Ablaze

I'm working on a new piece for my "Ablaze" series.

More inspiration can be found at these Linky Parties.

2016 Heatwole Sewing Retreat & Planting Corn

Our 2016 Heatwole Sewing Retreat is now history. If you missed out, here are some links that tell of our time together. 

Barbara's blog  "QuiltinGal."

Polly's posts "PollyHeatwoleYoder."

My posts "JuliaHeatwoleGraber."

I love being with Mother and my sisters. 

It was a fun and fantastic week.

Paul came to Chattanooga to pick me up and enjoyed being with us the last day.

This past week the men started planting corn in some of the drier fields.

Kirby and Stacy enjoy riding with their Dad after school.

Magnolia Sewing Circle

It's so much fun getting together to sew with friends.

Someone donated these blocks that remind me of the Cathedral Window pattern. Rosetta is finding a way to put them together for a comfort top.

Thelma, Elmina, Norma, and Carol are hand quilting a baby quilt for a layette.

It was a cold and windy day so the children mostly played indoors.

Kendall watches his mom, Sherilyn sew blocks together.

Chrystal finds a backer for this top.

Friends, Addison and Lia.

Little Kenny watches his Mom Laura sew that one seam.

Kenny peeps through the machine's throat and gives his mom a smile.

We each were to bring a can of soup for lunch. They were all mixed together ...

... and served with homemade bread, honeybutter, and a broccoli salad. It was delicious.

Fiber Art Meeting - SAQA AL/AR/LA/MS

We had a very inspirational fiber art meeting in Ridgeland, MS

These ladies finished up their "Twisted Trees with Confetti" projects from our last meeting.

Our challenge this time was "green/sorrow." These are 8X11 inch pieces that will join our blue/bird and yellow/catastrophe pieces for an exhibit.

Show and Tell was also inspirational and informative.

 

 

 

 

   

And then for a program, Judy Momenzadeh shared two techniques for coloring fabric.

 

  

  

  

Life and Funerals

Paul and I had a short trip to Florida for his SLM meeting. As we traveled I was able to stitch the hem of a dress.

We had supper at Der Dutchman Restraunt in Sarasota. I enjoyed my view of Paul across the table and this quilt design made of wood.

I can't imagine doing life without my sister, Coleen.

It was a special treat to be with Ella from Romania.

All too quickly it was good-bye Florida!

One afternoon I had a pleasant surprise and wonderful visit with Sharon and her mother Tressa Knepp. Sharon was so happy and cheerful and helped me prepare pizza in spite of just finishing a round of chemo.

Within one week's time we had 2 funerals at our church. Stanley Schrock was a loved and respected man with undying love for his wife Anna. He will be greatly missed.

The 2nd funeral was for Diane Lee, Jeff and Kathryn's 28 year old daughter.

We will greatly miss both of these people and the inspiration they were to each of us.

With each funeral, I'm reminded anew of our 20 year old son Brian who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2004.