May Day!!!

How did it get to be MAY 2016???  When I was in elementary school, one summer I overheard my Grandma Grant say, "This summer is going so fast ..." and my thought was, "Grandma you are losing your mind, this summer is never going to end!"  Grandma, I'm sorry!  I know exactly what you were feeling!!  and PS thanks for giving me an interest in quilting!!!

The last few weeks have been a blur - but I did get a few things done!!  So lets start seeing what's been happening!

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There was a trip to Portland, we'd learned to make "Lotus Flowers" with napkins at guild meeting.  It was a sweet little project so the kids and I made some.  I thought they were cute May Baskets ... they ended up being teacher presents. We took turns balancing them on our head and shoulders!

Miss P is into selfies!  So we had to take many pictures - I'd say she was pretty good, I never get one this good!!  We also made rubber band bracelets on the Wonder Loom.  We do have trouble with that loom.  It's easier for Miss P to make the single bracelets with the crochet hook.  But I found the fish scale (tail?) bracelet instructions online and it was very forgiving!  AND it uses 2 pegs on the loom.  When I told Miss P, she lit up and got excited,"We get to use the loom?????"  So we sat across from each other and both used 2 pegs successfully!  YAY!

The Sewing Studio was open in April.  CY, a very talented friend is designing the raffle quilt for next year.  We met for a week in her MIL's currently unoccupied house to sweat-shop it.  It's going to be gorgeous and lots of research of Oregon Coast flora and fauna was being done.  There's hand quilting, strip piecing, fusible applique, hand applique and lots of fabric try outs!  I thought I was there as a fabric consultant and tie breaker!  But I ended up fusing that adorable Oyster Catcher block!!  My first 'solo' block in a raffle quilt!  I'm usually one of the machine piecers in any group effort.  And oh, I can weld a mean seam ripper too!!

Sue Spargo introduced a "Instastitch BOM" two months ago.  It's log cabin-ish and looks very modern.  She uses a variety of fabrics on hers.  But I had these yummy Cherrywood hand-dyes. So that's what I picked.  I was behind on block construciton, but at Bayshore Retreat (more about this fabulous time later) I got the first two blocks pieced.  I still need to add the embroidery highlights - but first need to finish some pieces for the 'quickly speeding at us' Memorial Day Quilt Show!!!

Here's one of two UFOs finished.  This is an I Spy quilt for my great nephew's first baby, expected in May!  Mom and I made these checkerboard I Spys when she was only able to sew squares together because of her eye sight.  We made 7-8 of them, one for the first child of her grandchildren and great grandchildren!  We have two more in that generation left to do.  Be aware, I spy quilts are pretty much a life-long obsession.  I'm still on the look-out for fabrics that work!!  A decade later???

Another UFO I finished was the Red and White Bento Box for the Bayshore Quilters Challenge.  This week, I noticed my Dropbox notifications were about changes to files (?) So I went in and saved them all on my computer.  But I'm missing some pictures - including the finished one of this quilt!

Luckily I took it to retreat and people took pictures of it - so I'll get one of those.

This is my Brookings Challenge for 2016.  I made a similar quilt last year.  This year's challenge was to use a traditional block, and do your favorite technique.  They had a dozen entries!  A successful challenge.   I used shirtings, wool applique and my favorite ocean creature - the whale!  Sorry for the uncropped picture - but when I cropped it, it turned sideways!!!  I figured upright was better than sideways.

This is for all you crazy Brookings quilters who helped me save scraps for Dog Beds.  I took enough to retreat for us to make SEVEN dog beds - and one was quite large as you can see!!

There was a "Map" fabric post card exchange and I love maps.  This is a "Shop Hop" in Oregon!  But the map fabric is really France!  But I made the cars follow a route printed on the fabric!

And I exchange a "May Day Basket" with my friend in Texas.  At one time I stenciled that little basket block.  It was pretty light, so I went over it with a Fabrico pen and then stitched around it to get it to stand out.  I also sent that cute pieced basket pin? coaster??  I never figured out how to use it - so I released it into the wild!!!

