Quilting – Page 19 – Thimbleanna

Julie and Julia and CrazyMom and Me

40 Comments / August 16, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Quilting

Have you all had a good weekend? We’ve had a nice relaxing weekend here in ThimbleannaLand. The whole family made the trek to visit TheFirstChild and SweetiePie to celebrate the birthdays of MeMum and TheFirstChild which will occur next week. It’s always fun when we get together — the cousins are always entertaining and I love to see how they interact with each other. MyDadLovesMeBestSister probably wishes that my two now-grown boys would leave her three now-adolescent children alone, but hopefully all their lives will be enriched by the mayhem!

Before the big day out, TheManoftheHouse and I went to see Julie and Julia. Meryl Streep was wonderful and I thought Amy Adams was pretty cool too. I don’t know that I’d say I loved the movie, but I did really enjoy it — especially with the tie to blogging. The whole idea of “stalking” a chef from a blog sort of made me think about “stalking” a quilter from a blog. If I could stalk a quilter, who would it be? Who is my idol?

I finally decided that my true quilting heros are all dead. Long gone. I love old traditional quilts and the more I’m overwhelmed by all the fabric and pattern choices that we have today, the more I’m in awe of all those women who came before us. The amazing quilts they made with so few resources. Can you imagine what they would have done with the wide variety of fabrics that we have? It’s a little scary to think about it!

So, speaking of stalking quilters, I might be stalking CrazyMom. Did you notice that she’s having a second round of her 9 Patch-Along? (Day 27 already — where has the summer gone?) She said she just wanted to make another one, but I’m thinking this round might be for her flunkies from round 1, so that we can get caught up. A Remedial Quilt-Along.

A second chance – I’m going to do better. Really. I’m ready for you this time, CrazyMom.

XOXO,
Anna

My First Quilt & More

53 Comments / July 8, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Quilting

Camille and Carrie are hosting a “My First Quilt” show, so I thought it only fair to burn your retinas with a little 1980’s pink and blue. Oh wait, it was “mauve” and “country blue” back then, wasn’t it?

This was my first quilt. It was 1987 and I was on the verge of birthing TheSecondChild, so being on maternity leave and having unlimited access to the master quilter (MeMum), we decided that I should learn how to quilt. We had a new little house and I made this quilt to hang in our entry hall.

Camille also asked what we have learned between our first quilt and our last quilt. I’ve learned that I wish I could get back to hand-quilting. It’s always been my favorite. My quilts now seem to be easier and quicker. It would be nice to go back to more detailed blocks and hand quilting.

I’m also supposed to show you my most recent quilt. Here it is:

Oh, I’m KIDDING! My most recent quilts were those t-shirt quilts and seeing them once is enough. THIS ADORABLE little quilt came all the way from Australia from Toni of The Red Boot Quilt Co. Isn’t it the sweetest thing?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I love the happy, bright colors and the big fat flowers. And Toni’s work is PERFECT. Perrrr-Fect! It’s just beautiful. Look at those pretty stitches! And look at all the other goodies Toni sent. Three (THREE!) of her patterns– they all have flowers on them. Eeeek, they’re so cute! And, I LOVE TimTams Toni — how did you know? We had them here at Target for about 5 seconds and now they don’t carry them anymore. I’m going to HIDE savor every single cookie. They’re my favorite combination — chocolate and carmel. Yum, Yum!

But wait! There’s more! Vegemite. I haven’t dared try it yet — TheSecondChild said he tried it in Sydney and didn’t like it. I’m not going to let that prejudice me though — Toni gave me a tip for eating it. If any of you other Australians have any great tips for becoming a Vegemite lover, I’m all ears! It can’t be all bad, can it — look at that gorgeous packaging!!!

Toni! Thank you, THANK YOU so much for your generosity! I already have the perfect place picked out in my little sunroom where I’m going to hang your cute quilt. I can’t wait. What a wonderful gift — you’ve made my day. And if the rest of you haven’t visited Toni, run over there. She’s on a little blog break, but there’s lots of great stuff to see and I promise, you won’t be sorry!

XOXO,
Anna

Yippy Skippy!

60 Comments / June 16, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Quilting

Wow! Thanks for all of your wonderful comments on the last two posts. You are all so very kind, generous, AND clever! I’ve had a great time reading every one — and laughing a lot too. Talk about making a girl happy — thank you!

Several other things are making me REALLY happy — starting with this adorable little silver bird.

This is another one of my fabulous prize winnings from the last month or two. This time from Sweet Emma of SilverPebble. I love birds and I Love Love Love this little silver bird. I’ve been wearing her since she arrived and this picture in no way does her justice. Emma’s work is so precise and professional. Thank you so much Emma — really…I can’t begin to tell you how lucky I feel to be wearing one of your creations. And how happy it makes me! If the rest of you haven’t been to Emma’s blog or shop, you should definitely go and visit. Emma is adorable and she has lots of gorgeous jewelry in her shop. I even saw some birds in the shop, just in case you want to be my twin! (Remember friendship rings when we were kids?)

Another thing that’s making me VERY happy is the end. The. END. of the t-shirt quilts that have been hanging over my head for the last few years. Yipeeeeeee!!!! As some of you know, we had a good friend who was tragically killed while riding his bicycle a few years ago. His wife asked me if I knew someplace where she could have his t-shirts made into quilts — one each for their son and daughter.

