More Quilts

Good Morning Friends~I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had a good one and I am so glad to have these two quilts completed. Yesterday, I took the baby quilt over to our girl's house so she could have it for the hospital. She is due any day but I'm hoping she can wait until she is over her bronchitis; she ended up in the ER on Friday evening because of she has having a hard time breathing and didn't want to take any chances. Thankfully, she was sent home with antibiotics. She was without a voice all weekend but today feels more like herself;I will say she is very anxious to have her little guy but I keep saying that she needs to get her strength back before she goes into labor.

She was thrilled with the quilt-which always makes this mama happy.

Hard to tell but I outlined all the figures in the center squares.    In fact, the quilting on the borders is a bit difficult to see as well.  Any of you quilters out there who also happen to be good photographers, please share some tips with me.  I had my Nikon on the setting for close ups but still had a hard time getting the quilting.  I'm such a novice when it comes to photography, as you all know, I can use all the tips and help I can get.

This is a wall hanging I started when we moved here; I put it away when we moved into our current home and just recently pulled it out.  All I had to do was put the binding on so I did that yesterday.  I have two other purple wall hangings that go with this; this reminds me of California Wine Country.

Again, the quilting is hard to see but I have this in all the white squares.  I did use a template on these circles and disappearing ink.  I am very happy with the way this turned out; now that it is done I can get out my next project and begin working on that.  I will say it was such fun last night to sit and watch our Broncos play a good football game while hand stitching.
May your day be filled with beauty and creativity in all areas of your life.
Hugs, Noreen 

Another Finished Project

When I first began to  want to learn the art of quilting, I made a wall hanging for our home. After that, all the quilts that I made in California were for other people~my sister undergoing chemo and then then the five baby quilts for our grands. About 14 yrs ago I also started going to Mystery Quilt Weekends and had a couple of wall hangings for that. When we moved to Colorado and retired, I began making quilts for hubby and I. I gave him a flannel quilt on Christmas one year, that he uses every winter and about two years ago, I made a fall quilt for myself. Last year when we were up in Washington, I got this fabric and pattern and spent last winter working on this. Last night I finished the binding and washed it this morning. Without further adieu here it is.

I can honestly say that this is my favorite quilt thus far; I added more quilting than I have in the past, in a feather pattern that hopefully you can see in the bottom two photos.  I love the colors and prints and it screams Autumn to me.
I also want to say that although I did finish the baby quilt, I can't post photos until my girl gets it-probably this weekend. 
Now I have one other wall hanging to put binding on and then I can begin my newest quilt project.  I'm looking forward to football season because this is when I get so much quilting done.
Have a joyous weekend. 
Hugs, Noreen & Hunter

Thankful Thursday

It's Thankful Thursday and let me tell you I have so many things to be thankful for; I'm not sure I can get them all listed, due to space, but here are a few.
~I am thankful that each day I wake up alive.
~I am thankful for my eyesight; I didn't share but when we were away I had an issue with my left eye. I thought it was dust or something that would pass but it didn't, so last Friday I went into the eye doctor who was concerned I had torn my retina.  Thankfully, although I had the same symptoms, mine was just a sign of aging.  Oh the joy of it.  All I could think of is that I didn't want surgery and if I was to lose my vision my life would surely change-no more quilting for one.  So aging isn't fun but it always beats the alternative.
~I am thankful that I finished the baby quilt this week for our new grandson, soon to be born. I can't post photos of it until I give it to my girl.
~I am thankful, beyond words, at how well our daughter's pregnancy has progressed.  Our daughter has always had complications, been high risk and on bed rest for a good amount of time.  This pregnancy though, has found her free of those issues that caused preterm labor; now if she can have a easy labor & delivery we will be so thrilled.
~I am thankful that after four girls, they are getting their boy. What fun this will be for everyone, but I think especially for our sil.
~I am thankful I got the binding on another unfinished quilt and am 1/4 way through tacking it down.  Once it is done, I will post a photo.
~I am thankful that I was able to get out and walk in the cool morning air with our Hunter.  I am hoping our winter will be mild again so it doesn't stop us from walking each day.  I know I can get Hunter booties for the snow, but would so prefer not to.
~I am thankful that he is such a clown and that some of his antics may stop when he is an adult.
~I am thankful I got some ground cover pulled out that was around a tree in the front yard.  The tree has done poorly the last year or so and I began to wonder if the ground cover was hindering water and nutrients from getting to the roots of the tree.  I seem to remember that you shouldn't have heavy plantings at the base of trees for that reason.  It will be interesting to see if it makes a difference.
~I am thankful that I am having lunch with a dear friend  today and that we will be able to catch up on life.

