Its Friday!

Its Friday! I have been in a whirlwind this week with the lawyers for my case...and so many issues that I had to deal with. Therefore, I decided to try to find a way to settle my nerves. I decided to just hand piece my blocks instead of using the sewing machine. I never did this before and wow it works. It is relaxing, and I have really enjoyed this.
Other things are fine. Jeff is doing great... and my website is slowly coming together. It is going to be a great weekend. Peaceful for me. I finished this morning cleaning my sewing room. Whoa, that room got messy so fast. I now can find things again. Have a great weekend everyone! Hugs Morgan

Pillowcase Bags - Update with Tutorial Link

Our quilt guild made these pillowcase sholderbags back in May. I was not able to attend so I finished my homework before the next meeting.

I found 2 matching queen size embroidered pillowcases at a local antique store for next to nothing. You can see it's twin hanging up among all the others.

I added a denim liner to make the bag more durable and added a strap to the top so I can throw this bag over my shoulder. I'm forever loading myself down with too much to save the number of trips down to the house from the driveway. I think you would be amazed at how much I can carry with one hand. Sorry.. was I rambling on again? This was fast and easy project with great results. I think if I was to make another I would add 4 inch darts in the lower corners so the bag would have a slimmer profile and a flat bottom.

I found this tutorial with instructions similar to the ones I followed to make my bag.

It is a fine Saturday.....feeling really great today!

Hello Everyone!
What a beautiful Saturday this is. I am feeling good today, and it has been a while for me to feel a great feeling. I am up and doing some things around our home. DH is coming in tomorrow night. It is nice to be able to have everything done, picked up, clean sheets on the bed, and a nice few dinners planned and ready so he can relax on his short two days home. He has a favorite blue recliner in the living room, where he does enjoy so much. I hand over the clicker, and he can watch what he wants...as long as he does not touch the air conditioner settings. HA! I need it on the cool side, to be able to breathe better. Sometimes he goes put on his sweats, sweatshirt, and socks, as he is freezing.
Yet we have worked that out. Finally! HA! I am working on two websites... and that does keep me busy. Yet today, I am taking a break from that...and going to finish some work around here, and go into town and buy fresh flowers. They always make me feel happier. I think DH even enjoys them. Going to make a meatloaf, one that I made up some years ago. I call it my favorite meatloaf. It was even published in one of my kid’s classes in school, thousands of years ago.
Then... I will need to rest. I get very tired out moving around. I am finally accepting this is my new way of living. I feel good today, to even still be here. I am thankful too for the many friendships I have gained in the last year. I have many quilting friends, and have learned so many new techniques to several new ways of creating quilts. I have wanted to learn all I could. Lately due to being ill, and having very little spunk, I have gotten involved into Linda Franz web site on the Quilted diamonds and Quilted Diamond 2 books and the DVD she has. Something I can do while being in my nest. It is relaxing, and the blocks are addicting. It is a wonderful way to get some work done without the sewing machine. Check out her site... fun people there... In addition, I enjoy it.
I hope everyone has an excellent day, and you accomplish what you wanted to get done today. Chat soon ...Hugs Morgan


http://lindafranz.com/

The Presence of Trees

The Presence of Trees

I have always felt the living presence of trees

the forest that calls to me as deeply as I breathe,

as though the woods were marrow of my bone as though

I myself were tree, a breathing, reaching arc of the larger canopy

beside a brook bubbling to foam like the one

deep in these woods, that calls

that whispers home

- Michael S. Glaser

Photos taken in Early June 2009 on a trip to Gooseberry Falls State Park located along the Northern Lake Superior shoreline in Minnesota

Molasses BooDill - December 25th 1996 to July 21st 2009

Gentle, sweet, silly.
Devoted companion.
Protector to wild bunnies.
Showered love on all who met her.

She was my best friend.
I will love, miss and cherish her memory all the days of my life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



With deep gratitude, thank you so much, to each and everyone of you throughout these last days, and this last year, who has reached out and offered a kind thought, loving words, or a heartfelt prayer for Mo and me. I have been very touched. It is without a doubt that you helped to uplift us and carry us. I felt it and I know Mo did, too.

