Snow! MAN!

The Snowman was born today! He doesn't have a name just yet but he is ready to go play tennis or ride in a rodeo. Richard and Millicent had to run out to play in the snow before it is gone. We realize to our Northern family this is a touch of snow but down here in the south this is a ton of snow. I hope you are all having a good time in your snow. It certainly brings out the kid in us. Where am I? Taking pictures of course, in the warm, dry house.

When the children were little we travelled with Dad's job and we spent time in Denver...no snow. We were in Indiana for 5 years and it barely snowed, I am not kidding. Just a dusting of snow. So they really never had the opportunity to play in the snow as I did growing up in Missouri. One winter day in Mississippi, we received about 1/2 inch of snow fall and they all bundled up, went out with sleds and snowsuits and with in a hour they were playing in the mud. The snow was gone as soon as they touched it. I wished they could have enjoyed the beauty and the wonder of those tiny flakes adding up to mountains of snow. Each time it has snowed here since then one of them would ask, "Mom is this real snow?"

Today they are enjoying the snow with their dad or with their children and they were up with sun because they know the snow will melt and the children will be grown before they know it.

Tyler's Quilt

The last time I blogged, (sounds like something I shouldn't do:) I had posted our newest grand babies birth and her quilt.

This quilt is the first quilt made for our first grand baby,Tyler. He has graduated from high school.
In my defense, I did not quilt when he was born and did not begin until he was 1o years old. I thought about his quilt long before I actually made it, I needed to have a connection to him in the quilt itself. I paper pieced the blocks in bright colors, remembering the first time I saw him, he took my breath away. He and his mommy were so beautiful. The pattern is an abstract multi-faceted star. He certainly is a bright and multi-faceted star. The next connection was the sewing machine itself. I pieced this quilt entirely on my antique Singer Featherweight machine. I had not used the machine for piecing until this quilt or since but it was the perfect choice because our dear sweet Tyler is a wrestler. I do not know if he is still classified as a featherweight but his quilt is. I hope he will always wrap in the quilt and feel the warmth of our love for him.

Here's Harlie!!

Here is Harlie and Daddy Brian, aren't they adorable. Mommy wanted to wait on her photo shoot!! She worked hard that day.

Brian is a daddy!!

Harlie finally arrived! 8 pounds 9 ounces and as you can see a head full of black hair. She looks a lot like her daddy. We are all so happy she is here and healthy. Since I "only" had nine months warning..I had to finish this quilt the day she was born. It will be a memory for me, while mommy was in labor...Granny was sewing away! She was born on her aunt Robin's birthday, Sept 22, what a birthday present. She is a beautiful blessing.

A Quilt for Lauren

This is a thank you quilt. I made it for my niece, Lauren and her husband, Dustin. He is a navigator in the USAF. Lauren was in the Air Force for a little while also. I wanted to make them a wedding quilt but I am very far behind so this became an anniversary quilt instead. I want to say thank you to them for sacrificing for our freedom. They are a young couple struggling to have a marriage in a time when finances are precarious and our country is at a war. They sacrifice to live in a place they may not have chosen, to be on call for a mission at a moments notice, and they do this for our freedom.......yours and mine. And I thank them. Honor all who serve and to me that includes their families.

What is a farm/garden?

I have a secret pal affiliated with my Dear Jane quilt, I received a wonderful gift package from her this week and she spoke of her garden. Where she lives her gardens are growing well. I am not a gardener of flowers or vegetables. I have planted and weeded, fertilized and watered to very little avail. I think we picked 5 tomatoes. Last year I sprinkled some wild flower seeds in my "flower garden" and this year some beautiful black eyed susans did come up. But if I calculated how much money I spend on my plantings each year I would certainly give up.


When I was a little girl in Missouri my father worked 150 miles away from home in the big city of St. Louis, we grew up in the country. Each Friday when it was time to make the drive home he would tell his co- workers or drinking buddies, he was headed to the farm. When asked what he raised, he replied,"Cats,dogs, kids, and h_ll." An appropriate answer.

