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Friday, November 29, 2013

Friday Flowers


This photo was taken during the summer, but these guys are now in my sun room.  As a little girl, I remember my Mom would always winter the geraniums on our stormed windowed back porch.  The porch was not heated, but faced south.  It was a perfect place.  So, as the snow would fly the pink geraniums would be blooming.  It was such a warm and welcoming look.  I don't have an unheated porch, but the sun room has windows on all walls.  The flowers are doing well--presently I have one blooming and two budding.  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Quilting!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !!!



Wishing you a wonderful day of family, friends and good food.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

News Flash---The Winner Is...

The Giving Thanks---Blog Hop has ended.  I hope everyone had a wonderful time, I know for sure I did. There were some great blogs to visit and become a new follower.  Thanks to everyone who hopped over to Familypatchworks and welcome to my new followers.
The random drawing for Christmas on Parade was held last night and the winner is:

Bo delivering the news.

I am thankful that my DH enjoys dancing with me.
Sallie have a "Happy Dance" with DH, many thanks for hopping by, enjoy.   Happy Quilting to Everyone!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Quilting for a Genius

I'm starting a new project this week---Quilting for a Genius.  Or you could say---Quilting for our First Grand Child.  Our first grand child will be born the early part of March and we are so very excited.  He's a Boy!!!!  Not sure of his name, but that doesn't matter---just healthy is all we ask.
Anyway, I've been thinking about a quilt.  I remember hearing that babies do not see well in the beginning and that bright colors with sharp contrast is best to stimulate their eyes.  And when you stimulate their eyes that will in turn stimulate their curiosity, which will increase their learning. Repeated visual stimulation can increase learning by 25%.   A genius in the making.


Dots and Critters will be the theme of his 1st Quilt.  I've already put together some bright 9-patch blocks that have lots of dots and activity in many colors.  I'll be adding the stripe and animal prints.  I plan to make a couple of floppy ear dogs, like I did for the Cardinal Quilt.  This little quilt is making me smile already and it will be made with lots of love for our new little guy, genius or not.  Happy Quilting!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sunday---Precious Promises


"You're done with that old life.  It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire...So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in a wardrobe God picked out for you:  compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline...And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It's you basic all-purpose garment.  Never be without it."  Colossians 3:9, 12,14, The Message

Friday, November 22, 2013

It's Finished !!!

Two years ago, it the heat of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team playing in the 2011 World Series and winning that series, I designed a Cardinal quilt.  My idea was to complete the quilt by January 2012.  That never happened---what was I thinking.  I decided to hand quilt my creation.  What I failed to take into consideration is that the quilt would have ideas of it's own.  Quilts sometimes speak when it comes to the amount of quilting that needs to be done and this quilt just kept talking.  Other projects were completed and this quilt was always in the wings.  I would take it on long road trips so I could stitch while hubby drove.  It traveled to Arizona, Maryland and Iowa.  Every month, I would take with me to my quilting group to stitch and talk. Finally, a few weeks ago, I cleared the kitchen table and I stitched and stitched---I could see the end and I was determined to complete the quilt before Thanksgiving.  One more thing to be thankful for.


 The big thing in St. Louis in 2011 was that the Cardinals had won their 11th World Series.  The slogan was "Eleven in Eleven".  That's when the idea popped into my head.  Making a story quilt depicting the eleven wins and Cardinal Nation.  I call my quilt Stars over Cardinal Nation and in each star is the year the Cardinals won a World Series.


 I used all primary colors and some vintage cotton Cardinal logo fabric I found on eBay.  You can find everything on eBay.


 In January of 2013, Cardinal Nation lost our most beloved star.  Stan Musial "Stan the Man" passed.  I added his name to the quilt with ribbon and embroidery. It was then that I realized that the quilt could be an ever growing quilt.  Embellishments could be added to remember events, even appliqued World Series stars.


I'm a dog lover and I created this little patchwork fellow.  He was a perfect addition complete with floppy ears and bandanna.  He was fun to make and I'm going to be adding critters like him to more of my quilts.


I found this little squirrel on eBay, too.  A squirrel ran across the field not once but twice and we won the game.  So during the 2011 series we had the Rally Squirrel.  He had to have a place on the quilt.


