Finishing Samantha's Quilt

Sami's quilt came back from Urbandale, Iowa and I am on the down side of having her quilt finished. I recently had knee replacement and tend to move a little slow these days. I placed the binding on, and have been hand stitching the back. Every time I put the quilt down, look who takes advantage and lays down on it! What is up with cats and dogs feeling the need to cuddle up on a brand new quilt?

I am currently working on a quilt for my niece Samantha. She came from Phoenix for a visit and is coming back to live with us at the end of September.

The quilt is coming

along quite nicely. I am using Basic Grey fabric that Sam picked out herself. I LOVE the fabric! She chose yellow as the main colors. I have a bad habit of buying fabric and not knowing what quilt I am making. I have had to order more fabric from

Hancock of Paducah.

I decided to use the Take 5 pattern I purchased at a quilt store in Valley Junction - Iowa.

So glad they were carrying the line I was using!

The top is done - the yellow did not show very well in the picture - but it is in there. The back is a little more challenging. I am short 23" of fabric - so I get to use my creative touch for the back. Now that it is done - off to Michelle Pettorini in Urbandale for the quilting!

I haven't posted for a very long time. Bill and I have started a new adventure in Lincoln, NE. where I have transferred to St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center as the Director of Food & Nutrition. It has been tough moving from Des Moines, the place we have called home for the past 35 years.

We placed our home on the market with Iowa Realty and our friends, the team of Dave and Jane Crawford (son and mother). Our realtors provided us with a "stager." After doing EVERYTHING the stager suggested, on the market our house went. 5 days later - BAM it was sold.

Selling a home in 5 days, in this economy, was a God send - but it sent us into a whirlwind trying to find a home in Lincoln in 5 short weeks. We decided to downsize bought a great town home on the North East side of Lincoln. Close to work - which is wonderful and closer to Omaha where our youngest grandchildren live.

Yes, since we have been here, we have added to our family - little Kali was born in June and is just a doll. We love living close to two of our grandkids. Wish the other two were close :-(

Scary Stuff!

Ahhhh Labor Day Weekend. Long weekend for most of us, Bill (my husband) wanted to close the pool down. "NOOOOOO," that means it really is close to my Nemesis - winter. However even closer to my favorite time of year - fall. Although originally from Iowa, our family moved to Arizona when I was three. I moved back to Iowa in 1976. After growing up seeing nothing but 865 shades of brown, I and am amazed every year in October, when the trees start to turn. With all of the rain and rain and rain we have had this year - the colors should be vibrant. I really don't want summer to end, yet.
To get ready for the Fall, I found these wonderful Trick or Treat bags to make. I made Mr Frankenstein for my sweet little grandson, Brody and then made one of each for my BF Mary's grand kids. The pattern is in October's issue of Quilters World.

I love to quilt! Below are a few of the quilts I have made in the last year

For my friend LaRae - this was a quilt I saw a picture of on the internet. I loved it so much I knew I had to make it. I put the design on Excel and my sister Kim helped me in putting it together. The quilter, Michelle Pettorini did a wonderful job using an original design in the large white swaures. Her quilting made the quilt very special!!!

This quilt is my first quilt. It was for my friend Shari. Shari bought a couple of hundred raffle tickets for a quilt. It was raffled during Relay for Life - made in honor of one of our co-workers, John. When she won the quilt - she gave the quilt to John's family. I knew Shari would love these colors!

I made the same quilt for my best friend Mary - Mary loves blue and white -so why did I choose purple and green? Hmmmmm - because I LOVED IT! There is an error in this quilt. My sister Kim told me that it makes it unique - and the only one that has perfection is GOD!
~ Mary still hasn't found it~
This quilt was for my son's fiance, Kristy - who loved the colors!

And this one for my dear sister Rene'

Mt grandaughter wanted a new quilt for her new room in North Carolina. Black and White for her black, white and hot pink bedroom. This one is a disappearing 9 patch.

(My quilter Michelle Pettorini from Urbandale, IA, quilted all of the above quilts for me)

Bigger than Life

My Uncle Donald died on July 28, 2010. He was 60 years old. Too young to have been taken from us, however he filled my life with such love and happiness.

Donald's family was his pride and joy. He left behind his wife of 39 years, Marie, his 8 children and 17 grand children. At his service his children each spoke about their dad. I sat in the pew and wrote down the words as they spoke them with tears of sadness for our loss and joy for being part of his life.

"Integrity, love, devotion, strength, courage, faith, with great compassion for others."

These were the words that described my Uncle Donald. They talked about his boisterous laugh and how he never met a stranger. These are the things, I too, remember about this man that we all loved.

"A friend to all, served his country and fellowman, a true family man, a great teacher, big storyteller, Heart of Gold! He was Truly Bigger Than Life!"

Feeding a baby

"Hey YOU! GG - I am really hungry! This scowl on my face isn't me poopin'"

"I'm so hungry - I think I will eat my fingers.......

or my bib!"

"Finally!"

" Ahhhhh mmmmmmmmmmmmmm "

He really was quite sweet through the entire process. He really does say "ahh mmmmmm" when the spoon goes in. He is starting to mimmick. :-)