And the Two Shall Become One

June 13, 2009, 6:00 pm

We had a memory making day. It was two weeks ago and we're still enjoying the home video, the pictures, the joy. Frank alone took more than 300 pictures and we haven't even seen the professional photos yet. There were many, many loving and fun moments captured. Let me share just a few more with you.

And we danced...
This is DS2, also the best man and me, doing the Twist. I was so happy I felt like I glowed, the coalescence of years, the blending of family moments into one incredible blessing.

Bridal Shower

As the wedding grew closer I hustled to complete the quilt I wanted to give Danielle. I'm making a Wedding quilt for my son and soon-to-be wife, but I wanted her to have her 'very own'. I got it back from the long-arm quilter a week before the shower. I don't hand-bind very fast, so I was at it evenings and lunch hours. Having a deadline is great for getting quilts done!

We played bridal shower games and laughed; we ate finger sandwiches and cake. There was a mountain of gifts.

The guests were delighted with the cloth bag this particular gift came in. Wow... that's really pretty, did you make that? Yes, but wait for what's inside.

When she opened the box she saw the back first and being fond of 'pinky-purple' she said, "Oh I love it!"

Then she turned it around.

"Oh you... you've made me cry!" "Well you're going to be a Roberts soon. You'll need your own quilt." :D

It was a great day!

Work Day

Once we got home from Oregon the work on the new place for DS1 and DIL-to-be began in earnest. What started as a plan to repair the bathrooms and repaint turned into a major refurbishing of a much neglected house.

We're smiling in the photos, but at the end of the day we felt we'd barely made a dent. DH and I have gone down to help a few weekends this month, but a lion-sized part of the work's been done evenings and weekends when we weren't there. The pictures don't show the day DS1 went under the house and spent seven hours replacing all the HVAC ducting; or the day the slider had to be ripped out and completely replaced. But they're making it their own in the process. I guess I know first hand now what sweat equity is. :D

Hoover-Minthorn Museum

Picture from the internet

My son and his fiance' and I went to the Hoover Minthorn museum in Newberg, Oregon. This was the home of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States from 1885-1889. The weekend we were there they had a small display of quarter-sized quilts made by the local guild inspired by quilts from the Oregon Trail, as well as a few full-sized vintage quilts.

This was my favorite, I love the quilting. The Double X blocks are about four inches finished. The bedroom had the original furnishings and was roped off, hence the odd angle of the photo. The pillow is draped with a sweet Redwork sham. We didn't take any pictures of the rooms but I was struck by how small they were. The parlor would pass for an entry in one of our current homes and the kitchen could allow the three of us to stand and barely turn around. Amazing, we have such space now.

Scrap Bag Plus

I recently received another scrap bag from a woman in my guild.

I really enjoy going through each piece, sorting, grouping, making color palettes for quilts that might get made someday.

Here's the cull halfway through. There are several stacks of pre-cut strips, another stack of near fat quarters and at least three sets of orphan blocks, almost enough to make baby or nap sized quilts; with more of the same prints in the bag. It felt like Christmas! :D Her colors are so clear and bright, tangerine, lime green and hot pink. Her combinations are free-form and don't follow any of the 'rules'.

Going through someone else's scrap bag is like browsing their bookshelf, it's like an echo of who they are. I've always admired this woman's quilts for children's charity, but seeing the scrap bag, I'm not any closer to understanding how she does it. I can't even begin to put colors together the way she does.

Red, White and Blue

I put together a fabric pack for ebay.

There's something so pleasing about red, white and blue; must be all the national and patriotic associations I have with that color group. You can view the listing here.

The Quilted Hill Shop

Long before we went to Oregon for the graduation my SIL sent me a newspaper clipping about the Quilted Hill because it was going to be featured in a quilt magazine's Shop Hop. It was - fortunately- on the way back from the graduation, so we stopped. We were due back at the house for dinner, so I made an hour long browse fit into fifteen minutes. Phew*

My husband kindly took pictures of the outside.

I was looking intently at the fabric on the shelves, searching for a print to use in the wedding quilt. I thought that would be a fun keepsake. My sons and DIL-to-be browsed too and DS2 kept saying, "Hey mom, did you see this?"

"Wow, look at that!"

I was so focused on the inventory I almost forgot to look up!

I did find a green print that'll work just great for the quilt. I bought it while the bridal couple weren't looking. =D

More Teabag Wallets

I've been working on the king-sized wedding quilt for Nathan and Danielle, but of course I can't post pictures of that. I'm taking pictures along the way and will probably blog about it all at once when it's nearly ready to be gifted. In the meantime I'm sewing teabag wallets for sale. They've taken off among my co-workers and I can't seem to make 'em fast enough.

Over time I've refined the original pattern. I used to sew in a loop of ribbon for the closure but it was too hard to open and close. Now I sew in a beaded strand to wrap around the button, very nice.

I really enjoy picking the colors and coordinating the parts. They're fast and satisfying, just what I need in between piecing blocks for the wedding quilt. :D