This is my Woolies Stitch-along challenge.  Four of us in Woolies played along.  I started the little house in the woods. The others gave me the sidewalk to the door, smoke coming out of the chimney, the forest, flowers and a tree farm in the front yard!!  One participant just moved, but if she can find her project, all four will be in the Brookings Show Memorial Day Weekend

We also got to see the boys this month.  I went over for the big Birthday Bash.  D is 5 and K is 3 and they had a Ninja party.  Their mommy may have outdone the rest of the family with Pinterest party ideas!!  We had cucumber snakes in the snacks, an obstacle course, ninja stress balls the kids help create, ninja pipe cleaner figures, and a chopstick game among other things!!!  It was great fun to be there.

Then the next weekend we went over and babysat for them.  A&J went up to Portland to see "Newsies".  L and Miss P also went to "Newsies" the night before!  A good time was had by all - including Nana and Papa!!

And that brings us to this little doll!  NO, it's not mine!  P, a friend here in Brookings was looking for a puppy.  They are very expensive out here.  I told her my friend J in NE had connections and we assigned J to look for a Boston Terrier at a cheaper price.  If she found one, we would pay her airline ticket out here.  6 weeks later she found "Lucy" a seal (brown) adorable puppy! 2 weeks later they are both here!!  I know quilting friends will get a kick out of the "Lucy Boston" connection!!

I picked them up at the Portland airport Saturday morning.  Lucy was delivered to her new mom and dad; we settled in - unsupervised - and have already planned a Houston Quilt Show/Quilt Cruise vacation this November!!!  When I emailed my golfer DH - who has naturally gone golfing to give us time to take over the house!!!! - he said, "I knew it was a mistake to let you gals get together!!!" And then approved the trip!

Sew Many Places is who is arranging the cruise.  M and I took a cruise a few years back and they are VERY well planned.  M even said it was her best vacation ever!  I'll let you know what other 'trouble' we get into this week!

The Week of Quilts Challenge on FB

I just participated in the FB Quilt Week challenge. It was lots of fun to look back. I ignored the blog while I was doing it - so I thought I'd catch you up!! Enjoy! PS - don't worry about not being FB friends with me - I'm not very active out there! You know me better thru this blog!! Lucky you???


Day 1  Mary C challenged me to post a quilt I have made every day for a week. I'm at a Quilt Guild Retreat this weekend, and this is the only quilt picture on my computer that I have made! Recently finished - an I Spy quilt. Love the design.

I've been quilting for over 40 years and have never stopped for more than a couple of weeks. It is truly an addiction - errr - passion!! I love making small presents for friends and families.There have been baby quilts, graduation quilts, wedding quilts, quilt lessons, quilt retreats, even quilt cruises!! There are dozens (scores) of UFOs - Unfinished Objects - and more quilts planned than any one person can make in a life time!! Us quilters wouldn't have it any other way!!

I don't know if I'll find a way to post a picture tomorrow - you might just have to settle for a quilt story - I have quite a few!!

If you've received a quilt product from me or have spent "quilty" time with me, leave a comment!!! I promise photos Sunday and beyond!




22 Likes and Comments included:

DeEtte T: Quilt Retreat memory: We were shopping in Omaha during a Spring Retreat. Just browsing around and you hears a whistling noise. You decided it was coming from me & I was determined it was NOT. You win!!! I had stuck my hearing aid in my pocket and it accidentally got turned on smile emoticon I always get a grin when I think about that. Miss retreating with you Doni Boyd. Enjoy your weekend!


Jamar B:  I was just thinking about all our quilts yesterday. The problem is we will never be able to get rid of any of them because they are all made with such love. My favorite is the one you made me for my graduation with all my favorite colors. I also love the jungle animals and Eric Carle theme. The boys love their Halloween quilts especially the one with super heroes on the back.


Mary W: You, yourself are addicting (contagious?) You gave me a lesson on rotary cutting 15 years ago, and I've been quilting ever since! It's been great fun!


Bronna C: I have two baby quilts from you! Still love them 20+ years later.


Kathleen K: Hi Doni, long ago you gave me a postcard sized quilt of a kitty cat. It always makes me think of you and water aerobics and your love of quilting. Cheers!


Lindsay R: I have a few favorite memories....i loved helping as a kid "underneath the frame" when you had large quilts. I also loved it when you would constantly ask me to help you find needles in the carpet when you dropped them. My favorite quilts are our wedding quilt, my cat quilt as a kid, and the kiddo Halloween quilts!


