Girly Girl Apron

These Girly Girl Aprons are for my daughters summer break get togethers she hosts for her daughter's friends. Aren't they just so cute! She is a bargin shopper and purchased these curtain valances on clearance and then we cut them up into aprons. Clever idea!
Happy Quilting,
Nancy

Wedding Quilt

Finally Prairie Rose is finished and a photo taken. You will find this on the Website www.homesteadstationdesigns.com. I am please with the fun yoyo roses in the center of each square.

The Wedding Quilt has arrived back from the quilter's and is beautiful. I have put the binding on and it proudly hangs on the family room wall. I made the top for our wedding last August and then had everyone sign it. I was a bit slow in getting it to the quilter but it is now finished and we are so pleased. Let me know what you think.
Happy Quilting,
Nancy

Gardening fun

It is a beautiful morning, early but beautiful. The sun will be poking it's head up soon and the air is so still. The perfect time of day, in my humble opinion. No one else is awake and the phone is not ringing . . . just time for me and my thoughts. I always feel blessed when I arise early.

Our cute but pathetic pepper has finally arrived. I don't want to be greedy, just want nature to do it's things, . . . please . . .

I know it's not much but the cucumber has finally decided to grow just a wee bit. We had a huge tomatoe but the splits in it just made it spoil on the vine. I Hate when that happens.

Our first ear of corn has been picked and it was Goooooooood! We have lots more coming, want to come to a B-B Q? We will have corn and burgers to our hearts content.
I am off to make a fun table runner and perhaps a wall quilt. . . we shall see what appears when the day is done.
Happy Quilting,
Nancy

Garden treats

The Salvia's color is so deep blue with the pinks and whites of the garden, you almost want a hundred of them just to gaze at while you sew. That's not a bad idea, perhaps I will go and get a few more later today!

My Shamrocks, both green and purple are in full bloom. I have had this plant for 30 years now and it still just keeps on blooming. I smile each time I look at it.

This beautiful John F. Kennedy rose, bloomed for the first time today! It is a beauty. I have 2 pink and 2 white roses so far but the rose garden is far from done.

The flower bed is outside my sewing room window and it brings inspiration with each new blossom.

Happy Quilting,
Nancy

Prairie Rose Quilt

Just finished the Prairie Rose Quilt. I used Aviary and Simplicity from Moda. What a sweet quilt with the yoyo roses. I must admit I had another applique in the center of the block but it left the quilt dead so I redid it and this look is much better. Let me know what you think.

Happy Quilting,
Nancy

Quilt Festival - Long Beach - CA

We as a family are recovering from my daughter's loss, one day at a time. Thank you for your kind thought and wishes for our family.

Life is meant to be full of joy so let's get on with some smiles!!

I am excited. I will have a booth at the International Long Beach Quilt Festival, July 24 - 25. We will be in the 1900 aisle. Tell us you saw this post and will will present you with a free gift. This is a great show with lots of vendors and great new stuff from us. It is a version of the International Quilt Festival in Houston. This is the second year and it should be better than ever. There were a few hiccups the first year but all that has been ironed out now. Buy your entry bracelet on line at www.Quilts.com and avoid lines. Don't miss it!
Visit www.Quilts.com to see all the classes and events planned, you can go directly to our web site by clicking on our name.

We have a wonderful tree that attaches to a ladder in our booth. Watch for it with all the purses hanging from it. It is a great landmark so people can find us.

I think this darling fence belongs in my flower garden. I planted a bag of meadow mix in with the roses and carnations but it is a bust. I also planted zinnias and cosmos. They are great! My carnations are doing well and we just added statis, purple salvia and lavender. I want a perennial flower garden. It will be beautiful and easy to care for.

Now for a bit of fun! I made this cute bag for my granddaughter's birthday. It is rommy and has just a bit of fringe. It is perfect for a 9 year old. She is busy carrying it everywhere.

Happy Quilting,
Nancy

Missed

I have missed a few days posting as my son-in-law unexpectedly passed away. Such a young man with hopes and dreams. My daughter and her two lovely daughters will surely miss him. I am awed at the many kind acts of service that have been rendered in her behalf and thank everyone for their kind expressions of love to her. It is at times like this that we have a blessed opportunity to serve one another and give of ourselves in a way not usually available to us. We will miss him and watch over his family with love.

