A stocking for my grandson Wyatt

Jamie asked me to make a stocking for Wyatt's first Christmas and here it is. I pieced and quilted the front. Then quilted the back and band. I cheated on the name - I pre- bought the letters and ironed them on. I think I will stitch them as well.

Merry Christmas little Wyatt, the crawler!

The Christmas Cross Stitch quilt comes home from the Lone Star State for a spa treatment

Back in the 80's, when my girls were young and I was too, I started a Christmas Cross stitch quilt. It was to have 100 squares in the center, set in an Attic Window block and cross stitch borders. 18 years later, with the help of the daughter who was 3 when I started it, the quilt was finally finished. Last year, it started "traveling" and spent a Christmas away at Becky's house in Plano, Texas. It is back home this year for a good gentle cleaning. Next year, Jamie's house if she wants it.

Here are some more pictures:

Each of the girls got a block, our dog and cat got one. There is one of our house with the address on it. And of course, the story is on the back. Always put the story with the quilt so folks know it long after you are gone.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A quilt piecing weekend

It is Sunday night, and I am wrapping up a great quilt piecing weekend, frustrating at some times, but productive. I got the 2nd and 3rd diagonals put on the quilt and that allowed me to put the Ocean Waves on the left side. I made a measurement error on the second diagonal - the finished block should have been 8 squares by 8 squares and I did 6 x 6 - so that made the third diagonal, the checkerboard necessary.

Interesting story about the checkerboard. I have always said that you have to listen to the quilt and it will tell you what to do. Sometimes, though, it's timing is off. I had discovered the mistake in the measurement and determined that I would fix it with the checkboard on Saturday so by bedtime that night, I had made the checkerboard strip in turquoise and coral. Had it all ready to put on the quilt first thing Sunday morning.

In the shower on Sunday morning, however, I heard this voice in my head say, "the Checkerboard needs to be dark brown and ivory." I disregarded it and it said again, "the checkerboard NEEDS TO BE dark brown and ivory!" I replied; "oh come on, I already made the checkerboard last night and it is not dark brown and ivory." "MAKE THE CHECKERBOARD DARK BROWN AND IVORY!"

You can see what color it is....

Next I do the block work that surrounds the California constellation and finalize the border work. Need Jamie to measure their bed so that it is the right size.

The year was 1982. The quilt was for my newborn daughter, Becky. The kitchen was harvest gold. It was where I quilted. I had dark hair and I was skinny.

Now it is almost 2012. The baby Becky has just turned 30, I don't live in this house, this town, even this state anymore. My kitchen is a galley and is not one of the many places all over the house where I quilt. My hair is snow white and I am Ruebenesque, to be kind about it.

How life changes. Still quilting after all these years.