New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve and the last day of 2013

Resolutions to be made and possibly broken. New projects to be planned. UFOs to be finished. Priorities, decisions and changes to be made. A new year to be hopeful...

Sharing an idea I gleaned from Pinterest that we plan to do in the new year...

Tomorrow, start out with an empty jar (you could also use a tin or a basket or a pretty box) set in a place you will see often (so as not to forget ;0) and fill it with notes about good things that happen throughout 2014. Then, on New Year's Eve, a year from this evening, empty it and see what wonderful things happened. I think it'll be a good way to keep stuff in perspective.

Looking forward to tomorrow's New Years Day Mystery with Plant Patchwork. I have fabrics pulled and will do some preliminary cutting and HSTs today. My friend Janie is planning to come over and attempt her first Mystery Quilt while we have the Rose parade and football game on TV. Snacks and Mimosas are planned. It will be a fun day! 

Wishing everyone a Peaceful New Year' Eve

(not advocating Amazon ~ just a cute image)

Thank you for following my blog and sharing yours. Looking forward to a new year with new inspiration and progress in quilting and life

Happy New Year!!!

Groetjes, Jo

Happy Holidays

Winter Solstice

Definitions and beliefs about the Winter Solstice vary greatly. Of course it also depends on where you live on this wonderful sphere we call earth. The time of sunsets and sunrises vary. The opposite seasons for each hemisphere changes the mood. For those of us in the Northern hemisphere we begin winter, altho as far as weather goes, it began a few weeks ago!

I look forward to the solstice as we swing back to longer days. Well that's not true, there is no addition of time. OK, then each day forward will bring more light into the day. Illumination or enlightening, good words, altho they don't really apply to the winter solstice either...

en·light·en·ment

noun: enlightenment; plural noun: enlightenments; singular proper noun: Enlightenment; noun: the Enlightenment ~ the action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened. Attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight.

Synonyms: Insight, understanding, awareness, wisdom, education, learning, knowledge. 

Illumination, awakening, instruction, teaching.

A good time to reflect and find balance. Learn something new, like a new quilting technique. Start a new quilt project, altho, that is never a problem! It's the finishing that is the challenge or the balance :0) As a machine quilter, I am always interested in the direction of lines and filling space. Recently that interest brought me to the art of Zentangle. Also difficult to define as it has taken on many forms and theories. It has found it's way into the quilting arena which makes sense with the progress and interest in machine quilting. I for one, am looking forward to learning more and practice, practice, practice. And then practice some more!

Has anything new sparked your interest? 

Wishing everyone a lovely evening

Stars and a Mystery

As promised, this is the quilt I purchased a few weeks ago at Honey Run Quilters Holiday Craft Fair. Theresa Wright made this quilt for a store sample several years ago. It's quilted by Cindy Needham with beautiful feathers and radiating stitches from the center. I fell in love with the stars and layout at first sight. Then to find out it was quilted by Cindy I knew I wanted to buy it. Cindy is a member of our guild ~ Annie's Star Quilt Guild.  Cindy came to our last meeting as a guest speaker and showed her work, mostly her quilted linens that she is so well know for.
Here are some close ups of the quilting... there is a feather wreath going thru the second layer of star points with the radiating stitches coming out of the center star...

The radiating lines going out to the border with another spine of feathers. Love it!

The past few weeks have been busy getting quilts completed and delivered by the weekend. With a notice in the mail to show up for Jury Duty on December 16th (today) I wanted to make sure everything was done not knowing what would happen this week. Happily, I was not asked to serve and now I have some time to enjoy some quilting me time and the holidays. Yea!

The Mystery is by Plant Patchwork ~ they are going ahead with a New Year's Day Mystery for 2014. Their store is going out of business and selling off the inventory.  It is not decided what will become of the website. Having done several of the NYDs mysteries I was glad to get an email today that they are posting one for 2014. Here is a link to part one if anyone is interested in joining in. It's fun and free if you enjoy doing mystery quilts. Here are pix of past quilts I made doing PP mysteries...

My favorite, Gems in the Ruff ~ 2006

2013 Mystery

Chips and Strips ~ 2012

2005

This is my least favorite, the purple disappeared. But, that can happen because it's a mystery! The fun starts early on New Years morning, depending on where you live (time zone). I usually have the Rose Parade on and have a flimsy or close to it by the end of the day. A friend told me whatever you do on New Years Day, you will do throughout the year. Fun way to make sure that includes quilting!!!

