Autumn Maple.” It measures 12 1/2” X 12 1/2” and is for sale for $75.00.  SOLD

The back has “fast finished triangles”  ready for hanging.

The label.

Dana finished all 9 wonky blocks and is ready to sew them together.

Her twin sister Sarah came for a friendly visit today. They both have bubbling personalities and they both love cats!

Emily, Dana, and Carolyn Make Quilts

Life …

I captured this picture over the catfish pond on our way to Quintens house for supper.

… as a Quilter

This has been a fun week, almost like a mini sewing retreat.

Emily needed something to do while her husband Perry helped with field work.

Dana continues to work on her blocks.

Carolyn is here for a week with us. I got her interested in making wonky log-cabin-like blocks for a small quilt or throw similar to what Dana is making and Gina made here.

She is intent on getting the edges cut straight.

… in progress …

And now she has all nine blocks finished and is ready to sash them together.