The Oklahoma Sooners Quilt

An unusual queen size quilt, a commission Jennifer took on to piece then asked me to quilt it. A bit different to the usual, and with every new project I learn something.

 To make the letters stand out I did a diamond crosshatching using one of my longarm rulers. I had to mark the grid as I went in order to have it match up so there was a lot of rolling the quilt back and forth. Consequently I was forced to float the top which I never like to do, it makes it more difficult to keep the quilt square. I filled a clover chalk tool with whiteb"Magic Chalk" which may be ironed off but it all disappeared by itself by the time I was done.

Thankfully it worked out ok, and went together perfectly. I kept forgetting that the client wanted "Sooners" written in the quilting but managed to get it in a few times! I bound it by machine with some of the red backing fabric, I did not take a photo of the back because you could hardly see the quilting at all. Altogether I am quite pleased with the result and hope that the owner will be also!

Three More QOV's

These are for the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association to which DH belongs. They have an annual reunion in the summer each year and some of the wives who quilt construct 4-6 quilts for presentation. My part of the mission is to quilt them, others piece the blocks and construct the tops then send them to me. After quilting I send them on to the person who will bind them and attach the labels.

The first two I custom quilted mostly using rulers, I have come to really like this method for these kind of quilts. The mostly linear designs tend to be more masculine, and the solid backing shows off the designs very nicely.  I realize that ruler work isn't everyone's joy but it's fun for me though I wouldn't want to be restricted to it which is why the third quilt got a patriotic panto, I just ran out of juice, LOL!

So here is the third with a simple star and flag design.

Christmas Vacation

With son and family we headed off to Boston for our annual Christmas trip. Disappointingly the weather was mild in the Boston area, actually warmer than Phoenix!

 Not so in Vermont where we spent a few days at a great resort over New Year.

 The kids really enjoyed the facilities including indoor and outdoor heated pool and spa.

Kids and dogs all enjoyed the fresh snow

After which a nice nap or two was necessary!

 In order to be ready for the next round of adventures!

Where to next Mum?

How about a stroll around a quaint Vermont village

Bourbon tasting at a local distillery

A visit to an ice cream factory

And an interesting store with everything from hardware to clothing

We came across a wonderful coffee shop seemingly out in the middle of "nowhere"!

Not to mention the piece de resistance, the Alchemist Brewery in walking distance of our resort!

 This was our New Year's Eve treat, Dom Perignon 2006!

Then back to Boston, almost 4 hours of driving.

While our very snuggly Nova always finds a warm body to lay on!

The boy baking cupcakes with his cousins. What you see in the Ball jars is jalapena jelly, I had just made.

A wonderful holiday always over too soon and then back to Phoenix and real life!

Family Christmas

We gathered as a family a few days before Christmas because we knew that everyone would be going  different ways on Christmas Day.

The whole family, how blessed we are.

Grandson Daniel with his new baby boy, Sterling

And son Lucas with his second granddaughter, Layla. It seems very odd that my son would have  grandchildren, three now!

Youngest son and his family

A four generation photo

The annual VIP day at school, and the construction of the amazing gingerbread house!

A Great Grandson

So, I am a great grandmother three times now and  if anything is calculated to make me feel my age, that is it, LOL.
Last Saturday we welcomed Sterling Daniel Atwood, to join his Mom and Dad Ashlee and Daniel and 14 month old sister Paisley. He weighed in at 6lb.2 ozs and just over 19" long and at a couple of weeks early he spent an extra day or so in neonatal to ensure all systems were working perfectly.

Here shown in neonatal in his adoring grandfather's arms,[our son Lucas]

 And at home a few days later.

Mom and baby are well for which we are praising God. We haven't had cuddles yet but next weekend for sure.

Meanwhile our newest great granddaughter Layla has gained over 1.5lbs her first month, so her Mom is doing a great job! 

Well, Dad too, he is a great helper with all that is necessary.

Last night I shipped off the quilt below to the owner in CA., it is for her great grandson! I cannot remember how many baby quilts have come through my hands this year but easily upwards of 20. It has been the busiest year I remember for new babies in our friends and family circle, all healthy thank you Lord!

You can see that Hannah made a few words with the alphabet letters.

 And the last of my quilting until the new year is this lap size quilt below for some dedicated lay workers in the children's program at our church.

In gratitude for all the children whose lives they touch in Jesus Name, including our grandson Matthew.
I hope to sew a little more this week on the Bonnie Hunter mystery "Good Fortune".  Maybe I will post a bit on my progress during the week. I have completed a couple of clues, still working on one of them. But- I also have to clean house and hopefully do a little Christmas baking!

Cheers, y'all!

Catching Up A Bit On Quilting!

Life here has been super busy, I cannot even begin to tell it all!
Below is another of Angela's quilts, 54" square and another Bonnie Hunter design. I really like this quilt and had fun quilting it. Angela use two different blocks, together making an eye catching secondary design.

So I repeated two different quilting designs freehand 

 and made an interesting pattern on the back.

 Standard piano key in the border.

Last Saturday was the QOV presentation for Sgt. David Stassenhofer. I only have a couple of photos from my camera but many more were taken that I hope to get!

 Many of his friends from the Patriot Guard showed up. Across Arizona, David was the lead flag bearer at the funerals of the Fallen for many years and as such was called"Flag Dud".

 Below, the presentation case with his name.

 Custom quilting was the only way to go with this quilt to show off it's red, white and blue beauty. Several friends from my Sew Creative MeetUp group contributed blocks for the so I did not have to make them all, and no two are quite alike but together they make a stunning patriotic display for a military hero.

  And I aways love the solid fabric back that makes a whole quilt on it's own.