Nocturnal Wanderings

I'm not sleeping well. Getting ready for my move to Georgia, thinking about finances, wondering when the movers are coming, wondering when they will deliver my stuff in Georgia, moving into my sub-leased apartment - it is keeping me awake.

Most nights between 2:30am and 3:00am my eyes open and I'm awake. Lately, after about 20 minutes I just get up and go down and try to read or make lists or get on the computer for a while. My doggie girls, Gracie and Lucy Lou stay in the bedroom sound asleep. They are so use to these wanderings they don't even look up anymore. Smart dogs. Sometime around 4:30ish I return to bed and fall into a deep sleep only to be awakened by the alarm clock less than an hour later. I feel like a zombie.

I'm emotionally strung out, stressed out and ready to have a major meltdown at any time or place.

People keep asking if I am excited about the move. No. I am not. I want it to be over and done with. My house is so full of boxes I can hardly move around. I can't clean because of the boxes so there are dust bunnies every where (Lucy Lou is shedding like a crazy dog). Thank goodness for Amy and David, good friends who have helped me stay focused and came to help pack. I now think I have a pretty good grip on the packing. My nephew, Patrick, is doing some touch up painting on the porch that the buyer's needed to have completed for their loan to go through. Thank goodness for Patrick (and my great-nephew, Aaron). I also had my chimney replaced per the inspection report.

I am moving most of my temporary things into the apartment May 2. The movers are coming May 6 or 7 with closing on the Milwaukee house on May 7. I will pre-sign all of the paperwork and I have until 6pm to be out of the house. I fly to Georgia May 8. Closing on the Canton, GA house is Monday, May 10. Movers will be there sometime between May 11-13. I fly home on May 17.

I've been busy calling utilities, insurance agents, cable companies. I'm making lists that are a mile long.

Please please, please let this be over. Please, please, please let me sleep.

You know when I will be excited? I am driving down May 27 - June 5. This trip I am looking forward to. While I will be unpacking boxes and organizing the new house, I can relax and do it at my own pace. I can sit by the community swimming pool. I can go to the mountains. I can explore my neighborhood and introduce myself to my neighbors. Life will be good.

In the meantime, I'm a zombie!

New Home Sweet Home

My friend, Nancy, read somewhere of the most stressful times of a persons life. Like those surveys that list the top ten most stressful jobs. So, not surprising to me, right up there on the top three most stressful times of a persons life is selling and buying a house. Duh! I am proof of that.


After a whirlwind week of looking at houses, putting an offer on one, pulling out of that offer due to a bad realtor and being jerked around on what was an easy deal and extremely strong offer and literally sealing the deal on the way to the airport on another house, I bought a home in Canton, GA! Whew!


And, while it was more than I really wanted to pay, with the help of my realtor in Georgia, Robert Doyle, I got a wonderful deal on a brand new home. Yes - a brand new home, as in I am the first owner after the builder!


It is in the newer subdivision on the north side of Canton. It is a "cottage" style home - 3 bedrooms, master bedroom has huge walk in closet and wonderful bath (yes, I got a spa tub!), it has a living room and dining room combination with a beautiful fireplace. Attached garage! Laundry area and office nook! Nice kitchen with small breakfast area, granite counter tops and pretty backsplash. Off the kitchen is a screened in porch that opens to a small, fenced in backyard that borders a greenbelt (can never be developed). Cute front porch just perfect for rocking chairs. While the 2 other bedrooms are small, one will be a perfect guest bedroom and the other will be my quilting room. It is steps away from the office nook where I will keep my sewing machine and large enough for my ironing board and cutting table. Lots of closet space in the home, too. And, the best thing - it is a ranch, not step! NO STEPS!


My annual HOA fees include a huge, beautiful pool, a kiddie pool, tennis courts, a basketball courts, club house, etc. The area is relatively flat so it will be good for walking the doggie girls.

the house was almost at the top end of my price range, so I will be getting a part-time job later in the fall, but I feel I got a great deal and I know it is a good fit for me. Jen asked if I would work in a quilt store! Ha! I am afraid I would spend all of my money on fabric! But, who knows? My first thought is to work for a temp agency like ManPower so I can pick when I want to work and for how long at a stretch.

