Another Vintage Quilt to Repair

My good friend Julee and I spent a fabulous day going to thrift shops yesterday - and having lunch at Dutch Mother's in Lynden.

At the first thrift shop I spied this old quilt from the 30s and when discovering that the price was only 12.50, I knew it had to come home with me. (It could have come home with me for a whole lot more - but I was tickled to get it for 12.50). Julee is not a quilter (she's a fabulous painter) so we both didn't covet the vintage quilt.

The background is that wonderful 30s green. It has circles hand quilted on it - and in between the circles are triangles of YoYos.

Most of the YoYos are no longer attached and some are in bad shape - but since my favorite fabrics are 30s reproductions, I know I can redo this quilt to its former glory. I have two medium sized plastic boxes of 30s fabrics - the only fabrics I buy without having a specific project in mind - I just adore the 30s reproductions.

This is one of the few diamonds of YoYos that is still mostly intact . . .

The edge of the quilt has a row of solid color YoYos, and as you can see, a gentle washing is going to be needed for this quilt.

The hand quilted circles in between the diamonds made of YoYos. Someone put a lot of work into this quilt.

I think it was made for a young girl's bedroom. Can't you just feel the excitement as the mother lays the new quilt gently on the bed. The young girl dances and twirls about her room, so excited about the lovely quilt her mother has spent hours making for her. The little girl touches the YoYos, remembering the sun dress made of the same fabric, or a bit of fabric from Grandmother's apron. Each fabric tells her a story of her family and she will cherish it forever.

And now it is mine - to cherish and redo so it will be remembered once again. The stories of the quilt will tell themselves to me as I work on the pieces, getting them back in place, or adding new ones that match. And once again the quilt will have more stories to tell.

What stories do your quilts tell you?

What I am working on - Farmer Quilt

I started this quilt last year, it is machine appliqued. My friend Susannah made this quilt, and I couldn't wait to make one too. It is called the Farmer Quilt - with activities that you might find on the farm.

I still need to do some hand embroidery on some of the blocks - like the clothesline on the block below. It is a lot of fun to work on - the thing that took the longest was picking out the many fabrics for the blocks.

For the background I used several different tans.

Farmer's wife hanging out the laundry . . .

An occasional rest and some hot tea . . .

Sweet summer bride . . .

Making a quilt - once I embroider a needle and thread in her hand . . .

Learning in a one-room-school . . .

Iron on Tuesday . . .

Milking the cow - every day . . .

Apparently two different breeds of cow . . .

Taking turns on the swing (when the rope is embroidered)

Checking the corn crop . . .

Feeding the chickens - those tear drop shapes will become chickens with some clever embroidery.

Rocking the baby in the afternoon, under the big tree in the yard . . .

A portrait in the barnyard . . .

What are you working on these days?

Leap Year - A New Chance to Make a Difference

Today is an ephemeral ghost... A strange amazing day that comes only once every four years. For the rest of the time it does not "exist.



It basically means a "leap" in time, when the calendar has to be adjusted to make up the extra seconds accumulated over the past three years - a little tune up for our calendar.


But today holds another secret - one of those rare moments of delightful transition and opportunity.

A day of unlocked potential.

Should you or shouldn't you? Could you or couldn't you? Will you or won't you?


Let's use this day to do something different, something daring, something extraordinary, maybe even unlike things you might do on 'regular' days. Take a chance - be more compassionate - love unconditionally - throw caution to the wind - make a drastic change - begin a new path. What will you do today?

Picnic At Silver Lake - Ahhh Summer

After all that snow last week I thought it would be fun to visit the lake, like we did last summer. This was a wonderfully warm and sunny day last September - everyone was enjoying the lake.

It is Silver Lake County Park, about an hour away - there is picnicking, swimming, boating, camping and snug little cabins to rent.

Peaceful and calm. The buildings across the lake are the lodge and a larger cabin that groups and families can rent.

Some boys were enjoying a day of jumping off the dock . . .

Splash!

Getting ready for a kayak ride . . .

Lots of kayaks and canoes that day . . .

The view from our picnic table . . .

Taking the dog along . . .

I was hoping to see a hawk in this old dead tree - we had seen one before, but not today, just the lovely old tree . . .

Ahhh summer, where are you planning a picnic next summer - never to early to start planning.

A Trip To Birch Bay and Blaine

From the waterfront in Blaine, WA you can see across to Whiterock, BC - barely . . .

Let's take a closer look . . .

Oh now I see it - houses - big towering buildings - even the old water tower . . .

Do you see that heron out there among the Canada Geese?

Yes, that heron . . .

Such a beautiful bird . . .

Canada Geese passing through . . .

Must be feeding time . . .

And bath time . . .

Walking about and visiting time . . .

Seagulls - also on the beach at Blaine . . .

Gotta love that new camera!

Good bye!