Letting go of Molasses has been the hardest thing that I have ever had to do.
I need to take a little time off. I will be back in a bit.
xo Victoria

Who won the 2009 Relay for Life Quilt?

Thank you to all who purchased chances to win the 2009 Relay for Life Quilt. The Quilt Raffle for the Fireside Team raised over $850. for the American Cancer Society. Pictures of the quilt and the drawing and the winner, Donna Abel are on the media gallery under Quilts for a Cause. Donna is on the left with Julie Nordeen on the right.

Nuts out!

We totally won. I am teh happy.
Steve was head of security. He is teh wiped out:

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Down to the Wire

I can check off "Load the Van" on my to do list.

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There's that funny stuff again.
This is the chair I always take so I can work on my next project. With applique there is always a next project. I'm taking blocks for the 2010 KC Star BOM Edie and I are doing for Fall Market. We also have Needleturn Applique demonstrations twice a day. I'll show you the projects in a sec.
And I made sure to lean my seat all the way back when we packed the van. Max is planning to drive way into the night on the way down and I will need to sleep. It's easier leaning back than sitting up straight.



At Spring Market Sandy Gervais had a quilt on the floor for a rug. She said she always uses a quilt as a rug at Christmas and pointed out that they're easier to wash than rugs. Soooo.......as they are also quite a bit lighter than the jute rugs I usually haul back and forth I made two of these. This is 95" x 95" and is 2 1/2 Layer Cakes. Cherie gave me the idea to use polyester batting instead of my usual cotton as that would make them even lighter. This was pieced by Tara's Grandma Carol Debault and quilted by Marie at Country Expressions. I think it's awesome. Now I want one for the Grandkids bed - with cotton batting, of course.



Here are the two little blocks I use for the Needleturn Applique Demonstrations I give at Festival - a star and a bird. If you can get down points (obviously the star, bird beak and tail) and inside curves (the bird) there really isn't much you can't applique. They get those 2 little blocks free - I don't charge for the demonstration. And then if they want to use them, there's a kit for this little wallhanging.




I posted the picture of the little quilt in the column on the left. This isn't a Mini Quilt Club offering because that would throw me over the limit for the year, but if anyone in the club wants to order it, we'll give them their 15% discount. It looks like a Mini Quilt. It's not on the website yet but if you want to reserve one email Tara at info@janpatekquilts.com. She is mightily glad this week is over and she's back to her normal routine.
Well - I have to finish packing, do the layout for the kit cover for Summer Nights, make one more stop at the storage unit, make up Pep's list, yada, yada, yada. Max has a Seminar until 5:00 when I'll pick him up in KC and we will head for Knoxville, Tn. Come see us in booth 1024 at the AQS Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee
July 22nd-25th.

Tiny Stitches and Paying in Foward

Look what came in the mail on Friday! I've been checking my mailbox with anticipation every day for more than a week. This gorgeous embroidery sampler was hand stitched by Maya the Embellisher. She hosted a giveaway in June and I was the very lucky winner. Maya's Blog is titled "Million Little Stitches" and this sampler lives up to her reputation. Oh my these are tiny stitches, smaller than the head of most pins. All done with a single strand of embroidery floss. I love how she inserted subtle changes of color in certain places. It just makes the embroidery shine.

My great, great Grandparents moved to the United States from Norway and Germany. Many of the motifs in Maya's work remind me of handwork and knitting that I have seen in my home since childhood. Her work will have a cherished place in my home. Thank you Maya for your generosity!

To pay my good fortune forward I am hosting a giveaway that ends this evening (Sunday) on my Dye Candy Blog. Click here to enter.

More great news

My mother Georgia was just awarded the "Flawless Workmanship" award at the 36th annual Springville Museum of Art Quilt Show. Her beautiful patriotic red, white and blue quilt is a log cabin star variation and machine pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted with miles of rwb variegated thread. It is very large -- 100" square so I'm not kidding about the miles of thread. It has a piano key border with 1 inch strips and she quilted around each key. Sorry-- no photo yet, but it won't be hard to spot if you make it to the show.

