Zu-fabric

Did you know that Zulily sells quilting fabric? I didn’t. An ad just popped up on my Facebook feed. They have some cute stuff that I haven’t seen in other places. I'm trying to resist ordering that darling owl fabric above. I have more fabric now than I could live long enough to use. But wouldn’t that group make cute pillowcases? I’ve ordered clothes from Zulily and have been happy with the the quality and service.

Here’s the link: https://www.zulily.com/quilting%20fabric

I’m still working on the Starry Night puzzle and having a little more success. I found, with help from sister Ramey, that I had some pieces in the wrong spots. After I got that straightened out, things got a little easier. I’ve never had a puzzle where a piece might fit exactly in more than one place, but this one has many of them. And since there isn’t much variation in colors, things get very confusing. But I have new resolve now and I’m determined to finish the thing. That’s today. Tomorrow could be a different story.

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/28/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Cute fabrics and I can see the temptation! Are you sure it's worth resisting? :)

Well done on the Starry Night puzzle but I do think it's no far that they made some puzzle pieces the same shapes. That's just rotten of them.

We're looking at a hot/humid 95*F day and that no fun to anticipate.

Hugs!
-----

---

A Pinch of Progress

No, I haven’t given up on the puzzle yet. Heck, I put in three pieces today. At this rate, I’ll have it done in a little less than a year. However, it will have to be moved from the dining table come Thanksgiving. That’s where the family always dines on Turkey Day.

Reading some of the reviews on Amazon for this puzzle made me feel a little better about having such a hard time with it. I’m not the only one apparently. Here’s a sample review. "I would estimate a total of 40-50 hours was put into this puzzle by my mom, my brother, and myself over the course of 2 weeks. We got nowhere even remotely close to finishing it. This puzzle was impossible for us. We couldn't even get all the edge-pieces connected. The main issue is that all the pieces have roughly the same shape, so it's exceedingly difficult to tell whether two pieces match or not. You also don't really get that "click" that you get from some other puzzles when two pieces match. Your only hope is to try to make sure the colors line up just right, and with a pattern as wavy and undefined as this, well.... good luck.” Another guy said he started it three years ago and still hasn’t finished. I wonder if Thanksgiving dinner can be moved to the kitchen. I have two card tables I could set up with the small kitchen table.

No sewing today. Every now and then, I have to give up and do some house work. My bathroom was the beneficiary of my labors today. And, as usual when I do heavy housecleaning, my back is suffering. I know I should seriously look for a new housekeeper, but I just can’t stand to think about getting used to another person cleaning my house. I keep hoping Anna will be back one of these day. SO far, Jesse and I have been able to keep the pet hair harvested and and mold from growing on anything. Alfred, the Rooma, has been huge help, especially with the pet hair. 

Jesse’s friend is on his way to help Jesse install my new microwave over the stove. My other one finally bit the dust. It was only 25 years old. It’s going to take a short course to teach me to work this new one. It’s complicated. I guess I could do as Vann always said and, “Read the book."

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/25/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Well done in persevering with the puzzle. You know you're not along in the frustration and you know the puzzle makers didn't have to cut the pieces in such similar shapes. No fair!

Good luck in finding another housekeeper. Perhaps one of your friends employees someone who could work you into their schedule?

Sewing is more fun than cleaning the loo, but needs must, and fabric will wait quietly until you return. Hope you back and the rest of you feels lots better quickly.

Hugs!
-----

---

I Spy By Starlight

“I Spy By Starlight"

That’s the name I’ve given to this charity cuddle quilt that I finished today. If you’d like a copy of this pattern, it can be had for free on Pat Sloan’s blog or website. Go here: https://blog.patsloan.com, click on the “free patterns” button, and scroll down to “Oh My Stars.” It's very easy and fairly quick to make. And fun as all getout.

My colorful dotted border is barely visible in the photo. But after it’s quilted and I add a red binding, it will pop out more.

I spy with my little eye a big piece of chocolate cake.

I made this one using the “I Spy” method in which every piece has the image of something such as an animal, plant, toy, automobile, person, etc. The child who owns the quilt can then play a game of I Spy with his mom, friend, or sibling.

Of course, you could use a more structured colorway instead of going scrappy. I believe the one Pat is holding on her blog is all blues. I’m planning to make a pink one later on. I have a ton of pink fabrics.

The other thing I stitched today was another of my Crown of Thorns blocks. That makes three with many more to go.

