Oldest PHD (UFO)

      Opening my cedar chest is something I rarely do. I opened it to look for a few things I couldn't find anywhere else. Wow, I had no idea I would find these 5 sampler blocks.

       I made them more than 28  years ago. I remember because I drafted the blocks myself with no instruction and then used templates and scissors to cut the fabric. I had been quilting for two years when I got my first rotary cutter. I remember not finishing it cause the fabrics weren't lively enough. Never mind the fabrics back then left alot to be desired. I am really glad I learned the lesson of having enough contrast, both in scale of print and value of color.  Some matching fabric was still with them and I raided the church's stash for the navy. It looks a little too dark in the photo -darn. Anyways Friday when the girls were here I made the alternate Thirtysomething  star blocks. Still have to get the borders on. . .

      When I found the blocks I immediately knew I had to do something with them quickly. The gals on the yahoo group,  Stashbusters are all about finishing up those old UFO's. Thanks to them, I like to think that I have none older than 5 years. Not counting the tops up in the warehouse, and those don't count. (My house, my rules.)

Mark is home cause of the holiday but he is relaxing watching tv for the night so I am going to go  put a quilt on the frame down in the studio. Have a good one.

Looky what I acquired.

How do you like the antique quilt top I just got? Isn't it a hoot? I'm glad I don't have to 'Make do' with what ever fabrics I can get my hands on just so I can finish my quilt. I figured it's about 100 years old based on a book I have called Dating Fabrics. I counted over 40 different fabrics in it. It's got a few stains. I think I am going to check the reds for fugitive dyes before I wash it. I'd hate for the red to wash out and leave some of those patches just a pale tan. I might rather leave it stained.

With Mark off this last week I didn't have much time to myself to quilt. I started making some friendship stars. I'm not sure what I am going to do with them. Here's some on my flannel wall with some  bigger  triangles leftover from another project.

I don't know what came over Mark. He was off of work this week and I convinced him that we didn't have to stain the house again this year. So, instead we spent lots of time in town with everyone else celebrating the 4th. Highly unusual. The East Troy Lions Club sponsors quite a bit every year including a carnival and beer tent with live music, parade, tractor pull, fireworks and an antique car show. Also this weekend the Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corp was in East Troy. They were here most of the week, staying at the high school and giving a presentation one evening.   We also went to his sisters on the lake a few times.  We had an unusually good time. Tomorrow it's back to life as usual.  I can't wait. I hope you had a great weekend too.

Feeling the Years

I have been feeling old this winter. Okay, so I made that pincushion 40 years ago. My daughter just turned 32? Wow, how'd that happen? Mom is almost 80! I have been quilting 27 years! I understand I am in a different phase of my life and I may not have time to do as much quilting as I'd like, but I figure I can keep you entertained with pictures of quilts for a full year if I post everyday.

Today I loaded my 6 month old Lenni with this ShooFly comfort quilt. It's from a kit I put together for the church ladies to sew. This one turned out a little bigger than we usually make. I agreed when I got Lenni that I'd quilt the big ones. I just might be careful that I don't put to many big kits together anymore. I have plenty of my own quilting to do. Something like 100 quilt tops. You are getting a picture of it before quilting because my quilting isn't too good yet. I think this one turned out pretty good. WE had lots of solid fabrics and I rarely use them so I had to guess that this would look okay.

The fabric we use is all donated and much of it is old, and even ugly. I enjoy the challenge to make a pleasing quilt from them. Generally I try to keep similar types of fabrics together, just as I do in my own quilting. But with this group's fabric, I am not talking, separating batiks from, novelty prints. I am talking separating 1970's from 1980's! Well, probably not much as old as the 60's or 70's. But we do have some of that fabric I keep thinking I ought to post on e-bay. Anybody interested? Somebody please. I can post pictures.

Sew Long