Finally, I added some embellishments --just because--.  Butterflies, buttons for flowers and door wreaths.  Appliqued bushes to soften the edge of the buildings.  The quilt measures 52 1/2" x 69 1/2".  I just started making blocks and putting them together.  Really no set plan just started making it up as I went.  Story quilts are fun to make---give it a try, they can be whatever you want.  I will say I will not hand quilt the next one, I like to finish my projects quicker than two years.  Stars over Cardinal Nation will be displayed at the Cardinal Winter Warm Up Fund Raiser in January 2014.  Have a great weekend and Happy Quilting!
Remember to check out the creative quilts at Off the Wall Friday .

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Giving Thanks-Quilter's Blog Hop

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

The Holiday season is just a few days away.  Sharing special moments with family and friends, what could be better.  Maybe, a Giving Thanks ---Quilter's Blog Hop Party.  It's time for some blog hop fun.  As you prepare for those special family times, take time for yourself.  Relax and enjoy the many blogs that will be participating in this years Hop.  
In keeping with the season--My Give Away at this years Hop is a fast and easy pattern book for Holiday Wall Quilts.
Christmas on Parade by Marie Shirer and Marla Stefanelli offers 18 fast and easy wall quilts including Santa and Mrs. Clause, Pixie Elf, Christmas Trees, Mary & Baby Jesus, the Three Kings and many more all with the instructions.  The quilts have a finish size of 11 1/4" x  26 1/4" for single quilts or larger if you group them together.  Great holiday project and wonderful gifts.  Perfect for a quilter.  
To win this Give Away leave a comment concerning what you are thankful for this year.  The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, November 26.
To find more blog participating this year just click on the Blog Hop link above. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.   Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Over $4,000.00

Good and Plenty
The updates are near completion and my total dollars earned for AAQI is $4,029.54.  There are still four of my mini quilts available for sale.  All the mini quilts are marked down this week and will continue to be on sale during December. This is a great time to buy and support a wonderful cause.  Happy Quilting!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Sunday---Precious Promises

Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks.  1 Timothy 4:4

Friday, November 15, 2013

They All Came Tumbling Down

Guess what hubby and I are doing today.  Well, we hope we're raking leaves.  There are some light showers in the area this morning.  We live in Missouri and by afternoon the sun will be out and things will be dry for leaf work.  I love the fall, but leaf raking and yard clean up is not my favorite activity---I'd rather be quilting.
Have a great Friday and Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Only Four Remain Unsold

When I started this blog, my goal was to write about the miniature quilts I was making for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). I started this project to honor my Mother, who lost her battle with Alzheimer's in 1995.  She enjoyed needlework and especially applique.  She did beautiful work and I treasure her quilts.
  This year is the last year for AAQI and they have reached their goal of more than $1,000,000.00 raised for Alzheimer's research.  I'm so pleased to have been a part of this goal.  November and December are the last months in which you can purchase a mini AAQI quilt and 100% of your purchase price will be donated to Alzheimer's research.  There are many quilts to choose from and personally I have four (4)  minis still available.
#10,109 Good & Plenty  $45.00
#10,110  Crazy Summer Fun  $40.00
#10579  Elephant Walk  $45.00
#11,595  Polar Bear Wishes  $25.00

I would love to have all of the 111 quilts I donated sell, but more importantly I would love to have the goal of $1,000,000.00 to keep growing these last two months.  So, I ask you to check out all the quilts that are available and make a purchase.  Help the cause this is the last chance.  Happy Quilting!

Monday, November 11, 2013

Veterans Day 2013

A day to pause and remember those who gave all, to keep us free.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Can't Stay Away

 I just can't seem to stay away from making mini quilts.  With the Holidays just around the corner, I made four mini wall quilts.  They all feature machine and hand quilting, vintage lace or ribbon, and a Soft Spoken Word--to accent the holiday feel.  They were fun to make and I've made them available in my etsy store, familypatchworks.  etsy is a great place to shop for hand made items of all kinds.  Check it out!
 Happy Quilting.


Friday, November 1, 2013

$1,000,000.00 and Counting

Put them all together and you have $1,000,000.00.  Wonderful news from Houston---AAQI has reached its goal of a Million Dollars.  YEA!!!!   And there are still more shopping days.  What a great story, how an idea and some mini quilts were able to donate so much money for Alzheimer's Research.  To Ami and her helpers--Job Well Done!!!!   Happy Quilting!