 

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/23/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Your "I Spy by Starlight" quilt is simply adorable and your fabric choices are perfect! What fun this will be for some lucky child to enjoy! Thanks for the link to the pattern, too.

Hope you're over your Sterry Night trauma. ;)

Hugs!
-----

---

Starry Stupid Night

My niece Buffy gave this puzzle to my sister Ramey (her mom) for Christmas. Ramey got frustrated with it after several months and brought it to me as she knows me to be an experienced and top-notched puzzle putter-togetherer. I’ve never met a jigsaw puzzle I couldn’t conquer--even the hardest ones. Two-thousand piecers go down like a sack of rocks in my presence. But folks, I have met my match.

Ramey very much wants to show Buffy the gift all put together, I suppose to show her appreciation for Buff’s, er, thoughtfulness. I really wanted to help--plus I love a jigsaw puzzle and thought nothing of accepting the challenge. But the thing has been on my dining table for a week and a half, and this is all I’ve managed. And I’m exasperated with it to the point of hair-pulling, teeth-gnashing, and cussing. I never want to see an image of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” nor hear his name again--or at least until I get over the trauma of combat with this puzzle.

For one thing, I know for a fact that there are pieces missing. I have been through the box, one piece at a time, three times now. I’m still missing about ten or twelve frame pieces. And I’ve counted, and I know there’s not nearly enough brown to complete that hideous tree. Ramey swears that she didn’t lose any and if they’re missing, they were never in the box to begin with. I don’t know. I don’t know, people. I just want this thing out of my house.

I think I’m going to have to give up. I also think that Ramey should take this puzzle, dig a deep hole, bury it, and recite some prayers of exorcism over the grave. This thing is evil.

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/21/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Oh, my goodness! Methinks I've never attempted a 2000 piece puzzle and especially one as intricate as Starry Night. As annoying as this puzzle has been for both you and Ramey, it does seem reasonable to banish it somewhere far from sight where others cannot happen upon it and be sucked into it's web of frustration.

Fret not, you and Ramey have the power!

Wishing you a Happy Summer Solstice with hugs!

---

On 06/21/2019, Ramey Channell said ...

PTPSD - Post traumatic puzzle stress disorder! So sorry!
-----

---

More Quiltfest

It was good to see my old friend and coworker at Quiltfest. Not only were we guild sisters, we also worked together at Oxmoor House. Technically, I was Rhonda’s “boss.” But in truth, we were just good friends. As Rhonda is not longer involved in the guild, we had not seen each other in several years before Saturday. Rhonda cried, but I couldn’t stop smiling.

Four guild past presidents meet up at Quiltfest.

Car Cozy made by members of Birmingham Quilters Guild

A good friend and coworker of mine and Vann’s passed away yesterday. John was an editor at Progressive Farmer duribg the time I was there. I have tried to talk myself into attending his funeral mass on Saturday. I know Vann would want me to. But that would mean a 4 1/2-hour trip to Tifton, Georgia. Several family and friends have offered to go with me and do the driving. But driving or riding, I know it would be torture. Not much difference. I even checked into flying, and without going into the takeoffs, landings, layovers, and car rental details, I’ll just say it’s complicated. Waking up this morning with a sinus headache that reaches into my neck, as well as the usual pain and fatigue, I made the decision to not go. I will make a donation to his church and send cards to his children. That will have to do. I think he would understand.

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/20/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

How marvelous to meet up with good friends at the best place on earth: Quiltfest! Love the guild tee shirts and that quilt block covered car! I am still past delighted that you summoned up the energy to attend. Yep!

Your dear friend, John, and his family will certainly understand why you're not at the funeral mass on Saturday. Your thought of making a donation to his church and sending cards will suffice and will say what your want to say to those who re left behind. Fret not.

Big hugs!

---

On 06/21/2019, Judy Cloe said ...

I heard from Gwen that Rhonda was there but somehow I missed seeing her. Glad YOU got to see her. Great photo of the four of you.
-----

---

This One

“Queens Through the Ages” 
by Edna B. Turner
Quilted by Lena Colley

This quilt touched me, and I kept going back to it and studying it. The top three fourths of the quilt depicts various African queens, such as Queen Nandi of Zululand in the photo above, and gives brief bio information.

But it’s the bottom fourth of the quilt that really tugged my heart and my tear ducts.