I will update as soon as I get to see it in the show and snap a picture. If you are in the Salt Lake/Provo area this summer, make a point to go to the Springville Museum (just south of Provo) and see all the beautiful quilts on display there, the show runs until September 2nd, 2009. I have 2 small quilts in the show (a black and white and pink 4 block applique and a twins photo transfer log cabin). There are almost a 100 quilts on display.

Saying Goodbye

We have made the difficult and painful decision to let Mo go.
The scales have tipped and the quality of her life is rapidly declining.
We see her slipping away more and more each day and I feel that she is only hanging on out of devotion to us.
She is very tired and no longer seems as happy, and I cannot bear the thought of her suffering because of us.
Her appointment is on Tuesday. I am spending this time trying to prepare myself, the family and of course dear Mo.
Saying goodbye to her is very hard.

Relay for Life Fort Atkinson

Going to Fort Atkinson today to walk with my MOM in the Survivor's Walk. My Mom and I made a Quilt for the Relay for Life again this year and it has been on display in Fort Atkinson at the Fireside since November. They will sell more tickets at the Relay today and tomorrow to raise money the American Cancer Society. More photos on my website's media gallery.

Snowbound published by Red Wagon in 1989

And the winner is Juliann who said "I still have my copy. In fact I have most of the early Red Wagon books including Snowbound, published a Red Wagon book from 1989. It was the beginning of a new perspective on quilting for me.'
Juliann, please email Tara at info@janpatekquilts.com and give her your mailing information. Congrats and have fun with the Jelly Roll.



Everyone that commented got the year and publisher right so we wrote the names on slips of paper and Tara drew one. Thanks to everyone that entered. I'm going to have to think of another contest that takes us into the past like these 2 have. It's so much fun to read all of the comments.

Thanks to Patti of Quilting is my Passion who sent me the information on a website that tells you how to get 3 columns on your blog. And lots of thanks to my son Max's significant other, Michelle, who could follow the website directions. Now I have a 3 column blog. Wahoo! I hope to do a lot of fun things with it when I get back from Knoxville and the AQS Expo.

For right now - back to work.

Two Black Leaves

Well, I enjoyed making my last mini quilt so much, (thanks for the lovely comments!) I just couldn't wait a whole week to make another one... so I guess we can call this "Wee Quilt Wednesday" just for fun!


I wanted this piece to look as elegant in its simplicity as a lovely black and white photograph that was matted and framed, but of course it's all fabric.


Just like the bird print in my last post, this leaf fabric came from Ikea, too. I hoped that the close line quilting would give the leaves a feeling of movement.

Two Black Leaves is currently available in my Etsy shop.

Have a lovely day everyone!

My Quilt in the News and back story

9-8-9 Update -my quilt was one of the honorable mention winners in the challenge.

Exciting news: my quilt for the Alliance for American Quilts Crazy quilt Challenge is one of 4 quilts highlighted in their June newsletter. Here is the direct link. My sister called with the news the day before my birthday- what a fun surprise present. It is pictured above (from the back) I wanted to show off all the threadwork and I think it is interesting to see quilt backs which are often forgotten. To see the rest of the quilt, see the previous entries below and the link above. More than 70 quilts were made and donated to the Alliance for this challenge and they will be auctioned off on eBay in late October and early November to benefit this valuable quilt resource.

Mini Quilt Monday - Two Birds

I have been meaning for some time now, (but keep forgetting) to start participating in "Mini Quilt Monday" which was started by the talented Malka of a stitch in dye. Finally, the brain cells kicked in, I remembered, and made this little quilt.


The bird print, which I adore, is from Ikea.



Two Birds is now available in my shop.

You can check out more mini quilts and join the fun over at Mini Quilt Monday's Flickr group.

Giveaway Day

I have finally finished my latest dyelots. They will soon be for sale in my Dye Candy Etsy Shop.

My giveaway on my Dye Candy blog has just started. Follow this link for a chance to win.

