Merry Christmas Quilts

When I was diagnosed with cancer this year it brought to mind all the quilts I was going to make 'some day' for my family.......so I decided that no matter when my 'expiration date' was I needed to get moving on these projects. This summer while undergoing chemo I started making 'Sylvia's Bridal Sampler' and 'Farmer's Wife' blocks in two different color schemes for my two daughters. I wasn't sure I would be able to finish them in time for Christmas but I did!

I chose earth colors with purple and orange accents for my older daughter. The golds and greens are perfect for her livingroom.

My younger daughter saw this fabric (the border) and fell in love with it......shades of aqua, brown and chartreuse. I searched for tourquoise fabrics and was lucky to find all kinds of polka dots and swirls and just enough fabric to do the border.

Each block was made with love and the quilting is filled with hugs and kisses for my girls.

Hopefully I have years of quiltmaking left, so I have many ideas and lots of fabric and will not put it off any longer......how about you?

Doll Quilts

Made doll quilts for the little girls (16 months and four years) this year. Used bright color fabrics and just winged the pattern, thought the squares were too big so decided to put them on point. Machine quilted daisy pattern on the big pink squares and meandered the other one. Hand sewed the binding....think the dolly will be impressed?

Tuba Christmas

Daughter Melanie took part in 'Tuba Christmas' and played Christmas Carols with 500 other musicians.....all some form of a tuba/baritone. We were in the balcony and finding her was like looking for a needle in a haystack....but she was front and center waving....lol

Guardian Angel Chemo Quilt

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My good friend Mary Lou made this 'Guardian Angel' quilt for me to take to chemo with me. She used my favorite fabric (the dark apricot swirl) and favorite color scheme....peach and green. Angels are quilted in the white spots to guard over me while I heal. This touched my heart.......love ya ML!

Birthday quilt

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Here is the quilt I made for the foster grandbaby's first birthday. It is happy and sunny just like her!

Been Missing for Six Months---I'm Baaaack

Last posted in February and hope someone out there is wondering where I have been.....lol

In December I was diagnosed with uterine/ceverical cancer. Just after my last post in Feb. I had major surgery.....followed by two more minor surgeries, blood transfusions, chemo treatments, etc.

Good news is....chemo is coming to an end and I am feeling much better. I even did some jelly making and canning of the past weekend and have been on the motorcycle!

I must tell you ladies.....priorities shift when an issue like this comes up. I have found QUILTING to be a blessing to my mental/spiritual well being. In the beginning I was only able to flip thru quilt books and magazines but then moved quickly to handpiecing and now I am working hard on quilt projects that I have put off in the past and a few new ones thrown in for good measure.

Here is a pic of my handpiecing project. I started this charm quilt last August during the Olympics...cutting hundred of pieces then hand pieced them during my illness. It is far from done but I am proud to say that I have 605 pieces joined...all different fabrics of course and many more hexagons in the works.

Glad to be back to quilting and now back on the blog.

Mabel's Quilt

While browsing around Volunteer's of America last night my daughter found this treasure. It is a pink and white two block quilt, 30 x 50, hand quilted and appears to be handpieced. It is slightly faded and has a bit of fraying on the binding.....obviously well loved. It was marked $3.99! We turned it over and scribbled on the back in permanent black marker is "Mabel Goodworth"....'do not wash'.

It seems to have belonged to Mabel when she was in a nursing home and then donated to Volunteer's of America by family/friend/nurses....who saw little value in this worn, odd shaped quilt.

I fell in love with it immediately. It will have a place of honor from now on....I am sure Mabel would be pleased. I do not recognize the pattern....anyone know what it is called?