Fruit Block

Today I finished the last block in Lyn Brown's California Baltimore BOM.   This one is called Fruit Bowl.

And here are my 12 blocks.

They still need to have sashing added and then the borders like this.

This has been a fun, but challenging BOM and I thank Lyn for sharing her wonderful pattern.

Courthouses, Gardens, Gems & Siggies

A little bit of everything to catch up on today.

I finally finished the courthouse block for my Orange Co, CA Baltimore by Lyn Brown.  Since I am making mine using needleturn applique, all of these windows and steps took some time.  Then I decided to do my own thing with the poppies in front and I spent a day trying to decide exactly what that would be.

So here is my version:

Only one more block to go..the Fruit Bowl.. and that too, is taking some time to finish.

I keep forgetting to post a picture of the siggie block that was waiting for me when we returned from our trip. This is from Ludy in The Netherlands

And two more Dutch Treat blocks completed.  These are #74 and 75 of 196

Garden

Gems

Toby Lischko

One of the advantages of belonging to a quilt guild is the opportunity to see quilts made by famous quilters up close and personal. Toby Lischko visited our guild Monday night and brought along many of her wonderful miniature quilts, as well as several large quilts.

I first learned about Toby in Miniature Quilts Magazine which remains one of my favorite publications. Unfortunately it is no longer being published and I really, really miss it.   She's been quilting since 1985 and has a fantastic sense of color and design.

I took lots of pictures during her lecture and trunk show,  but the photos you can find in her gallery  are far superior to the ones I took. Be sure and check them out. She brought most of these quilts Monday night. The quilting community contains so much talent and inspiration and Toby is a prime example.  You can't go wrong in booking her for your guild.

Here's just one of her gorgeous quilts:

Monday night was also the time for turning in our guild challenge projects for the current year.  This year's challenge was to "repurpose" something.  We were to take a picture of an old object, then use it to make something else.  What was acceptable was really wide open..the items didn't need to be quilted, just a reuse of something. 

This resulted in some interesting entries.  One person used old nylon hose to make a rug.  Another felted the wool from old sweaters and made flowers.  This was the first year I didn't get an entry made.  Just too much going on in the last couple of months (no excuse for why I didn't get it done as soon as it was announced at the beginning of the year). 

The guild members voted on their favorite entry and prizes were given to the top five or six entries.  This is the project that got the most votes:

Arlinda made a quilt from several old kimonos. 

And this is the back of the quilt

Debbie made this great jacket from an old "cutter" quilt

There were so many creative repurposed projects and it was a great idea!  Thanks  Debbie for leading us along the path of going green!

Lastly..is anyone besides me having major problems uploading pictures using Blogger In Draft?  I finally gave up today and have gone back to regular Blogger.  And I will no longer have to fight the alignment issues either!

Dutch Treat

Here you go.  I had 3of these done before leaving for AZ, got 7 done during the trip and have finished 5 since returning home.  I'm now up to 73 completed out of 196. I had expected to finish quite a few more during the drive time to and from AZ, but I didn't anticipate Oklahoma and some of the NM highways (sorry to my OK and NM friends).

Fun Pics

Haven't had time to scan all of the Dutch Treat blocks I've made since I last posted some, so instead I'll share two of my favorite pics from our Arizona trip.

The whole gang in Tombstone

B-Troop 4th Cavalry Regiment Memorial at Mike's Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony.

Meeting a Friend and Remembering Grandma

The best thing about our drive through Oklahoma two weeks ago today, was finally getting to meet a friend in person.  I first met Saska  four or five years ago on Block Central.  While she doesn't live that far away (six hours or so), we've never found the time to get together.  Last Sunday we remedied that and spent a couple of very enjoyable hours chatting in our motel room.  Saska is just as warm and delightful in person as she is on her blog and I'm so happy we've finally officially met!  I hadn't realized she is so tall.....or maybe it's just me that is so short!!!

When we arrived at my son's house in AZ I was thrilled to see on their spare bed, the quilt that inspired my Remembering Grandma quilt. 

 My Grandmother, Esther, made this quilt for Mike when he got married in 1982.  I hadn't seen it since then, but drafted a pattern from pictures of my Grandmother working on the quilt.

It felt so good to see and touch these fabrics that are now 50 years old or more.  Grandma's blocks were bigger than my later version.

I was particularly surprised to see this corner block.  The print fabric was one I used to make an apron in 4-H about 1960 or earlier.  I still have that apron and every now and then I consider cutting it up and using the fabric in a quilt block.  But it is the only thing item I have left from my 4-H and Home Ec sewing days so I have hung on to it.

More neat fabrics.  I remember Grandma wearing a dress from the lavendar print in the bottom right corner.

One last view of blocks

It was so good to be able to confirm that Grandma was a pretty good hand quilter.  I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the process at the time she worked on this in a frame in my livingroom. Now I really appreciate her work and the time she put into this and it felt good to touch it again. I know she would have been so proud and happy to have shared Mike's events last week and somehow it felt like she was there with this quilt on the bed.

I also was able to see and take a picture of the round crocheted tablecloth I made for Mike as a wedding gift in 1982.  It was made from #30 thread and took 3 months of pretty much constant crocheting.  It has survived with one small rip and I was able to mend that so that even I can no longer find it. It's about 46" in diameter.

An Amazing Career

Vacations are wonderful and time with family even more precious.  But playing catch up with email, blogs, etc. when you get home takes forever!  I'm not sure how long it's going to take me, but I think it's going to be awhile since I'm trying to clean out some computer files at the same time. 

So this will be a short post.  Just wanted to say we are home and enjoyed Mike's celebration immensely.  Here are some of my favorite pics.

Thursday night was the retirement banquet

It was a combination of good natured roasting and accolades. He received many amazing gifts and he liked his quilt!

And said "I promised myself I would NOT get emotional".

We had four generations together...

Granddaughter Kelley Ann, my mother, Marie, Mike and me

Me, Mike and Tom

Me, Mike and his dad, Art

Step-mom, Maggie, Mike and his dad, Art

Love this pic of Mike and his daughter, Kelley who is going to make him a grandfather in January.

Son Martin, daughter Kelley, Mike and wife Lindy

Son Greg wasn't able to attend as he is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan

Friday was the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony

Last day in uniform..headed to the parade field

It was a gorgeous day and very emotional to see the troops lining the field

Last time leading the brigade....

  

After the ceremony, Mike and Lindy with their kids

And his final award.. a SECOND Legion of Merit!!!

 

The end of a distinguished career and the beginning of a new adventure.  Congratulations, Mike!  We love you so very much!