So, now the packing continues. The closings are in the 2nd week in May so while I have time, that will go fast. I also will need to move enough of my things over to my friends place for the next 3 1/2 months until I can actually retire. But, things are falling into place.

Home is where the heart is and I know this new house will quickly become my home. It will be difficult to leave my current home, but a young couple is buying it and will make changes and maybe even start a family here. My new home is less than an hour from my sister and 20 minutes from my nephew. I am already planning to host Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It's all good.

Happy Easter

I love springtime in the South. I'm in Georgia for a weekend spending time with family and looking at houses. This year the Japanese cherry trees are spectacular. All of the flowering trees are pretty. Flowers are blooming - it a lovely.

Spring is the time for rebirth - in all ways. The earth is shedding its cold blanket and flowers are pushing their way through the dirt towards the sun and leaves are budding on the trees and plants.

For me it is the time of change. My house is sold and I will close on it May 11. I am here now looking for a new place to call home in the Canton, GA area. But, since I can't retire until August 23, I will be temporarily moving into a friends upper duplex for 3 1/2 months in Milwaukee. Luckily, it is basically furnished so I only have to move in what I the very basics of what I will need for both myself and my doggie girls - no furniture, dishes - nada!. Hopefully, all of my belongings will be safe and sound in my new home in Georgia.

So, metaphorically, it is now a rebirth of myself, too. I will no longer be a "working" person, but a "retired" person, although I plan to get a part-time job after the holidays this year. I will be living in a whole new region of the United States - new state and new city. I will be making new friends, joining new groups and trying new activities. I know I will be busy and happy.

I am letting go of an old life and building a new one. Like the little flowers in my yard, I am pushing my way up towards the sun, feeling it warm me and pull me towards it.

Life is good and it will continue to be so. Hectic and crazy for the next few months, but good. It's time, it is my season of change and I intend to embrace this time for all it is worth!

SOLD!

Yikes! The young couple loved my house, it passed the inspector's careful eyes (I have to do some repair work on the chimney, but that is OK) and the closing is scheduled for May 11th. My house sold in 11 days. Amazing.

I leave today for Georgia where I will be actively looking for a new home in the Canton area.

Yikes, is right!

Anyone want to help me pack?

House For Sale

My house if officially on the market. The first weekend (last weekend) I have 5 showings! That was exciting. Unfortunately, no offers. I had a showing last night and the couple like it so much they are returning tonight to see it one more time. No other scheduled showings for the weekend.

Sigh.

Keeping a house clean 24/7 is harder than I thought. it has made me realize just how much I leave laying round and I am a very neat and tidy person. I can't imagine how people with children do it when trying to sell a home. I did drag out my quilting things long enough to cut and sew binding and machine sew it to the top a quilt so I can start the hand stitching process.

And, since I don't have any showings this weekend I plan to work once again on my Underground Railroad quilt. I have 1 1/2 blocks left to go and then I can start the lattice and posts. Every other quilting project is on hold.

Please, please someone buy my house. I need to start quilting again!

A Few Words on Quilting - or My Lack of It.

I haven't quilted in weeks. Packing and organizing have consumed me (well, a couple of other issues, too, but I digress).

I have packed up a lot of my quilting paraphernalia. Six huge boxes. This includes material and patterns for future quilts and completed quits and well as other miscellaneous quilting items. I kept out several kits and projects, both on-going and waiting to complete.

I currently have 4 quilts that need to be bound and I will get 2 more back from the quilter tomorrow. So, hopefully this weekend I can get a few of them machine bound.

Jeannie's BOM quilt is still in progress as is my Underground Railroad quilt. Hopefully, within the next few weeks the Underground Railroad quilt will be sent to the quilters. My dreams of starting the Wisconsin Barn quilt that Jen is offering will probably wait until after I retire. Sigh. I really wanted to start it, but I have my nephew's Double Irish Chain quilt to start ASAP (Ha - that's funny!)

