Graduation Quilts

The Sunbonnet Sue quilt that I was working on and finished last week...

On my frame where you can see some definition with the back light

Ribbon Candy is the design in the sashing

Daisies are added to Sue's hat and the cornerstones

with a Daisy border design

The backing is pieced by Melissa, the graduate

receiving this quilt. It's a group project, each block and blanket stitching done by different stitchers. The fabrics are all from Melissa's grandmother's 1930s stash of fabrics and Sunbonnet Sue was her favorite quilt. Lesa brought this project into my studio along with Debbie with a goal of having this finished to give to Melissa for graduation. Picked up a week ago, Lesa has the binding planned in the multi color solids used for the block frames. A special label is made by an artist for this project. Wish I could see the finished quilt!

It was the perfect quilt to work on while I was working thru the loss of my Mom. It got me going because of the deadline along with this quilt for Kelly, also a graduation quilt for a member in Kelly's family...

Great fabrics, of course  ;0)

with a Shabby Chic look backing Yes!
This is Jeweled Wanderer

Quilted with the design ~ Rapunzel by Anne Bright

It's a wonderful fun design with good coverage.

Thread is a Fantastico variegated blend of teal, grey and pink. LOVE!

with Omni Light Rose on the back, both threads from Superior.

 Batting is Quilter's Dream Machine Blend

(NQR) Today was a better day for me, largely due to last night's guild meeting. Kelly had allot to do with that as well. I agonized about going, not sure how I would feel or react. We are not a society well equipped to deal with loss. People don't know what to say or say the cliche's that people say like "They are in a better place". I found myself saying that one, mostly because I want it to be true. We really don't know what happens. Is there an afterlife? Is it better? 

First thing Pam B greeting me with a hug and then Joyce came up to me with the biggest hug and said... "There are no words" Perfect! Thank you! That broke the ice. Last night's meeting was our community service meeting. Being the guild's treasurer and Vendor Chair for our quilt show coming up I had business that needed to be attended to. Did that and checked in with Kelly, our VP standing in for our Pres who is out of town to let her know I was not staying and was not up to sewing. Kelly had a table set up for everyone that was not in a small group (that would be me too) and had a project planned. Nice! Thank you Kelly, now I am sorry that I didn't plan to stay! Everyone was gracious and wonderful.

Two customer quilts finished this week for Beckie and Judy P. Again... lots of pix to catch up on. The next 5 quilts are all custom which will give me a chance to catch up with posting pix. Next up is a quilt for Lori, it's up on my design wall right now while I get design ideas rolling around in my head before it's loaded...

This is Lori's Flags of the American Revolution quilt, a design by Jan Patek and a QAL Lori hosted on her blog Humble Quilts in 2014. So looking forward to quilting this beauty!

Have a wonderful weekend, take some stitches!

Tot Ziens, Jo

"We will be known forever by the tracks we leave."
Native American Proverb

Rose Moon

Strawberry Moon, also know as the Rose Moon

June 1st

Summer will be here soon. Not looking forward to anther summer of drought in California. New water restrictions take effect today. Many of us native Californians have lived thru two droughts and using water wisely has become a way of life. With new restrictions we will be required to reduce consumption by 32%. Michael and I are trying to figure out how we can cut our usage even more than we already do and have decided we will have to let parts of the garden go unwatered, the front lawn will be the first to go. 

Another concern is our fire season. Again, as a native Californian I have lived thru a few close calls. In the 90s in Paradise was a close call and again in 2007 was evacuated from my home, drove to my friend Sally's home only to be evacuated there as a fire in Tahoe raged across Angora Ridge to Fallen Leaf Lake and came very close to Tahoe Keys along the South Shore. Many friends lost their homes, thankfully no lives. 

I am getting back on track with my longarming. It felt good to get some quilting done last week on two quilts that were promised as graduation gifts. The first was a Sunbonnet Sue quilt that I started before Mom's decline. It has a wonderful story and was a bit of therapy to finish for a young lady to remember her grandmother. The quilt is a group project made for her using her grandmother's 1930's fabrics. Both quilts have been picked up and I have pix on my camera that I will share on a new post. Actually I think there may be some that I took with the quilt in progress...

Yep, found this one with the border started along with a few more quilts for Claudia, Pam and Sandy that were finished but not posted here on the blog. There was so much to do for Mom, it became a 24/7, more that I expected. I am happy I was able to it, it's always been my goal to be here for her when the time came. Now it's time to try and move forward. I am happy to be a quilter because it is very much therapy with the added bonus of meeting and knowing other quilters that support each other. When Lesa and Debbie came to pick up the Sunbonnet Sue quilt, they brought a beautiful card and flowers. Who could ask for more?! Bear hugs and many many thanks!

Enjoy the day... "We will be known forever by the tracks we leave."
Native American Proverb

Jo 

    

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