What a wild few weeks here in central NY. First an earthquake, then hurricane Irene, followed buy tropical storm Lee.
We have been drying out form the last two but so many homes and businesses in our area have been devastated. Two major floods in five yrs is just too much.

On a cheerier note, I have been quilting,

Where are the lazy, hazey days of summer?

How is it possible that it has been two months (less one day) since my last post? And summer is coming to an end, it was 55 degrees this morning. I was tempted to put socks on!

What has been keeping me so busy you might ask? Along with my usual jobs, I have been teaching twice a week at a local quilt shop. In addition I've been putting in lots of extra hours at the computer at the Volvo Club's new website. The integration of our database to the new software of the site has been less than smooth. In fact for the first time in 25 yrs of this job I seriously thought about if I could make up the income with more quilting.

We did have one lovely week off in the Finger Lakes. We visited wineries, breweries, quilt shops, yarn shops, took a cruise on Seneca Lake and stayed in a charming B&B.

See you soon, I am off to the studio to quilt!

Baltimore Album - Amazing

I recently had the pleasure of quilting an amazing example of a Baltimore Album Quilt 96" square. This was a four year project of Rhoda Bushnell, a customer of mine. She call this her mourning quilt as she made it in the months and years following her husband death. Here is the kicker, its not hers! She was hired to make it for a friends daughter in AZ. I sure hope she charged enough, not that you ever could. Enjoy the show!

This is the center block

More of the center top

Side view of center block

Corner of center block

One of four wreath blocks surrounding the center

a second wreath block

Cornucopias in each corner

Center block flanked by four large baskets, this is one

Last row, notice- no borders.

Last but not least, the back.

Socks!

After much trepidation I finally got the courage to make a pair of socks. They are about an inch too long but hey, finished is better than perfect! I have already started another pair, hopefully they will fit better.

My First Zentangle Quilt

Lat month I took a class from Pat Ferguson at MQX on Zentangle. I have been playing a bit and finally decided to put my needle to cloth. Here are my results. I love it! The Zentangle tile is on the left and my quilt, enlarged 200% from the tile is on the right.

MQX

Third Place Small Wholecloth

My expression does not do justice to my excitement at winning this ribbon. Do you think David could have taken another picture? or waited for a smile? He claims he was focused on the quilt, I guess it could be worse.

A visit to Old Sturbridge Village

On our way to MQX quilt show in Providence, RI we took an extra couple days and visited Old Sturbridge Village. It had been at least 30 yrs. since our last visit and in our early marriage we were members (courtesy of my parents) and visited often. Thankfully it has not changed much. Life in the 1830s seemed like a pleasant time to be alive. Between wars, technology was advancing, for the first time people had leisure time as there were machines to do some of the labor of the past. If you are ever passing by be sure to plan a visit, well worth your time.

As you approach the village

The village green

The sawmill

Oxen at rest

The blacksmith shop

The manor house, opposite end of the green from the church

Stopping for a chat

David, checking the map of the grounds.