On September 15, 1963, four little girls were in their Sunday school class at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. None in the class nor in the church were aware that evil men had placed a bomb at the church for no other reason than that they hated the people within because of their skin color. The bomb exploded, killing Addie May Collins (14), Carol Denise McNair (11), Cynthia Wesley (14),  and Carole Rosamond Robertson (14). The four blocks at the bottom of this quilt honor these children and lift them up as queens. 

Here is an excerpt from the Atlanta Constitution, describing the aftermath of that tragedy, reprinted below"

“A Negro mother wept in the street Sunday morning in front of a Baptist church in Birmingham. In her hand she held a shoe, one shoe, from the foot of her dead child. We hold that shoe with her."

Above photos by Judy Cloe

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/19/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

What a touching and lovely memorial to the Queens of history and to the four young girls from the 16th Street Baptist Church. I was 12 years old when that tragic bombing happened and I remember it well.

Hugs, my friend.

---

On 06/20/2019, Judy Cloe said ...

Thanks for sharing this on your blog. This quilt touched me as well. Edna Turner who made this quilt won the Viewer's Choice award two years ago. I didn't see that quilt in person because I was away at the time of the show. I think it was her family tree in folk art style.
I love that African Queen pattern and intend to make a quilt using it.

---

On 06/24/2019, Pat said ...

A beautiful memorial. Thanks for sharing. Lots of love and caring went into this.
-----

---

My Show Quilts

All of the following quilts have appeared here in various degrees of completion over the past two years. This is how they all appeared this past weekend at Birmingham Quilters Guild’s Quiltfest 2019.

“Star-Spangled Summer"

“Witch Hunt"

"The Bow-Wow Bunch"

 

“Heartwarming"

“Gypsy"

“Happy Holiday"

“October Song,” my contribution to the 2019 mini quilt
silent auction to benefit Meals on Wheels

So now I have two years to get another batch ready for Quiltfest 2021. 

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/19/2019, Pat said ...

Love your quilts! You do such beautiful work. The other show quilts were all so pretty, too. A lot of talent and hours of work.

---

On 06/19/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Standing ovation, Susan! Your quilts are wonderful and are stellar!

Hugs!
-----

---

Quilts of Valor 2019

Birmingham Quilters Guild is very active in the Quilts of Valor Foundation to make and donate quilts for veterans and service members. Our QOV display at Quiltfest 2019 was beautiful. 

If you or your quilters group would like to get involved in the Quilts of Valor project, learn more here: https://www.qovf.org

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/18/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

What glorious quilts, one and all, and applause with thanks to the quiltmakers.

Thank you for sharing these quilts with us.

Hugs!
-----

---

Quiltfest 2019

It’s in the history books. I haven’t seen any numbers, but I believe it was a great success. I was there for four hours on Saturday afternoon, and the attendance looked impressive. And the quilts? More than impressive. I believe, quality-wise and diversity-wise, it might just be our best show yet. As an example, here’s our Best of Show.

Best of Show, Quiltfest 2019
“Bountiful Basket of Flowers"
by Jeanette Glasscock
quilted by Melissa Martin

All of the flowers in the center and in all the little baskets are three dimensional. Oodles of work, patience, and talent went in to this one.

And there were many more just as impressive. In all, more than 300 quilts were displayed. And we had vendors and demonstrations, and special displays as well. Here are a few more pics. 

This was one of my favorites. The technique is raw-edge appliqué or collage. I believe it’s one of Laura Heine’s patterns.

Wool Applique

Obviously I couldn’t photograph all 300-plus quilts. But these, I believe, are representative of the quality, beauty, and diversity of the show. I greatly overextended myself by staying so long. Mostly on my feet the whole time. I spent all of yesterday afternoon either on the couch or in bed. And this morning, the pain is still there, even when I’m off my feet. But I have to do a little bit of grocery shopping today. But then, all chores are on hold until I can walk straight again.

Tomorrow I’ll post our amazing and beautiful Quilts of Valor display. 

---

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 06/17/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

What a dazzling array of wonderful, beautiful, and unique quilts of all sizes. Thank you so much for the delightful eye candy!

Hope you'll be feeling lots better soon.

It's blazing hot here and I'll be of to the post office in a moment. Perhaps I'll need a cooling shower and dry clothes when I get back home. :)

Hugs!

---

On 06/17/2019, Linda Enneking said ...

Thanks for sharing these photos. It looks like you have some very talented quilter in your area. I'm sorry to hear that attending the show was so tiring for you, but if you're like me you probably think it was worth it. Hope you are feeling back to normal tomorrow.
-----

---