In the midst of this I have to keep my house neat and tidy for possible showings. Ha! That's funny, too!

I kept out my two rolling carts full of scraps and fat quarters for Jeannie's BOM and other small projects. The carts can be tucked into a small closet each night. Both my sewing baskets are still out, but one really should be packed up as it is not used that often. All of the rulers are hang nicely from hooks in a closet.

I've been quilting less than 2 years! Where did all of this come from?

Of all of the things I have packed, I miss my quilting stuff the most. I like having it spread all over the house. I like finding tiny pieces of snipped fabric. I like my threads on the floor. Am I nuts? I crave my rotary cutter and miss the hum of the sewing machine.

Next week I start quilting again!

Getting Ready for Retirement

Funny things start to happen when you tell people you are going to retire.

First, I went to a work offered retirement seminar last November. It was great - well organized and very informative. I was given lots of brochures and pamphlets to read, which I have done. There are just over 200 of us City workers that fall into a group that are eligible to retire if we use the incentives they are offering. Truthfully, we would be crazy not to grab the deal and run, which is exactly what I am doing! However, all at once I started to receive mail from the Employees Retirement System - pension estimators, benefit plans, etc. Yikes! This is really going to happen!

Co-workers approch me. "Hey," they say, "I hear you're retiring!" Or, "How much longer do you have?" Or "What will you be doing once you go?" This is all fun stuff, although my immediate co-workers must be getting tired of hearing my answers all of the time. Several co-workers insist on getting together after work as my "time" approaches. I'm looking forward to that!

The most asked question is, "How many more days?" Well, as of today I have 5 months and 14 days. Exact days? I'm not sure. Well under 100. I got vacation time to use and it will all be spent house hunting in Georgia and moving down there.

This is all good stuff. Fun stuff. I thought it would be much different, but recently life has a way of kicking me in the butt and directing me down paths I really didn't want to go. But, it is all good (at least that is what I am telling myself over and over). It is all a learning experience. It is a new path, a new part of my life - so very different than what I am use to.

If I survive what I am going through now, if I survive selling my house, buying a new home and a move to a whole new state without losing my mind, if I make it to August 23, 2010 - a whole new life will begin.

Bring it on!

Packing it Up!

Last week my wonderful sister, Suzanne, flew up and we spent 3 1/2 days packing and organizing my basement as well as other areas in preparation for the sale of my house.

Now, I am not a wuss and I can pack, but I was stuck in a rut and needed Suzanne to give me that swift kick in the butt to get going. She is good at that!

We got a lot accomplished and 72 boxes and bins are sealed, neatly labeled and ready to go. And, more boxes to pack. SEVENTY-TWO with more to come. Jeez - where did all this stuff come from? And, now I have 4 large boxes in my dining room full of quilts and quilt stuff. More of that, too. This doesn't include every day things that I will need until my house actually sells like pots and pans, dishes, etc.

Every night more "stuff" gets sorted through and packed or put into boxes for Goodwill. Friends and family are welcome to things they admired and would like for their own so a lot is leaving via the front door. My desk and curio cabinet are claimed and waiting to be moved (please come get them). I would much rather give things to friends and family than sell them on Craig's List. This way people will have a remembrance of me and something they like. Pictures/art work are bubble wrapped and not much is left on the walls. My home is becoming more and more depersonalized. Sigh.

I have contacted a couple of realtor's and one will be chosen this weekend. My house will be ready in a couple of weeks. I have a cleaning service coming in to do a heavy spring cleaning before any perspective buyers come in to view it. I am keeping my nephew busy with fixing broken light switches, moving things around and general "PLEASE COME OVER AND HELP ME DO XXXXX"

Yup. This is all happening. I am retiring and moving to Georgia. The Canton area of Georgia, close to the Blue Ridge and within a quick drive from Suzanne and my nephews.

It is exciting, fun and stressful.

And, I am scared to death!

Raffle Quilt for the Wisconsin Burn Camp

The handsome gentleman with me is my boss, Deputy Chief Michael Payne.

