Andy's "Welcome Home Soldier" Quilt
I was pleased to quilt a special quilt for my friend, Sue.
Her son, Andy, was coming home on leave from Iraq. She and our good friend, Mary Ellen pieced the top, and I quilted it. Andy was very touched.
Posing for this picture at The Log Cabin Quiltshop in Leonard, Okla is (r-l): Andy, Sue, Mary Ellen.
WELCOME HOME, ANDY & thank you for your service!!!
Twisted Mystery #4
As I posted a couple of times earlier, an Internet forum I'm involved in had a special Mystery. We have now finished our quilt projects, and the quilts have been returned to their owners. Each Twisted Mystery participant selected fabrics they would like THEIR quilt made from, and these were sent to the hostess. The hostess assigned numbers, then drew numbers from a hat, and sent the fabric packets to that participant. You did not know who had your fabrics, nor what kind of quilt they were making for you. In turn, you received a packet of someone else's fabrics, and had to make a quilt for them. You did not know whose fabrics you were working with. It was up to you to design a quilt using those fabrics. Any pattern, any size, any technique.
I sent off a packet of fabrics to match my living room decor. These inluded greens, wines, creams, and tans. My Twisted Mystery sister turned out to be Sherry V. She made a lovely wallhanging for me. I am short on wall space in my living room, but it looks nice draped across my rocking chair. I took this picture using my cellphone camera, so unfortunately it's not the best quality.
Thank you, Sherry V. for a wonderful quilt made just for me!
The fabrics I recieved were bright and fun: purple, aqua, orange, and red fabrics with tone-on-tone tiny bubbles, along
with a print that had party balloons on it. When I opened the package I immediately thought of clowns. I quilted a customer's clown quilt a couple years ago, and at the time hoped that someday I'd make that pattern. It's a pattern called "Clowning Around" by Nancy Barrett www.withneedleandthread.com
I used machine applique. Our middle daughter, Mandy - the artist, drew the faces on the clowns for me. After assembling the top, I pieced the border and added wide yellow rick-rack. This quilt went to one of our Candian forum friends, Genny.
I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. I have been so busy with Christmas deadline quilts, school activities, Christmas shopping, and working on my own Christmas quilting projects. Somewhere in there was a big Thanksgiving turkey dinner I cooked. All our kids and grandkids were here.
I did not take pictures of all the quilts I've been longarming this month, but here's a few I did get:
This is Sharon's fun baby quilt.
This is a small Christmas wallhanging made by Connie.
Bartlesville Trunkshow & Workshop
Claudia and I traveled to Bartlesville, OK on Friday to give a program and trunkshow at the Jubilee Quilt Guild. This was our first program promoting our new book, "Loose Change: Quilts from Nickels, Dimes & Quarters". The Jubilee Guild is a large guild with a very active membership. We enjoyed being guests of the guild, and showing our work and talking about our book. That afternoon we taught a workshop on the quilt from the book, 'Nickel Bricks'. The main theme of the workshop was "what to do with your uglies". We encouraged the participants to bring their uglies, and turn them into a beautiful quilt. Here's a picture of gals and their blocks.
Audrey's Birthday
Last weekend we traveled to Lawton for our youngest granddaughter's 2nd birthday. She is a Halloween baby, so her party was Halloween themed. Here's a picture of the little cutie (orange Cheetos stains and all!).
Our son-in-law, Aaron just returned from his 3rd tour in Iraq. Just in time to celebrate with Audrey.
We enjoyed the party and getting to visit with our daughter and Audrey's 2 older sisters, too.
"Loose Change" & Events
Today Claudia and I learned that our book has gone into its second printing - 3 weeks after release! We are thrilled. Thanks to everyone for their interest in our project. We have received many wonderful emails from quilters all over the country.
Our November Schedule:
Trunkshow & Book signing.......Saturday, Nov 8..10am-4pm........SewFlakes in Broken Arrow
Guild Program & Workshop......Friday, Nov 14, 9:30am................Jubilee Quilter's Guild, Bartlesville
Workshop.................................Tuesday, Nov 18th, 10am-4pm.....SewFlakes in Broken Arrow
"Loose Change: Quilts from Nickels, Dimes, & Quarters" is finally in stores now! My shipment arrived this morning, and Claudia and I are going to have a book-signing party. You can find my new book on my website www.persimmonquilts.com , or at your local quiltshop, bookstore, or online bookstore.
