Christmas from 1960 something . . .

This little Santa (left with only one eye now) brings back a wonderful memory from one of my childhood Christmases:

One year, my Mother took my brother and me on the bus, to the

Woolworth's store, at our local Shopping Center.

We each got to pick out one Christmas ornament to take home.

After that, we were treated to lunch at the Soda Fountain inside the store.

I specifically remember the red upholstered chrome stools at the counter

. . . and maybe something about a grilled cheese sandwich accompanied 

by a root beer float.

One year post Stem Cell transplant for Multiple Myeloma,
I was feeling grateful to be able

to enjoy the wonderful experience of attending the Sister's Quilt show this year.

For me, it proved to be gratifying in many ways.

The quilts of course were so much fun! 

My husband estimates that out of the 1,500 that were displayed, we probably saw about 85 percent. That's pretty good! considering how hot a mid-July Saturday in Sisters, Oregon can get.

Among the treasures that I brought home with me, was a fat quarter I found while perusing one of the town's antique shops. It was $1.25 and had been previously cut into by someone wanting to use only one of the many butterflies.

I took it home and proceeded to cut and fuse a few of the butterflies onto scraps of fabric that I pulled out of my scrap bins and stitched together. Some of this fabric was an old dish towel that I had previously watercolor painted and used in another quilt.
The top quilting was random and included a handful of different thread colors.

To finish my little quilt, I faced and mounted it onto a stretched 8" x 8" canvas.

This morning, while looking up butterfly symbolism, I found the following:

The Metaphor of the Butterfly

The cycle of the butterfly in and of itself holds spiritual teaching and insight for us.

Birthed from an egg the butterfly lives its early life as a caterpillar.

It then retreats within the pupa or chrysalis where it undergoes a transformation, and finally when it leaves the chrysalis it is reborn as a beautiful winged butterfly.

The magnificent life of the butterfly closely mirrors the process of spiritual transformation as we each have the possibility to be reborn through going within.

By retreating from the world into our inner being, surrounding ourselves in cocoons of prayer, meditation, spiritual books and courses, we're ready at some point to emerge. Awakened and ready to fly, we're transformed and reborn into an entirely new way of being.

In addition to how they live their miraculous life, butterflies don't live long. They typically only live for a few weeks or months at the longest, which in and of itself offers more guidance for us. Guidance that life is short. Even for humanity time moves quickly, and so the butterfly with its magnificent and yet short life, reminds us to enjoy the here and now.

I also like to think that the transformation of the butterfly, as well as each of our own spiritual transformations continue onward after death. With death we retreat from the physical world, but once again we are reborn into another dimension where we get our wings, and remember our full light and how to fly.

http://www.ask-angels.com/spiritual-guidance/butterfly-meaning/

The glory of a summer morning

This morning I went out onto the patio to enjoy my coffee as the sun came up.

I realized that this was it - 

the perfect summer moment that we all wait so patiently for all year long.

How glorious it felt. The air was warm and smelled sweet. Summer birds were beginning their chatter. A small group of them rustling about in the ivy leaves. 

. . . And all was well, for that special moment, here in my corner of the world.

I felt so blessed.

Choices - Direction - Moving On . . .

30 x 30"

When I first began this quilt, I was thinking about choices:

All the choices that each of us are called to make, each and every day of our lives.

My kids are constantly making choices –

Where to live, who to date, should I buy a car? Etc.

I feel like I am personally in a constant state of making choices –

How do I want to spend the time that I have left?

What other interests should I explore?

What would I enjoy?

Should I down-size a lifetime of accumulation to prepare for the next place that I am going to live?

Where would that be?

How do I simplify my life so that I am able to manage easier day to day?

How do I make new friends?

. . .

The triangles in this piece, represent all of these choices.  Each pointing in a different direction - toward a different outcome - maybe. By using complementary colors with related surface design, I am trying to imply some abstract connection between them all.

In my quilting, I wanted to show ‘flow’, as in a current of water (life) where everything keeps moving and changing. I used clear monofilament thread to give texture and direction to the stitching, without overwhelming the viewer with color in the thread.

. . .

After a rough year of personal challenges while trying to finish this, I finally completed my quilt this week.

Hanging sleeve, label and all.

Now, it’s time to move on. . .

Cancer Changes Everything

First day of Chemo: August 31, 2015

I used to worry about the big earthquake that is due in our region at anytime.

Now, the days go by with a different focus.

I don't think about that anymore. . .

True magic

"I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year."

-Abraham Lincoln

Winter winds are coming

 The news from across the country is showing us the start of our Winter weather.

Here in Oregon, we are to expect winds and freezing rain tomorrow.

