Sugarcreek Festival of the Arts 2009

I had a nice show this weekend, the people we have met there over the years feel like family. People were complimentary and we enjoy seeing our faithful customers and meeting new ones!

Aunt Jean and Uncle Don

they loved the quilt....

We had a wonderful time in California, it was a dream trip, really. Seeing our family after so many years was great, we just picked up where we left off. Thank you, Dea and Bill for the opportunity!

Here it is!

The light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

I am hand-stitching the binding to the back of the quilt! 3 more sides and I will be finished, then it's a wrap! Pictures coming...

More quilt progress, and more ripping!

Had to entertain the flu bug for a few days, Jenna had the regular flu, I had the stomach thing... just no fun.

Today, I was able to sew on the sides of the quilts with the family names on them. I proudly showed Jim, and he showed me that one was upside down, and the other was in the wrong place... oh, well, 2 out of 4 isn't bad! I ripped, and tonight got one sewn on correctly. One more side to go, then the binding, then we have a quilt!!!!!!!!!

This is before the borders were sewn on.

Quilt

I spent Wednesday and Thursday this week finishing up the name embroidery for the border strips for Aunt Jean and Uncle Don's quilt. I also made a center patch with just their names, with a heart around it... just what you would expect someone to draw in the sand!

Friday, I began to sew the strips onto the backing and batting. Not an easy or fun job, and I have 13! I've discovered that pins are my friend!

Saturday... today, the ripper is my friend! I just had to rip a strip back off since the previous strip hadn't been pressed sufficiently... other than that, the strips are going on slowly!

Great day to quilt, drizzly and chilly!

Art Show

Today was a benefit Art Show for Dan and Maria's orphanage, Casa Ezra, in Sebis, Romania. Their friend, Kelly, organized a wonderful assortment of artist's work in a nice coffeeshop in downtown New Bethlehem. Great coffee, a cute store and a superb venue for this undertaking. Bids were taken by silent auction. Hope it's a huge success, and that it becomes an annual event! Thanks to Kelly and her mom, and all who contributed! This is the piece that I donated.

Quilt progress

Ok, all the strips are sewn together... I made a sand block for the precise center, to embroider Uncle Don and Aunt Jean's names... after that I can begin to actually sew the strips to the backing and batting.

60th Anniversary Quilt

These are some of the fabrics I chose for the anniversary quilt I am making for Jim's aunt and uncle. We are going to visit them the week before Thanksgiving in CA! We (Jim's sisters and their spouses) were all invited by Jim's cousin and her husband, to come and surprise his aunt and uncle with a visit. They love the coast, so this collection was perfect.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at an embroidery machine putting family names... writing them in the "sand". Cool.

... This was the first entry in my quilt journal...

Friday, October 16, 2009

Today I am cutting into the fabrics chosen for Aunt Jean and Uncle Don's quilt. It is always scary doing that, I want to do it right the first time!

I searched the largest quilt shop in the area and wasn't happy with their selection of beach type fabrics. My friend, Audrey told me that JoAnn's had a beach line, I went up Wednesday to check it out, and they are beautiful. I picked 10 prints that look like they'll go together. Watery blue, sand, browns, and light tan.

I read something today that said the quilter prays for the recipient of the quilt as she cuts and sews. What a great idea!

I loved making this turkey and pumpkins! He reminds me of the hand tracing turkeys that we did for Thanksgiving! He is nice and tall and would make a great centerpiece!
Another snowman... this one is plump and happy and holds a primitive old crow... a rusty old nail is used for his nose, and he has a green and red striped homepun scarf.

These lighted chenille snowmen stand about 26" without the star/berry spray they hold. I tea-dyed the chenille and they are a lovely warm brown. Cinnamon dusts their top hats.

An old shovel with a great wooden handle can be a harvest greeting for your door or porch!

Another ALF come and gone...

Autumn Leaf Festival 2009 is history... the only day I really invest in is Friday, the traditional "Farmers and Crafters Day"! I work all summer toward setting up that day in Clarion PA among 300 other crafters. We had rain and cold this year... lots of rain and lots of cold. There were still crowds, just not quite as huge as normal. Now that I'm warm and dry, it doesn't seem so bad, but an outdoor show is still tough to do. I'm sure other show people would agree!

I'm posting pictures of various items I still have, if anyone's interested in purchasing.

The twins taking a walk home from the playground.

A Few Thoughts

GOD'S GREAT EXCHANGE:

 

I EXCHANGE...

 

My weariness for HIS strength

My weakness for HIS power

My darkness for HIS light

My problems for HIS solutions

My burdens for HIS freedom

My frustrations for HIS peace

My turmoil for HIS calm

My hopes for HIS promises

My afflictions for HIS comfort

My questions for HIS answers

My confusion for HIS knowledge

My doubt for HIS assurance

My nothingness for HIS awesomeness

My temporal for HIS eternal

My immpossible for HIS possible

My needs for His supply

My will for HIS perfect will

My sorrow for HIS joy