Barn Quilts

As a child I traveled to Gatlinburg and was so excited looking for the first barn sign that said "See Rock City". So I guess that lead me to a love of barn quilts. We traveled recently in Michigan and followed a Barn Quilt Trail in Vicksburg, Michigan. We saw much of the county following the trail. We even ended on a gravel/dirt road. Oh, what fun!!!

So here is my own journey with creating our first barn quilt. At one time we had two barns near the road but no more. So I decided to put up two barn quilt signs on my short fence near the road. I choose the designs with the help of a dear friend. We choose to do a bear claw pattern. Our county has lots of history and claims when Grant marched through during the Civil War that he said, "The town too beautiful to burn." You will find this block in Civil War quilts. Stories say the bear claw was a block used in the Underground Railroad. This makes a wonderful tale of how the Bear Paw quilt signaled escaping slaves that they needed to follow the tracks, perhaps to find water or shelter. Also, a bear has visited a deer feeder during the month of July for two years straight. Several bears have been spotted in our area. We also have some bear wooden cutouts near the quilt signs.

The star block is my patriotic block. Lots of my quilts have stars. I love star blocks.

My sweet husband constructed the signs and hung them. My talented daughter-in-law painted the signs. I had a great time watching the progress.

The sign is 4 x 4. Jaime first measured and measured and then used painters tape to section it off. I chose simple patterns for our first signs. As a side note--it was windy and chilly on the day we were painting.

 Here she is painting in the blue sections with the help of our grandson, Jase.

Here is the bear claw

Our setup as she would work on one and then the other waiting for each to dry.

I have placed them at the bottom of my hill near the road--Spring and Winter photo.

Here the star--Spring and Winter photo

 and the bear claw -- Spring and Winter 

Thank you Sonny and Jaime!

My Puppets

I have taken time off from making quilts and tried my hand at making puppets. It is not as easy as some may think, but I have had a great time. A puppet ministry with some of the teens at church as been so much fun. I began with small hand puppets. The kids have performed one puppet play. They were great. 

Here is a photo of the first set of puppets. 

I saw a video on YouTube and wanted to do a Christmas program with another type of hand puppet. So I have been trying to make puppets with movable mouths. Guess what--mouths are difficult to make. Then the hair is also a challenge. Here are six of the seven puppets. Sure want to see what the kids think. You never know. 

Baby Quilt

Oh, a baby shower today--the mother-to-be looked precious and the gifts for babies are so cute. I decided at the last minute I wanted to make a baby quilt. I am one of those people who cannot make a decision on what gifts to buy. I would rather decided on a quilt and make it than go to a store and select a gift.

Since it was to be a quick quilt, I headed to quilt shop to get a cute charm pack or two. The quilt shop was very LOW on cute charm packs. They may be in a back room to accommodate the Internet orders. Anyway, I found this "raccoon" material and thought it was cute. First, we do not know if it is a boy or girl. So my material was generic, I think. The mother-to-be likes purple, the backing was arrow head material and the father-to-be is an outdoor person. I like modern and simple--so this quilt was born.

The pattern is "falling charm" from the Missouri Star BLOCK Idea Book Winter Issue. It measures 42 by 48 inches. I used a modern quilting pattern allover of loops.

First Day of September

Well, hello, September. 

I just wrote a blog post and some way I deleted it. So I guess what I said was not too important. 

Here is my Grandmother's Quilt. This time last year my eleven grandchildren, ages 2-12, drew a photo on a sheet of paper and my art teacher daughter-in-law transferred the photos to fabric. I have just finished the quilt and really just smile every time I look at the quilt. My grandchildren are each unique individuals and I love each and every one and can see them in each of their drawings. 

I struggled with the quilting. The photo fabric was a little too stiff to quilt. I did get to practice quilting the black and white squares and feel a little more confident. I will now move on to a queen size Irish Chain that I have put off quilting--two years of procrastinating.

Here is a photo of the front and the back.

Love the backing!

About five or six years ago I began a grandmother's flower garden quilt. I would make one or two flowers as I traveled over the years. My hexagons traveled with me on my five trips to Peru. On this last trip to Michigan I finished the last of the 63 flowers to make 9 rows with 7 flowers across. Now, on to the 1084 white and green hexes to connect the 63 flowers. Oh, my! The journey begins. I hope this does not take 5 or 6 years.

Miniature Quilt

This is one of those quilts put on the back burner. I pulled it out this week and quilted it. I took a miniature quilting class from Ann Fox through the Vicksburg Quilters Guild.

The quilt is approximately 14 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches. 

