Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Quilting and More

I hope I remember how to write a post.  It has been so long since my last one, but life has been full with wonderful times.  My goal to be a better blogger seems to be experiencing a setback, but that works too.  It gets hard to retrace days when it has been so long.

Each month Sherri and Michele are our fearless leaders with the Minis and More quilt parade.  I have been less than stellar in my participation this year, but I do enjoy their monthly projects and ALWAYS have the best intentions.  This month I made it happen.  The pattern chosen was Strawberry Social Mini from The Pattern Basket.  I did a bit of a variation on the pattern to make it my own.



My sister has been visiting so we have had so much fun hanging out with each other and enjoying sharing some quilting time together.  She brought three of her beautiful quilt tops down to quilt so the machines were humming.


On Ringo Lake


Storm as Sea


As well, we took one day to visit Quilt Con in Pasadena and share time with other quilting friends for lunch and dinner.



Monday was my mom's 95th birthday so it has been a week of parties for her.  She has always wanted to put a purple streak in her hair so she got that done too.  Now she wants to do her whole head of hair in purple!





Our February has been an exceptionally warm month until this past week.  We have suddenly plunged into a deep freeze here!  I think my sister packed it in her suitcase and brought it down from Alaska.  I hope she takes it home with her tomorrow.  They even canceled the grandkid's baseball practice yesterday due to snow flurries!!  What is that all about?  One thing for sure, it is making my temperature quilt very interesting.  Just look at the recent week of color.  It is now three full rows and after today I get to add the March block.


I know I must be crazy, but my sister has talked me into doing the Postcards from Sweden QAL.  My fabrics are all ready to start cutting.



Last weekend we attended our granddaughter's horse show up in Fresno.  It's hard to believe this young gal (with our DIL) will be off to college later this year.  Her younger sister will take over the riding while she is gone.  


Meanwhile...... since my lap has not been available this week, this little pup has adopted a pillow for his perch.  Life is so boring when quilting is going on around here.




22 comments:

  1. I adore your strawberry mini and your sister brought some real pretty quilts to work on. Happy 95th (wow!) to your Mom, she looks amazing...purple stripe and all :) I am all caught up on my temperature blocks. I just need to break out the embroidery machine and make the year and months. Hoping to do it tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my....all of those quilts are gorgeous!!! Mary, your Mom looks so young...love the purple streaks too. Adorable family there, children grow up way too fast!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi there, I love getting caught up and understand how hard it is to make time for blogging when so many quilts are calling. O.k. I have to ask, how many long arm machines do you own? You mentioned that your sister brought three quilt tops to be quilted and your machines were humming. I have two baby locks, but not a long arm. I have to admit until recently I never had any interest, but it would make quilting them go so much faster-I'm a hand quilter. I will be taking one quilt to a long arm quilter, just to have it finished(it's a harvest wall hanging and I'm just not sure what pattern I will decide on). Love your mini; I'm always looking for ideas for when I host our mini group-the hostess usually has to demonstrate a skill or have some sort of presentation. I especially love your sister's top quilt in the batiks.
    You are so lucky to have your mom with you still; I lost mine when I was 21. I say if you make it to 95, dye your hair whatever color you want!!!
    Hope you have a great evening.
    Hugs,
    Noreen

