Good-bye 2024 and Hello 2026

That is Not a typo:)

It has been a rough year on so many levels for many people and I don't know about you, but my calm, the balm for my soul is stitching. The slow and steady pull of the thread through fabric calms me in ways I can't fully describe. There is a form of meditation in this glorious art form that I am thankful to have in my life and hope I can entice others to feel as well.

I have been absent a bit now, I know.  For those following along, we moved from Florida at the end of 2023 to Northern Illinois to be near our grand little.  Once here we were so excited to find out there would be a second one too!  They are a delight, and it is nice being near family again.

Something I have been relatively quiet about is that through the move and littles and all of 2024 I have been going through many medical tests for an unknown (as of now) neurological disorder. It has put a small crimp in some of my plans but not all:)

I have taken 2024 to enjoy my littles, get my new studio up and going, and come to terms with my slightly restricted abilities of which stitching is not one of them!!  Every day I am grateful for that. This time away has let me think about priorities and what I want from my business. 

In 2026 we will celebrate the Sesquicentennial, the 250th birthday of our always great country. I have been designing a BOM that will start in early 2025 and take us up to the celebrations in 2026. There will be 2 designs to choose from to cover the piecers and the applique' lovers and both done sampler style.

I want as many of us quilters as I can get to celebrate together leading up to all the events that will be planned. The pieced quilt will have a touch of applique' because this is still me...LOL. The applique' quilt will be an appliquepalooza of beautiful florals designed by me over the years.

So, gather your red, white (cream), and blues for a fabulous year of stitching.

This is how I want to spend my time, creating beauty and inspiration. I do hope you will join me!

Paducah 2022 and a wee one:)

Not my first choice, but rooms

went fast in Paducah this year!

Thankfully the view was pretty

and watching the tugboats

with their multiple barges

was interesting!

I had the wonderful honor

to appraise at the AQS

Paducah show along 

with taking my 

appraiser class.

After work, I was able

to peek about and see

the fabulous quilts on display.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Janet Stone's work 

is magnificient!

Keiko Morihiro's quilt

blew me AWAY!

I am completely inspired

by her lovely,

intricate work.

Linday Roy Never

disappoints!!!

I have been a fan

for many years and 

every time I see

one of her quilts, I stand

and gawk in awe!!

I want to be her when

I grow up:)

While in Paducah, I went 

to see the Red & Green and

the Night Before Christmas

exhibits by Sue Reich.

Here I am with 

my sweet friend, 

Brenda Grampsas' quilt.

Paducah offered wonderful

weather, meals with old

and new friends

and plenty of visual 

overstimulation-lol!

My husband decided to 

come along this year

so that we could make 

a trip north to visit the little 

after all my work was done:)

Gorgeous golden fields

adorn the state of KY

this time of year, keeping

us stocked up with

canola oil.

ALL those miles

on the road were

worth it for this

SMILE!!

Keep Stitchin'

MAY 2020

MAY 2020

This month deserves EVERY

bit of bold, larger, underlined

text available to me!!

 We started the month by going

to Virginia to help my mom

with some things around

the house and to spend

Mother's Day with her.

We did tons of yard work

and I got covered in ticks-YUCK!!!!

Once home, one of the bites

wasn't reacting right so I was

tested / treated for Lyme disease.

My test came back negative but

to this day (2 months later) that

one bite isn't right.

Be careful out there!

Unfortunately, this would 

be the last trip my 

sweet Biscuit boy would make!!

When we got home, he became

more listless and his chronic

illness/allergies made him

absolutely miserable and so

we made the heartbreaking decision....

My heart will always have a hole

in it and I MISS HIM!!!!

Came across this old photo of

my Great-Grandmother/father & 

my father and aunt as children.

I vaguely remember her but

never met my GGfather.

My aunt passed young as well

and I will always miss that I 

didn't get to know her as an adult!

Of course, more masks were made!

The sweet "B-sharp"onesie

(last name Sharp) 

Jim designed is finished and

ready for delivery!!.

Isn't it adorable?!!!!

The kids had a bassinet that didn't

come with the little stars

meant to hang over the baby.

So it was requested I make a 

couple of stars to fill in...

I went a bit over the request:)

Using my friend, Susan Marth's,

Tiny Dresden templates, I made

2 that could form the 

rays of a sun that I embroidered

a sweet face for.

 Stuff it and finish by appliquéing 

it to the rays!

Then make a star and moon to 

hang together:)

 Flying the first time since everything began

was interesting but not as bad

as you might have expected.

Southwest is awesome and 

has a 'middle seat stays empty'

policy that I appreciated.

Not as many people were flying 

but still....& everyone wore a mask!

The terminals were ghost towns since

only passengers were being allowed

in so a bit eerie but fine.

EVERYTHING was worth

it to meet this new little

sweetie in our family!!!!

There were a few bumps in 

the beginning with mom 

and baby but both

came through with 

flying colors and I 

couldn't be more in LOVE!!!

Hello Charles.

 Dad, Mom, and baby:)

Me with My baby and her baby!!!!

It is a feeling beyond words

to see your child with a 

little of their own!!

Charles enjoying my work:)

I had decided to have him call

me Bobbin instead of Grandma

1. to be different since I will be long distance

2. the quilting theme...duh:)

When I visited, a conversation

about what I would call him had me 

saying 'poppet' from British

references and an old movie I 

enjoyed, WILLOW.

We rewatched that movie and

he doesn't call them poppets but

"Bobbins"!!!!

YAY!

Hello Bobbin.....Well, Hello bobbin.

~~