 

My Rolling Stone Mystery Quilt

Recently I attended the Mississippi Quilter's Summer Gathering. I had the chance to go to the Mystery Quilt Class which was so much fun. Our instructor gave us a manila envelope and told us to only pull out one sheet at a time. We were to complete the one sheet of instructions and the go to the next. We could not look at the final project until toward the end of the class. I have just completed my quilt and here is one view. Today I have only little short people to help me hold it up. Not sure I can get a good picture. 

Tried to get grandkids to help with holding my quilt. They were not too helpful. Grandson is hiding under the quilt. He gets his aversion to taking pictures from me.

 And then -- here is the back.

New Ruler

While on a recent quilt shop hop in Tennessee, one shop was featuring this neat ruler. I used it today and fell in love with it. The ruler helps cut perfect half squares. These rulers have a groove down the middle to lock the ruler into place on the seam so there is no slipping, sliding or rocking.

Here I am using the new ruler to cut a 3 1/2 inch square on my rotating mat. Love the mat, too. Who doesn't like new gadgets!!! 

This block from the mystery quilt class I took at the Mississippi Quilt Conference in May. Will post photos of quilt soon. All blocks are completed and I will add last two rows tomorrow. 

Making Me Smile

My daughter-in-law delivered one of my prayer quilts. She sent me this photo. Sure makes me smile but also makes me aware of AG's need for prayer. She continues to have lots of issues and needs our constant prayers.

Just look at that sweet smile.

March Post

Oh, still cool in the South. Ready for Spring and sunshine.

My retired hubby and I found some sunshine this morning to take photos outside. 

Before Christmas I began working on Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice. I thought I would never finish that quilt. I question sometimes if I am really a quilter when trying to cut so accurately and sew so accurately. However, I was tremendously please that after 51 blocks--26 blocks each with 52 pieces and 25 blocks each with about 32 pieces--the border blocks fit perfectly. I was truly amazed! Everyone who sees this quilt loves the circles. They just appeared by magic. 

This past week I have been working on two prayer quilts. The first quilt is for a 21-month old girl, Abby Grace, who has cancer. She is so precious. You can follow her progress on Caring Bridge. The quilt measures 41" x 46", I think. :-)

The second prayer quilt is for 16-year old Devonte who had a seizure that left him in a a bad way. He does not have long to live. The knots in the thread on top represent the prayers said over the quilt.

Sharing Recipe

Oh, this was so easy and very good. I am not sure where I found the recipe but glad I did.

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff Recipe


2 pounds cubed stew meat
2 cans Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup
1 largish onion diced
2-3-4 tabls of Worcestershire 
1/2 cup water
8 oz of cream cheese (added just before serving)
couple of dashes of Garlic Salt (1 tsp?)
couple dashes of Hot Paprika 

In the slow cooker stir in all the ingredients together, (except the meat AND the Cream Cheese). Once combined add the meat and mix together.

Cook on Low for 8 hours. 

Cut up the cream cheese into cubes just before serving and turn crockpot on high. Stir the cream cheese in until all combined. You might have to put the lid back on and leave for 10 minutes.

So good to freeze BEFORE adding the cream cheese. Just re-heat on the stove and add cream cheese 10 minutes before serving. The meat becomes even more tender when reheated after freezing-perfect for toast.

Too Long

I cannot believe today is the third day of March in 2014. Looking at my planned activities takes me to the middle of September. Then Christmas will be staring us in the face. 

Oh---one day at a time.

Wanted to post one of my Christmas projects. Again, not a good photo....

The first photo is of my Christmas tree skirt. I made two of them and really liked the outcome.

I have also been working on a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt -- Celtic Solstice. I am in the process of finishing the top. This is a photo of the quilt before sewing together. I will also all three borders to this quilt. I love the way the circles are created. Looks like the difficult quilt that it is. Sure hope the quilt police do not come after me. Sonny has claimed this quilt and it will go on our bed and not many will ever see it.

Since this is my blog and not Facebook, I can say just this and not hurt any one's feelings -- one lady who had made this quilt, commented on Facebook her mother said this was the ugliest quilt she had ever seen. I have loved each quilt made from this pattern and posted on the Celtic Solstice Facebook page. I can say my mother nor my mother-in-law nor my grandmother would have ever said that to me or anyone. In fact, no one in my family would think of uttering a negative, hurtful comment as that. I am so thankful to have a loving Christian family. I am my own worst critic. 

True story--we had a visiting preacher eating dinner with us. He was rather a funny man who was always teasing and having a little fun. He showed my grandmother a horrid picture of a smiling, toothless woman and claimed her to be his wife. Without hesitation, my grandmother said, "Well, isn't she sweet!" 

Busy, Busy, Busy

Oh, the Christmas season kept me busy. I created two Christmas tree skirts. This is first one. The center cutout looks a little rough, but that was not easy to do. Anyway, I was in a hurry and did not take time to fix it. The other, which was very similar except for quilting pattern, was given as a "Dirty Santa" gift.