Scrappy Quilt

How can we make a pretty quilt from this ...

... and this?

Evie came over and helped place the scrappy squares on my design wall and sew this quilt together.

While we sewed, the boys played in the living room.

Later, Evie added an airstrip and hanger to the roads.

A Plate of Pineapples

Thanks to Amy over at Amy's Creative Side for hosting another fine Blogger's Quilt Festival. Here's my entry.

My quilt was made for a challenge using the "Dresden Plate" block as the jumping off point. I first pieced "Pineapple" blocks and sewed 3 of them together in a row. From those blocks I cut out a blade from the Dresden Plate. Then I sewed the blades together and finally applique'd the "plate" to the background.

Combing Through Your Scraps

Pre-cutting for a Karen Combs workshop.

Wise Old Owl

A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

I made this quilt block for our PTQ's "Birds At Home" challenge.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
--Psalm 19:14

Slow Going

Little by little, piece by piece, strip by strip, and section by section I am slowly getting this quilt put together.

Mother & Emily

Mother made an amazing 100 squares of velvet for me while she was here to visit.

The fabric is not just velvet alone, but anything that shimmers & glistens, brocades, or something that pleased my eye. Thank you so much, Mother. And thank you to each of you for your choice of setting the squares. We chose the zig zag effect in the diagonal setting. I appreciate each of your thoughts and input in this matter.

Mother was a trooper while she was here. Some days I had to work and she just loved staying here , relaxing, reading, and sewing in the quiet of the day.

My Mother & I!

And then it was time for her to go home. We met my sister, Emily and shopped at a quilt shop in Ackerman and then zeroed in on the thrift stores along the way home. Emily has been bit by the "quilting bug" and it's great fun watching her put together fabrics. I love her taste. We decided to use a few of the same fabrics and each make something and not let the other see our end product until we both have them finished.

It's been a great week!

Mother & Emily Visit

 Emily brought Mother down to Mississippi from Virginia last Friday. Amy, Ashton and I meet them in Corinth for suppper ...

... and for the night.

We also did some Thrift Store shopping and then stopped at fabric stores and a place called The Quilt Shop Gallery just east of Booneville, MS. Here's Emily with her purchases.

Mr. Claud was a friendly man who used a carpenters square and pencil and then Ginger scissors to cut our fabric. He scoffed at using a rotary cutter and mat. His shop was full and overflowing with quilts and fabric ...

... and depression glass.

Today, Mother is sewing velvet squares for me to make a small throw.

State Fair Sampler ...

... made by Possum Town Quilters.

Our Possum Town Quilters have some of our quilts on exhibit at the Rosenzweig Art Center in Columbus, MS for the month of August. You are invited to come and view the quilts during their hours, Tue. - Saturday 9:00 - 5:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.

You are also invited to the opening reception on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. It's free and open to the public.

Come and bring your friends.

More of the Knoxville Quilt Show

I enjoyed a class with Laura W. ...

... and started this small quilt of a pineapple in the folk art style.

That iron in the top right corner is my badge for graduating from the "Chicago School of Fusing." Our slogan in that class was "Press On!"

I also had a class on machine quilting with Teri L. She does lovely fine work.

Coleen & Claire Bleu joined us later in the week.

Karen K. Stone's quilts have attracated me with all the bright and bold colors. Polly had a class with her.

Karen also had a lecture and let us see her quilts up close, touch them, and take pictures of them. They were a feast for the eyes.

At our "Three Mennonite Quilting Sister's" brunch, we met another family with 7 girls and 1 boy. Here, three of the girls pose with Mother and 5 of her 7 daughters.

After the show I went with Coleen & Claire Bleu to Georgia. Claire has the neatest decorated room.

I felt so blessed that she purchased my "From New York to California" to display on her wall.

AQS Quilt Show in Knoxville

I met Mother, June, Polly, & Barbara for a fun week together. Here we had supper at the Trio on Market Square.

Polly watches me as I shoot the yellow & green umbrellas.

I loved visiting the Sunsphere from the 1982 World's Fair.

There was a great view of Knoxville from the top, with lots of information and history

Autumn Understands & Is Grateful

After Autumn got over her shock I tried to explain just how her quilt would look if we left it as it was.

I'm not sure why I couldn't visualize this until after she left last Monday. But, duh. It finally soaked into my brain that this just isn't what we want. I called her dear Mom, Barbara to see what we should do, and that's when we decided to pick it all apart.

Now, yesterday Autumn & I sewed all the blocks back together adding the black in a checkerboard fashion.

Then I used my homemade "Twister" template and cut out each block individually.

Autumn sewed them together and laid them out in rows.

And now, TA DA, she has a much lovelier quilt top.

We were tired but happy when it was finished.

And if you think that's not enough, Autumn is making this quilt to give away to one of her best friends! She is so kind and generous!

Autumn Returns

First we laid out all the blocks.

Then I helped ...

 ... her sew them together.

 Autumn is so fun and it's such a delight to have her around.

Mystery Quilt

I'm gradually making headway on my "Mystery Quilt."

4th Quilt in a Series

I've finished my 4th quilt in the series, "What Mean These Stones IV."

                             To see the other 3 quilts, click here.