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your strawberry mini! Your mom is remarkably young looking for 95. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your mini strawberries make me wish for warm June days and fresh strawberries. It's so good that your sister shares your interest in quilting and that you can share happy quilting time together. I'd never have guessed your mom is 95! She looks so much younger, and it's obvious she has a great spirit!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your strawberry quilt is adorable! The berries looks so juicy in those fabrics. I really like your quilting design, too. How fun that you’ve had this time with your sister. Her quilts are gorgeous. Happy Birthday to your mom! I’m glad your days have been filled with family togetherness. Thank you so much for your wonderful comments on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You packed a lot into this post, I think you still remember how. lol All the quilts you shared are gorgeous and what a fun time you and your sis must have had. I must say your mom looks fab with the purple and if she wants to do it all over, good for her! Sorry about your snow, but that's probably more moisture than we've had in months. I'm ready for spring for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You have been so busy. I saw your sisters post on instagram with her trip to visit you, quiltcon, and your mother's birthday....she got a triple! Oh your mama is so lovely, and how cool to have purple hair. I am sure she rocked it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, your mom looks so young and beautiful, happy birthday to her! I thought I saw your smiling face on another blog earlier this week and yep, this is the same picture :) Glad you all had a good time at the quilt show. I could go on and on about all the quilty loveliness in your photos, thanks for sharing and quilt on my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You have been having some fun times! I kind of like that your sister brought the cold weather from Alaska with her :-) After too many days of 75 degrees, I was feeling like we were missing winter completely. We're getting a full dose today with the wind and rain though. Your temperature quilt is going to be lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lots of quilty goodness going on here. Love the loaded quilts ready to be quilted. Your strawberries make me wish for spring. Our winter has been warm also until about two weeks ago when the snow started to fly. Crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Strawberry mini looks delicious! Happy B day to your mum! She looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I know I sat by you at dinner, but it's fun to read your blog and to catch up with what you are doing, quilt-wise. SOOOO good to meet Joan and to have you both come to QuiltCon! I am happy she came down to celebrate your mother's birthday, and that it was timed perfectly with QC. I was also happy to read that I still have time to get a colorful streak in my hair. What a great example for us all.

    And congrats on cranking out all those quilts. Her Ringo Lake and Storm at Sea are so gorgeous. And I love the strawberry mini that led us off at the beginning. Such a fun post. (Now, have things settle down there, so your pup has his lap perch back again?)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wait, I thought your temperature quilt was flying geese. I must be losing it. Anyway, I think it is a fabulously fun idea still.

    Your other loos so much younger than that. How wonderful for her to get to put purple in her hair. I don't know about the whole head that way though - ha ha.

    It is so wonderful that your sister could come down from Alaska to playing quilting with you and your friends! I need to maybe coax my sister to come down from Idaho. It is a lot closer, and yet we don't see each other enough.

    Your strawberry quilt is adorable! I really love the striped background of a variety of fabrics. It is so my style!

    ReplyDelete
  15. The Strawberry mini is so cute! I specially like the strawberry with the white dots on it. You and your sister always work on such gorgeous quilts. So great you went to Pasadena for the Quilt Con. We used to hang around there all the time. A Very Happy Birthday to your mother. How cool is that she wants to make her hair purple. I have purple hair too (a deep shade). I think you are having a lot of fun playing with fabric and colours. Why else would you join another QAL. :) Your DIL and granddaughter look fabulous with her beautiful horse. The pup looks quite comfortable. I am sure a pillow is not same as your lap, but what is a pup to do but find the next best comfortable spot :)


    -Soma

    ReplyDelete
  16. You have definitely had a busy month! Your sister's quilts are all stunners...exquisite! And your strawberries are adorable! Happy Birthday to your mom, what a beautiful lady!

    ReplyDelete
  17. A lovely post Mary - it sounds like you have thoroughly enjoyed your month. I love your Strawberry mini! How cool that you have a sister who shares your quilty passion...her quilts are gorgeous. Interesting to see how your temperature quilt is looking... I'm still at the fabric gathering stage of mine but diligently collecting fabrics for it - getting there. Gosh your mother is a very young looking 95...good on her with the purple hair!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy Birthday to you Mom and YES to purple hair. She'll be a trendsetter with her lady friends. Your sister's quilts are just gorgeous. How fun to have quilting in common with your sister. Love your little strawberry quilt. Toby is a sweetie.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please wish your beautiful mother a belated Happy Birthday! She looks fantastic.....it must be the purple in her hair! Looks like you had a great meal at QuiltCon with your sister and lots of quiting going on, I didn't realize you had a longarm!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your Strawberries look good enough to eat...
    How wonderful to have had your sister stay and her quilts are awesome, love the fabrics she used for ORL.
    Sew good you were able to visit quilt Con.
    Happy belated birthday to your dear Mum. Look forward to see her hair all purple. At 95 she can do as she pleases...
    Your wee pooch looks comfy..

    ReplyDelete
  21. Happy Belated Birthday to your beautiful mom...love the purple streak in her hair. Sew many beautful quilts that I am seeing here! WOW! Lots of very happy smiles on the faces of Quiilt Con ladies. Marvelous March Dear...We had Snowmagedden for five days with just about 2 feet of the stuff! Where is Spring? <3

    ReplyDelete