Enjoy your week getting ready for the holidays

Groetjes, Jo

2014 Civil War BOM ~ Threads of Memory

Forgot to mention this morning, Barbara Brackman is hosting a new Block of the Month for 2014 on her Civil War Quilts blog. Here is her post. Today's post is the last block for Dixie Diaries which wraps up the blocks for this year's block of the month.

Threads of Memory starts January 25th 2014 and will be posted once per month ~ the last Saturday of each month. These will be 12 inch blocks, no applique (one per month, not a BOW).

From her post:
"The theme Threads of Memory refers to the Underground Railroad. Each month you'll get a block named for an important place in the story of the network that assisted slaves on the road to freedom. We'll explore true stories of people who lived in slavery, escaped on the "Liberty Line" or helped the fugitives."

Becky will be making two versions and Dustin will add his own flair by doing two versions as well, one all in one fabric :0) I plan to play along and may tie it in with my Mom in some way. She has dementia and Threads of Memory has a whole new meaning in our world. Mom did allot of cross stitch through out her life and I am thinking of including pieces of her work in the quilt.

Will be fun to see who all joins in for this one. How about you? A flickr site was set up in 2011 and I imagine it will be using for this project. Yep, just went over there and checked, Dustin already has a thread about it.  The Dixie Diary blocks are posted there now. Here is a link. You will also find a link on Barbara's blog, it's a photo of a woman holding a camera. Sweet!

Also posted by Barbara Brackman on her blog a couple of weekends ago... for anyone a bit more ambitious, looking to start a new Civil War block of the week... here is her post about Elm Creek's book ~ Loyal Union Sampler   Also a good choice for a new project in 2014!

Last of the Flowers

First, this is the layout I am going with for my Tree of Life quilt... still pinned, it's kind of wonky on my design wall.

Sawtooth border around the trees instead of running into them. It means making more HSTs which is what I am doing today. I am having so much fun working on this quilt even tho it's only a few hours a week. 

Keeping up with my longarm business and getting quilts quilted for the holidays by working Saturdays. Just finished working on a large quilt for Beckie. It's a new design and I love it! Quilted with wool batting, the quilting design shows really well. I would quilt one of my Civil War quilts with this pattern. For an all over design, it's really nice, especially for a quilt with a busy print/pattern.

Here is the quilt rolled up on my take up bar... it's big!

The last of the flowers are gone. Here is a picture I took just before the cold snap came in. We had almost a week of hard freezes each night. Last night wasn't as cold as the predicted 17 F but after yesterday's rain and snow mix, the wet was frozen this morning. Three nights in the mid 20's. We lost allot of plants, despite covering them each night.

The pic is of the flowers on the ground cover we added to the front yard this year. Flowers are all gone now, just hope the plants survived and will be back in the Spring. Of course, the veggie garden is toast! Goodbye Fall... Hello Winter! The Philadelphia Detroit football game today is being played in the snow! Those guys have short sleeves, sliding in the snow, crazy!

I'm off to make lunch and HSTs.  Enjoy your day, hope it is warm and toasty :0)

November is coming to a close

Can you believe it, tomorrow is the 1st of December! Don't know what I was thinking, my busiest time of the year and getting UFOs finished. Yea right. I did make a little progress on my Tree of Life quilt. It is fun to work on a quilt without a pattern, making it up as I go. This is my latest layout.

I am happy with the center medallion. Debating about adding a sawtooth border as an outer border design. It's between adding the sawtooth border into the corner tree blocks or letting them float between the trees... or leaving them out altogether and make a solid outer border.

Nada accomplished on two other UFOs. It's OK tho, I am getting quilts done for customers including a WIP with Janie. We are working together on a BOM she purchased last year. Amaretto Cottage. She asked me to help with some piecing techniques. I am making the quilt along with her in CW repros. Janie has her first two blocks finished...

 Four of block #1 in a 6 inch size finished and is working on 4 more 10 inch size blocks

 This is block #2 which she finished 8 in the 6 inch size.

Here are my blocks made in Civil War repros.

including block #3, another 6 inch block, my favorite size :0) Next are 12 log cabin blocks, easy for December. Janie can handle that on her own. She is doing great!

We enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving Day with Mom. Worked Friday. Today we spent the afternoon with friends that live up in the pines, picking up greens for some Christmas decorating. Having way too much fun (and time) on Pinterest gleaning ideas for quilts and the holidays. With the weather turning cold, it's evening time, cuddled up in a quilt, my laptop and my sweeties watching football :0)

Enjoy your weekend!  Groetjes, Jo

Enjoy!

Wishing you the very best Thanksgiving and/or Holiday season.

 May your day be warm and wonderful with friends and family, yummy food and memories for the future... and your weekend includes some time to take a few stitches :0) 

Groetjes, Jo

River City Quilt Show

Over the weekend I visited The River City Quilt Show in Sacramento, CA. Wonderful show!

Some pix of a few of my favs...
First up is a quilt made with Civil War repros. An uneven log cabin style block set on point.

LOVED this one because... yep the quilting :0)

This quilt was made and quilted by the quilt maker. Gorgeous!

Nice basket quilt in red and white

This Beauty is made with Civil War repros. Love it!!!

(Upper left corner the sun is shining on the quilt) Detail...

Cute appliqued baskets with striped handles

and some Art quilts...

This was a small quilt that drew allot of attention. This is hand dyed, machine stitched (the tree rings) and burned! Very unusual. I suspect it was made with synthetics as you could see how the fabric melted, turned black (cotton would turn to ash) and was recessed. It looked very much like wood. It is framed in wood. 

A challenge to create Bird's Eyes

The diamonds are turned edge applique and top stitched on this quilt.
Another challenge with the subject of vacations.

This one is fun because of the quilting :0)

There were about 200 quilts and 32 vendors. Great show and guild members of Sacramento. They had a big 'country store'. The food was very good. Wonderful building. I went to the show with Betty and Marion. We met Lauren there as well. Wishing we had as nice a venue in Chico for our guild, Annie's Star quilt show. We did get some good ideas to bring back to the committee.


Chatted with vendors that came to our show this year. Purchased some Civil War fabrics from Debbie's Quilt Shop, she carries the best repros. Met and invited other vendors to come to our next show.

 A busy weekend, worked Saturday, quilt show Sunday with no UFO progress. The Holiday Craft Fair with Honey Run Friday and Saturday went well. A few items sold and I purchased a quilt. Pieced by Teresa and quilted by Cindy Needham. Red stars and, of course, beautifully quilted :0) Pic to follow as soon as I take one.

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your week

Annual Holiday Craft Fair

Honey Run Quilters is having their annual Holiday Craft Fair this Friday and Saturday.

November 15th and 16th ~ 9:30 to 4pm

At Cathy's/Honey Run Quilters ~ In the Classroom

2418 Cohasset Road Chico CA 95926

Theresa will have the store's quilt samples for sale (some that I quilted) plus more items from local needle artists and quilters. I have a few Christmas items there. Hope you will be there too! Link to the store's website about the event and Facebook. 

Quilts of Honor

In September our guild, Annie's Star Quilt Guild held a ceremony and presentation thru the Quilts of Honor program. Quilts made and quilted by members of our guild were presented to local veterans (Chico, CA / Butte County area).
Here a few of the photos from that evening in commemoration for Veterans Day...

Color Guard starting off the evening

Quilt top made by Sandra E. quilted by me/Moonbear Designs

The recipent, a Marine and Vietnam Vet, presented with our quilt

This quilt was made by Robbie, I also quilted this one

Presented to Kaywood, a guild member and a MASH nurse that served in Korea.

This was a total surprise to Kaywood and Robbie is one of her closest friends :0)

One of three WWII Vet and Chico resident that survived Pearl Harbor presented with his quilt by Gail. Another was presented the next day at the recipients home.

One of the color guard and also a vet was presented with a quilt made by our guild

Gail Belmont (on the left) is an amazing person and a longarm quilter. Yet, she has never made a quilt! Only knows her way around a longarm and does is very well! She quilts many of the quilt tops donated to the Quilts of Honor organization and does a gorgeous job of it! Her work includes the quilt behind her and the first quilt pic I posted. Amazing person! It was an honor to meet her. Here is a link to an article recently written about her and the group and the dedication they showed during the 'Government shutdown'.
It was quite an evening!

**Thank you to all that have served and are serving today**