November 8, 10am-4pm- Visit with us at SewFlakes Quilt Shop in Broken Arrow. We will have our trunkshow there, and would love to have you stop in and see us!
CLAREMORE COUNTRY FARE QUILT GUILD SHOW
Last weekend was the local quilt show here in Claremore, OK. It was a fun show. I helped my good friend, Mary Ellen with the Quilts of Valor booth on Friday. Saturday my son had a chess tournament in Missouri, so I missed the 2nd day of the show. From all reports it was well attended. I certainly saw many beautiful quilts! The Country Fare Quilters Guild did an awesome job! Here's some pictures of my customers' quilts. You can also go to my Webshots to see more pictures and closeups. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/562876387ZkczCv?start=48
Here's a pic of the latest T-shirt quilt I was commissioned to make. I showed you the quilt on the frame earlier in my blog.
Forum Quilt Here is a pic of a block I made for an internet forum. Members are making a block with the same fabric swatch provided. We add other fabrics from our stash. The blocks are sent to the hostess, then a name is drawn and the winner gets all. (The fabric in the long bars surrounding the center dark fabric, is the forum fabric provided). House Painting We started painting our house last weekend. Oh yeah... we're having some fun now. Actually it's coming along nicely. We are about half done, then the real fun begins - trim work. I don't climb ladders, so I paint as high as I can reach, and Scott goes from there.
Gwynette's Quilt
I had so much fun quilting this one! It's a wedding quilt for her neice(?). Members of the wedding party and family made blocks with their artwork. There were also photos of the happy couple. What a bright and happy quilt!
To see more pictures of the quilt, go to my Webshots:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/562876387ZkczCv?start=36
The Colonels Receive Their Quilts of Valor
Today was a very special day at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The Quilts of Valor quilts that I was commissioned to make were presented to the Commander of Landstuhl, and the Director of Nursing. I have written about my journey in making these quilts in previous posts on this blog. It was a very special project, and one I am very proud to have been a part of. To see all the pictures go to my webshots album: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/567418774EwqHbQ
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center's hardest working QOV Point of Contact Here is Chris getting ready to present the Col's with their Quilts of Valor. Chris is a Navy Reserve nurse stationed at Landstuhl. Not only does she care for our nations wounded warriors, but she is also the Quilts of Valor Foundation's Point of Contact person. She is the one who presents our soldiers with their Quilts of Valor. Her QOV job doesn't stop there, though. She receives many shipments a week, keeps track of the quilts, writes or emails confirmation of delivery back to the quilter who made it, takes pictures of the presentation of the quilt to the wounded, and makes sure every wounded has a quilt comforting them on their flight to a medical hospital stateside. Nursing alone is a very demanding job, but Chris always has a smile and takes time for her Quilts of Valor duties. I've had the priviledge of working with Chris on these Quilts of Valor. We spent many months emailing almost daily, and a couple of phone calls. We bounced ideas off each other, and collaborated together to make these quilts. My hat's off to this very special nurse, POC, and friend. Thank you, Chris. You're awesome!
It's been a busy week. I've had many project deadlines to meet. The whole week has been a blur, but I was able to get everything on my MUST-DO list accomplished.
I also had time to work on my Twisted Mystery 4 project. I have the top completed, except for borders. I can't wait to post pictures for you to see in late November. It's under wraps until then.
"5 & Dime" Ruler Set
Claudia & I are excited to announce a new product we are marketing. It's a perfect companion for our new book, Loose Change: Quilts from Nickels, Dimes & FQ's. It is a ruler set that includes a 5"x5" (Nickel) and 10"x10" (Dime) ruler. Features include:
Easy-to-read, Laser-engraved Ruled Lines,
Etched lines at 2 1/2" intervals
Diagonal Dash Lines
Center Crosshair marking slots
Florescent Green Acrylic
You can order a set at my website: www.persimmonquilts.com/catalog1.html
