"Oh it looks so small"

Recently, we drove through Delavan, Wisconsin  and past Ted's home where he spent his childhood days. The inlet on Delavan Lake was a popular spot for him and his buddies.  I took this photo as he stood there for some minutes just looking at the lake.....and remembering.

Little Foot

In the last few years, my brother Charlie, has incorporated chickens in his back yard in Seattle.  Little Foot was a favorite.  Unfortunately she has gone to 'chicken heaven'.  

This photo was taken by my sister-in-law Marilyn.  I recreated it in fabric for his birthday.

Happy Homes

This project - highlighting the homes we have enjoyed since we married in 1971 - has been on my mind ever since we moved to Menasha.  First of all I wanted to include it in a large quilt.  Well.....this lovely home we now have is much smaller and fewer spaces to display a large project.  So I had to think small.  Finally I decided where it would hang and that would determine the final size.  I came up with a plan.  What fun it was to plan.....not to mention the trip down memory lane.  Each home....from our first apartment to our current home....has been a very special space for Ted and I.

Sunset on the Water

This pattern by Margaret Okuley was recently featured in McCall's Quilting Magazine.  I enjoyed the challenge and it's a nice reminder that warm weather is on the way.  When?  Not soon enough!

Patchwork Posies

Another unfinished project done! I found this pattern about 5-6 years ago and decided it was perfect to use to make a bed quilt with some vintage fabrics that were part of my mom's fabric stash.  I'm guessing the fabrics are 40--50's era and from cut-off scraps from a uniform factory in Evansville, Indiana.

Started the project, and worked on it off and on.  Pull it out, add a few more stitches and pieces and....back to the shelf.  Finally this winter as the snow falls and warm weather is months away, I decided to finish it...........as a wall hanging or mini quilt.  It is not the bed quilt I initially wanted to make, but at 48 inches square, it turned out well.....and FINISHED!

In Flight

Saw this "In Flight" pattern in a quilt shop in West Bend when I dropped off my machine for it's annual 1000 mile checkup.    I kept thinking about it.  Of course when I went back to pick up my cleaned machine, I was helpless....I had to buy it.

 

It found a home in the laundry room hanging on the huge metal safety pin.  It is next to a window, so when the light is off, the geese just seem to be taking off in flight!         

                                                                 

Sunset over lake

My first oil painting.   I took a class with a certified Bob Ross instructor.  She talks and demonstrates you through the whole process.  After 4 hours - you end up with a completed painting.....something like hers.

I just may try another one....another day.

Celery Boquet

It is a new year and time to try something different.  First I took an oil painting class.  Turned out pretty well. I'll share it with you after it dries and is framed.   Then I found a story in a magazine about using the base of a celery stalk as a stamp for flowers.  Had to try it!  Some acrylic paint, pigma pens, an upholstery sample for the vase (my sofa is a brown version of this print) and an unused frame with glass hiding in the storage room...TADAA!   Compostion may not be the greatest, but it sure was fun.

It's cold here and that means a lot of indoor time.  A big stack of UFOs (unfinished objects) are all yelling for attention, so the fabric and thread are flying.  Stay tuned and I'll share some of them.

Table Runner

                                    A table runner for ?????  Can't tell - it's a surprise.

Guest Room

Our den had quickly become a 'catch all', so time to grab a new can of paint.  You know what happens then.  Ted built a wall of bookcases around the window.  We ditched the excess furniture, and added a 2nd twin bed.  And..........of course new matching quilts and shams.

We're pleased with the outcome and it's ready for guests.  

New paint...New Quilt

Time to update my blog with recent quilts.  This one I made in October.....................

New room color....which I love....and a new quilt.  Could not decide on fabrics, so of course I bought a pile of batiks.  Then I saw this pattern ("shoebox") in a quilt shop and realized it was the pattern I needed.  The darker brown was a last minute addition, but it really anchored the collection.  I used the large pieces for the pieced backing.   Looks great on Grandma and Grandpa Heth's iron bed.



Pinwheel Posies

When your granddaughter celebrates her 3rd birthday....and moves into a big  girl bed, she just has to have a new quilt.  This was fun to make and just matches Julia's personality.

Stars and Stripes

This was a fun project...and a great geography lesson.

Dump Lamp

When we lived in Mequon, Ted would make trips to the dump with his green truck loaded with yard brush.  There was always a pile of random wood - free for the taking, so he would frequently bring back a chunk or two....or three....sometimes more.

He decided to make a lamp base out of one of those 'chunks', hence the name Dump Lamp.  He turned it on his lathe and wired it.  Add a burlap lampshade (Target) and some black ribbon (my stash)..... it is a pretty stunning lamp!

Paint and Thread

A project in an art quilt book caught my attention.   After seeing this icon in a newspaper, I decided to give it a try.   Using crayons as a resist on fabric - cover with watered down paint - melt out wax with iron, then add more paint.  Looked great, but was missing something, so I machine quilted it and it became a pillow.  That was fun!  It certainly brightened up my sofa.



Grandma Olga's quilt

I recently acquired a quilt made by Ted's maternal grandmother Olga Heth. Decided it had to be on the iron bed that once belonged to Olga and Theodore Heth and is now my bed.

I made two large pillows from vintage fabrics that were in my mother's fabric stash - and I think it looks great!

Not a skirt

While visiting Scotland in 1970, I purchased one yard of wool for $4.50. It was beautiful and I wanted to make it into a skirt. I later realized the wool was only 36 inches wide, so this 'square' would never become a skirt. On the shelf it went.

Recently I pulled this beautiful piece out again for the umteenth time and decided to felt it and use it as a background for a wool boquet.

Countdown to Christmas

How long till Christmas?

Calendars for Ben and Julia

Secretary......or......Quilter

My grand daughter Julia (age 2) is trying out this big black clunker...that old people call a typewriter

Shopping for thread and fabric (with the help of cookie monster and elmo) is much more fun.

Can you say "fat quarter"?

Tuscan Village

This was a project from a quilt magazine over several issues. I was ready to take on an applique project. After a couple years I finally finished it. It ended up different than the magazine suggested, but I enjoyed giving it my touch.