Every summer for one week children from Wisconsin who have suffered from burns are able to attend what we (members of the Milwaukee Fire Department) call Burn Camp. This wonderful camp is sponsored by fire departments throughout Wisconsin. Many MFD members dedicate several days of their own time each year volunteering at the camp. It is a wonderful week for these children and their families.

At the Wisconsin Fire Chief Association convention, held every June, a quilt is raffled off with the proceeds given to the Burn Camp. This year the Ladies Friendship group from Ye Olde Schoolhouse quickly agreed to my suggestion that we piece the quilt to be raffled this year. Each double star block was made by a different lady - some making more than one! The colors are burgundy, black and off white/tan. I think these ladies did a fabulous job. After the blocks were done, my friend, Terri and I arranged them and I added the lattice and corner stones. The quilt came together beautifully. Today I purchased the batting and backing and hopefully by next week it will be at the quilters. I will bind it with the same material as the lattice.

I'm retiring in August. This morning in our conference room at the Fire Academy, we were having coffee and the guys were discussing the sports of the world (typical morning conversation), one of the guys asked me what great legacy I would leave the Milwaukee Fire Department - what stories about me would be told over and over. After 32+ years with the City of Milwaukee I am sure there are tons of "Julie Ann" stories! LOL. However, I hope this quilt will be my legacy. I am very proud of it and especially of the ladies who so quickly volunteered to go through their stash of material and make a block.

Besides, I'm telling all of the MFD chiefs who attend the conference this June: they better purchase lots of raffle tickets and if they win, give the quilt to me as a retirement present!! (Just kidding - kind of).

Little Quilt Girl

Isn't she lovely?

She is designed by Karen over at http://www.sewprimitive.blogspot.com/. Karen sells these great designs under http://www.folkartchildren.com/ This one is entitled Quilt Album 1870.

Check Karen's site out. She has great designs that are quick and easy to follow. And, although they call for hand turned applique, I did the blanket stitch. Slightly bulky around the face (I will use different thread next time), but it turned out fine. She was quilted by Meandering Mary, who once again did a great job. I love this wall hanging.

And, when I was in Atlanta over the Christmas holidays, Karen and I (along with my sister, Suzanne) met for lunch. We also visited a quilt store in Marietta. It was so much fun to meet her in person after becoming blogging buddies. Hopefully, we will connect again when I am down there over Easter.

She also designed, as you may remember, this little girl, entitled Portrait in Silhouette No.1. What I love about both of these is that they have a 3-D effect. Although you can't really tell from the picture above, the little girl's quilt is not sewn on, but glued to card board to give the illusion that she is holding it up while hand quilting it. It really doesn't show up this way on the pictures, but is adorable on the wall.

On this picture you can see the curtain/drapery that hangs on the side.

Now, I am waiting for a little boy to go with this girl. Karen????? After all, she is called #1? Where is #2? LOL

I just purchased Karen's Berks County 1850 girl, but it may be a long time before I start her! Got the material, too!

I need to retire soon so I have more time to quilt.

Help Regarding Flying Geese (quilt blocks, that is)

I have Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day flying geese rulers, which I find to be a God send. However, I have the instructions for 4" x 8" and 2" x 4" size, but I can't find the instructions for the 3"x 6" and 1 1/2" x 3" flying geese. I just need to know what sizes to cut the two squares for each size.

Can anyone out there help me?

Thanks! Me and my flock greatly appreciate it!

Happy Valentine's Day

Don't eat too much chocolate!

 

HELP

HOW DO I GET THESE STUPID PHOTO BUCKET ADS OFF MY BLOG?

Packing it Up/Letting it Go

In about 5 weeks my home will be on the market. Retirement (at least from the City of Milwaukee) looms just over 6 months ahead.

Slowly, very slowly, I am going through stuff and tossing, giving away and maybe packing. Oh - I really need to start packing. Not that I am not ready. I am collecting boxes. I purchased packing tape, bubble wrap and I'm bringing home newspapers from work (I don't get the paper here at home).