We often hear of someone passing and want to help and just do not know what to do. I now know what we found to be good in our situtation. A neighbor just showed up with 5 cases of soda pop, water and ice in an ice chest. She then went home and baked two pans of brownies, with and without nuts. She came every day to bring ice and check on my daughter. Lovely sisters from her church came 3 times to clean the home and do bathrooms, fold laundry. Then the miracle showed up. One man who had know them for many years came with his truck and tools and spent all afternoon cleaning, pruning and trimming everything in the yard both front and back and the side yards of neighbors the ajoined hers. Breakfast showed up the first day as did lunch. Then lunch and dinners for a week. All selfless acts of love for her. We are truly blessed in times of sorrow.
Nancy

Thankful

Things I am thankful for:
My Mother who is no longer here but dwells in my heart daily.
My Father who has been gone these many years, whose example I try to follow.
My faith in God, my knowledge that I am a Child of God and my privilege to try to live my life so that I can return to him one day.

I am thankful for the first teapot my husband gave me. He just wanted me to have something pretty to add to my collection.

I am thankful for our wedding teapot he gave me to remember our wedding by, another treasure.

I am thankful for my precious husband who absolutely loves me.

I am thankful for the beautiful cards, with sweet sentiments in them that make me cry.

My children, all five of them and my six grandchildren. What a blessing they all are to me and I hope I am to them. I am also thankful for my sisters and brother that all put up with me and encourage me.

I am thankful for See's Chocolate, I thankful it is almost gone.

This is only a tiny list of things that make my life special. I try to dwell on where I am so blessed. The list is endless

Be thankful, it will make you smile.
Nancy

Cutest Mother's Day

We are busy getting new things ready for Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA, the end of July. It will be busy and a great adventure. We have been to them in the past but not for a few years and we will be new for this one. I can't wait to get there.

I am doing some embroidery to get ready for Xmas. We have ten children between us and I am making a cute house and tree (from Country Loft) for each of them. It will say their last name and date established. I hope they will enjoy them. Any attempt to be ahead of the game will be great!

I am busy in the sewing room, checking out the rick rack that cries for a project so it can be stitched down. My tired brain in thinking, thinking.

It is lame to write about Mother's Day when it was two days ago but life has a way of getting in the way. My sweet husband gave me a card that sings and I just laughed and laughed. Then I promptly ate the hand packed box of nuts only from
See's Candy. Five pounds, here I come . . .

I have been blessed to send another quilt top and table runner off to the quilter's and have received back my cute Field of Flowers the is going to hang in the Hillcreek Designs Button Booth. I am excited about it all! She took patterns and is making up button kits to put with them for sample spree. I will let you know what goes on when she comes back.

Field of Flowers

Sometimes we wonder if we will ever get something finished. Well . . . Field of Flowers is finished. It is ready to be shipped to Hillcreek Designs, a Button Company for those of you who do not know, for display in their booth in Pittsburg, PA, Quilt Market. Check out her website www.hillcreekdesigns.com She has great buttons. She makes custom packages for me.

This is just a wonderfully happy quilt that can be completed in a weekend or so . . . I just makes me smile!

Keep Quilting,
Nancy

Shovels of inspiration

The alyssum is doing great! I see the beautiful flowers out my sewing room window and smile. Such beauty there for me to enjoy each day.

. . . kinda reminds me of my sewing room. I need to chop the scraps up and make piles of the rest. I am trying to keep the projects in separate containers or bags so all the parts and patterns are together. It started out wonderfully well. I just have to go back and shovel some more into their proper places.

I love these old shovels. They dig, look great and have lots of time to make me feel good about gardening. They are always willing to pitch in and did a hole or just cover up one that the dog dug. Shovels chop weeds and make piles . . .

I have a quilt on the way back from the quilter. Pictures of that soon. It is going to Market in PA with Hillcreek Designs a wonderful button company. It will be fun to have the feedback from the show.

For those that live in the Santa Clarita area, I know a great long arm quilter that does my quilts for me. Let me know if you would like more information. She is quick and affordable.

