a trip to New York

Eve and I were to New York last week to visit Paul, go to the opera, the Matisse exhibit, and, of course, make a stop at Mood. Our hotel was in midtown so we made it to Mood twice! Swatch the dog was there and approved of my purchases. Alas, no Tim Gunn.

Purchased were pink shirting, red and white windowpane, red plaid, pistachio with brown dots, and two paisley lawns.
I am following along on Lori's quilt-a-long at Humble Quilts using 1 1/2 inch squares from my bin. I cut up some of the Mood fabrics so they can be sprinkled into the little quilt.

But the favorite part of our trip was attending Evensong services at St Thomas. I got there early to watch the choir boys rehearse before worship. What a lovely, lovely service. I left into the bustle of 5th Avenue in a state of deep peace.
Should I ever move to New York I might just have to become an Episcopalian!

At The Death of Klinghoffer

At Pippin

At Laduree for tea

They smiled in the next photograph, but smiled ironically, so I went with this one.

visiting my quilts

When I visit my sisters I also get to visit my quilts.

harvest fest

I was able to attend my sister's church's harvest fest. Each year she organizes a theme display that is open to the community. Past themes have included wedding dresses, quilts, baptism gowns, military uniforms, and dolls. This year, the theme was St Nicolaas.
A couple of my quilts were included in the display.
The tree quilt was started about 20 years ago from a Trudie Hughes book. I had it quilted this year, and worked on the binding this weekend. (It is not completely bound yet, but pinned for the display...)

My father brought the klompen home from the Netherlands in 1952 from his army days stationed in Germany. They are staged to look like they come from a Jan Steen house.
To be told you have a Jan Steen house is code that you are a bad housekeeper, like houses depicted in Jan Steen's paintings.
My sisters and I all have Jan Steen houses.

The carrots are for Sint Nicolaas' horse.

The three Santas have Janna's three sons' names quilted into the beards. I don't remember who designed that pattern. Made about 15 years ago.

the corn is out

The 2014 corn harvest is complete. Our family always celebrates this with a meal of oyster stew.

a 17 year old's shrine to his grandfathers

rick rack

Made with rectangles cut 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches.
As I took pictures I saw two blocks are flipped and need to be picked out and re-oriented (they aren't seen in the pictures).
Faculty week begins so my summer of sewing comes to a halt.
I do have LOTS of binding ahead and will have plenty to show over the next few months.

Block Party 2014

A lovely day where we celebrate our neighbors.
Our block of LeClaire has one of the longest running block parties in Chicago--this was our 57th.

broccoli and pasta

This is a dish of Andy's mother. He tried to describe it for many years but I could never get it right. My last visit with her I asked her to make it as I watched.

I made this in a large sauce pan on the stove.
You don't drain the pasta--the water is totally absorbed.

Saute in olive oil:
One onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced or a teaspoon of garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 pound (1/2 box) acini di pepe #20
Add to pan and brown slightly.

Add 1 quart water and bring to boil

Add one head of broccoli chopped pretty small, stems and head both
Don't stir yet--put lid on and let pasta cook while steaming the broccoli

After about 5 minutes stir, you may need to add more water to prevent scorching

Put lid on again--the broccoli needs to get pretty soft but not soggy
Cook until done.
Stir often, add water if needed.

Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan  cheese--use shaved if you can get it
Salt and pepper as needed

Lady Godiva

Working on the binding of Eve's graduation quilt (Chinese Coins).
For my whole childhood this Lady Godiva fabric was in my mother's stash. We were so fascinated by this lovely woman and the clothes worn by the court. Mom would always laugh when we showed it to her.

The selvage of the fabric said "Banned in Boston".
I thought it was time to use this piece and combined it with other storybook type light fabrics for the back. Eve's graduating from Wellesley just outside Boston sealed the deal.

