Merry Christmas, Kathy

Kathy, this is your Christmas quilt. It's done, wrapped and waiting for us to get together. Honest, it's going to stop snowing soon!

Vanilla Stars

Several years ago, a group of us took a field trip to Grayling. It was very cold, snowy and a day we should have not travelled outside of the city limits. Our destination was the Icebox Quilt Shop. I bought a pattern called Vanilla Stars. It has taken almost four years to find the fabrics and complete the quilt. I completed the binding last night--it is done. I am planning on hanging this quilt in the Capital Area Patchers Guild Quilt Show next year. There are two special parts to this quilt:

1. The "vanilla stars" actually turned out and the points are the best I've been able to do

2. The backing is flannel-so not only is the quilt warm from the batting but also soft and snuggly

The Moda fabrics I used for the quilt are from the Civil War reproduction line.

Another Adventure in Quilting

I have started another quilt. This one, "Wildflowers," by K. Connor, includes machine applique and piecing. I have had some trouble picking the thread and fabric colors for the flowers. I am drawn to primary colors (very low-class, I am told). I have been trying to experiment with more earthy tones.

Cyan

My friend's new kitty rightfully belongs to a quilter. Of all the places for her to relax, she chose this pile of quilt pieces.

Imagery

The weatherman says today is cold but "enjoy it" because it's downhill after today. We teach patients to use imagery to help with pain and anxiety. Today, I am going to use this image of our trip to Mackinaw Island to help re-focus my thoughts from the cold, over-cast weather.

January in Michigan - It Shouldn't Be Such a Surprise

It was cold this morning - but pretty!

Rambling Rose Meets Jackson Crossing

Of the quilts I've made, I really like this one the best. It's called Rambling Rose Meets Jackson crossing. The blocks are a combination of log cabin blocks (making the "white" rows and a variety of pieced blocks, each allowing me to practice new techniques. The quilt was intended to be the size of a single bed topper. As I was making the log cabin blocks, I used the wrong side of the ruler and made the blocks about 2 inches larger than they should have been. To compensate, I added a black border to each of the pieced squares so the blocks would go together. The end result is that the quilt looks the same as if I had followed the directions, only much bigger! Without trying, I made it wonderfully fit my bed as a spread.

Starting the 2nd round

Beth starts her second semester in the nursing program at LCC on Monday! She completed the first semester very successfully and likes what she is doing. She is working per diem in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Sparrow as a PCT. She is very compassionate with her patients and loves the work with trauma patients.