Capturing Late Summer

Under the Poplars
1887
Claude Monet
from a private collection
on display at the Denver Art Museum
November 2019

To me, Claude Monet's painting captures the beauty of late summer with a hint of melancholy. 

Among the Stars

6.5 inch star
August 2020

Among the Stars was made with a panel and pattern that Jean F. sent earlier this summer. I used several of the fabrics she donated in this quilt. I enjoyed making the small stars that bordered the panel. 

Among the Stars
61 x 79 inches
Quilt of Valor #188

Pattern: "Among the Stars" by Karen Schindler Bialik 

Jean, thank you for making this Quilt of Valor possible.

Failure to Communicate

August 2020

About five years ago, I purchased a quilt kit - pattern, fabric for the blocks, border, binding, and backing. I rarely purchase kits, but it was a good deal, and I liked the pattern. 

Fast forward to 2020 . . . it was time to cut the fabric and begin the quilt. I followed the cutting directions for the blocks (I don't cut borders until the blocks are finished) and began sewing one of the blocks. 

Hmmm, something was definitely wrong. I checked the pattern again and again. Had I cut the wrong pieces (the pattern had directions for two different sizes - a table topper and a quilt)? No, the pieces were cut and sewn correctly, but the pinwheels were MUCH larger than the other block pieces. 

Not much I could do at this point - no extra fabric because it was a kit - other than cut the pinwheels to the correct size. 

What a waste of fabric!

* I checked for an errata, and none seems to be available. 

Tiny Needle Tuesday - Zeke

Zeke
photo taken in 2019

Zeke's mom, Stephanie asked her grandmother to stitch this photo of her precious little guy. Marilyn has stitched many photos over the years for family and special friends. She seems to love the tiny needle as much as she does making quilts. 

Marilyn stitched the graduation portraits of her grandson and granddaughter, special gifts, and wedding portraits for Stephanie and one of her friends. 

It would literally take me years to complete one let alone several of these pieces. 

June 1, 2020

It was fun to watch the image appear on the fabric. 

July 13, 2020

Marilyn sometimes stitched during our Sunday FaceTime calls. 

Zeke
August 2, 2020

Zeke's stitchery is finished and ready for framing - a work of love and certainly an heirloom. 

Stronger Together

Stronger Together
59 x 66 inches
Quilt of Valor #187

I had originally planned to make the center of this quilt smaller and surround it with borders, but as I made more and then more blocks, I decided that the blocks looks better without a plain border. 

It is my hope that Americans will realize that division is not healthy for our country and that even with differences, we are all stronger together. 

Sign of the Times

sign from Pingora Yarns
Lander, WY

This sign was posted on the Pingora Yarns Facebook page, and I thought it was fun and timely. I borrowed blatantly stole the photo and cropped out the sale information. 

If you're looking yarn from the Mountain West, Carrie has a nice variety. 

Birthday Visitors

Zeke & Maria
July 2020

My nephew's wife brought Zeke (her grandson and my great-great nephew) and some flowers over for my birthday. I haven't seen Zeke since his first birthday party in early March, and he's turned into one busy, little guy. It was such fun to see him and Maria again. Zeke was spending the week with Maria (his TuTu) while his parents celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.  

Seeing him was the best birthday present, but the flowers were lovely, too.