One Quilt at a Time

I wanted to share a thank-you letter we received from Dr. Domenico Praticò, Professor of Pharmacology at Temple University in response to receiving a research grant from the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative.
He wrote:
With this letter I would like to express the most sincere and the deepest gratitude to the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative for funding our research proposal entitled, “Corticosteroids, 5-Lipoxygenase and Alzheimer’s Disease.”

As you know today stress and the associated glucocorticoids imbalance are recognized as important environmental risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease. However, the causes responsible for this association are unknown. The main goal of the funded studies will be to discover them, and by doing so to provide new knowledge on possible therapeutic approaches for individuals who have this risk.

The trust and faith that the AAQI has put in our group by supporting our research is highly appreciated especially in a time when funding for research is tight.

Thus, despite the enormous amount of work done and significant new knowledge in our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease gained in recent years, there is still so much to accomplish, but financial support to reach this goal can be at times a serious limitation. The contribution of the AAQI supporting our fight against AD is important, highly appreciated and most welcomed, the reward for it will be simply immeasurable.

With gratitude,
Domenico Praticò, MD
Professor of Pharmacology
Temple University


Dr Praticò has also volunteered to be a part of the AAQI’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Every quilt you sew, every quilt you buy, are important. They serve a higher purpose. They make it possible for ordinary people like you and me to make a difference. Scientific research is the only way we can ever conquer Alzheimer’s. Research costs money. We’ve already raised more than $713,000. Can we raise a million?

Sew

Buy

Donate

Please share this with a friend.

Ami Simms
Founder & Executive Director
Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative

Sunday---Precious Promises

He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.  Psalms 28:27

Friday Flowers & Maggie

Under Construction

For the past two years I have been entering the Alliance for the American Quilt (AAQ) Contest.  I'm working on my entry for this year.  The quilts made for the contest are judged, top price is a quilting machine---neat, and then the quilts are showed around the country for a few months before being put up for auction on eBay, with all proceeds going to AAQ.  It is a good cause --- the preservation of quilts and their stories.  Plus, the contest is always challenging.  This year's theme is Home is Where the Quilt Is.  My quilt is under construction, after many weeks of trying to come up with an idea.  I think this is what I like about the AAQ contest---makes you think outside of the box.  Besides the theme this year,  AAQ gave measurements so that the quilt looks like a house.  Really an interesting idea.

I decided to go with a liberated look.  I started with a log cabin and then just expanded from there.  Embellishments will be added. Going for something bright and cheerful this year.  I'm working toward completing the hand quilting this weekend.
So you know what I'm working on this weekend.  How about you any projects on your to do list?  Happy Quilting!

Maggie Update:  No Heartworms and her leg bump is just that.  So Maggie is good to go on her new life.

Forever Home for Maggie

Some of you who have read my blog in the past know that about a year ago we lost our beloved Yellow Lab--Bear.  Bear had a good life and was a wonderful dog.  Bear was my hubby's dog and I didn't realize until about 3 weeks ago that hubby missed his dog so much.  Funny how he had always said, Bo will be our last dog.  Bo is 5 and considered my dog---anyway, Bill starts talking about a Yellow Lab that is in need of rescue in a town about 3 hours away.  At first I didn't realize that hubby, Bill, had been on the Internet looking for a Yellow Lab Rescue site, because Bo needed a buddy!!!!  He showed me Maggie.  She was what they call a "blockhead" (and so was Bear).  She looked pure breed and she appeared to have been dumped or left, because people could not take care of her.  I think you all know the end of this story.
Friday we drove 3 hours to meet Maggie.  Well, it was like we were her parents and where have you been????   She was so welcoming, sweet, kisses, tail wags and within 30 minutes we have a new Yellow Lab in the back of the car for the 3 hour ride home.



Some photos of  Maggie and Bo relaxing on the deck,  in the yard, and family room.  They love each other and are getting along better than we could have ever expected.  I guess Bo really did need a buddy.

Maggie is chewing on a Tennis Ball, they both love Tennis Balls, chasing them and chewing them.