Several years ago I went to Sears and bought 5 rose bushes $1.00 each. The next morning I worked very hard to plant them before I had to leave for the airport. I dug the holes, fertilized, and watered each one very carefully. I was digging the last hole when my ride arrived. I dropped the bush in the hole, kicked the dirt over it, and said,"This one is yours God, I have to go." You guess it! This was the only one that survived. This rose bush bloomed with the most beautiful, full , huge roses. Each flush of new roses would be a dozen or more. Everyone would ask for cutting from this bush and of course I would share because the name of the rose was 'Peace". God's Peace.

I am not a gardener but I know the Master Gardener and His crop is well tended. We have eight children and the seventh grand baby will be here next month. When asked what I raise I would have to reply Cats, Dogs, Kids, and praises to heaven. I want to plant seeds of anticipation, fertilize creative thought, weed out negativity, and generously pour out love. God will grow the crop, and a bumper crop it is.

Mariner's Compass

This past week I had the fun and pleasure of taking a class on Mariner's Compass from M'liss Rae Hawley. We had a wonderful time and I learned some more about color placement. I have never really "learned" the color wheel and have become inspired to do so. Color theory is a mystery to me. I "see" but i have no idea how it really works. She also challenged me to learn stitch in the ditch with my longarm. I am intimidated by this, it requires a steady hand and good eye sight. Two things I lack. I have so many gadgets to help with longarm quilting but I really do not know how to use the gadgets. So many things to learn.

I also had the pleasure of reading an article about her son Alex who is a Staff Sargent in the Marines stationed in Afghanistan. The article was very moving for me and once again I was aware of the sacrifice of others for us, for me, for freedom. This young man is the cream of the crop. I am in prayer for my nephew Erik and the soldiers in Iraq because he is mine. Suddenly I looked at each soldier as mine. I wish they didn't have to be there but I am grateful they are willing, and my prayers are more specific for them and their safety, comfort , and conviction. So many things to learn.

If you have the opportunity to meet or have a class with this wonderful lady, go. you will be blessed.

To The Good Life

I made it!! I have completed 25 Dear Jane blocks. I know I have 144 blocks left to make but I have reached this milestone. I am Silver! I want to make 50 by this time next year. These are Baby Jane steps, a little block at a time. This quilt is such a treasure. the original quilt was made by Jane Stickle in 1863 "In War Time". Brenda Papdakis drafted the blocks, published a book and Cd so that people all over the world can enjoy,dream of, and reproduce this beautiful, haunting quilt. It is spectacular, it is a history lesson, and it is a hand reaching through time to touch ours. When I set out to make a block I think of Jane and her life, in my mind I contrast mine to hers. She is teaching me to be frugal and extravagant at the same time. Conserving fabric but stretching my abilities, to learn, grow, and treasure. The people who are talented and persistent enough to finish this masterpiece are loving called "godess", the quilt is called a "Baby Jane". Jane's quilt is the Mother quilt. The journey through this quilt is fascinating and rewarding, I will enjoy each step as long as it takes and when I finish the last stitch I will pick up my crown and dance.

I also want to link to my Etsy shop. I really do not have it set up just yet but it is a beginning, Everything begins at the beginning so thank you again for helping me along my way and checking often to see my journey and progression. I am grateful for my followers and friends. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7036976

Webshots Link

Hi Again! I thought I would include a link to my webshots page. I do not have all my quilts on the page but I am trying to keep up to date now. Please feel free to check out the pictures at your leisure. I will be uploading more of my Civil War Love Letters blocks this week as I have been trying to catch up on those. I recently became enamoured with Sylvia's Bridal Quilt and have been anxious to receive my silver status with Dear Jane, So there are more pictures to come very soon. Keep on quilting! http://community.webshots.com/user/litemotif