Crazy Stars

I am definitely blog challenged. Lately every time I upload a picture when I'm doing a new post, instead of the jpg I get funny talk. It mostly turns out OK when I tell it to publish but I do get some of the funny talk posted.
OK a new contest. Years and years ago - back when the dinosaurs roamed - I made Snowbound. While I was making it I needed a rectangular shape to get things to fit. Surprise, surprise - a star came to mind. And of course, with me doing it, it couldn't be straight and neat and tidy, it had to be lopsided. As far as I know, that was the origin of the crazy star. Years later, it was really funny to open a magazine and read articles on how to draft a "crazy star". Anyway, the contest is this. What year was Snowbound published and what company published it. If you have an old book you're in luck. I assume I'll have multiple right answers - a lot of us save those old books - and Zoie is in Atlanta, GA for the summer with her dad. So I'll have Tara.org draw from the right answers to see who wins the Blessings Jelly Roll. Deadline for guesses is Wednesday, 15th. Good luck all of you collectors.

1st & 2nd

Reproduction of block from 1st quilt - made for Kelly out of muslin. seafoam green and pink floral fabrics. Had sashing and outer border of the pink foral with a muslin stop border. The original quilt is now in quilt heaven having been well loved and well used.

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Somewhere in here I found a "Quilter's Newsletter" that featured Micheal James and I started making "art quilts". I even went so far as to get a quilt into Quilt National and was firmly headed in that direction. Then we adopted Brian, Kelly wanted a Christmas Quilt and I started designing quilts for books and patterns. Here then is my 2nd "quilt" quilt. Quite different from my first one, don't you think. See what happens when you let me loose with fabric and color? Linda and my line that will show at Fall Market is going to be "Looking Back". If the colors that are picked are anywhere near right I want to kit Snowbound. It's such a fun quilt. The 3 kids on the taboggan are Brian, Kelly and Max. Pep and I of course are by our house and My sister Nancy and Mark and Matthew are in town. To see one of my latest quilts, go down one post for Zoie's Baskets or look at the blocks on the right.
And if you haven't already gone to Sandy blog http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/, go to it for a walk down memory lane if you have any age on you at all.

A Treasury and Creative Places to Visit

You know I could get lost browsing through the Etsy website. There are millions of creative things to see. I'm always humbled when someone chooses one of my items for a treasury spot.

Yesterday I received word from M. of BellabeadsOriginals that she had included my log cabin pin in a beautiful treasury. Stop by and see all her brilliant picks between now and Sunday Evening.

I have been dyeing fabrics for more than a week. So many beautiful colors are on my ironing board. I will be adding more listings to my Dye Candy shop over the weekend. I will be hosting a fabric giveaway starting on Sunday evening. I'll post a note here once the giveaway opens.

I have been posting less often, and adding more blogs to my reading list. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever keep up with it all, create and get the lawn mowed (4 hours of mowing per week - yikes!). I work at the art gallery tomorrow so I'll have time to catch up on my blog reading in the afternoon when the streets of our small town roll up.

Lastly I was tagged by Jackie of Dogdaisychains to reveal 7 random facts about myself, you can see them in this post. If you haven't been to Jackie's blog, please go and see all the beautiful things she creates. Take a minute (or much more) to look at her photos on Flicker. Amazing work! Her "retro style" brooches and other cool creations were just featured in the last issue "Quilting Arts" magazine. I can't tell you how thrilled I was for her. Way to go Jackie!

I am to recognize other blogs that I enjoy reading. I thought I'd introduce you to some blogs I have not mentioned before and some of my favorite stops full of creativity.

Faith of Nutbud Quilter - so many pretty and original ideas to see,

Emmy of Cramzy - Unique Needlework & Embellishments

P8 Buttons & Fabrics - So many buttons and button creations!!

Shar at Quilters Nest - You've got to see her feathered heart in her last post!

A new find full of pretty things Ardea's Nest

Claire's of Enchanted Home reminds me of days spent in the desert as a child

And Allie's in Stitches - beautiful crazy quilt stitches and ribbon embroidery.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Nice boat ride

Finally feeling so much better!
Yesterday, I went for a ride on our boat down the river. It was so nice to be outside and feeling the sun. I went without using my oxygen, (even though it was close by) and enjoyed the day so much. I even was sunburned on my face and neck. It felt great! Just going to have a little post today…..I am going up to the store, by myself to get some food for my puppy and something for me too! Chat later, Hugs Morgan

Here are a few pic.s of my day out in the boat.