Keep quilting,
Nancy

Jars full of buttons

Watch for these. They work wonderfully without taking away from your project.


It is time to put some buttons on the latest project. Wouldn't you know it, I have everyone but the right one. It figures . . . and I was so close to finishing. Off to the store to find just the right Hillcreek Buttons, check her website: www.hillcreekbuttons.com Have you seen them. They are flat without a glossy finish. She makes most every color that DMC floss comes in and they are fantastic! I find them to be just the right accent. Do you think this one is too small?


Aren't these just the prettest pink carnations you've ever seen?? What luck when I found them at Home Desperate. I have three plants that are just covered. I am not sure how long they bloom but I hope all summer.


Buttons and ribbons galore, waiting to adorn a quilt or wall hanging. Just patiently waiting for their turn to be stitched. They remind me to keep piecing and creating. Not one trim left behind is my motto.

Little Bird

This little guy sure loves it in the flower bed. A little bird told me to get up at 3:30am today and make a purse . . . so like a good girl, I arose and finished this in about an hour . . . what do you think? The pockets go on the inside not the outside but it was 3:30am so I can fix that next time. I can't be the only one stuff like this happens to, am I???



More as the day progresses
Nancy

Fine China and Roses

I aquired this stunning Cream and Sugar set a bit ago. They are my reminders of my Grandma Taylor. She had wonderful china and teacups. I have a collection of those as well. I enjoy pondering the delicate roses that have been lovingly placed on the china for us to enjoy. To more fully create this, I have purchased 2 pink Queen Elizabeth Rose bushes. I hope they bloom again very soon. Their fagrance is divine. Do you find yourself looking for things that trigger a memory of someone? It is something I do a lot. Perhaps that is why I quilt . . . memories of Mom . . . for Mother's Day.

Nancy

Quilter's Muslin

Here is a quick peak at what I am working on. It is far from done but should turn out nice. Let me know what you think.


Hurrah!!! The Quilter's Muslin has finally arrived. I just love the quality and best of all it rip every 3/8". It is perfect for tons of great things. Go to our website and check it out. One you try it you can never, ever, ever go back. This is not a good photo but how do you make plain muslin look good?

How are you doing on Paying it Forward. It sure feels good. I think I will do it again just for fun. . . care to join me? I was stingy and only gave away 5 patterns I was not really crazy about. That was probaly cheating . . . sorry . . . I will now give away a pattern I really like . . . and some fabric to go with it. . . no more hanging on to stuff . . . I want to be free from too much stuff . . . (ok that is an outright lie!). More tomorrow . . . keep piecing . . .

Nancy

Wedding Quilt

This is just a quick picture of some of the sentiments written on the wedding quilt. It is a treasured memory.


I made a hand appliqued quilt when I married my sweet companion a short eight and a half months ago. Everyone signed it and it is lovely. I have finally finished the back for it and it is off to the quilter's. My sister Joyce does longarm quilting and she is going to do bang up job quilting it for me. I can't wait to mail it, so it can hurry back and hang on the wall.

I am willing my flowers to grow daily, ok the garden too! The pink carnations are beautiful and I am anxious for the John F. Kennedy & Queen Elizabeth roses to bloom. I had some flower seeds that came in a large bag, so I threw them into the planter as well. We shall see what comes up. I see Cosmos peaking their heads up. My side yard planter will be awash with blossoms soon (I hope).

I have payed it forward. I sent 5 new patterns to an unsuspection person. We shall see what happens when that arrives. This is fun! Give it a try.

Nancy

Park City Girl: Calling All Quilters!#links

What a beautiful idea, thank you for letting me join in. Leave a comment and we will pick a winner from them. It will be a fun prize! Don't get left out . . . I love to give things away!
Nancy

Park City Girl: Calling All Quilters!#links

Quilt Show

Link to Quilt Show







Sometimes when we see something it speaks to our soul and we are drawn to it. You gaze at it and it brings you in, closer to your heart and you cannot give it up, no matter what. As I ponder all of the redwork stitches that have gone into this wall hanging, I fall more in love with it. Can that be? I find something new in the quilt every day. It is made from a homespun cotton in red. The redwork squares are the same. Each scene is a part of my life. It was lovingly made by Donna Tirpak, 2002. Thank you Donna for every loving stitch. I cherish your handwork. I consider it an honor to own this piece.

