Naming Quilts!

I have been quilting for about ten years, seriously for the last five.  Being self taught,  I have spent a lot of time, learning how to piece, applique by machine and by hand , and hand quilt. When I started out, my intention was to make some quilts to use around the house, so I decided machine quilting would be the way to go.

But as I was learning, it occurred to me that the hand work was what I enjoyed most.  I find that running that needle thru the fabric is so much more than that. It gives me time to think, clear my head, and express my creative side.

Christmas 2011 we decided to take a Christmas Journey to visit my sister and family in Illinois and my inlaws in Tennessee.   When we had visited my inlaws earlier in October we realized that my fil was really not doing so well.   So as Christmas approached we decided to visit him and also stopped in Illinois to see my sister and her family.  I had purchased the book Traditional Red and Green Quilts by Jeana Kimball, and decided that I would visit a couple of quilt shops along the way and collect some fabrics to make this quilt.

In February of 2012 my father in  law passed away. When we got back from the funeral, I started working on my red and green traditional quilt. I chose blocks out of the book that seemed to relate to my journey thru life.  The flimsie went into the closet waiting it's turn to be quilted. This fall the quilt came out of the closet and was marked and quilted.  As I was quilting it, I often thought about that Christmas journey that we took and realized that this quilt would be very special to me, and decided to name it Christmas Journey.  I finally understand why I love quilts. When I look at antique quilts, I am pulled in to the point that I want to study every stitch.  That trail of thread is someone's life, their journey it reflects their life.  Quilts are art, they are a journal, they are therapy, and oh so wonderful to wrap up in and enjoy and share.   I love putting my heart and soul into them!  A label is a way of letting others know the quilt's story, it is those stories that make them special. So this morning my slow stitches were attaching this label:

 

Even Max knows this quilt is special!  He jumped up on the chair as I hung the quilt over the back of it.  I just had to take a pic of him donning his Christmas attire.

Faithful Max

A week or so ago, Tom was called into work on a Friday evening when we on our way out to eat. So Max and I sat patiently in the truck while he went to work. I often wonder what Max did when we leave him in the car. He always wants to come and enjoys the ride. Well, I started laughing cause he sat like he was at attention ears up staring at the front door of the office. I tried to get his attention, but he was like a guard at Buckingham Palace, very seriously worrying about his Poppy. I guess dogs are man's best friend!

Santa came a bit early

We took Max to Petco Saturday! It is always an exciting experience shopping at the pet store with him. He loves loves loves his toys even as he is growing older. The squeakers are his favorite and he prefers furry over rubber toys.
As we entered the store there were large rawhides that were shaped as candy canes. I was very surprised they really didn't interest him, then came the toy aisle. He came across a few favorites that he still has in his toy basket. The squeakers in all of them lasted about five minutes. He has a tendency to bite into them and that is all it takes to kill them. Then his poppy came across an endcap of toys called invincibles they keep sqeaking even after punctured. He first grapped a long snake, but then he eyed a spider. It fit all his criteria, it squeaks, and it has furry legs that he can sit and chew. Well, so far this is his favorite toy so far, and it has been over twenty four hours and it still is squeaking. He literally has wore himself out playing with it, but the great thing is is a great pillow too!

First Frost

A few years ago, I decided to make Max the quilt pictured on the left.  It was too darn cute, not to do it.  He is such a bright dog.  He amazes us everyday, and yes sometimes we do forget that he is a dog.




This morning, this is how I found him.In his bed all snuggled in his quilt. Such a lucky dog, just think he could  have been outside in a dog house with frost on the shingles. LOL 

 Wednesday morning Max went out for his morning duty, and I heard a bark at the door. When I opened the door there he was with the paper in his mouth and he proceeded to bring it in.  He has always been very good about going to get the paper when told, but he always falls a bit short when it comes to handing it to me. Not only did he hand it to me, he actually took the initiative to go and get it. No wonder the kids are worried their inheritance may go to him.