Category Archives: Lap Quilts

Childhood Memories, Drawing, Lap Quilts, Mayan - Lead Dancer, Mayan- Bone Dancer, Pixies Group, Scrap Happy Quilts, Squares a Dancing

New Year

Happy Hew Year to all.
I sure hope that 2021 brings more freedom and joy to everyone.     May we all see a little clearer, love a little more deeply and value what we have missed the most this year.  I look forward to hugs and laughter with lost of smiling faces all around me.     Good health and wonder to all.

I tried to finish up lots of little details as part of my preparation for the new year  and  a fresh start.
I did complete my English Robin as the Textile Artist Stitch Club assignment. I learned that I need to pin and pin a lot even though the instructor, Mandy Pattallo did not. My robin got very fat as the part spread out while I worked.
The Pixies had a on line meeting as usual. We had an assignment to draw something to represent what we did on Christmas day. I always associate Christmas with Pamagranits, so I purchase and eat them that day. They were on sale in our grocery,  so I purchased two. One is gone and the second is almost finished now.

 

 

Progress Report: Lap Quilt This work is 40″ w X 46″t. It is made up of mostly fabrics that I altered in some way. I printed on most of them. It was fun to use my fabrics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cold Moon Rising The work is 46″ w X 28″ t.    I changed the title of this work as I learned that the  last full moon of December is called a Cold Moon.   The branches are all wool yarn that I zig-zagged down. The birds themselves are made from various blacks. Several from the bottoms of pants that were shortened, some of velour and a bit of felt. By using a variety of fabrics for the birds I think it adds more interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Squares a Dancing I finally got to put these fellows into rows this week. It will be a very handsome lap quilt I think.

 

 

Scrap Happy I worked away on this project this week . I am at the machine quilting stage and about half way done with it. I am sure I will complete this project this week

 

 

 

 

Lead Dancer- Mayan Series #13 I am working away on the out lining of the parts of this figure. I think I am about half way done with this step and will surely get to the quilting by Monday.

 

 

 

Bone Dancer – Mayan Series # 14 I spent a few hours this week with the cutting and fusing of the shapes for this project. I think I am getting anxious to complete this series so I put in extra time.

 

 

 

 

Fall Last week I painted the tyvec to use as leaves on the colored base. Well when I finally placed the first leaves on the base . It was awful! So they will become the start of something new. I tried cutting and pinning ginkgo type silk leaves on the base and I like that a lot more. So I am going in that direction now. I plan to stitch a few down before I go any further with this idea.

 

 

New Work I got asked to do a commission by the son of a friend. It will be a twin quilt for a child. I pulled out the leftover squares from the summer quilts and I will start there.

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories- Church Camp
The summer between seventh and eighth grade was different than past summers with the grandparents. I was older and there was more freedom in both households. I did get to wash and dry dishes in both places too. At Grandma Esters’s I was too old for Vacation Bible school, but old enough for Summer Church camp. It was held at the Rose of Sharon Church, out in the country, with bean and corn fields on all four sides. The camp lasted a week and was an overnight event. Old Army tents were set up on the church grounds, with the boys tents west of the church, next to the cemetery, and the girls tents, east of the church, next to the parking lot. Grandmother had an old army cot that I slept on in a small tent that I shared with one other girl. Grandmother and I prepared for the event by making pajamas out of cotton duck. Grandmother also make me a corduroy robe to wear over the top. At the camp we had bible classes in the mornings and sang. Each afternoon was a special event. For the afternoon of the first day we all piled into the Church bus and rode to Burlington to the public swimming pool. I was a bit mesmerized by the older kids as they played a wild game where the girls would get onto a boy’s shoulders and the pair would charge another pair. The girls would try to knock one another off into the water. I was also surprised by Kathy Paterson, the minister’s 17 year old daughter, who wore a two piece swimming suit. We did have a good time in the water that day. After dinner we had a little Bible study and sang around the camp fire, mostly Psalms. Then it was time for bed. The bathrooms were in the church and one had to leave the tent to wash up and finish preparing for sleep. I was so very proud of my new self made pajamas, that I went to the bathroom without wearing my robe. On my way back to the tent, I was walking along the side aisle of the chapel to the back door when Kathy, stopped me. She then proceeded to lecture me on how inappropriate it was for me to be out of my tent in only my pajamas. I ended up in tears as I ran back to the tent. My tent mate, also a bit of an out cast, was not very sympathetic either. After I cried myself out, I lay awake a long time thinking about the situation. I realized that I was more covered in my floor length cotton Pajamas then Kathy had been in the pool that afternoon That was really the start of my questioning religious philosophy. We went roller skating one afternoon, and had base ball games too. One night some kids went “Snipe Hunting”. I at least did not fall for that nonsense. It was pleasant for the most part.
Later that summer Aunt Hertha tried to teach Mary Helen, my cousin and me to knit. Mary Helen did get it, but me… Well lets just say I had several more teachers before I really got the hang of it. I babysat for Aunt Marty Ann too. She had two girls. Sharon, who was three and baby Sally. Sharon love to play tag. She often fell down in her hastes .Her cheerful response to that action was “ Oops-see -daisy” as she got up and ran again. It was always fun to play with her.
Another privilege of being older was that I got to go out with my cousin Ronne Lambert . He was a year older. He had a car and one afternoon we went to the county fair. His sister Ann was in 4-H and had cookies and an apron in the show. We rode the Ferris Wheel and the Merry go Round. It was enjoyable. Ronne and I went for one other outing to Columbus Junction at night. We rented a motor cycle and drove around town for about an hour. It was fun as we did go past my old house and the school as part of the trip. When we got back to grandmothers, we sat in the drive talking about our dreams for the future well into the night.