Quiet Time

Maggie comes when she is called, is house broken, knows the commands sit, stay, and down.  Someone trained this dog quite well---or she is the most intelligent dog in the world!!!  We still have two medical tests to complete on Tuesday.  Heartworm test (praying for a negative result).  Heartworms are hard on dogs and some dogs don't make it through the cure.  The rescue center didn't know how long she was on her own and free of heartworm medication.  And, she has a bump on her back leg.  Some bumps are nothing and some are worst.  Her vet appointment is Tuesday and we hope all will be well.  Maggie appears to be about 6 years old.  She has had puppies before, and has to loose some weight.  I think she's looking thin already. 

I'm sure you'll see and hear more about Maggie as time goes by.  Hubby has already suggested and AAQI quilt to commemorate Maggie's arrival to the family.  Since, Bo has two quilts dedicated to him Maggie needs at least one.  I think hubby is In Love!!!!    Have a great day and Happy Quilting.

Sunday---Precious Promises

Return unto me, and I will return unto you, says the Lord of hosts.  Malachi 3:7

Friday Flowers---Tower Rock

Our last stop on Super Saturday was Tower Rock.  Tower Rock is a huge rock that is in the middle of the Mississippi River.  It is off the beaten path and you have to drive down a gravel road that has many bends and turns to get to the park and lookout point. 
Driving the road in the Spring is beautiful, there are fields of wild flowers.  I don't know all of Missouri's wild flowers but this little guy was all over.

This is the view from the car window to Tower Rock.

And then around the corner you see the river and Tower Rock.

We had a wonderful time and a Super Saturday from start to finish.  Enjoy your Friday and Happy Quilting! 

A Super Saturday -- part 2

After visiting all the venues in Altenburg and Frohna we drove to Farrar (pronounced Far), Missouri.  The gentle hills, green fields and quaint older homes were pleasant views as we traveled and then we came to this.

Fence Row of Quilts

Many of the houses in Altenburg and Frohna had quilts on their front porches, but this was an outstanding surprise as we traveled Hwy. C.  I'm not sure if all these beauties belonged to one family or if neighbors came together on this display, but there were some great quilts on that fence.

Farrar is an extremely small town, less than 100 population.  But at one time it had a busy general store that is now a B & B.  What is so interesting about this B & B is that it is now owned by the granddaughter of the family that originally ran the store.  Eggers and Company is a building stocked full of history.

A beautiful Sugar Loaf quilt greeted us at the front door and from that moment on it was a step back in history as the Eggers & Kaempfe Heritage Quilts were on display in every room.  The new owner did a wonderful job of decorating each and every room.  Twenty-three quilts were throughout the house, it made a perfect display.

Loved this display and the tour.  A perfect day of quilts.  And what better way to top of that day than with a relaxing glass of wine.  We decided on the Hemman Winery in Brazeau, Missouri (between Farrar and Frohna)

We have one more stop--Tower Rock-- before we pick up my quilt and head north to Josephville.  Well, more about that on Friday.  Have a great day Happy Quilting!

A Super Saturday

Thanks to my hubby I had a really supper Saturday.  With his encouragement I entered the East Perry Quilt Show in Southeast Missouri.   I was excited to attend the quilt show because it was located 30 miles north of where hubby grew up and where we had lived for 11 years.  Also, it is in a very historic area and the quilt show and displays were going to be all over the community in homes, old general stores, on porches and fence rows.  Just a wonderful time to see a great area of Missouri.  Last year I participated in an Internet Round Robin.  We were given instructions for each round and we added that to our starting block.  The quilt didn't pass from person to person----we just added rounds and then posted our results.  It was great fun and we are presently doing our second Round Robin.  Check it out at http://www.liberatedroundrobin.blogspot.com/
Anyway, hubby liked my little 22 x22 inch quilt I called Dogs & Dots with his encouragement to enter the show, I added some buttons for embellishment (more dots of course) and entered the little quilt in the Art Innovative Category.

