Unexpected Trip to the Midwest

On January 14, Hubs and I loaded the dogs and a suitcase into The Tank and headed west to St. Louis.  An unexpected trip back to Hubs' boyhood home was in order as his mom had emergency surgery.  We stayed on for ten days until Hubs' brother could come to stay with Maxine the Great.

Genealogy is one of Hubs hobbies.  He took the opportunity to scan some pictures of his ancestors.   

This is a picture of his maternal great grandmother, Irene Jane Collins.

She lived from 1868 - 1949.

Maxine the Great wanted me to look for this quilt that Irene Jane, her father's mother made.  It is not known when she made this quilt, but it is thought to be about 100 years old.   

A close up view shows that the appliqued pieces were created by folding the fabric in fourths then cutting out a quarter of the pattern.  While the applique was sewn on by machine, the quilting was done by hand. 

 Here is a picture taken just before we left Hubs' mom's home.  Maxine the Great is moving a little slower and still gaining strength, but she is doing well.

It has been a while since I have joined other vintage lovers for Vintage Thingies Thursday.

A Quilt Challenge

In July, my quilt guild issued its members a challenge. And I am always up for a challenge.

The rules are:

1. Minimum size is 42 X 56. Can be larger but no smaller.

2. May purchase one background or border fabric or use one from your

fabric stash that is larger than a fat quarter.

3. Other fabrics must come from your stash and must come from pieces

that are less than a fat quarter.

I started two quilts for this challenge. In the end, I used the blocks for one of the quilts for the border.

I am pleased with the end product.

Gadgets at My Place and Yours

What would our days be like without all the gadgets we use to make chores easier?   Every profession, art, hobby and craft have gadgets unique to the needs of the job or pastime. There are lots of gadgets going on at Hello Owl's "My Place and Yours" this week.

Here are some of my favorite gadgets I use in sewing and quilting.  There is no way I could cut fabric with precision without my rotary cutter, grid ruler and green rotary cutting mat.  I heart my magnetic pin cushion.  The pins just need to get close to be attached.

The wood gadget below the ruler is new and I have yet to use it.  The left end of this four in one tool can be used to make perfect corners and for getting poly stuffing into tight places.  On the other end is a flat ended cap for finger pressing and folding. 

When the caps are removed, one end is a seam ripper and the other end is a stiletto.

This little box is quickly becoming my favorite gadget.

 

Nothing irritates me more than running out of bobbin thread while sewing.  This little bobbin winder takes care of that. 

Thanks to this week's theme queen, Susan of It's the Things That Make You Go MMMMM.  Check out the other gadgets here.

Finished for Friday - Some Christmas Stuff

Why is it no matter how early I start preparing for Christmas, the closer it gets the more I have to do?

Boogie made a visit last weekend. He and Papa went to get the Christmas tree and he helped decorate it.

We made and ate Rice Krispie Treats.


Then came Monday and a flare up of my lower back. The back is much better today thanks to nsaids, ice and heat.

Despite the back, I did complete the tree decorating Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday was spent decorating and cleaning the rest of the house.

I also got three packages put together and mailed this week. One was a new iPhone for the youngest daughter. Her Christmas present early. A package filled with ornaments went to daughter #3. She wanted all the ornaments she had made and collected over the years. The third package went to my girlfriends back home. They will be having our Christmas gathering on Sunday.

I have been a busy Bea in my studio these last months. These are not things I have finished this week, but I wanted to share them. I will not be letting any secrets out as none of these gifts will be going to friends and family that read my blog.

This is a quilted thread catcher. A pin cushion filled with sand rests on the table and holds the little basket. I made two of these; one for my mom and one for Hub's mom.

I made a handbag for one of my girlfriend's who celebrates a December birthday. I was so pleased with the way this turned out. Hope she likes it.

Below is one of the reusable shopping bags I made from fabric in my stash. The blue print was four yards I found at a flea market and paid $2. The red polka dot used for the pocket and lining was a damaged piece I found in a remnant basket.
Next is one of the crayon keepers I made for the grandsons. These were fun and fast to put together. Here it is all rolled up.

This is the back.

And the inside.

*You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

What's next? This weekend I need to wrap, wrap, wrap! Monday morning I want to be at the post office with huge boxes going to the grandson and kids in Milwaukee, the parents and kids in Kansas and the MIL in St. Louis. Last year everything had to be sent priority mail. Ouch! I am hoping to save some money this year by getting things shipped earlier.

My little Singer will be humming again this weekend as I have two more handbags to construct. Then next week I can get the last of my gifts for Hubs and start the cookie baking.

Are you beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Join threeundertwo and tell us what you have accomplished this week.

Finished for Friday - Baby Shower Gifts

It has been a while since I have posted on Finished for Friday hosted by Lit and Laundry. Seems I have been in a blog fog lately; not really knowing what to post, not wanting to take the time it takes to down load the pictures, just a general indifference more or less. Hopefully, that has changed.

I have been a busy busy busy Bea in my studio the last couple of weeks. Christmas is rapidly approaching and I do not want to be racing from the cookie baking in the kitchen to sewing in the studio a couple of weeks before the holiday.

One of my dear friends is expecting her first grandchild, a girl, in December. They are having a shower for the expectant mother this weekend. I was caught off guard by the early date and have not quilted the blanket I have made for the new baby. Quickly, I put together this doll quilt that looks like the baby's blanket with a note to the new momma explaining what it represents. The little matching Teddy Bear came together quickly too.

I also wanted to send something to the grandma to be. This "Grandma Tote" went together quickly. I am very pleased with how it turned out. The fabric is beautiful, feminine but not girly.

This bag is from the Lazy Girl line and is called the "Whimsy Bag". If you have been toying with the idea of creating a purse or bag, this is a great one to help you build skills and confidence.


Besides these two projects, I have all the little, tiny pieces cut for a quilting class I will attend on Monday. I am hoping to show you the progress on that quilt next week. Tomorrow I am on my way to Clarksville, VA to attend a class on machine quilting. Maybe I will have that baby quilt finished by next week too.

I hope you have a productive week so you can show us what you have Finished for Friday.

Tuesday Tidbits

I am not going to start quilting.

I'm just saying.