A Stitching Passion, That leads me Home

As the bumper sticker says, "I'd rather be stitching," so goes my life...

 

Usually my day goes like this... 
Breakfast, stitch, lunch, stitch, dinner, stitch, bed (dream of stitching) !   

 

Always a machine project on the table:

And a hand project on the couch:

Grandma was right when she said, "Busy hands are happy hands."

 

So... this is why I haven't blogged in awhile...

I'm always stitching.  Or eating or sleeping.

 

Guess that's not entirely true !!!!

Since my last blog post, we've traveled to Wisconsin to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday with family and friends.

 

We flew into Milwaukee and drove to Cedarburg, WI, where we visited

Ye Olde School House Quilt Shop:

 

 

and The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts:

The next day, after picking up two of our boys, we drove north to

Rhinelander, Wisconsin

"Home of the Hodag"

 



 

The Lex family stayed in this very comfortable cottage on Thunder Lake, a backwater of the Wisconsin River:

 

 

I never sleep well the first few nights away from home and was awake at 4:00 am for this beautiful sunrise over the lake:

 

 

Jeff and our girlies loved having the lake in our backyard:

 

 

Mom was delighted with her new "Tumbler" birthday quilt:

 

What a beautiful Sunday afternoon for an outside Birthday Party !  

Even three of my Knudsen cousins attended Mom's party - Ed and Ana came all the way from California !  

We haven't been together since we were kids !

Such dear men they've become.

This photo is taken from Mom's backyard, where we 4 girls were lucky to grow up and have the Wisconsin River for our playground.

This is Mom's carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. 

At 90, she deserves the best.  

 



 

We three daughters lead singing of "Happy Birthday" to Mom.

 

Met up with several high school friends for lunch too. 

Hard to believe it's been 48 years since graduation !  

 

 

Whenever we visit "home" memories of our childhood bring us back to

Grandma and Grampa Knudsen's house.   

Wonderful times and the love in this house always in our hearts and minds. 

After a week in the Northwoods, we traveled south to Stevens Point,

where we first lived after being married.

 

The guys golfed and Sandy and I spent 4 hours at an antique mall.

 

What a beautiful evening, on the patio at Sentry World, with long-time friends ! 
l-r (DH) Dennis and me, Sandy and Ron Roth, Dave and Karen Mittelsteadt.

 



 

So... that's our summer trip.  

Sorry if it was like watching home movies, but some of you will appreciate it. 

 

 'til next time...
 

QLTR,

Jeanne 

 



July - Slipping Away ?

DH and I took advantage of a cooler, dryer day this past week to walk our very wooded, narrow, country road.

 

Interesting, huge fungus.

 

 

 Pretty red daisy-like flowers in a cultivated, common area.  

Reminds me of some we've seen in AZ.

 

 

Lots of rain in New England this summer.

Crystal Creek is still running !

 

 

Thursday was July Jo Day at The Quilted Crow...

Detect a square in square theme ?

Oh the fun we have !

 

 

And then we shop !!!

 

 

QLTR,

Jeanne

 



Fun at June Jo's Little Women's Club

This is my 9th year leading Jo Club at The Quilted Crow.
The friendships created and the fun we have never ceases to amaze me.
 
 This past Thursday we gathered for our June meetings.   
To accommodate members busy schedules, we have two meetings on
Jo Day at The Crow, 1:30-3:30pm and 6:00-8:00pm.

 

Here's a photo of the afternoon meeting members and their "Tea for You" quilts:

 

 

And here's a photo of our evening meeting members with their "Tea for You" quilts:

 

Each month I present another Jo project for the members to work on and share at the next meeting.  

The quilt for July is "Square in Square"

Here is my sweet little quilt top:

 

 

 I also give the members Tricks, Tips and Techniques

to make the process manageable for their busy lives.

 

While making my little "Square in Square" quilt, I, accidentally, found a very cool trick for centering outside triangles to the center squares for this little block.

 

Here's a quick tutorial:

 

1.  Place a triangle, right side up, at 45-degree intersection of mat lines:

 

 

2.  Place a 2" square, right side down, on the triangle between center inch marks

 

 

3.  Stitch triangle to square at upper edge

4.  Press seam toward triangle

5.   Place another triangle, right side up, on mat at 45-degree intersection of mat lines

6.  Place square unit, right side down, on second triangle between center inch marks

 

 

7.  Stitch second triangle to square opposite first triangle

8.  Press seam toward second triangle

9.   Trim the four dog ears - both sides of triangles 

 

 

9.  Place third triangle, right side up on mat at 45-degree intersection of mat lines

10.  Place square unit, right side down, on third triangle between center inch marks

 

 

11.  Stitch third triangle to square on a free edge

12.  Press seam toward third triangle

 

13.  Stitch fourth triangle to square unit on free edge

14.  Press seam toward fourth triangle

 

This is your un-trimmed Square in Square block:

 

 



NEXT I showed members how to trim this block to exactly 2 5/8" square using a Bloc Loc Flying Geese ruler (any size 1 1/4" x 2 1/2" or larger)

 

 Simply place your Bloc Loc Flying Geese ruler securely at a point of center square and trim off the (acceptable waste) at top edge:

 

 

  Do this at all four sides.