From my mom:
I remember getting that piece when I saw it on a 'remnant pile' at a store. It may have been Penney's in Sioux Falls. I am sure it is more than 50 years old. I always loved the feel of the softness of the fabric, it was like a batiste. Often thought of making a pillow case of it, but never did."

visiting a quilt

A group of friends gathered this week at one's Lake Michigan house. An added delight was getting to visit one of my quilts.

Made in 2005 from a design by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville, for a fundraiser to help those affected by Katrina; Kathy and her husband got the quilt. 

It was nice to see it again.

size determined by running out of fabric

I like how this turned out and wanted to make it bigger, maybe even twice as big, but I ran out of the blue/green solid. And, contrary to my previous post, it is not Kona Celadon.
Maybe Moda Bella Caribbean?
Well, I'm out and decided to finish it up at this size.
I think I need to buy a bolt of a solid fabric I love and make a bigger one.

The 2 inch scrap box looks like it can yield at least 10 more quilts.

 My favorite piece--the 1 is One duckling swimming in a dish from the Tasha Tudor book.

a shoebox full of two inch squares

I am working with two inch cut squares since the box is full.
The solid is Kona Celadon.

While I am sewing these, I am also cutting down scraps, so the box seems to be getting fuller...

I am putting these together in rows of 6 patches, making 36 patch blocks that finish 9 inches.

I have about 20 blocks completed and will continue until I run out of the celadon.

Kathie over at Inspired by Antique Quilts is making a postage stamp quilt from 1 1/2 inch cut squares and gave me the inspiration to start this.

Father's Day

My dad, Leroy and me and his Davis grandchildren, Paul, Eve, and Seth.
1998

binding time--Goodnight, Irene

The quilt is back from the longarmer, and machine work of the binding is done.
Made following the sew-a-long of Terry's Treasures.

Memorial Day 1960

My sister Janna, our neighbor Shirley, and me at the cemetery on Memorial Day 1960.
Mom made Janna and my dresses, white with red and blue pin dots. I used some scraps of the pin dot in quilts I made for my sisters last year.

love this aqua

Kona Cotton Caribbean.
Solid cut 3 1/2 inches. Scraps cut 2 inches.
It is amazing how much sewing I get done when the semester ends!

pillows

There were a few blocks left over in making my Chinese Coins quilt. Sewed them up into a couple of pillows.
And, a call came today from my longarm quilter that I can pick up the quilt! Some binding in my future.

strips

At a loss lately on what to do, so I took a box of short and long lengths in the purple range, plus a few golds and and random others , and started sewing.
I like where this is headed.

Happy Birthday, Janna!

Happy birthday to my sister Janna. I get my sense of style from her.

Henny and her daughters

Happy Mother's Day!

doll quilt exchange

Lori at Humble Quilts organized a Doll Quilt exchange and I am the fortunate recipient of Sandy Helin's adorable piece. Sandy blogs at My Material Creations.
The blocks finish 4 inches, and the quilt measures 18 1/2 by 13 inches.
She chose fabrics with care, hand quilted it. and used a butted binding that she has a tutorial for on her blog. I am going to have to try that soon. And, I love the backing fabric!

Thank you, Sandy, for this wonderful quilt, and Lori, for making it happen.

new pattern

I'm writing up directions to make a pattern I call "Party Line". Watch for it to be posted here soon.
This time of year I love to work with the '30s reproductions and their Easter Egg colors.

Dykstras, about 1953

Cousin Harlan, Grandma Dykstra, Aunt Marlene, Aunt Tracy, Cousin Lorna, Aunt Anna Mae

doll quilt exchange

Lori over at Humble Quilts has organized a doll quilt exchange. I finished up one of the little quilts I made with Temecula Quilt Company's "12 Days of Christmas" sew-a-long with both machine and hand quilting on it.
For the back I used a piece of wonderful Jeff Gutcheon fabric I have hoarded for 30 years.
On its way tomorrow to its new owner!
Thanks, Lori, for this fun exchange.