Row by Row Swap

Yesterday I received back my rows from a friendship group swap that has been working this year. My theme was Owls. Three of my granddaughters like owls in their bedroom so I picked this theme to do a quilt for them.

 

I did the starter row of three bright owls and sent it around to the next person for them to make a row. Then Linda made lots of tree branches in paper piecing and appliqued little owls in the trees. Angela did the HOOT row, so neat and she put hearts on it for the girls.

 

Next came Cindy's row with a long branch with cute bright owls that her daughter's designed for me.  My friend Pat did a row with three trees and three little girls under the trees to represent my three granddaughters, reading and using the hula hoop. [does anyone do the hula hoop any more? showing my age here]

 

Terry did three more owls in my favorite colors and framed them with some bright colored strips.  Her blanket stitch around the tummy's and wings really bring out the stitching. Great job Terry.  The seventh row was by another Cindy and she pieced the blocks in owl fabric.

 

I am very lucky to have such great friends to do this amazing work on the quilt. Thanks so much.

 

 

Katherine

My grand daughter Katherine is more beautiful each and every day.

School and Sewing

My granddaughters started back to school last week and we were happy about it. They were excited to meet their new teachers.

Amber started middle school in sixth grade.

Hannah started third grade.

 

Hannah also started to put the siggy doll quilt together. Oh my, she had a time arranging and re-arranging them.

First we measured our doll and the bed to see how many rows and columns we needed.

 

Then it was this way, Oh no, maybe this way.

 But then I like this one over here, but no, this color is wrong, let's move this one here.

 Hum, no, maybe here.  No, over there, but I don't like that one there. Let's move it.

This was the final layout that we sewed together.

 

Now it will probably be another decision on how to pick out the sashing and binding.  Oh no, then its the back color.  Why does quilting take so long Nana?  Gee, I don't know Hannah!

 

 



My New Digs

Now that I have settled in at my daughters home to be the nanny to the new baby I thought I would share my new home.

This bedroom is part of an apartment in the basement.  It has a man cave where my son-in-law and grandson play their video games, complete with kitchen and separate bathroom. The bedroom is mine.

 

The bedroom set belonged to my parents since they married in 1934 and I love to look at it when I wake up and using my moms dresser. It really makes it seem like home.

On the bed I have my Dear Jane Signature quilt so that reminds me of all my quilting friends. I have collected them since 2010 and the center of them are set on point and then the ones from 2011 and 2012 around them.

 

Then I purchased a sewing machine table and set it under the window for light. My son-in-law set up shelves for my project boxes and material.

This dresser was my childhood one and I have my rulers, thread, etc in it. And of course a bassinet for my Katie when I watch her downstairs.

 

 

Katherine's arrival

My new grand daughter Katherine Corrine Elizabeth, born on Tuesday, August 21st.

And the happy Nana

Sister Hannah

Sister Amber

Brother Tim

Family

 

She is a cutie pie.

 

 

 

My grandson, the CHEF

I made a chef jacket for my grandson Timothy as he loves to cook and wants to open his own restaurant someday. We have been making dinners together each night. He doesn't like to clean up so will need a good sou-chef in his kitchen.

Biltmore Girls

Yesterday I met a new friend. One of the gals on my on-line quilt group came to the US from London England to Ashville, NC.  Since I am only fifty miles from there at my daughters I drove in and met her at the Biltmore House.

Tricia is a delightful American/British gal with a cheery personality, dry wit and very knowledgeable in so many areas.  Since she is an Architect I learned a lot during our tour of this lovely and very big home. My bones are still aching from all the stairs and walking we did.

Of course the views were amazing of the countryside, and Tricia missed the golf course and tennis courts that should have been there to make her happy.

But I digress, we started our visit off in the Wine Tasting area since we wanted that before lunch. Tricia is a wine master and now I can swish the wine with ease like a pro. But I swallowed she spit.  Except for the one wine she really liked and we ended up buying that one and having some more at lunch.  It was the Biltmore Sangiovese.  We had a wonderful lunch at the Bistro and learned about each other.

So a very nice day with a new friend and we plan to meet again before she goes back to England.  Or baby arrives.

Oh yeah, this is for my grandson, Timmy the turtle. He likes to spit too.

Birthday Girl

My darling Elaine is eleven today. Such a sweet, sweet girl. Happy Birthday girl.

Summer is for Beaches

This summer I worked on a beach quilt for my daughter Grace and her three girls for her living room.  She has a light and airy room and has glass filled container of sea shells that they have collected over the years.  Grace has a jar from Saudi Arabia from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea from her childhood. Now her girls are building their own memories from trips to Myrtle Beach, SC.

I purchased a nice sea foam green and light beige for the background blocks and designed the applique for them. Alternate blocks have star fish and sand dollars on them. The four corners have flip-flops. The back of the quilt has this sayings on it, like Peace, Blessings, Family, etc.

A nice quilt to snuggle up on the couch with.

Doll Siggy Swap

On my friendship and Dear Jane groups they are exchanging tiny signature squares to make doll quilts for our dolls.  So I signed up for each of the five grand daughters and had to make one for each doll and everyone who signed up. The final total was one hundred and seventy siggies.

This is a picture of all of them.

Here are a sample of the individual girls and dolls.  Sorry some of the pictures are blurry. I really need a new camera for the anticipated new grand daughters' arrival.

This shows you how tiny they are.

Timothy's T-Shirt Quilt

Finally, getting to post my grandson's birthday quilt that I finished last month. Tim don't look, you won't get it until next week when I get to your house.  I have been collecting some of his t-shirts for the last thirteen years. So a new tradition has been born, I make the t-shirt quilt for the 'grands' thirteenth birthdays. Two down and five to go. 

I sashed Tim's in red and my friend, Debbie, embroidered the dates, names and sayings on them. They really make it pot as they are in a bright yellow, one of Tim's favorite colors.  He had so many tee shirts that it made a full size plus quilt so will be ample for his bed.  Below are some of the close-ups of the tees.

And we all should be smiling.