Using up yarn stash....

Here is another afghan that I finished up this morning for donation.  I wonder if I will ever get through this yarn stash?

Afghans for donation....

These are the afghans I have made for donation in the past couple weeks.  Not the prettiest either.  But they will work for baby's to keep them warm.  Since I use yarn from thrift stores and from people leaving leftover yarn with me, I make them as large as I can.

On the needles....

or should I say hook....another donation afghan....will post better pictures when its complete...

Design Wall Monday

I am working on quilting this quilt that my Great-Great Grandmother made.  Mattie Kellums was born in Illinois, but homesteaded in western South Dakota in the 1880's.  She lost her mother very young, and was married to another Homesteader in the late 1890's in South Dakota on Christmas Day.  His name was John Houston Kellums, also from Illinois.  They as a couple, then homesteaded in what is now the North Platte River Valley in the Panhandle of Nebraska.  I date this quilt top from about 1900 to 1910, because I feel that it is a Mourning Quilt.  One of her sons was killed from a horse fall about that time, and I believe this quilt top was made then, and put away.  Mattie lived and continued quilt until her 90's, passing away in 1961.  In 1960, when a grandson was born, she made him two baby quilts, which are still in the family.

 Mattie is the motherly looking person with white hair.  The lady to the left is my great-aunt Ena, who was a great quilter, and the other woman on the right is my great-grandmother Maude.

Pincushions....

Every once in a while at an estate sale I will see an interesting pincushion so I will pick them up.  I loved this rooster, with a thimble holder and retractable tape measure coming from its gizzard. 

Talula Gilbert Bottoms

Talula Gilbert Bottoms is one of my favorite productive quiltmakers.  She quilted because it brought her peace during a happy but also sad life.  Her granddaughter wrote a book about here, and then later, there is also a book with all of her patterns.  And more quilts.

Hit and Miss Quilt Top

This quilt top I love, an old fashioned utility quilt.  One that I will big stitch hand quilt with Baptist Fans.  I love the movement, and how some of the plaids in the quilt are cut on the bias.  It is all hand pieced and a nice size for the age of the top. 

Thrift Store Find...

I found this wonderful hand appliqued 1930's Butterfly and Flowers quilt top at a local thrift store for $1.95.  When paying for it the lady said it had bleach stains.  Which you can see.  The damage isn't beyond repair, but I believe I will reset the entire top with lavender, just the way it is now, someday. 

Utility Quilts

Does any one make Utility Quilts anymore?  You know use what you have, make do, and just quilt it with big stitches or tie it with wool yarn.  I needed some warm quilts to use under my good quilts, so I been busy making a few utility quilts made out of what is on hand.  This one used up various pieces of scrap that I had, and I used four pieces of flannel on the back, rolled the backing up to the front to be used as binding, and its tied with wool yarn.  Why wool?  Because the ties won't come undone when washed, they will felt and keep the layers tight.  Just be sure not to use Superwash Wool.

Susan McCord

At a local thrift store, I found a original copy of Susan McCord's Henry Ford Museum exhibition catalog.  I was very pleased to find this copy.

Susan McCord (1829-1909) was an Indiana farm wife who had 7 children, loved to garden and quilted for over 50 years. Like other quilters, she drew from her extensive bag of fabric scraps-choosing patterns, colors and techniques to make quilts. But she put all these elements together in ways that were highly original.  As stated from the Henry Ford Museum.

Butterflies is almost done.....

The butterfly quilt is almost complete, the quilting is done, the binding is sewn on, all I need to do is turn the binding over to the back and sew it down.

Design Wall Monday

Since last Monday, I got the Ohio Star blocks set together, now I am working on its borders.  I am liking it so far.  There was a slight breeze this morning outside when I took the picture, thus the wave of the top.

Someone gave me two large leaf bags full of acrylic yarn.  It was all new Red Heart Super Saver, mostly in greens.  I am making afghans for donation from the yarn.  This one was made this week from that yarn.

What I am Working....

Here is the quilt that is currently in my quilting frame, I am past the half way point, I hope to have it complete in a couple weeks.

Happy Birthday Grandmother!

Today is my grandmother's birthday.  Some years it's hard to go through this day, since she and I were very close.  She passed away over 10 years ago, but the wound is still fresh some years.  She is the one that taught me to quilt, to crochet, to embroider, to cook, to bake, and for the love of a simple but frugal life. And her love of butterflies.  I miss her every day and I still find myself picking up the phone and calling her number, only to realize what I am doing.

For this I want to tell her thank you for all the wonderful things she taught me, but the greatest thing that she gave me was unconditional love.  For that I am truly thankful!

Design Wall Monday on Tuesday

I have been working on a group of Ohio Stars from my scraps, nice easy project to use 5 inch scraps.  I now have all of them made, I just need to decide on a setting.

Another Finish

I can tell that I don't like binding, here is a twin size nine patch quilt that I just bound.  It too is all hand quilted. I used a wool batting and it worked great!

Star Quilt

This quilt was finished a while ago, but I just got around to binding it.  I really do like it, and its a true scrap quilt.  It is all hand pieced, but machine quilted in a stipple.  It's a great quilt to use to cuddle up with on the couch.

Since I Went Away

It has been a long time since I have posted anything.  I had been sick again, but so far, I am feeling better.  Quilting really helps me to keep myself sane when every thing is going down. 

I made this nine patch quilt out of vintage fabric from the 1960's and 1970's.  Its nice and bright and cheerful and really made me happy.  It has been quilted for a while, by hand, but I just finished the binding on it.  I really like it because it makes me happy.