A few weeks ago I made a plea to my sister, Suzanne, in Georgia. HELP! I need help organizing and labeling boxes. I need a kick in the butt to get going on the packing. She is just the person to do it - firmly, but nicely! She agreed to come up for four days in late February. What would I do without my sister?

I called my nephew, Patrick and asked him to come over a few times in the course of the next few weeks and do a few things for me - tightening towel racks, replacing broken glass in the china cabinet, helping me get rid of tools I have never used and never will use. I need a couple light switches replaced, too. Oh - the list could go on, but he is a busy man himself and when preparing a house for sale, there comes a time so say that it is as good as it is going to get!

I watch enough HGTV to know what I need to do, how my house should look and how to stage it to make it look welcoming, inviting and like someone elses home.

I am by no means a hoarder, but I am a very sentimental person and sometimes I have a hard time letting go of things. I have to keep telling myself that the memories are in my mind and in my heart. I have been moving the same "stuff" around for 35 years. It is time to let go.

Nancy, after retiring and moving to Mesa, AZ, has given me some good advise. Give it away to friends who like it and will use it. I have been giving artwork to friends. I am parting with my porcelain bird collection and offered birds to many of my gal pals. It is amazing how many of them will find new homes. They are beautiful and it makes me happy to know my friends will have beautiful reminders of me. I have told my friends that if there is any thing of mine they have always liked or admired and would like for themselves, just ask. If Iam ready to part with it they, may have it. I am happy to note that several things have been promised. How wonderful!

My co-worker, Judy's son loves Ebay. He agreed to sell things for me as long as I provide pictures. So, I will be snapping pictures and calling Bobby to work out a deal on how we will work this out. I have some antiques that need to go. And, will someone buy all of these old tools that I have? Tools going back to my grandfather? Who needs sickle these days and how in the heck did I end up with this stuff?

A rummage sale has been suggested several times. But, I don't have the energy for that. Plus, my house will be on the market in March. Not a good time for a rummage sale in Wisconsin. I don't want people tramping in and out of my house. Showings will be difficult enough with the dogs.

Then there is all of the quilting stuff. I love quilting and it is amazing how much I have accumulated in the past year and a half that I have started this wonderful hobby. But, other than starting a queen size quilt for my great nephew's 18th birthday, I need to pack up a lot of what I have and not purchase fabric or start large projects. I will keep out smaller quilting kits and continue with my BOMs, but I need to clear out a lot! Where did this all come from? In just a short time quilting has taken over my home!

So, I am getting all ready for selling my home and moving on. But, where am I moving to? I'm moving south, but will it be 90 miles or 900 miles? Will I be with someone or alone? I think this issue is what is stalling me the most. Indecision, questions and putting my life on hold for the several years now is taking its toll. Decisions need to be made and they need to be made quickly. I have written about this before, yet nothing has changed. This is my own fault. I need to stop waiting for someone else to make up their minds and/or take action and I need to reclaim my own power and decide for myself. But, it is so hard. If I had a friend in this same situation I would shake my head and think, "She needs to get a grip." In someways I am ashamed of myself for being in this position, for allowing myself to be in this position. I am truly a strong and independent woman. So why am I and/or having I put my life on hold for so long? Jeez.

Lots to think about. Lots to do.

Meanwhile, every time I open a drawer or closet I take something out to be given away or toss. I look at everything in my home with a critical eye and think do I really want it or can I live without it. Keep it or let it go. I think I need to carry this attitude on to more than just my house.

Jeannie's Quilt - BOM - Blocks 11 & 12

Cut the Corners on the left & Robbing Peter to Pay Paul on the right.

Here's January's installment of the Block of the Month we are working on at Ye Olde Schoolhouse. This month's fabric was the cheddar - best seen as the center square of the block on your right (Robbing Peter to Pay Paul).

I admit I am getting MUCH better at deciphering the patterns! And, the flying geese pieces (4 in one the right and 8 in the one on the left) are a piece of cake now that I am using Eleanor Burns' flying geese ruler and instructions. I actually find them fun!