 

As long as your center square was initially cut at EXACTLY 2", your little Square in Square block will trim to 2 5/8".

 

These are a lot of fun to make !!!

 

I'm looking forward to hearing how the Jo Gals did with these tricks.

 

QLTR,

Jeanne

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Beautiful Last Day of Spring

Each day is a gift and today is wrapped in clear blue skies, sunshine, light breeze,

83 degree air temp and 50% humidity.   

 The a/c is off and that breeze is welcome inside; doors and windows are wide open.

 

This is NOT a messy sewing table.  

It's a PIP - "Project in Process" !

 

I hope you're having a delightful day too...


And sew I sew on...



QLTR,

 Jeanne 

Flag Day, 2017

Today is Flag Day.

  "It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States,

which happened on June 14, 1777."

per Wikipedia

  

Wow ! 

 

Our flag is 240 years old !!!

  

Thank you, Betsy Ross.

 

We quilters like to make Patriotic quilts

to display on

Memorial Day, Flag Day, The 4th of July, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, etc.

 

I thought I'd share a few I've made...

 

 

This was made just after 9/11 in memory of our dear friend, David W Bernard, who died of injuries sustained in New York City.

 

I call this one, "Memorial Stars," for my dad, who served during WWII.

 

 

This is called "Strippy Stars" from Jo's Little Women Club #8, 2009. 

 

 

Below is "High Street," where, as a kid, I'd climb to watch the fireworks.

 

 

 

Not only is today Flag Day, but Facebook says it's Sewing Machine Day,

so...

I went out and bought a new one !

And what a beauty...

 

 

Guess I better get stitchin' !

 

And sew I sew on...

QLTR,

Jeanne

 

 

A Finish !!!

The original pattern gave instructions for a small, medium and large tote. 

 Bought that pattern years ago for $4.95.  
Not even a designer's name or copyright on it !!!

  

I'd made the large tote (15" tall), that required four 8" squares in each of the four rows for the on-point set, and found it handy to carry items to and fro.

 

For some time, I've wanted a bag to carry my mat, water bottle, quilt and other necessities to yoga class.   Just hadn't found the right pattern.

 

As I looked at that large tote, hanging on my door handle, I thought, "maybe if I set

five 8" squares in each of the four rows, the bag would be the same width,
but taller to accommodate my yoga mat."
 

Voila !

 

 

Sometimes, you just have to veer off that road to achieve your goal.

 

Now to decide what to prepare for dinner !!!
How 'bout Garlic Shrimp w/Pasta !
Sounds good (and easy) to me.

 

Have a lovely weekend. 

 

 

QLTR,

~ Jeanne

 

 

 

Oh dear !

Get's pretty bad when you're going through a drawer for a large piece of fabric to line a project, find some pieced blocks and say to yourself,

"Wonder what I was making ?" 

Oh dear !   

Is it time to go through those drawers and decide what to keep and what to pass on ?

Maybe another day. 

 

Must finish this project.  

Will post a photo tomorrow when completed.    

 

Just a hint... 

 

And we sew on...

Jeanne

 

 

 

Sunshine, Birds singing, and a Slight Breeze !

Undeniably, the most beautiful New England morning in the past month and a half !   

This may even be a "lunch on the porch with a book" kinda day.

Menu to follow...

 

Until then a little stitching...

 





Or maybe I should tidy up my sewing room ?   Naaah !

Beginning a new stitching project is a journey.  
Unless you follow instructions to the letter and use the same fabrics or colors shown in a pattern, you won't know which direction the journey will take or how it will end.  
I suggest veering away from that mapped road once in awhile and enjoy a more exciting excursion.  
That's the only way the end result will be your own.

 

And Sew On...

Jeanne   

 

 

 

Life is a Gift !

It's been 4 years since I've blogged.   Yup, 4 years !   
Life's become bit simpler, so going to use a few minutes each day to communicate with you again.
 
Jo's Little Women's Club at The Quilted Crow in Bolton, MA continues to be my focus.    Our Club year is now April-October.    Works out well and the Jo Gals appreciate not having to drive at night in the winter.   We have two meetings on Jo Day, afternoon and evening.    This is a photo of the afternoon meeting members with their "Tumbler" quilt creations (check out those happy faces):

Cornerstone Quilt Guild, Charlton, MA asked me to speak on May 21 and I took the opportunity to show my Jo Club quilts.    After sharing each quilt/top, they displayed them on the rows of chairs.   How awesome they looked !



After several days of chilly temps and rain, we're all hoping New England will, actually, have some seasonable weather.   My peonies love the rain !

 

 

 

And Sew On...

 

Jeanne