It’s been very windy here in Mid-Michigan lately. Howling winds, dark nights… reminds me of my favorite poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called
Monthly Archives: May 2008
Soldiers, Sailors and a Rhodi


Memorial Day Sewing




Chinese Coins, 1986
What I Did On My Day Off
I took yesterday off from work, thus extending my long weekend. It was a sewing day, and I had a blast. I started turning this

As you can see, still in progress.
I got up early this morning to do more work before I go get my haircut at 9:00. Stormie decided to watch me drink my coffee from her perch on the chair (on a string-pieced quilt from the 80’s).
Hope you have a great day!
Brookside Creations: A New Venture
I’ve wanted my own quilting business for a very long time. That time is now. I’m starting small and will be growing bit by bit. I’m happy to announce that Brookside Creations was launched earlier this month. While I will be adding supplies for quilters and embroiderers gradually, I will also be creating and selling quilts. I’ve been impressed with the fiber art an quilts at The Artful Home, and am working toward quilts of this nature.
I Need a Sewing Machine!
Trilliums and House Tour, Continued
I hope you had a great weekend! I spent some time with my father on Saturday morning planting flowers on my grandparent’s graves. It is such a pretty cemetary in Davison, Michigan. Huge pine trees line the narrow dirt paths (some so narrow I didn’t think I’d be able to get my car through), and the cemetary is very, very old. My father’s cousin Burton was in the war with him. Unfortunately, Burton didn’t come back. His aircraft went down in the ocean. His grave and those of my grandparents and many other relatives are all resting near each other. Rest in peace, Cousin Burton!
Does it seem strange to post photos of a grave on a blog? I don’t think so! I rather enjoy walking through cemetaries, especially old ones. These are people from all walks of life, and they had families and people who loved them. While dad planted flowers Saturday, I picked up sticks and wiped off headstones that appeared to never be visited. Years of dirt and pine needles covered many of them. It’s a peaceful time to reflect and say a quiet prayer for those who went before me. Tombstones also have some interesting artwork that can be an inspiration for quilting!
I promised the rest of my house tour. Today: the dining room! One wall of our house is painted terracotta orange. Just the south wall! Hubby Dean made the table. The photos should enlarge if you click on them. See the grill getting heated up for dinner? It should be on the table in 30 minutes, so hurry!
You can see into the living room from the kitchen and dining area. Cat toys all over the place… Stormie has been busy!
One last picture… a white and purple terillium in my dad’s back yard. I didn’t think they came in purple!!! How pretty! They are a protected plant in Michigan.
Patriot’s Lantern
Last night I paper pieced block C-10 Patriot’s Lantern for my Dear Jane quilt. Seems fitting, as Memorial Day is coming next week. Looks kind of squirrely here, but in person everything lines up just fine. I hate my scanner. Why can’t it scan a square so it LOOKS like a square? Geesh!
I’m off to work this morning, then tomorrow hoping for sunshine so Dad and I can go plant flowers on my grandparent’s graves. It’s too far for him to go alone, and it will be my responsibility far too soon, I’m afraid.
Redwork
Thanks to my Blogland and Dear Jane friends for sharing their redwork patterns that include owls. I’ve loved owls since I was a little girl and heard them at camp. From way up in the trees, they called to me, and I would search and search for their little faces. Now, as Dean and I drive the roads of Michigan, I watch the treetops for owls. I get SO excited when I spot one! This is my first owl block; I added the words at the bottom. Curious little guys, aren’t they?