Remember me?

I don't know what I've been doing, but I must have been busy!

My friend, Lanna, is having a second round of surgery tomorrow, as the next phase of treatment for removal of a malignant tumor with its host kidney. Please add Lanna to your prayers, along with ours, for a good report, and speedy recovery. Lanna is just as sweet as the day is long. So, to wrap her in the warmth of our hearts, as she approaches this surgery, we made her a flannel rag-time quilt.

Here's Marguerite at the machine, with Mary J, assisting, sewing the last seams together, and the assembled project. This is a cross country effort with blocks sent in by others in our group living in Ohio, Illinois, Texas, Georgia and Florida. Sadly, we've made a number of these quilts, so we are experienced. We'd be happy to give up the practice, since it means that someone we love dearly is very ill.

As to my own activities, mostly, I've continued in my sock knitting frenzy. I desperately need to dig out my studio again, and think about making some more doll clothes for grand kids. The room is such a mess, I hate to even walk into it, because it's almost claustrophobic. A good start would be merely cleaning up my desk!

Spring is trying to peek out at us. The iris in my front flower bed have shot up so fast, one would believe it possible to actually see them grow, reaching for the sunshine. The huge lilac bush outside my kitchen window is loaded with green shoots, and I anticipate tons of fragrant blooms. When my DS and DDIL moved into their house, the first spring brought three blooming lilac bushes. One has deep dark purple blooms. I always wanted a white one, but I think I may have to get a runner for one of the dark ones first! They are stunning. I haven't looked at my magnolia bush yet . . . I'm sure it's ready to bloom, too.

We're on the countdown for our annual Paducah trip. We've had a couple people have to withdraw, so I would be happy to find replacements for them. It helps bring down the cost per person, thereby leaving more money to spend in Hancock's on fabric! It's just 30 days away, now. We stay at Big Bear Resort on Kentucky Lake, reserving both a chalet and a townhouse. I'm afraid I may have scared away a couple candidates when I suggested bringing $10,000, because one wants to buy everything one sees! What a fantasy . . . to spend $10,000 just on sewing things . . . of course, then I would need even more time to dedicate to sewing, as to justify that expense . . . it's probably better to be more selective, just for the purpose of alleviating the guilt such spending would incur. The guilt surfaces now and then, as it is, but I try to lay down and let that feeling pass!

We are looking forward to meeting Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville, and Lucy from the Netherlands, who will be in other quarters. Bonnie is such a gracious hostess with materials shown on her website. She was very kind to permit our Guild to use some items from her website for our Retreat last fall. We have a whole new crop of Bonnie Hunter fans as a result. They are all using her "Leaders and Enders" techniques, as well as sorting their scraps. Sossity has baskets adjacent to her cutting table, and attached to each are lists of the components she needs to cut for three different quilts. They are filling up fast, and she has been turning out quilt tops like a whirlwind. Sandra is enjoying it so much, she has nearly ceased coming to auctions so she can stay home and sew!

Just thinking about it all is inspiring . . . think I'll get the snow shovel and clean my room, so I can start sewing, too!

More auction scores

Winter is when my DH disappears to the basement to work on his refinishing projects. Some are sewing boxes that I’ve collected at auction, and sometimes he has a table or chair that he acquired at an auction. Last fall, he bought a game table because it had interesting carved legs. He doesn’t like me to come down and peek at his projects while in progress. He gets a big kick out of bringing the treasure up when its complete. As he was working on this table, we happened to catch an episode of Antiques Roadshow which featured a similar game table. It was reported that this particular style, with a leaf folded in half on top, that one rotates 90 degrees and flips open to create the full table, was popular in the late 1800’s. As with other projects which he has refinished, or touched up, this one is stunning. When I saw it, I had to quickly rearrange furniture in the living room to keep it from going out of the house.

The picture shows a couple other sewing boxes subject to his magic touch. The curved side model on top of the table is from the 1920’s, and is one of the many styles which were given as premiums with the purchase of furniture or appliances. On the floor is an interesting roll-top version, as well as a maple sugar bucket style. The décor is completed by the old crock, which I think looks enchanting with yarn spilling from the top. Actually, I have yarn spilling all around the room, since I have been on my knitting frenzy!

March is trying to keep us guessing whether it will come in like a lion or lamb. It’s been gloomy and rainy all day, but we are under a tornado watch. Yesterday, I was going to run a sewing machine Sink’s Sew and Vac, and pick up another that I had serviced, but when I got just outside the edge of town, sleet, freezing rain and snowflakes the size of a silver dollar were all hitting at once. I got less than halfway there, and decided when visibility was about one-quarter mile, that it would wait for another day. By the time I got back into town, my wipers had a coat of ice on them, but the precipitation had changed to rain.

I think this is going to be a nice evening to kick back in the recliner and tend to my knitting!