Back to skating

Last night was my first practice back after being out with my knee injury. I was sure that I'd be useless after 2 month off skates, but I had a shockingly good practice! I need to get my timing back when hitting hard to the outside, and I need to get up more quickly when I fall. My jammer awareness could be better too, but all of these will come back quickly - they always have before.
Like other times, I seem to have come back with a few new skills! Normally one of my two Major Weaknesses is getting trapped behind people - I've never been able to maneuver quickly. Last night I did admirably well getting out from behind booty blocks, though. I've NEVER been able to do that before! Also, I've figured out how to do those annoying super-fast, repetitive little hits we've been working on.
All in all, I'm very proud. I can't wait to scrimmage this weekend. :D
Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Another Photo Quilt

A short time ago I posted about photo/memory quilts. I would like to share a personal project I completed for my Mom. She gave them as gifts to the Aunts and Uncles (my Late Father's brothers and sisters). The quilted wall hangings were made from a photo T-shirt from a family reunion from about 15 years ago in Bemidji, MN. We made them in several color themes. At my Mom's 75th Birthday she shared them with all of my Dad's brothers and sisters (my aunts and uncles). To see more photos check out the media gallery, under Memory Quilts.

This is a wonderful way to preserve a T-shirt from a special event. It doesn't have to be a photo t-shirt. It can just be a favorite T-shirt.

Happy 5th of July

Hope you had an awesome 4th of July. 7 of 8 grandchildren and all but one child were here. Good food, good family - luckily we celebrated on the 3rd because the weather was OK until
after we finished with the fireworks and cake and ice cream - then it really stormed but we were all safe and sound inside in bed.
The 2 weeks before however, were a very different story. If you follow the Minick/Simpson blog you've seen Laurie's house with all of the photographers, etc for the photoshoot for American Patchwork & Quilting. Well - I had that many people in and out of my house and my bedroom for over a week trying to fix my DSL connection so I could work. And so Tara could work. My computer is in the corner of my bedroom. I work here - then email things to Tara up in the office. We couldn't charge, we couldn't ship. I couldn't work at the computer because there were people on it trying to fix things. It was not fun! Hours and hours on the phone - my IT lady - my son - days later - still no wireless connection. We couldn't really do much of anything - yada, yada, yada. After a week they finally sent a technician out and it took him over 8 hours to get it done. Still don't know why it happened. If you want to know what I do when I'm stressed out - I have a pretty clean house and office.
And the binding is on Zoie's Baskets. It's ready to go to Knoxville for the booth at the AQS Expo. Come see us there.

Of Moss and Muslin... The Birth of a New Art Quilt... Finally!

Inspiration has been low for me lately. I keep looking for a new direction but keep hitting dead ends...

But then this little lightening bug showed me the way...


I spotted her the other day crawling on a planter. I was taken by how her clay colored head was the same color as the clay pot, and at how vibrant the bright green moss was. This led me to look up and notice the moss growing on the tree trunk...


Which led me to impulsively run in the house grab some plain muslin fabric, soak it with the hose and rub it all over the tree trunk, (reason #325 the neighbors think I am a kook.)

While I was at it I also rubbed in some clay earth and a couple of decaying mushrooms...


After baking the wet and stained fabric in the sun, rinsing it well with the hose, hanging it to dry, and heat setting it with an iron, this is what I had.

And from there I started to quickly cut and sew my new stained fabric with plain muslin...


The colors faded a bit after a final wash in the machine... but I love the subtle shifts, how they melt into each other. I like the quietness of this quilt. It is very much in line with how my life feels currently.


There was never any question in my mind as how it should be quilted.


The understated colors work great with the densely quilted lines.


The backside is plain muslin... I like this, too. Just texture.



Due to the fact that I am unsure of the long term light fastness of the colors, I have decided to not put this one up for sale. I need to do more experimenting and testing before I felt comfortable. This also gives me a good excuse to keep it as I have just the spot in my not too sunny, pale green foyer to hang it!

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Mo and I really and truly appreciate all the continued loving thoughts and wishes shared with us from the last post.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. xo