In these two blocks I used the same two fabrics in the flying geese, just reversing them. I had fun with that and I LOVE how the black fabric came out in the block on the left (Cut the Corners). I was a little nervous about adding the black and will be sure to use it in at least 2 more blocks to balance it out. I got both blocks completed in a few hours.

Normally, since we meet once a month, I pound the blocks out right away and forget about them until our next gathering. It didn't happen that way this month, so on Thursday I will get a fat quarter of fabric and two more patterns.

Twelve down, twelve to go. We're half way there!

Tea Time Block of the Month (BOM)

This block of the month has been a pain in the butt.

I participated in an on-line BOM from a company I had previously ordered fabric from several times. My experience in dealing with this company had been a happy one with my orders arriving quickly and even with candy attached! How fun and how could it get better? So, I decided to try a BOM they offered.

The company promised that the fabric would be mailed the 20th of each month. Along with the BOMs the company promised, "Throughout the program you will also receive bonus patterns for additional projects, as well as much-loved Tea Time recipes." Sounded great.

The first couple installments arrived safe and sound and on time. I wasn't thrilled with the fabric, but that was a risk I took and overall the quilt is OK. The instructions were always excellent - clear and easy to follow. However, delivery went down hill. I understand that over the holidays, mailing on the 20th wasn't always possible, but 2-3 weeks late is ridiculous. Some months I inquired as to the delay 2-3 times with no response (I was worried they had been lost in the mail). The 4th (out of 6) installments included a little note stating there had been a death in one of the owners immediate family and that was taking up much of her time and she apologised for the delays. Included with the BOM was a cute card with a package of instant hot cocoa and a peppermint stick (this is right before Christmas).

Well - OK. Obviously, this is a small operation and I certainly understand a death in the family. But, why not respond to email inquiries? All it would take is a couple of sentences and I am sure I wasn't the only one inquiring as to where the BOM was. During this time I did order fabric and it arrived promptly. I also made a wrong cut on Block 4 and asked for a little piece of additional fabric. That arrived promptly, too, but not the 5th BOM. When Block 5 did finally arrive I made another wrong cut and asked again for a little more of a specific fabric and she sent me the whole 5th BOM package again. By now it was January and I received this and the 6th and final installment a month late. Ha! They were probably sick of me.

During the first couple of months when things were going smoothly I signed up for 2 more BOMs with this company. I cancelled both due to this problem. One I would have really liked to have participated in as it would have taught me new techniques and would have been a darling quilt. I lost a little money as the initial fee to hold my spot was not refundable. I figured better that than a whole lot of frustration. I notice they are not offering any other BOMs on their website so maybe this was too much for them to handle.

As to the other projects and recipes promised? Never saw them.

This is a "live and learn" experience. Will I order fabric from them again? I don't know. Maybe. Will I try another BOM from an online company? I don't know. Maybe if it has been around for a while and I ask my quilting friends their experiences with the particular company. I did enjoy getting the fabric and pattern every month, working on the block and then setting it aside until the next month. I was eager for the mail to arrive towards the end of each month for the next installment! But now, even though I have only one more section to complete, I have put off finishing the quilt due to my disgust with how the whole situation was handled.

At least I did receive all six BOMs and I learned from making the quilt, i.e., new techniques and methods. And, when I needed additional fabric due to my errors, it was sent free of charge (I did offer to pay). Yet, I am frustrated with the whole thing. What do I think should have happened? I don't know.

Oh, well . . .

Knowing When to Stop?

I decided to put borders on my egg quilt.

I kept adding them and adding them and adding them.

I just love all of the fabrics so very much! I wanted a bigger quilt. Well, it's big alright!

I'm cracking up! (pun intended).

I put the quilt on the bed both the "right" way

and sideways so see how it fit.

I snapped the picture when the quilt was on sidways.

Really - my borders are directional - and correct!

But I had to stop. I wanted to add one more border of the blue, but I will bind it off in it so it will show up. So, it is done. I have enough fabric left for pillow cases and a couple of throw pillows.