Joni S: You introduced me to quilting by having me look at quilting magazines. I found a pattern and you graciosuly provided all the fabric, cutting board and rotary cutter. I believe this all took place on Super Bowl Sunday. I have been addicted ever since and I thank you.


Twy H: Great I Spy Quilt,


Day 2  Hi! Home from Quilt Retreat - happy to say that a good time was had by all! It was a beautiful drive home too!

This is the wedding quilt I made for my son and his lovely bride 5 years ago. A log cabin in a zig-zag pattern with 3 "love stamps" spaced in. I thought by making a huge log cabin it would get it out of my system.

I started planning the next one immediately!! What pattern is like that for you?? Share with us!




26 Likes and Comments:

Claire G:  Wonderful! What an heirloom for your son and daughter in law!

Betty W:  It is a really outstanding quilt!

Tamara R: We love our wedding quilt. You are so talented and do such beautiful work! A and J's is absolutely beautiful!

Marcie S:  That is just beautiful!

Donna S:  Beautiful! What a special gift!

Day 3 of My Quilts! Two years ago our Brooking Guild made quilts for Quilts of Valor. I made one for them, but then made 3 quilts for 3 Veterans that I know personally! I was nervous about giving them quilts. I made the labels long, so they could pass the quilt on to someone else, if they wanted. But they all LOVED them. I even got thank you notes from MEN!!! I highly recommend this charity and to also make a quilt for someone you know!




13 Likes and Comments included:

Betty W: My favorite quilts are for veterans

Saun S: Awesome

Ok - Now I have to tell this quilt story!! Nicole, my awesome Great-Niece, received a tied string quilt my mom and I made for my dad.

She felt something hard in the left side, and she's a curious gal! There was a small opening on the right side of the quilt. So she carefully threaded this object all the way across the quilt to the opening. At first she thought it might be his plastic hospital bracelet ... But it was a 120 inch tape measure!!!!

When she returned it, she mentioned where she found it. Mom aka Granny replied, "I've been looking for that!!!" LOL! Thanks Nicole for sharing that story - it's so Granny!!

23 Likes and Comments:

Nicole S: I love this story!!! I was hoping it was something magical, left there for history... But no just a great laugh!!!!! I could not believe it when I pulled that measuring tape out. 

Gretchen L:  Too funny!


Day 4 of my quilts - This is a guild challenge project. The challenge was Things that Fly! I immediately thought of air mail and then stamps. I had cancelled stamps and then started searching the internet. There were birds; ducks; Mary Poppins; Superman ...

If your guild has challenges - take them up on it! Nothing is better to get you working outside your box! And that's a good thing. Plus Challenges are usually small - and fun!!

9 Likes and Comments:

Mary C:  I love seeing these! Thanks for sharing.


Day 5 (with a little break in between!!)Presenting my Grandkids' Big Girl and Big Boy quilts! You know you have to keep things 'even' with grand kids. So don't try to give everyone a quilt when you give a quilt. Give each a quilt when they reach a certain stage! When the kids each moved into their "big bed" they got a quilt from Nana! Miss P was the first with a pink fish quilt. Mr M got the patchwork "Bear went over the Mountain" quilt and Mr D got the Eric Carle panel design. Mr D went into a youth bed before the bunk bed and I was very relieved he liked his quilt. I made it early and THEN he went "all super-hero all the time" But too late for the quilt!! Mr K is fast approaching his Big Boy Bed, but I've got it started!

After bed quilts come the Kindergarten Quilts! Everyone draws a picture for Nana to applique on the quilt! So far we have a unicorn quilt and an alligator quilt!! Mr D will have to work on his picture this year! He turns 5 in April!

These quilts are my favorite kind to make! They're not for a show, they're for love and I'm happy to announce that they have been loved to death!!  My job is done!  ... for now!  Tee-hee!

 

     






17 Likes and Comments included:

Diane E: You make great quilts. My kids loved theirs - and still have them.

Mary C: I am behind in making the Bigger quilts for my Grandkids. I get reminded every time I see a certain grandson, that his quilt is too small. Thanks for sharing your reasoning. Making 20 grandchild quilts in a year would be HARD!

