Refreshments

Sometimes when many tasks are pressing, a just-because project hits the spot. Not as an escape, but for low calorie refreshment.

Mom's Winter Project

It is refreshing to see Mom take time for a beloved pastime after so many years of putting out fires. I spy many of our 1990's to early 2000's apparel here.

The Mantel in June

 

A few remaining stems from Hannah's birthday roses from Dad

 

Grandma R.'s pitcher-vase - which reminds Mom of the swooped gathers on the front of formal dresses so common in wedding parties these days

 

The only blocks still intact from a 1940's-1950's baby quilt - also from Grandma R.'s home

Finishing

 

Mom is in the last stages of stitching Jason's quilt before putting it back in his hands for binding.

Great-Grandma's Pillow

While looking for a few castaway treasures from Grandpa and Grandma's home, I came across Great-Grandma's pillow. The worn applique on black caught my eye. I began to look more closely to decide whether this was a treasure to keep when I caught site of a bit of embroidery underneath. No more did I wonder if this pillow was coming home with me.

At home I began to dissect. Out came a beautiful embroidered basket of flowers. But there was more.

 Mom finished the excavating process and found three more layers of pillow coverings making a total of five. If this pillow could speak, it would have many stories to tell.

Project Complete

A few weeks passed between the day I began and finished this quilt.

One quilt top down.

Two to go.

Sewing in the Sun

We have had so much lovely weather the last weeks, and I can't seem to get enough of it. After "too many" nice days, my sewing machine made its way to the deck one afternoon.

 

The blocks I chose to sew have been waiting in our cedar closet to be made into ministry quilts* for many years. They are made just of recycled denim and upholstery fabric samples from a home store, but to desperate refugees these blankets will feel like richness. I have to say I have grown quite fond of them myself.

 

 

 

Notice the blossoming plum tree in the background. It offered me wafts of sweet and spicy perfume all afternoon.

 

*My blankets are going here.

A Quilt & a Quilter

Maren, her man-friend, Jason, and Dad spent several hours puzzling out the system of a new quilt frame. Now for the first time in years a quilt is up for hand stitching in our house!

Did I mention that Jason is the maker of the quilt top? And that it is one of his fifty-plus quilts?

Inspired by a Quilt

My current knitting project was inspired by a quilt Mom is making. While Mom chose Dad's old blue, tan, pink, etc. dress shirts and off-white muslin for her quilt's color palette, I stuck with a soft and cozy grey. What is it and who is it for? I can't tell you yet... but it is a surprise for someone!