A Very Special Thank You

Lexies, thank you from the very bottom of my heart and to all the Prayer Warriors for sending out prayers for my Mom. Finding some peace now knowing Mom is in a safe place. I spent this week reflecting on her life, looking thru photos. Here is a post with Mom's story about her early life in Holland on my personal blog with a few old photos. Mom in 2011 taken at my guild's quilt show. (Not one of my quilts however a beautiful Lone Star!) 

Mom never did any quilting but she was an accomplished needle artist and seamstress. She and my Oma taught me cross stitch, knitting and crochet altho, cross stitch was what I loved and did the most. Mom taught me how to sew cloths. Later, I got in trouble making some pretty weird outfits in high school, getting sent home on more than one occasion :-/ Like that was a problem! :0)

Mom in Holland, knitting, shortly before she came to America

I wish the last 8 years she spent with me she could have done some quilting altho she enjoyed watching me on the longarm. I think that she would have loved it. Dementia prevented her from doing or remembering that she had done beautiful needle work and didn't even recognize pieces she had made. Dementia is a terrible disease and was difficult to watch, especially at the end and how it took her life. Thank goodness for Hospice, Michael, family, friends and special Prayer Warriors. You helped me get thru a very difficult time. Thank you. Bear hugs, Jo

Answered Prayers

Thank you all for your prayers for my Mom as they have been answered. Mom left this world and the body that caused her so much confusion and pain. She has a new caregiver now in the arms of the Lord along with many members of her family and friends that made the journey before her. Thank you for extending love and prayers for Michael and I as well.

 Crystal and Mom hanging out in my quilting studio

I miss them both so very much

Mom years ago

she would come down to my studio and help pull pins

out of the leaders on my first longarm

Michael took these last year on Thanksgiving Day

I am missing my Mom
 and am comforted with the thought

she is in a better place

Tot Ziens Mom
Thank you all again, bear hugs, Jo

Prayer Warriors

Michael and I are requesting prayers for my Mom. Placed here with us along with Hospice care nine days ago Mom has declined rapidly in the last 48 hours. Not able to communicate any longer we miss her voice and smile. Please join us with thoughts and prayers that Mom begins her journey from this life soon and is granted a peaceful passage to what lies beyond. Jo

Quilts for Pam and Alice

Quilt top made by Pam P

Great colors and the print fabric with birds is very nice. It's a large quilt and one that seen from a distance as in a photo the pattern is even better. It's made up of the same block rotated with a great layout for the center, nice!

 The print with birds is the backing, the outer border and pieced into the blocks. 

Quilted with an e2e from Sweet Dreams Studio named Williamsburg

using an Omni thread in the color Hazelnut

just the same color as the birds.

Pam and her MIL, Alice both started bringing quilts in for quilting last year. Alice made the two big star quilts made from panels that I quilted earlier. This is a third one she finished...

 Great kaleidoscope effect!

These panels depict a Japanese woman by a pond with flowers

so I quilted an e2e of purple Koi swimming in a purple pond ;0)

One more quilted for Alice, actually top made by Delores for Alice

Diamonds

Alice choose a new quilting pattern that we thought would work in the diamonds

Quilted with Sweet Peas! using a Fantastico thread from Superior named Rainbows

The swirls in the quilting design also goes well with the fabrics

Sweet Peas, a fun design from One Song Needle Arts

Will save a few more for another post. After working a Saturday to make up some time, I am ready to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Hope you do the same!

Tot Ziens, Jo

Flower Moon

May 1st

Flowers are abundant in my garden :0)

So nice to see color and shiny new leaves

Update on Mom and Michael... both doing much better! Thank you for all your kind thoughts, words and prayers. Mom is getting over the cold and eating better again. Cuts are healing despite her pulling off the Steri Strips the hospital applied by the first night. Happy I had some new ones on hand and kept them replaced daily.

Michael is much better, not looking as gray/green! Tests indicate possible stones and a Gall Bladder attack. So nice to have him back up and feeling better as in not so grumpy! I am back at longarming and made good progress the last two days. Yesterday the 2nd Merry Snowmen was finished. Yea! Definitely a fun quilt to work on and getting in some hand guided quilting feels really good. 

Enjoy your Friday and the weekend

Take the time to make some stitches!

Tot Ziens, Jo