Back from Missouri

I never even got my camera out! We had terrific weather - in fact, it was warmer in Lake Osage than I thought it should be. But we were there way too early for any significant color change. There were some lovely individual trees, like this picture from last year's fall Canadian cruise, and some lovely vistas but without color change. The drive to and from with long-time friend Midge Norris Hughes to visit Janet Norris Vanderveld was good. So was the week. It was fun to be an honorary Norris sister. After an October of travelling, I am thrilled to be home and looking forward to getting back into a sewing rhythm. In addition to working on assignments for the Art Quilt class, I just received a packed of T-shirts from Fran Dunn, one of the owners of the Jim Dandy in Litchfield, SC. See the September 16, 2007 entry for full reference.

Nature's Colors

We just returned from Hawaii where we celebrated our 59th and 69th birthdays. It is indeed a beautiful place. I love how nature mixes the brilliance of reds and purples. I also love my husband for agreeing to go ziplining with me.

I'm leaving town again for a drive to the Ozarks. Still gathering data for a fall landscape quilt. I'm also working on a project for an art quilt class that I'm taking at quiltfabric.com in Willowbrook. It's going to involve concentric circles and have an Asian flavor. I think. What I discovered yesterday is that I need to buy a protractor. I haven't bought or used one of those in 40 years! It's good to work out of one's safe zone...

A Thompson Grandchild is Coming

And this quilt will be waiting for her at her grandparents' house in Burr Ridge. This Trip Around the World pattern in one of my favorites, and Oralee chose the fabrics. She also requested a T for Thompson in the quilt. It's fun to think of this first grandchild - and all future grandchildren - playing on this quilt. 50" x 65" (Welcome to Little Natalya Thompson, born November 12, 2008)

One More Path to Grief

Trish Schulz lost her daughter Lisa to ALS. Lisa was a vibrant, responsible, and beautiful woman whose life was too short. Trish is keeping Lisa's memory alive in several ways. She participates in the yearly Les Turner ALS Walk for Life, she holds chat sessions at her daughter's website , and now she has had this quilt made from Lisa's clothes. Grieving doesn't ever end - we just find different ways to do it. Trish wrote something from Lisa, and these words are on the back on the quilt. Trish and her grandchildren will always remember Lisa the Daughter and Lisa the Mother. Touching this quilt will remind them all that Lisa was once a part of their physical lives just as she is now a part of their spiritual lives.

This quilt features a variety of Lisa's clothes, including sweatpants, sweaters, blouses, and t-shirts. Also included are the ALS Walk For Life t-shirts that Trish has earned. The patchwork of the clothing only hints at the complexity of Lisa's life and death.

Life and Death Quilting

While I'm glad that my quilting brings comfort to those who are grieving, this kind of quilting requires an emotional investment that is sometimes difficult for me. My current "life celebration" project is a quilt made from Lisa's clothes. Lisa is the daughter of Trish Schulz, and Lisa died last year, a victim of ALS. For the third year her family participated in the ALS Walk for Life. Both Lisa's mom (center) and Lisa's daughter (long hair on the left) participated in the walk on September 13, the rainiest day in Chicago's history. Trish said tears and rain were indistinguishable throughout the walk.

After a few hours working on Lisa's quilt, I must switch to another project. I'm glad another current one is a grandmother's quilt for Oralee as the David Thompsons welcome their first grandchild. Birth and Death - what great reasons to quilt.

Presentation Does Count!

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in creating and making quilts that I don't even think about the presentation of what I've made. Once I did get a lovely basket for a quilt I made for Julie, but usually I ask John to find some acceptable large gift bag, which he does. This wedding quilt for Jen was going to be no different - until my friend Cecilia weighed in on the issue. She argues that presentation is very important and enhances the quilt gift. She was instrumental in this lovely presentation. After folding the quilt accordion-style, she tucked tissue paper into various nooks and crannies. There's just a bit of the quilt peeping out of the right corner. Wouldn't you love to have this gift?

Jen and Tim's Wedding Quilt

Jen and Tim's Reversible Wedding Quilt is completed. The photographing is over, and now it's just a matter of figuring out the presentation of the quilt (box vs. basket). I have loved every step of this quilt from when I first asked Jen what she wanted, working with her color and design choices, meeting Tim and seeing who exactly is this Jen-worthy person and reassuring him that I wasn't going to do something girly, and gathering fabrics for both sides of the quilt all the way to the actual quilting and construction.

Some quilting detail is below. The construction of the quilt allowed me to quilt each 8" square individually before the assembly. I also used a feature from my sewing machine that allows me to embroider some words. Unfortunately, where I chose to do this is more readable from the reverse side than from the front. For left handers, reading mirror images isn't a problem. Hope the newlyweds will be able to find their names, the date of the wedding, and my quilt signature! 96" x 112"

My new Trip Around the World

As I watched Chris H, Cristina, and Catya putting together their palettes for their Trip Around the World quilts, I knew I had to make this pattern with them. Although this pattern is a great one for tying, which is what Chris H and Catya did, I machine quilted mine. Cristina is still in the process of finishing her and is experienced in both techniques, so it will be interesting to see which she chooses to do. Chris H pointed out that with this quilt, my color palette hasn't changed much in the past 20 years. Yep, still into greens and purples. This quilt will remain in the studio.

Catya's Trip Around the World

Let's have a big round of applause for Catya and her first quilt. Her color selection, diligence in sewing, and delight as the project was finished are all laudable. This 72" by 92" tied quilt is sophisticated and still cozy. I enjoyed getting to know Catya, who is about to start her senior year at LTHS, and am glad that my friend Cristina introduced Catya to quilting.

John's Great-Niece Emma is a Quilter!

John's sister Terry has really been doing some fabulous quilt work. See the July 23, 2007, entry for one of Terry's quilts. Her enthusiasm for quilting is having an effect on all of her family members, especially at this point granddaughter Emma, an 8th grader. Em and her mom chose some fabulous flannel fabrics, Terry chose the pattern, and Emma really took to the rotary cutter and Terry's new Bernina sewing machine. Terry and Emma used my studio to tie the three layers of Emma's quilt. Then they went back to Terry's where Emma machine-quilted the outer border and the binding. The results are spectacular.

One of the joys of quilting is seeing others get hooked. Another of Terry's granddaughters was here with Terry and Emma. Cassidy took lots of pictures of my stash - hope maybe she left here thinking that she wants to try a quilt! (Meanwhile, I'm about to finish the reversible quilt for Jen Thompson!)