Finishes for the month

At the beginning of the month I was busy sewing, at the end, not so much! Lots to do taking care of my Dad's things, and organizing everything.  I even got a little of the house cleaning done that has been much needed. 

Our sew days at the quilt shop are a great help in working on those projects that need finishing or even ones that need to be started!

This month I made these 2 pincushions from a Moda pattern using hexagons.  It looks like a cute little pattern. Guess what these puppies are huge!  They will hold a lot of pins!  Why do pictures make things look cute and petite and they turn out a lot bigger?  As you can see these are sitting on the end of my ironing board, and are 6 inches across.  I did say 6 inches across!  Imagine if I filled these with sand (actually crushed walnut shells).  I would have weapons I could use on the dust bunny invasion!

Finally got the shamrock wall hanging done. It is 26 x 28, and just needed quilting and binding.

These are 3 laundry bags that I added binding too.  Lori from Bee in your Bonnet, had written about doing these, which can then be purposed for a gift, or used as a project bag.  Great idea!

This is a project folder. ( Sorry, I can't remember where I saw this.) I did follow the instructions, and used Steam-A-Seam for the holding of front to insides.  It makes noice when you use it.  I think a pellon interface would have been a bit nicer.

Inside there is room on the left to hold the project. On the right is a place for needles, and the bottom has been divided for scissors, ruler, or pencil.  Oh, the left side could also be used to hold a small cutting board.

The twister pumpkin is also finally done.  As you can see I hand stitched the eyes, nose and mouth.  I quilted and bound it, too  Now I have a new Halloween wall hanging.  It is 21 x 21.

Here are two "older" projects I got done from scratch.  I have a calender quilt that was started in 2007 and was missing 4 months to be completed. Now it is only missing 2.  Here are September and July.  If you look closer, you can see I am practicing my machine echo quilting.  I am pretty pleased with how these turned out.  Just happened to have a few 4th of July type buttons to add for embellishment.  Oh, these two are about 13 by 12.

Now these are oldies but goodies!  Would you believe these have been sitting around, basted, but not quilted, probably from the 1990's.  I decided I would again practice machine quilting them. The one on left is 11 1/2 x 13 1/2. The one on right 11 1/2 square.
I am learning a lesson, it is a good idea to put binding with an unfinished quilt top, no matter what size.  I had no trouble finding the binding for the one on the left.  The one on the right, no way could I find fabric.  I did find 2 small strips, and I mean small, that I could sew together to create the mini binding.  It is the same pink in the quilt. 

Last but not least was another hexagon pincushion, tool holder.  This one has been sent to my secret pal, from the Dear Jane yahoo group, for July.

I do have the blue triangle quilt top put together except for the borders.  We finally determined what colors to use for the 3 borders that are going to go on it. Now to work on it.  I have picked up 3 quilts from Wendy, the lady that I have quilt my quilts.  So will by busy getting those done too.  I am working on my bowls project as well.  Oh, the ideas I am having for that.  I think my day to show the finished project is August 16. So stay tuned.

Have a great rest of the week.  Happy Sewing!

Mary

My Dad

My Dad, Albert Toth, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 20. He was 91 years old.  This is one of the pictures from our last trip in March of this year.  I am going to miss him a lot. 

Dad and I were able to have a grand time cruising.  I was able to visit places I had only heard about. 

He had a great sense of humor even until the end.

Mother's Day

My sister Linda, was here for Mother's Day.  Dad liked it when both of his girls were with him.

Easter this year.  He loved to get his picture taken.

He was game for anything!

Father's Day in June. He is with my husband Ron and son Andrew.

Father's Day.



While my sister was here in May.

I think he was hiding the pain he was in.  Even on Monday he and I went to Hollywood Casino, in Joliet, Il for a bit of gambling.  (He did love to go to the casino!) I don't think he was feeling well then, but never said anything about it. He got to do things his way and on his terms. 

I believe he and Mom are on their best cruise ever.

Daddy, I am going to really miss you.  I love you.  Thank you for all the wonderful memories.

Mary

Spectacular Scraps

In my cleaning and organizing I came across these triangles.  Now you have to understand, I have put these in the donation bag several times, and then take them out. Just could not decide if I should keep them or not.  But then, I had cut all the triangles, surely I should do something with them. Well the challenge won!  After all there was a whole shoebox full of lights and darks and they were all cut.

I even had had some of the triangles sew, a light to a dark.

What do you think? These are big blocks, as the triangles are half of a 5 inch square.  I made up 6 blocks, then yesterday I made up 11 more. I figure if I make a total of 25 I could have a good size quilt, then add a border or two.  Another UFO is in progress of being done!  Oh, these triangles have been cut for at least 5 years.

This is the book the pattern is coming from.  It was printed in 1999.  The whole book is about using half square triangles in quite a variety of ways. Most of the blocks start out as 4 patch blocks, and it is all in the way they are positioned that makes the difference.   I think, if I remember correctly, my very first full size quilt was made from this book that I had machine quilted.  It is red and yellow.  I am really not a fan of making the same identical block over and over.  I do love scrap quilts.