Please stay safe and have a good New Year

Carol

3X3, Childhood Memories, Lap Quilts, Mayan - Lead Dancer, Pixies Group, Scrap Happy Quilts, Sisterhood of the Scissors, Winter Moon

Holiday Greetings

Hello,

In this holiday season one misses  the family more then usual this year. Covid’s forced isolation,  has effected us all in many different ways. I find I value my friends even more now that I can not go see them. The Zoom meetings and email do help, but I miss the human contact. When we are all past this trial and we can hug one another again it will be even more sweet to do so. For now memories of days gone by will have to help us through the days and long winter nights. I enjoyed writing my cards this year and though more about what the recipient would like to know about my life then just doing the usual news letter type of thing. I hope to hear from the friends too. As the days inch longer, I will value the light and warmth they bring with more appreciation.
The Pixies were the only group that meant this week. We all had a good talk and enjoyed the commentary a lot. There was a new assignment from Textile Artist Stitch Club. Mandy Pattallo did a step by step demo on how to do a Christmas Robin. I think my bird got a little fat, but I enjoyed learning her fabric collage technique.
I did get a little gift for myself this year. I purchased a face book “Pastbook” of my images from 2016 to the present. I am quiet delighted by the wide range of images and enjoy reviewing my past work all in one place.

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Report: Scrap Happy – Ethel Scarps This is the second one in this group. I guess they all look a lot a like, but they are all going to different homes so that is OK. I only need to add quilting and do the binding now and this one will be complete.

Lead Dancer – Mayan Series #13 I just stitch steadily away on this piece. I have learned that it works best if I try to do the center areas first and work out from there.

 

 

 

 

Squares a Dancing These blocks are all dismantled now. So I will soon begin to assemble them into a quilt top.

 

 

 

 

 

Lap Quilt This top is all ready to layer and quilt now too. This one has only two fabrics that I did not alter in some way as a part of it. I like how satisfying these little works are.

 

 

 

Winter Moon I am still in a crow mood I guess and this moon rise with trees will be the base I build on. I zig-zagged down the wool yarn branches of the trees on the far left and far right so far.

3 X 3- new I though I would try a third piece in this assignment from the Sisterhood of the Scissors. I  also  wanted and excuse to try the Painted Tyvec leaves that were mentioned in the summer issue of Quilting Arts and this seemed to fill that bill. Painting the Tyvek was fun too.

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories – Changes
I was having growing pains,  and not at all  sure what was appropriate behavior any more. Lee’s mom set up a boy/girl party in the fall. There were about a twenty other kids from seventh grade invited. It was in the afternoon and we listen to records and danced- sort of. I liked the punch and the donuts, but…. It was awkward for me as I became aware of the beginnings of “clicks.” I did not belong to any of them and felt like an outsider to folks I had played with and been friends with for years.     Added to that discomfort   was the face that I did not know how to dance. I stood on the sides most of the time and felt inadequate. Later my friend Lora, who had an older cousin, taught the two of us how to dance so I did not let that problem fester. I did have a Birthday party of my own in the spring. It was for only girls and that was a bit better.  But Martha Annaburg, Lee’s cousin, still played the “click card” by telling everyone what to do, so even that is not one of my favorite memories.
It really was year of not being quite  a full participant in anything. We did go to band class with the high school kids in the high school building. But we were not part of the winter or spring concerts. We were allowed to march with the full band, to swell its numbers, in the parade in the spring. I was so happy to get White Bucks to wear with my first band uniform. It was a big event as about 15 different bands came to town to  all marched in the afternoon parade. In the evening all the bands appeared on the baseball field to play “76 Trombones”- with all the trombones in the front.     And yes, there were 76 trombones performing.  The seventh and eight grade choirs was a bit better. We did get to preform two numbers at each of those music concerts I mentioned. I recall leaning Little Drummer Boy as it was a new Christmas Carol at that time.
At the end of the seventh grade the seventh and eight grade had a big dance called the “Spring Fling.” Again it was the first one the seventh graders were allowed to attend. Grandmother Ester made me a pink Dotted Swiss Dress for that event and I got new white Mary Janes. I also got to wear a very special pink fluffy coat that had belonged to Aunt Shirley. The coat had big cuffed three quarter length sleeves that just wrapped across the front- no buttons. Mom let me wear her long white gloves too so I thought I was hot stuff. The lights in the gym were low and there were lots crape paper streamer decorations. I was quite impressed. There was punch and cookies in one corner were it seemed like the teacher/ chaperones hung out and loud music. I don’t remember doing much dancing except with Lora. I did do one dance with Chris Moore. I was quiet enamored of him by then as I realized I really like boys with brains. Later, near the end of school year he did kiss me in his basement between the sheets that were hanging to dry there. That might have grown to a big part of my life, but   because Dad graduated from the University of Iowa, and Gene and I went off spend our last summer in Iowa.  It was  six weeks with the grandparents while Mom and Dad went to California looking for jobs.    They did not find anything they were happy with so they went and checked out Ball State Teachers College in Muncie Indiana.      That was a fit so they purchased a lot and designed a new house before they came to pick Gene and I up.   Then at the end of summer we packed the house and  moved to begin a new chapter in our lives.

Please stay safe and enjoy the holidays
Carol