Saun S: Awesome!

Tamara R: Such a great and talented Grandma! You're grandchildren have been truly blessed and so have you.

Twy H: Love seeing them, Doni.


Day 6 of My Quilts! I know I wander far and wide from just showing my quilt of the day ... those who know me well are NOT a bit surprised!! 

One Christmas oh-so-many-years-ago a good friend took charge of Lindsay to buy me a Christmas present. She bought me this awesome quilt covered 3-ring notebook! I think Lindsay was about 3rd grade when she bought this for me ... I won't say how old she is now, but she has a 3rd grader!!! (Can you believe I still have this?!?!?)

What do you put in a special notebook like this??? Well, a quilt journal of the quilts you've made and the ones you received from others!!

I really have to organize the pictures of my older quilts - I have them electronically -somewhere- And there lies the problem. The page I'm showing you is my first quilt!! Ignorance is truly bliss, because if I'd known what I was doing ... this quilt would not exist!

         

You can read all about it on the sheet! I still have the quilt and it's in great shape - I won't let anyone use it!!! We really use our quilts and I'm very afraid that this Baby Block quilt would not survive washing gracefully!

It wasn't the first one done - that was a simple royal blue and yellow Irish Chain. Long destroyed by use!! But this one is what created the quilter in me. Long before it was even done, I'd started the next quilt and the next ... I've never stopped - for 41 years!!! And I don't plan to any time soon.

Yes, I've got UFOs to finish; projects lined up for decades ahead and I don't care to hear how that isn't very practical. Thank you anyway.

I love my notebook; even if it only goes to 2000! (I started it because I was afraid I was losing my mind! - I still am!) But I also included stories about the quilt; who worked along with me and what was happening in my life. I love reading the stories over and over again!

SO - if you're a quilter, or a quilt collector, you should have one of these journals. It doesn't have to be Smithsonian worthy! It doesn't even have to be in a special notebook! But it should exist.

I know when I'm in the rest home, totally out of my mind, I'll love reading this book day after day! And I picture my kids and grandkids looking through it, remembering me.

So - your mission should you decide to accept it - is to make a scrapbook/journal like this. And I'll try to bring my memories up to 2010!! I have lists of projects finished every year; and I have photos of my quilts - somewhere!! AND I just got Photoshop elements; maybe an electronic journal that I can print and/or give digitally to those kids and grandkids!!!

Let's get busy! Well, as soon as I finish my current project! LOL!

PS - someone asked me when the next age is for quilts for the Grandkids. I was told to give a quilt to them when they turn 13. Those teen years are tough, Nana may no longer be a favorite in their lives, but at least I'll know they are wrapped in a quilty hug from me! Then HS graduation; College graduation: marriage and then for their kids of course!! When did you get quilts? What have I missed????


14 Likes and Comments included this interesting conversation:

Saun S: Wow, how many quilts do you think you've made?

Doni B: Oh my!! I haven't counted for a long time - so I did. From lists (see above). In 41 years I have made 73 quilts - twin size or larger; 190 small projects, that includes baby quilts and smaller; AND 79 Christmas stockings!!! Thanks for asking!! 

Lynne Q:  OMG!!!! Prolific!

Day 7 of my quilts! This has been fun and harder to pick quilts to share than I thought! My last quilt is just to remind you that you can use every part of the fabric you buy. You can use the front, the back and even the selvedge!




But beware - it's addictive! This is Selvedge Yard which now lives with someone else. I sold it last July at Sisters. String blocks and outside border pieced with selvedges. The lettering is "Unruly Letters" from Tonya Ricucci's book -Word Play Quilts- You can read about the process in this blog entry:

The whole quote is -Quilting: not so much a hobby [you know] more like an [infectious] obsession [and we love it sew]- the quilted words are in the brackets!

13 Likes and Comments:

Leona K: Love it

Ruth Y: My favorite quilt and reason I joined the Quilt Guild!

Twy: Now I know why we were saving selvedges for you

Georgia P:  Amazing

Ta-Da!!  So that was a full week in the life of a quilter!! You'd think that looking back at what you made would get you going again in the sewing room! Not so much!! Reminiscing takes up a lot of time.