I am not  a quilter that uses only one company or style of fabric, or only one persons patterns. A friend once said I was a traditional quilter.  Now I am not so sure.  I have fabric that goes back to when calico was reproduced  for the first time, maybe the 70's. A lot of my fabric is also from companies that are no longer in business, but then I have a lot of new things, too.  I love the 30's fabrics, and have made several quilts from them.  They are the girly girl fabrics.  Collected a lot of fabrics for I spy quilts, as I have 7 great nieces and nephews.  I buy what I like.  You have seen all the types of fabrics I have used in making zippered bags.   I have been sewing since I was a young girl, let me tell you that is a lot of years!

At least the "heat wave" has cooled down.  I actually worked outside in my little gardens for a couple of hours today.  We are still in need of rain.  My husband said maybe next week.

Stay cool, and have a great week.

Mary

Barn Quilts Marshall County, Indiana

My husband loves to plan little get aways.  I had heard there was a new barn trail in Indiana, but did not have the information about it.  He got on the Internet and started checking and had some brochures sent.  He planned a little  two day trip.  This was the first barn quilt we found called "Pine Forest".  I love the pine trees and the colors were wonderful. This one was on Union Road in Plymouth, Indiana.

Here is "Basket Collection Quilt".  This one, also had a Plymouth address.  In our searching we found the barn quilts were presented on a variety of venues. This one is on the side of a house, and is probably my favorite.

Here is "Poor Handmaid Heritage Quilt" on the site of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Clare House in Donaldson.  As you can see not all quilt blocks are traditional patterns.

This is a free standing block called "Gristmill".

"Sweet Nectar"

Here I am in front of the The Marshall County CVB in Plymouth.  This block is called "Indiana Farmer". They had this block represented  in two colorways.  Marshall County Tourism is housed in an old fire station. (Oh, that is me!)

Cori Holzwart is the Administrative Assistant at the tourist office.  She was so helpful in sharing information about the Barn Quilt Trail.  As each barn quilt is set for the trail, a 12 inch block is made and recorded on this wall of blocks!  As I said we found blocks on the side of houses and barns, free standing, in a yard or the end of the driveway.  The Map Key was so helpful in identifying where we might find the block. 

Here is "Diva" on Lawrence Lake Drive in Plymouth. Some of the blocks were very easy to spot, a couple not so much.  We put a bunch of miles on the van locating them.  The countryside was gorgeous.  Corn had already tasseled out. We thought were were looking at eating corn, now not so sure.

Here is "Bluebirds".  Ron said the pattern looked like bluebirds before he knew what the block was called!  He is learning.

"Corn and Beans" on the old Lincoln Highway in Plymouth.

"Star of the Fair" on Michigan Road in Plymouth.

We stayed in Syracuse, Indiana, at the Brook Pointe Inn.  It was a little off the beaten path and so lovely.  It is situated on a large plot of land surrounded by woods.  There was a wonderful screened in porch on the back with great rocking chairs. I was hoping to see some deer, but no luck.  The singing of the birds though was so nice. 

Ron found out that there was an old stern wheeler that sailed in the evening.  After a great supper at the Frog Restaurant in Syracuse we were going to take a ride.  Our supper at the Frog was an adventure.  It is right on a canal of Lake Wawasee.  You can sail your boat right up to the restaurant and eat on the dock.  It was so neat to watch the people, boats, ducks and wild swans.  They even have their own pontoon boat that takes people on trips around the lake.  They even help with the Sunday church service on the lake. 

We got to ride on the Dixie Stern wheel Paddle Boat, which sails on the North Webster lake.  We had a beautiful trip around the lake.  Our captain gave us historical and current facts about the boat, lake and people living  around the lake.  It was hard getting off the boat, it was so much fun.  Even though it was 7:00 in the evening, I was glad I had my hat on.  We got a bit of sun.  There were a lot of people on the lake having fun boating and swimming in this heat.  It was still in the 90's in the early evening.

Tuesday we were up bright  and early to resume our back road traveling. I did get to stop at one quilt shop in Warsaw. Now how can you not stop and pick up a couple of pieces of fabric!!

"Farmers Daughter" on Filbert Road in Tippecanoe. There was a bonus one of a " Lone Star".

"Lombardy Lily" was on W 17th Road in Argos.

Ron found this sign and I thought it was appropriate for us quilter's.

It was a great get away.  My Father is not doing very well, and I have been under a lot of stress.  Ron felt it would be good to take this little trip.  I keep my cell phone with me 24/7, which is new for me.  I am one of those that only kept it on once in a while. 

Today I was with Dad as we celebrated the 4th of July.  Instead of an outdoor BBQ it was inside.  It got up to 100 degrees today. The chef at Alden Gardens is positively fabulous.  His chicken and ribs are so good.  I wish I could cook like he does.   Dad called later this afternoon to let me know they were having lobster tails tonight for dinner.  He is in good hands when it comes to food!  Actually, he has a lot of wonderful people caring for him.

Hope everyone is having a great day. 

Mary