Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Sweet Quilt Show from Door County


There was a cute log cabin gift shop that we saw on a brochure, so my husband kindly drove me to it when we were vacationing in Door County.  All the Amish quilts were on the bed in the shop and I was able to put a pair of white gloves on to turn the quilts back on the bed!  Several other ladies were standing by to help out too!


I liked this one with the French Blues and Yellows.  It was set together like a trip around the world and it looked fabulous on the bed.


This one was in my single favorite color and it had a large price tag to go with it.  The hand quilting was beautifully stitched.


I like the traditional colors of this Dresden Plate quilt. 


This star was very dramatic and would look equally great in either a traditional or a modern home.  The neutrals have enough contrast against the plain muslin.



This cute cottage block and log cabin border was hung above the bed display and even though it was small, it was one of my favorites at the shop.

Checking Out the Renaissance Fair


I'm taking good notes about the Rennaissance Fair this year.  We will hold a simple one this year at school in late January.  Our class needs to work on designing a shield with some symbols that represent the fifth graders in my homeroom.  We want it to have a family crest shape.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Binding Tip

This morning I was sewing a binding on the edge of my quilt.  I am anxious to get it done and start using this beauty as the weather has turned a bit chilly.  My binding was neatly rolled, but it dangled onto the floor and was developing lots of twists from flopping around as I sewed.  I had to stop after turning the first corner and get to the Saturday meeting.  So I left the quilt under my machine.

At today's meeting, it was suggested that when you are sewing the double fold binding to the front of the quilt you could roll it and place it on an accessory spool pin and let it slowly unwind as you sew it to the quilt edge. 


The binding naturally unrolls as you sew it!  A magical tip worth knowing.

I got home and put it right into place and I love this tip!!!  Now I'm wondering how come I couldn't have learned of this sooner!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Beauty of My Stargazer Lily


This is one plant of several in my garden that did well this summer.  This lily is a Stargazer in red and white and it grows from a bulb I planted 6 or 7 years ago.  I have three areas where these bulbs grow.  I try to keep the area by the dirt shaded, but the flower rises up above the other shrubs and plants, because the blossom likes the sun. 

The stargazer is a favorite of mine because it was in my wedding bouquet.


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hanging Basket


Lately, my hanging baskets have been filling in very nicely.  That purple and leaf plant has really taken off and it has been growing like crazy.  I am have clipped off some starters and plan to grow it over the winter so that I can use it in baskets again next season.


The purple plant seems to look equally nice with both pink and red flowers and so I think it is worth trying to overwinter a few pieces of it.  In addition, it seems to love the high humidity, because that's when it started growing like crazy!