It was awarded Second Place.  What a thrill.  I was on Cloud Nine all day as I attended a class on embellishments and thinking out of the box and a Bed Turning given by Ann Hazelwood.  Hubby took that time to visit with his cousin, who lived in the area.  Then we met for lunch and continued a wonderful tour of the display quilts and the historic area. 
Our first stop was the Perry County Lutheran Historical Society, Altenburg, Missouri where an exhibit of Lynne Taylor's quilts were on display.  Lynne's quilts have been juried in major international shows and in 2011 her "Tulip Star" quilt was awarded Best Miniature at the AQS show in Paducah.  Beautiful work.

All Around the Neighborhood

Christmas Magic

Star Santas

Home for the Holidays

Aboriginal Animals

We continued our tour to the Wine Country Inn, a B&B in Frohna, Missouri.  Each room of this lovely home was filled with quilts from the area.

From the B & B we drove to Saxon Lutheran Memorial Walking Tour Through History in Frohna.  This is a village of houses (I should say cabins) from the late 1700s, early 1800's that have been moved to the present day location for people to learn and enjoy the life of the early settlers of the area.  We didn't have time to tour the village, but on our next trip this will be our first stop.  In the visitors center, several ladies had a quilt in a frame demonstrating quilting techniques.  They were surrounded by a great display of antique quilts.

Wednesday I'll share with you the road to our next stop Farrar (pronounced Far), Missouri.  My wonderful Saturday just keeps going.  Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

The Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return unto him.  2 Chronicles 30:9

Friday's Flower

Experience

I didn't plan it this way, but my new AAQI quilt Experience is perfect for the surprise I had when I logged into Blogger today.  A new look----something I plan to play with and gain Experience on using all the new features.  The mini quilt today has a paper handmade tag that reads "Experience is not what happens to you, it's what you do with what happen to you.", so true.  The paper tag comes from Vintage Grace Collages.  They create gifts for the home and personal treasures by using antique hardware, lace, paints and stains.  They produce a one of a kind look.   I though this little tag was perfect for AAQI quilt.  The quilt is made of silks, old lace and beaded trim.  The quilt is hand quilted with copper metallic thread and measures 8 x 10 inches.
Speaking of experience and vintage items, the piece I have been using as my background for all my AAQI quilts recently is a piece with lots of tales to tell when it comes to experience.

For lack of knowing its real name, I call it a double sided feed bin.  This old antique has been with hubby and I for many years.  We bought in Fayette, Missouri, where we went to college and it has moved from house to house and has been used in many different ways in each house.  Presently it is our recycling bin and holder of AAQI quilts for pictures.  The feed bin has an divided interior (you can see the two lids in photo) and we place newspapers on one side and plastic, glass and any other recycle items on the other.  Then hubby retrieves and bags what is what for a trip to our local recycling center.  Plus it is a wonderful conversation piece---no one really knows what it is.  So Experience is the word of the day.  From sitting in a barn holding feed to now a holder of recycling, to me learning a new blogging system, to coping with a disease that steals from a victim and caregiver.  Experience is really what you do with what happens to you, both the positive and the negative.  Wishing everyone a positive quilting experience today and as always Happy Quilting.

Working on a Wish List

Quilting was put aside today to work on my wish list.  I've been wishing for a painted, organized garage.  Our garage is a mess, a real mess.  I have no pictures, because it is a real mess.  Anyway, our garage is a 3 car garage and not one car is parked in it.  Some of you may know what I mean.  The garage if full of things that are useless and worth $2.00 while your $20,000.00 car sits outside.  Does this make sense?  Well, it doesn't for me and so I called a "family meeting".  I declared that I wanted a painted organized garage by the end of the month.  Well, today was day one.  My son can tape drywall quite well and he volunteered to do the job.  We have so much stuff in the garage that I think we are going to work one wall at a time.  Tonight, hubby and I went through the big tools---like how many shovels do you really need???  Today was a baby step, but one wall is taped and tomorrow it will be sanded and should be painted by the end of the week---we'll organize things on shelves and peg board and begin on the back wall.  My dream may really come true.  I know that one of our bays is reserved for yard equipment, but the other two may house a couple of cars.  Wish me luck and Happy Quilting to all of you who have organized garages.