Before I disappeared from FB' again - I wrote this:  Happy Valentine's Day!

This quilt was made for a guild "Holiday" challenge. I had been reading about the "slow movement" and used that method when working on it. I was shocked, I tell you, when I found 18 shirtings with Red in them to choose for the background!!  "Be Mine" is of my favorite wall quilts!





20 Likes and Comments:

Andrea M:  Your sister Rita C would love this!

Joni S:  Happy Valentines Day! Love this quilt.  Love all the buttons.

Leona K:  Nice

Kathleen K:  Beautiful, Doni!

Ruth Y:  Love it, Happy Valentines Day

Georgia P:  Beautiful - so talented. Happy Valentines Day.

Hooray for good friends and time to quilt!

Last week was the third annual "Finishing School".  A small quilting retreat that I organize.  Three years ago, I was trying to organize a guild retreat.  There wasn't much interest in changing anything up! But there were 8 of us who wanted to get together.  In Bandon, there's an awesome quilt store - with - wait for it! a retreat center above it!  Perfection!  Thank you Forget Me Knots!!

And so Finishing School started.  Every year it's full and every year we have a great time! This year, 9 of us went and it was very productive!

My first project was "Over the river and through the woods" by by Crabapple Hill.  A good friend in Newport did the embroidery for both of us and I did the piecing for both.  Unfortunately, we both just did each others!  So both of our projects languished for Y*E*A*R*S!!  So typical!  In middle of this I moved to Brookings, so I would hope we would have finished them faster if we were still neighbors.  But I'm glad to say, my top is done!  With my own little twist, of course!  Made enough blocks to create rows above and below the embroidered panels.  The scariest part of the whole project was cutting the embroideries to the correct size!

Next up was bringing out an "oldie-goldie" Courthouse steps and 54-40 stars.  I thought I would finish it as a couple of baby quilts.  I thought I had lost interest in it.  But when I laid it out on the design wall - it was love again!  I had paper pieced the stars, why, I have no idea!  So I spend a good amount of time removing the papers while being entertained by everyone around the table!  Good place to do it.  New plan - make more blocks!

In between quilting projects I made baby receiving blankies.  The cutting room was perfectly set up to trim and pin.  I made eight!!  Four of which went to my DDs house this week.  Her friends are having babies at an alarming rate!  LOL! And she made me promise to make these comfy square little quilts.  They are easy care, and great for tummy-time, swaddling and protecting against those really big burps!  I wrote up instructions here.

My last quilting project was a baby size I spy.  I was looking thru someone else's magazine and saw this pattern.  Sorry I don't remember which magazine.  I jotted down the measurements ... and was worried about sashing that was just cut 1 1/2".  But it came out wonderfully!  This will probably go to the next community baby shower.  But it's going to be a "go to" pattern for me!  Sorry, just noticed the picture was of blocks.  I'll post another one when it's quilted! Promise!

And here we are - the Finishing School Graduates!  Thanks ladies for such fun!  We've got next year already booked!  Can't wait.

Finishing School 2015 - Bandon Oregon

In a funk! Could you tell?

You probably could - I haven't written for more than a week! I hate deadlines - even the ones I've made. My to do list is long and mostly for other people. The denim quilt is done. The I spy quilt has been giving my fits! Either I can't tie a square knot any more - with the directions right in front of me - or acrylic yarn simply refuses to hold knots!!! I estimated that one nap was all you needed to untie every knot on the quilt! So rather than retie it - I used the crappy ties as basting for machine quilting. The machine quilting will probably help the quilt hold together better. Got the inner squares quilted today - tomorrow I'll quilt the border. Maybe by the end of the week everything will be ready to mail. I still have the dog Christmas stocking to make - but I did find a picture of a boxer so - hopefully, that was the hard part!

THEN next week is Miss P and R's birthday party. We bought the "big girl bed" for Miss P for her birthday - but need something to open too ... have a new Sesame Street flannel to make a small quilt because the original is wearing out too fast. Doesn't thrill! Also need a new "big girl bed" quilt.

And of course, baby boy is coming around Thanksgiving ... he'll need a quilt! Haven't even thought about that yet. And Christmas won't be too far behind!