Their son is TheFirstChild’s best friend and they have been so good to TheFirstChild that I really wanted to make these quilts. (In spite of all my wailing and gnashing of teeth with the process.) Our friend was the coolest guy — everyone often joked that he was just one of the kids. When they all came home for visits from college, he was the one father who was always welcome to hang out with all of them. I think that is reflected in his shirts too — they’re all so fun and adventurous.

I used flannel on the sashing and on the back so they’d be nice and soft. I hope my friend is happy with them — it will still be several weeks before I see her to give them to her. She probably thought she’d never see these shirts again.

Hey…who’s peeking in here? It looks like PaulKitty. But no…I took these pictures at MeMum’s house. This is Sally, their sweet black cat. Sally is getting old and she came by to rub up against the quilts. I caught her picture in mid-meow. ;-)

And speaking of PaulKitty, there’s been new evidence in the Kitty Paper Caper.

Caught him — red-handed and trying to get away!

XOXO,
Anna

Mail Call

34 Comments / June 5, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Chat, Quilting

Well hello there! Have you all had a good week? Are you ready for the weekend? I’ve had some excitement in my mailbox this week. Looky what’s here:

The Siggy Swap blocks are in the house! I opened them in the car and I had so much fun reading through all of them. They’re all so pretty. I saw old (haha, how old is old in blogland?) imaginary friends in there and a lot of new blogs that I need to check out. I haven’t decided how to set my blocks yet, but I have a few ideas. I’m making myself wait to work on them until I finish a few other projects. (It seems like I’m always saying that. {Sigh}) Thank you Connie for all your hard work on this swap. It’s appreciated much more than you know! And thanks to all the lovely ladies who participated — it’s been a really fun swap.

But Wait! There’s More!!! Look what else the mailman brought me!

OhMyGosh! Can you believe it??? I won Jodi’s Sew Mama Sew giveaway a few days ago. I couldn’t believe it when she e-mailed me to tell me. (There was an audible gasp!) Isn’t it beautiful???

And talk about speedy mail service! When we picked up the mail, I hurried into the house, grabbed some rags to clean the patio table off and ran outside to put this adorable topper on our table. It’s just beautiful outside with all the beautiful greens in our yard. (Those are the very last of my lilacs – boohoo.) I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cute topper Jodi — I really can’t thank you enough. That Darla fabric has been my very favorite fabric this year, so that makes it even MORE exciting! To all of you who didn’t win, you’ll be happy to know that I’m contemplating not entering any giveaways for awhile so that you’ll have a better chance of winning. (I’m embarrassed to say how many giveaways I’ve won in the last month and all from such fabulous women.) And I’m thinking I should run out and buy a lottery ticket — if only the lottery was as easy to win! Anyway, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Jodi — you’re a fabulous imaginary friend!

So…on to the weekend — WooHoo! Hello June and good riddance May. Not sorry to see you gone Miss May — you didn’t give me one free weekend, you old hag! This weekend is MINE. All mine. I’m hoping (no, I WILL) get some sewing in this weekend. I hope you all have a Super weekend too!

XOXO,
Anna

P.S. Thanks for all your thoughts on the pretty egg. Quilty Peep Junie has a nest of Killdeer in her backyard and she thinks our egg looks like hers. And Teresa sent the picture to a biologist and he thinks it’s either an egg from a Red-Tail Hawk or a Red-Winged (Shouldered?) Hawk. It’s definitely not a Cooper’s Hawk’s (which we had nesting in one of our trees last year) egg. Whatever it is, it wasn’t watching it’s egg!

Patches

50 Comments / May 15, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Around the House, Quilting

Thanks for all your wonderful comments about TheSecondChild’s graduation. You are all so very kind and thoughtful. If only you could stop time for us, we’d be in business!

After all of that excitement, it’s been a very slow week around here. A month or so ago, I joined a fabric scrap swap (button in my sidebar) that was started by Penny. There are 9 of us in the group and we all swapped a bunch of our scraps (and boy, oh boy, did I get some beautiful scraps.) As part of the challenge, we have to create something with our scraps over the next several months. I had been looking around and had several ideas, when Crazy Mom posted her 9 patch quilt along. Perfect! I decided to join in and I’ve been working on a few of my blocks.

The ugly tree wanted to model for you — she’s sporting some beautiful new, bright green growth this spring. I’ve always loved 9 patches. They’re amazingly versatile and so easy to piece.

I’m really enjoying making these 9 patches. I’m officially behind in the quilt along, but I’ll catch up this weekend. There are so many fun versions of these 9 patches popping up all over. I’m not trying to coordinate my blocks, so my quilt will be really scrappy — just the way I like it. While I was out in the backyard taking pictures of these blocks, I thought I’d see how they look on the squirrel ravaged patio chairs. I’m still in the market for new cushions. Too bad I’m not motivated enough to make patchwork covers for them.

And to make up for hurting your eyes with those ugly cushions, I thought I’d show you my little herb garden. MyDadLovesMeBestSister did a fun thing for Christmas this year — she bought MeMum and I each some pots and some plant markers. Aren’t they cute? Unbeknownst to me, the gift also came with the promise of some herbs when spring arrived. So, imagine my surprise when she called a few weeks ago and said she was bringing over some plants and nice fresh dirt to put in the herb pots! Lucky me huh? She’s a great sister. We have a good relationship. She gives me beautiful herbs. I hang old bras all over her yard. Such a deal, huh?

Well, gee. I guess I should get to bed. I’m getting up in 5 hours to go help the newlyweds move this weekend. I’ve packed a picnic lunch for all of us movers and I’m all ready to go.

Have a good weekend!

XOXO,
Anna