More Details from my Laura Heine's Tomato PIncushion quilt design

These are the final views of the pincushion quilt that I will take until the quilt is finished.  The best part about constructing the top of this quilt is that the the only pattern was the pattern for the big pincushion.  The collage elements are left to the imagination of the quilt designer, and this was the fun part.  Choosing fabrics for the backgrounds, and then deciding element placement was the most exciting part.  I was so lucky to find the fabric with the cute little girl - and I'm sorry, but I don't remember who produced this fabric.  Years ago I designed a watercolor quilt, and enjoyed that designing process so much.  There were fabrics in that quilt that disappeared when everything was put together - I even have a block in that quilt that says BEEF, but you don't see it when you look at the overall quilt.  This quilt is the same way.  There are so many elements in this actual quilt, from scriptures to German writing, to gnomes, to birds, to flowers, etc.  They all go together to make a whole impression that is very pleasing to look at.  Now, if I can quilt it without destroying it, I will be very happy.  Time to go to work!

Monday Noon, January 28, 2018

Amazing blue skies, shadow contrasts, and a peak of the mountains this morning.  This is the view from my back window today.  And we are having a heat wave.  Temperature up to 31 degrees F. today!  The last month and a half have been bitter cold.  Makes me very thankful for a warm home.

A Freckle-faced Coleus Plant to Brighten the Day

My husband, Ron, passed away two years ago, four days short of his 84th birthday.  Yesterday, on his birthday, I was so surprised to receive a phone call from an old friend from our Olympia. Washington days, who now lives in St. George, calling to tell me that as long as he is alive, he will call me on Ron's birthday.  Then a visit from a neighbor, just to chat and check up on me.  And the last visitor was my wonderful, kind (young) neighbor, who brought this plant.  She remembered how Ron was always going to the local grocery store, and purchasing plants and flowers to give to friends for one reason or another.  These remembrances made a lovely day - and the sun did shine, also.  Even one kindness from those around us, or voices from our past makes the day brighter.

More of My Tomato Pincushion Quilt

More details from my collage quilt.  Double clicking on the parts will enlarge.  Perhaps I'll move to more collage quilts - they are really fun to do, and there are no points to match!

The Exalted Tomato Pincushion

I am so thankful that there are such creative people in the quilting world.  The designer for this collage quilt is Laua Heine, who live-in Billings, Montana.  Her imaginative designs sets my creative juices flowing.  My quilt is ready to be quilted.  Here are two detail pictures - one the pincushion, and one the bottom right-hand corner.  A lot of the fun was finding fabrics that could become part of the collage.

Winter and Stuff

The winter has been so cold and bitter.  However, differences between Preston and northwestern Wyoming (Penrose), is that the wind doesn't blow so often or so hard.  Since this picture was taken last week, the sidewalk has been shoveled, and the temperature has been above freezing, maybe 4 times?  So the snow is settling, and each storm has only given us 3-5 inches.  Nothing to worry about.  And, yes, the frosty ground and its heaving has put the sundial out of kilter, so it looks a little tipsy.  Thoughts for today, unrelated to the snow, and from various activities of the day.
#1.  I remember when Penney's had rows of panty hose for sale.  Now, I buy them from the grocery store.  (Is panty hose singular or plural?)  And, there doesn't seem to be any front or back???  And when one leg is in, the second one seems to be twisted....  I about have my compression hose put on easier than panty hose.  Go figure.
#2.  Why are there so few handicapped parking places - and why do people park in the diagonally striped line places, so that others can't unload wheelchair bound persons.  I never used to be aware of this until I became one.
#3.  Bandaids have become so expensive!  Dishwasher soapy water makes for small breaks in the skin on my fingers.  Neosporin and an overnight band-aid cover helps heal.  But there are so many varieties of band aids, and each little box is expensive.  I may still find one that will stay one for a while?  And, no, I don't put lotion on underneath them - just a dab of Neosporin on the spot.  And, yes, I have tried the stuff that seals the cut.  Oh, we'll....