I just need to get backing fabric and sent it off to be quilted. Now, I could go for a plain fabric that is 108" wide and make life easier on myself and also a lot less expensive. That would be the practical and sensible thing to do and I am a practical and sensible woman (according to an old beau who loved to tell me so).

Ahhh, but the egg fabric also comes in a very pretty, soft blue . . .

Ka-ching!

Dragonflies

Shortly after I started quilting I decided to have a small dragonfly quilted into every project. The dragonfly has a symbolic meaning to me. And, I think it is a fun thing to add. Although my first quilts do not have the dragonfly quilted in the pattern, I found quilt labels with dragonflies on them and will be adding them to these quilts.




I fell in love with the above Oriental-themed pattern while visiting a quilt store in Colorado last September and bought the pattern and material while I was there. The dragonflies are hand appliqued using the blanket stitch - the method I feel most comfortable with at this point - to the beautiful background fabric. I am thrilled with the way it turned out!


It was professionally quilted by Meandering Mary, who added a tiny dragonfly to the upper left corner, even though there are 3 dragonflies on it.


When I give quilts away to family and friends I tell them, "Look for the dragonfly!" It can be a challenge to find them, but I think it adds to the giving of the quilt. Recently I picked up 3 quilts from Meandering Mary - this one, a primitive wall hanging (which I will post when I finishing binding it) and a queen-sized Friendship Star quilt. Mary forgot exactly where the dragonfly is on the Friendship Star quilt. I tried finding it, but didn't have a whole lot of time to look. Maybe when I am hand stitching the binding on I will find it.


When I was at Ye Olde Schoolhouse quilt store last week to pick up these projects Jeannie brought back from Mary, I ran into my quilting instructor, Diane. She wanted to see what I have been doing so we looked at my projects and she and complimented me! I was so happy that my first quilting instructor admired what I have been doing. We talked about incorporating the little dragonfly into each quilt. She said, "Just think, Julie Ann, a hundred years from now someone will be talking about how this quilter from southeastern Wisconsin always had a dragonfly quilted into her quilts and now they are considered highly collectible!" That comment blew me away!


It is fun to have this little something extra in my quilts. It is like a little added blessing to the quilt.

To Add or Border or Not to Add a Border?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this fabric. Aviary by Three Sisters for Moda. Love it.

So I made this pinwheel 4-patch quilt. Oh, it is soft and girly. And, I adore the egg material. I am using it as the backing, too. I call this the Easter Egg quilt! LOL

But, I think it needs a border. Maybe two. I'm lazy and am talking myself out of it. Then I look at it again and think it just doesn't look complete.

I have plenty of the pink and blue floral fabric to add a double border. I also have enough of a deeper pink from the same fabric line and this might "pop" the quilt. I plan on binding it with the blue floral.

What to do? What to do?

Shannon's Doll Quilt

Last Sunday little Shannon came over and we made a doll quilt out of the 1930 reproduction fabric she picked out. I had the squares pre-cut and she arranged them exactly the way she liked! She brought me each square to sew. I probably could have got it done in half the time, but she was very intent on helping!

We then went through my stash and she picked out the purple inner border and the pink outer border. No swaying this young lady's mind! She wanted pink and purple! We also decided to make the exact same quilt for her cousin, which I whipped up on Monday night.

We had a great time. She listened to what I told her and did what I asked her to do. She loved the stick pins with the large yellow tops! And, she was very careful not to prick herself or drop one on the floor in case the dogs walked on it. She stayed far away from the iron and sat on the other side of the table with her hands on her lap when I used the rotary cutter for the borders. She got to design and arrange her quilt, so I think she understood to listen when it came to being too close to the things that could really hurt her.

I think Curious George likes the quilt, too!

I decided to back it in the pick border fabric, which I was able to still find online so I am waiting for it to arrive. Then I will stitch in the ditch both little quilts.

Shannon and I decided the next doll quilt will be made with "princess" material with blues, greens and, of course, pink and purple! And, she wants triangles and diamond shapes incorporated in her next doll quilt - not just squares and rectangles. Pretty impressive for a little girl who just turned three!

It was a very fun afternoon.