Time to prepare, hunker down and snuggle in with a project.

 

I will be busy stitching up this sampler design from Blackbird Designs,

 appropriately titled

'Evergreen'.

 

 Do stay warm . . .

I just had to . . .

If any of you follow Kathie at  http://inspiredbyantiquequilts.blogspot.com/

you know that recently she has been exploring some color options for her little quilts using a Windmill block.

My momentum had been building each time I opened her blog and saw another wonderful set of blocks she had made. I was so inspired last week, that while I patiently waited for the inspector to come and take a look at our new furnace, I put together a few scrappy blocks of my own. 

I have never pieced this block before, and have to say that they are definitely addicting. 

Thank you Kathie for all of the inspiration!

October

The month of October is upon us.

Last weekend we had our Garage Sale on Saturday. 

The temperature rose higher than expected, so we ended up closing an hour earlier than planned. Our driveway is on the west side of the house, which can heat up pretty fast when the sun makes it way around to that side in the afternoon.

My neighbor brought over a few things to add to the stash. 
My youngest Son stopped over to help and join in the fun.

We enjoyed the people, and all the stories that everyone is always so eager to share. We were very satisfied with all the items that were re-purposed. While what was left behind we quickly whisked off to our local Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity Rebuild centers.

All in all, I would call the day a success!

The air is getting cooler!

I have started the Fall cleaning of my sewing room and 

dug out a few kits and patterns to share with you

this month:

'Jack'

  26" x  29"

'Maggie'

  28 1/4" x  45"

 

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of these applique patterns, 

 I am kindly offering them at $6.00 each -  free postage!

 

Kits available for 'Jack' quilt top only (includes pattern),

$15.00

please email me:

Ginghamleaf@gmail.com

The bounty of Summer

 

Baby Lovies

 Toward the end of last year, three of my nieces were pregnant, all at the same time!

Two have delivered, and the third is on the way.

 Last week, I finished up the binding on the first one.

(Very girly, girl)

 And quickly finished quilting the second.

(For someone's lively little monkey)

 I had so much fun putting these together!

Hmmmmmm?. . .Now, what will I do for the third?

Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty . . .

We are in the middle of a remodel.

It's time to replace our old kitchen.
It has been used and abused for a number of years, before we became the new caretakers.

We have ripped out everything and are starting over from scratch.
No blog posts for awhile.
Ah, yes - I am looking forward to the change!

Just beautiful . . .

. . . this morning as I opened our front door.
Looks like an old black and white photo.

February

'Piece To Your Heart'

 24 1/2" x  27 1/2"

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this applique pattern,

please contact me:

Ginghamleaf@gmail.com

Made in Minnesota - Why not Oregon?

On Sunday, September 29, the New York Times 

 ran the second in a series of articles under the heading:  

AMERICAN MADE

   bringing to light a recent trend in manufacturing to take back jobs in the textile industry lost to overseas workers during the last 25 years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/business/a-wave-of-sewing-jobs-as-orders-pile-up-at-us-factories.html?_r=0&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1380549711-eq5b7fRjT+AHwCCQzru26A 

The Times article goes on to explain; ‘The issue wasn’t poor demand for the curtains, pillows and other textiles being produced at the factory. Quite the opposite.’ ‘… Airtex Design Group had shifted an increasing amount of its production here from China because customers had been asking for more American-made goods.’

Minneapolis has pioneered a new movement: 

The Makers Coalition 

http://www.themakerscoalition.org/ 

 in an ‘effort to create a skilled work force from scratch’. Businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and service providers have joined together to establish a nationally recognized apprentice program for sewing operations.

The Dunwoody College of Technology is now offering a full degree program to train and/or retrain workers of all ages, ethnicity or anyone transitioning from a previous career. - New hope for the large national population of workers who are still unemployed as a result of the recent economic slow down.

So why does the Portland area unemployment rate remain stubbornly at a high 7.3 percent, given the large number of sportswear and outdoor gear companies headquartered here?

Sharing my reading . . .

Occasionally, I read the Minneapolis Star and Tribune online.
 http://www.startribune.com/
As this is where I grew up, I really enjoy checking back in often.

I just wanted to pass on this wonderful post written by Nancy Wurtzle.