May you find a thousand things to be thankful for today.
Noreen

From My Library

As you know, I have begun previewing books for Bethany House Publishers; generally I choose Christian Fiction but last month I was given several titles on Spiritual Growth and I choose this one. I will say I was influenced reading that the Forward was written by a pastor I am familiar with, Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding Ca. My review is below and I did not receive any payment for previewing this book.                          

                         An Invitation to the Supernatural Life  by Michele Perry

I found the title "An Invitation to the Supernatural Life" intriguing and I feel this book truly  is an invitation. If you are hungering and thirsting after a deeper walk with Christ and longing to have answers to questions such as "Why do physical miracles still happen in other parts of the country but not in the US?" answered, I would encourage you to find this book and read it.  I checked the scripture verses quoted, for accuracy, and found them so.

Michele Perry is a missionary in So. Sudan and shares her life story with us; beginning at a very early age, she began to have encounters with the Lord. Michele chronicles her journey of walking with Christ in the Spirit and her growth and understanding of the powerful work He still does today in the lives of believers.  Will the Holy Spirit force Himself on us? No, for He is gentle; this book continually stressed the importance of focusing on the Giver and not the gifts.   Each chapter has questions at the end and a very touching prayer for the reader; but I must say this book was hard to put down. I found myself wanting more and more of Michele's story.  Her chapters weave her time between her life in the U.S. and her life in So.Sudan with hundreds of children who call her mama.

After reading the first couple of chapters, I began leaving the questions blank until my next reading-which will begin this next week.  I want to really read it slowly and glean the truth that the Lord has for me in it.
I would challenge even the most conservative Christians to read this book with an open mind and see what the Lord might have for you.
This is a book that I will keep; it is on the same level as some of the greats I have read. I would encourage you to get this book and read Michele's story for yourself.
I need to tell  you that I have not received any payment or compensation for previewing this book.

Enjoy your day.  Noreen

A Blessing

Happy Tuesday Friends! I just love it when you, unexpectedly, get a card in the mail that blesses you. I had friends, years ago, that called these Smile Cards because they'd bring a smile to your face. I'm not talking about a specific card for a specific reason, but one that is just because someone cares and is often unsigned. I received this card on Friday; no return address and it was unsigned but just said that I was in their thoughts and that she hoped I had a blessed day. It was handmade and that made it even more special.  Love it, I tell you....so if you sent it, consider yourself hugged.

I love being able to bless others in secret; it might be a card, a small gift, a luncheon or something I know will touch the receiver.  How about you?  Do you enjoy giving to others, without them knowing who the giver was?  I'd love to hear the types of gifts you have given, how you give in secret and ways you've been blessed by others.
Enjoy your day.  Noreen

Labor Day

Every Labor Day our town has weekend festivities; including a Hot Air Balloon dawn patrol, a car show, arts and craft show and also a good size parade.

One of the things that the balloonists do is to drop down and touch the water; from our house it looks like the balloon is actually landing on the beach.  Hubby took these shots when he was at the golf course, so this is not our view.

There were so many equestrian groups and some beautiful horses.  You can imagine how excited our grands were to see them.

I thought this was such a beautiful bloom on our daughter's artichoke plant.  I love the color and the only thing that could have made it better is if they had actually harvested some of the chokes.
I hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day, filled with family activities and rest.
Noreen

Oh No!

Eight to ten years ago I purchased this thimble at our annual quilt show; it was not only lovely and hand crafted but it fit perfectly.  I can tell you that it was made by Thimbles by TJ..  It was very expensive but I was working and had long nails, so I felt it was worth the investment.  I has been a wonderful tool for quilting!  This last week though, I got a hole in the base and my needle gets stuck.  Oh bother!  Thankfully, my bff had kept all of her receipts-she purchased one at the same time and she was able to give me the website info.  I know they can repair it and hopefully will be able to get the hole sealed. However, this is the only thimble I use and can't imagine being without it;  thankfully I am done with the baby quilt and won't need to hand quilt anything for a bit. There is a big quilt show in a few weeks, south of here, and they may be selling them there but the current cost  is $100.  Yes mam, you read that right.  There may be a metal glue that would work as well; I have figured out, though, that when you average the years I've had the thimble and the quilts I've made, it has probably have paid for itself several times over.  
I wonder, for you my quilting friends, if you hand stitch-do you use a thimble.  I so love the look of this one, I really hope I am able to get it fixed.
Have a great weekend.  
Blessings,  Noreen
PO Box 2140
Fairfield, IA 52556