I found this at the Breast Cancer fund raiser, held at Country Loft, La Mesa, CA. I have be the proud owner for 6 years. It hangs in a place of honor in my home.

Nancy

Pay it Forward

It is time to Pay it Forward. Go to your pattern stash and find the one you were dying to make. Now think of someone you know would love to find this in their mail box. Put in a cute note or a bit of fabric to go with it and send it off to make their day! Not only will your pile be lighter but you will gladden the heart of others when they recieve the surprise.

Having trouble picking? Just reach in and take the first one that you find. It doesn't need to be your favorite, just one that you would be happy to recieve.

This is your chance for a feel good moment . . . do not let it pass by, saying sometime I'll try, but go and do this today :-))

Sometimes we just need to smile at the thought of doing for others . . . paying it forward makes it all worth while . . . send a little love . . . we all need an angel to watch over us . . .

Nancy

Another little project in the future. It will be such fun to make. I already want several just for me.


A hint at a new project I am working on. It will be such fun when it is done. I will have a better photo soon.


The cute selvages awaiting for their turn in the project rotation. I do not have quite enough to make something wonderful. My sister wants them but it would have to be a real need for me to give them up. Can I have yours? Perhaps a selvage swap in the future?


I can hardly wait to add something to these spools. What a great find! Perhaps a pincushion or a kitchen towel. Any suggestions? It is such fun to see what you can make from something. Ideas just keep crowding in and squeezing out the last ones. I will let you know.

I found the best birdhouse in an antique store the other day. I love the shabby chic detail. It have a sort of victorian feel to it. It shall go nicely with the collection I have started. Perhaps a birdhouse quilt is in order. So many projects, so little time. Another UFO on the way!

Early

I went out to check the flowers and find nothing but beautiful blooms in all of the pots. We even have artichokes in the garden. Yummy! We were a bit late planting the rest but it is coming along nicely. I can't get ready soon enough.

It's my favorite time of day, four something in the morning. The house is quiet and my brain, such as it is, can think without interuption. A cute pig is coming to mind. I am not sure what she will be yet but something cute to be sure. What a blessing to be able to create and share that with others.

Sprouts and Spools

Yeah!! Our garden is up and doing just fine. We are so pleased. Squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, cantalope, corn are all soaring to the sky. I have a long planter (20 feet) on the side yard just full of flowers. It will be beautiful very soon.

I found these awesome spools at an antique store the other day. Aren't they great! I have already used one in the kitchen for a towel. I wonder what the original use for them was. Perhaps to hold ribbon in a factory? What a find. I can't figure out how to load an image today but I will explore it a bit more later and fix that.

I am making purses and they are coming out so cute. I have fixed the limp problem with fusible pellon. It is Miracle stuff. If everything were this easy, how fun it would be.

Garden

We have planted our garden. Hopefully the sun will not burn it up before we enjoy the fruits of the harvest. We probably should have waited to plant the second package of corn until 10 days later but too late now.

I bought an antique twin bed the other day. It is beautiful with the arched wheat design carved into it. I just love it. We do have one slight problem. All mattress and box springs now are 75" long and the bed is 72" long. We are going to have to make new side boards for the bed. A custom mattress is quite expensive.

Pink Dress

Wandering through antique stores always leads to treasures. I was the lucky one when I attended Road to California. I found this wonderful, hand crocheted pink dress potholder. They remind me of my mother and her friends. They actually used these and then made new ones. I on the other hand will keep it in the sewing room and use it for inspiration. I find it is a lost art and becoming more rare as the days go by. Perhaps I can talk my daughter into making one for me. Wish me luck!

Nancy

Pink Dress

While in Temecula a few weeks ago, I came upon this wonderful Pink Dress, crocheted by a loving person and now it resides in my sewing room. I just smile every time I look at it and see all of the time spent on it. I can't help but wonder what she thought while she crocheted. Was it winter or perhaps spring with the daffodils blooming. Did little ones scurry about her feet as she took a few moments for herself? I have little time for these wonderful efforts as I am, as you are, busy all of the time. I will treasure this little bit of heaven in my sewing room.