A link to her blog is here:

http://www.datingdementia.com/

Are you looking to move?  Try your hand in a new city with fresh opportunities and fun adventures?  If so, please consider Florida, North Carolina, Texas, New Mexico or Colorado.  Any state but Minnesota.
Never mind the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul and the surrounding metro areas are often included on many of the “Best Places to Live” lists.  Or, that The Trust for Public Land recently named the Twin Cities the nation’s best big city for public parks, besting New York City and Boston.
Big Whoop.  Don’t be fooled.  You don’t want to live here.
Take it from me.  I returned to to my native Minnesota in 2011, after living in Southern California for more than three decades.  I never thought I’d return, but personal circumstances brought me back.  After living in my small, rural hometown for nine months (population 4,300), I was paroled for good behavior and bought a home just outside Minneapolis.
From personal experience, I know it isn’t that great to live here.  Honest.
Not convinced?  Consider these four reasons not to move to the twin cities.
1. Minnesota is Much Too Progressive.  We have two democratic senators and a governor who are doing good work, and citizens who really care about the future of their state.  Did I mention our unemployment rate is 5.3%?  Did you know there is a building boom going on here?  Did you know our state coffers are in good shape?  (The best for last) Did you hear Michelle Bachmann is retiring from Congress?  It won’t last.
2. The Natives Get in Your Face.  Your neighbors will snow blow your driveway and never expect anything in return.  If you mention you’re fond of cherry pie, someone will bring you one.  During the summer and the fall, there will be backyard gatherings and everyone in the neighborhood shows up to chat, laugh, and sip wine or beer.  When you walk or ride your bike people wave and smile (and usually comment about the weather).  The residents here take friendly to a new level.  Minnesota Nice? It’s downright annoying.
3. How Quaint: People Value Learning.  Oh sure, the schools are pretty good.  We have more than 200 colleges and universities in the state and 33 of them made the annual list of “Best Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report.  And, speaking of education, please just gloss over the fact that Minneapolis & St. Paul were both included on a list of the most literate cities in the U.S. (spots three and six, respectively).  Don’t even ask me to tell you about the libraries.  Learning? It’s overrated.
4. Dubious Quality of Life.  Forget that we have way more than 10,000 lakes, great air, loads of trees, and walking and bike trails that were named the best in the country.  Never mind that we have the Mall of America, the biggest mall ever, or that our world-class museums are awesome.  Or, that we have more theater seats per capita than any other metropolitan area.  Did I forget to mention Garrison Keillor?  Please do not come to the Twin Cities to enjoy our huge farmer’s markets and our great restaurants.  Do not come here to see the thousands upon thousands of wonderful old houses and buildings that have been preserved and restored.  And, while you are not here, you surely won’t see any deer or wild turkey in your backyard (like I have in mine).  Awesome on every level?  It’s all hype.
There you have it.
I could have easily listed five reasons not to move here, but Minnesotans are notoriously modest.  Five would have just been showing off.
Hopefully, my four reasons are enough to convince you to just stay where you are or choose some other place to relocate.
Really, we’ve got enough people in Minnesota and you really wouldn’t like it anyway.  Honest.  I hate it.  I hate it so much, I’m never leaving again.  You would, too.

 by Nancy Wurtzel on June 18, 2013

Taking a break

Hi friends,

I'm taking a little break from blogging and will return in a month or so.

Enjoy the sunshine!

On and On . . . about Modern Quilting

A few weeks ago, I ran across an article in a Bernina newsletter that I subscribe to.
I was so excited to see a brief tutorial about how to use the 'Running Stitch' on any domestic sewing machine to achieve the mechanical look that so many
Modern Quilters are enjoying now.

Here is a link to the tutorial:

http://weallsew.com/2013/03/29/quilting-with-the-running-stitch/

Using  a Walking Foot, with the Guide attached, it's easy to keep the distance between each row of quilting the same. (i.e. the Guide allows you to maintain an easy reference point for each row.)

I enjoyed seeing how the rows of stitching were lining up as I went along.

But when I got to the step of putting the binding on,
it started to bother me that the quilting stitches were not lining up with all of the edges.

I can see, where it makes sense that they wouldn't. Given that the quilt had been randomly pieced to achieve that highly coveted "Wonky" look of a Modern Quilt  and I had used one of those seams as a reference point to begin quilting.
In spite of the fact that, I had squared-up the quilt before beginning.

My first instinct was to try to correct this in some way. 

One thing I tried, was to run a machine Basting Stitch down one edge, 

coming further in on the quilt - to see if any type of 'straightening' was possible at this time.

And of course, that made little or no difference at all.

So, . . .

the lesson here is I think, 

if you are a long-time quilter, possessing all of the Traditional Quilting rules of expectation,

when using this new method of construction and quilting,

you are just going to have to let everything go!

I personally love this 'free-fall' method.

Once I tried this method of quilting, I was ready to move on to something that was more of a challenge. 

I did find that having to line up each and every row of stitching 

quickly became monotonous for me. 

I could not image ever finishing a larger quilting project employing this method.

But, that's me. 

Time to move on . . . 

Happy Mother's Day. . .

Enjoy!