Sunday---Precious Promises

For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life.  An I will raise them to life on the last day.   John 6:40

10,000 Quilts

On Friday, April 6th the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative processed its 10,000th Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilt registration!
“Shhhh….” was made by Kristin Shields from Bend , Oregon and features a sleeping butterfly. It is dedicated “to the caregivers who might need a little rest.”
Kristin’s quilt measures 8.5″ x 8.5″ and was made with linen, cotton, and silk fabrics. It is machine pieced, hand appliqued, hand embroidered, and hand quilted.

Her original design was inspired by a class she took with Jude Hill.

Kristin has made 16 quilts for her $1,000 Promise, raising more than $800 for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative. She is also a member of the AAQI’s Quilt-A-Month Club having made or purchased at least one quilt every month for the past 14 months in a row.

Kristen said, “I make quilts for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative because I like the work they to do raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research. I also love to try out techniques in this small format, in fact my work is getting smaller all the time!”

She continued,”It’s pretty amazing to know that this is the 10,000th quilt for the AAQI. I’m really honored and pleased to have this little quilt get some recognition for all the work that AAQI does.”

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative is thrilled to have reached this milestone and congratulates Kristin and every quilter who support our efforts. The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative has raised more than $713,000 for Alzheimer’s research, much of this money through the sale of quilts like Kristin’s.

Quilts are offered in monthly online auctions, sold outright on our website, and sold at International Quilt Festival in Houston

Visit Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative to see Kristin's quilt and many others offered for sale.  Help the cause.  Happy Easter and Happy Quilting.

Rejoice

Easter is a time to rejoice, be thankful, be assured that all is forgiven so life extends beyond the soil of earth.

Byron Pulsifer

Wordless Wednesday

Learning Something New Quilt by Quilt

Being a self taught quilter, I learn something new with every quilt.  Many times I'm relearning and wondering why I forgot my last lesson.  The larger the quilt the more I learn---maybe there is more room for error.  Anyway, I am ready to put the binding on Dogs and Dots.  I made this quilt last year during the first Liberated Round Robin.  I completed it quickly, but got stuck on the quilting.  That seems to be where I have my troubles.  What design to use?  How to quilt---hand or machine?  Are my stitches to big?  Why is it not laying flat?  So many questions? 
I decided Dogs and Dots needed to be finished---really hubby was on me to show it in an upcoming local quilt show and I think he's right.  I need to take the plunge and just do it.  So I have been working on the little quilt---making some discoveries and some mistakes.
What I have learned:
1.  Must improve my quilting techniques.  This little quilt was lap quilted and I think I really need to work on using a hoop or frame.  I quilt at our church and of course use a frame and my stitches and techniques are much improved over the method I use at home.  I'm still working on free motion quilting, but really not tired it on a very large quilt.
2.  Need to find a better product for fusing.  Any recommendations?
3.  I need to remember to choose a backing that hide stitches.  Especially when you are using different threads on the top.  I decided to use threads that corresponded with all the different colors in the top---forgetting that the backing would show every stitch.
4.  Lastly, I learned something about me.  I love embellishments.  I added all the buttons on this quilt----they are dots after all--and they added a little "pop".  I'm going to remember this little lesson and do more embellishments on future quilts.
I will enter my little quilt in the show---I know it is really not "show" quality, but it will be fun seeing it hanging among other entries.
Have a great Monday and Happy Quilting!

Walnut Forest Collectibles

I'm slowing figuring out the features of Blogger.  For months I have been wondering how links are made from blogs to the various other pages.  I think I did it.  My hubby and I have had an eBay Shop for years.  He sells sports memorabilia and I sell quilts, fabrics and just lots of miscellaneous items.  We love auctions and tag sales so we created a little spot to sell our finds.  We call our shop Walnut Forest Collectibles.  I believe, if I did this correctly, I have created a link to our shop.  Hope So.  If so inclined give it a click and see what we have found over the years.  Have a wonderful Sunday and as always Happy Quilting! 

Sunday---Precious Promises

Give, and it shall be given unto you.  Luke 6:38