Set Frunze

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Set Wired red

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Set Autumn swirl

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How Nice is this Giveaway Opportunity?

5 Kids, My Husband and Me: I want to have a Giveaway!! See inside!

Now, I think this is a very sweet and wonderful idea. Angie, over at 5 Kids, My Husband and Me, won a GO! Accuquilt cutter and since she can't give another away, she is very generously offering to have you send fabric to her and she will cut it for you. Now how nice is that? Head on over there and see for yourself for an opportunity.

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FeistyEily: Too Many Quilts SERIOUSLY???

FeistyEily: Too Many Quilts .

This very kind lady, Feisty Eily, is hosting a giveaway ... get this ... because the charity she was donating quilts to said they had too many baby quilts .... WHAT?!?!?!?! Please head on over to Miss Eily's and check out her blog, you will be very glad you did :)

Quiltastic wishes to you!

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A little of this and that

Not a whole heckuv'alot has been happening in my sewing room this past week. Well, not much to report anyway. This past weekend, I got to take Bean and Abster to their first "princess" costume birthday party:

Such a sweet bunch of girls! Yes, that is Beanie in the blue and white. No, she is not standing on anything and no, no one else but the four in front are kneeling.  Yes, she has only just turned 6.  Gotta love genitics :-)  The Abster is the one in pink peeking between the girls in the front row.  I tell you, the mother that put together this party truly had her ducks in a row and what fun the girls had!  I can only hope to do nearly half as well when it comes time for our girls to party :o)

Okay, on to the sewing bits:

This and That's Whimsy Wallet pattern by Sherri Falls

I used Whimsical's Pumpkin & Spice and Heart & Soul fabric lines for Red Rooster.

I made this wallet in just one evening as a birthday present for my mom.  The pattern calls for a zipper but my mom wanted a spot for her checkbook so I modified the pattern, just a smidge.

I did get the quilt finished which I had on the longarm last week.  I will get the binding on it and then take some real pictures of it.  Can't wait!  :-)  Think this one's a keeper! ;-)

Secret Santa swap project is underway, graciously hosted by Joan over at Ouvrages Dune Acadienne.  I've been investigating my swap partner's blog for hints on which direction I should take my project ... so far not much, so will probably have to just go with my gut and hope she loves fun and happy.  I'm one of those that loves a little bit of everything.  I've always loved the fun and whimsical, but adore the sweet and precious and the traditional and country styles. I have everything in my stash from pastels, batiks, brights, and country, so I can only suggest to whoever has me, that go with your heart, as I'm super easy to please!  I'm just so happy to be a part of this wonderful group!

So ... I'll check back out of here, keep trying to keep up with some of the blog reading and commenting, and, concentrate on some of the Christmas projects that should be coming along.

 Quiltastic day to ya!

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Guest Blogger, Nita Beshear

Today, I’m having my first ever guest blogger. I am pleased to introduce Ms. Nita Beshear. Nita is a quilter and an author from southeast Oklahoma and has had a life-long love of quilts. She is currently on a book tour and has kindly requested that I host her Montana junket.  After reading her book, DEVOTED TO QUILTING, an inspirational collection of quilt stories, I happily complied. In her book, Nita shares her belief that God uses the making of quilts to teach one, or more, of his lessons and other times, it's the quilt, itself, that is the teacher. So, without further adieu ...

Saving the Memories

Many of us have quilts from our childhood, quilts that we love and cherish. What happens when the quilts of our youth (or our children’s’) begin to show their years? Sometimes a “facelift” (repairing the quilt) is not an option? How do we save the memories held within the threads of our favorite quilts?

When there isn’t much left of the quilt we love and loved, and are hesitant to throw it out. There are a couple of other options.

I enjoy visiting with people about the quilts in their lives and the stories behind them. They often share how they have, or are planning to preserve the love.

One woman cut the quilt apart and made pillows for her children. She got the idea seeing quilt stuffed animals. She didn’t have enough good parts of the quilt to make enough stuffed animals, so she made pillows. Pillows of love her children can still clutch when they are sad or ill and need the comfort the quilt offered in the past.

Another woman was planning to cut her quilt and place the good sections in a shadow box. She planned to include pictures of her children using the quilt. Her plan was to make a shadow box for each child and include a picture of that child using the quilt, as well as photos with all the children using the quilt.

While, to many, it may seem sacrilegious to cut a quilt apart, to others it’s the only way to salvage a part of their past. They’ve also found a way of “cutting the baby” in half and sharing it will their children or siblings.

Sharing the love is one of the functions of quilts, after all, the original quilt was made to share and show love.

Cutting and stitching the quilt into other items is also another way of following in our grandmothers’ footsteps. They didn’t throw something usable away, they found a way to recycle and reuse it.

Still, no matter how much sense it might make, or how practical it may seem, some simply can’t take scissors to a quilt. There is another option I’ve heard recently, sandwiching the quilt.

One woman explained that she found fabrics in the same colors as the original quilt, sometimes not an exact match, but close. Then, using the same pattern, she stitched another quilt top, one that matched the first one. Next, she used the well-loved quilt as the inner layer. She now has her grandmother’s quilt safely stored away, yet continuing to be used and loved, sandwiched inside another quilt.

When someone mentioned she can no longer see her grandmother’s quilt the woman replied, she wouldn’t have been able to see the quilt anyway, it was practically in shreds. She can now continue to use, and be comforted, by her grandmother’s quilt of love without worry.

How do you salvage the “unsalvageable”? What is the story of your favorite quilt? Please share them with Nita as she is in the works on a second book and would love to include your story.  Also, be sure to visit the other blogs she will be visiting this week, as well as Nita’s blog, http://www.devotedtoquilting.wordpress.com/. Here is the blog list:


S.E.W.Butterfly http://sewbutterfly.blogspot.com/

Susan’s Quilts - http://susansquilts.blogspot.com/

Dilly Dally Days- http://dilly-dallydays.blogspot.com/

Tall House Quilts - http://tallhousequilts.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading what my new friend, Nita! And thank you for letting me bring this change of pace to my blog.

As always, quiltastic day to you!

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