A Different Twist on Christmas Ribbons

Hello Everyone,

One of the many perks of becoming a designer for Marcus Fabrics is the fabric they send to me. This beautiful selection of fabric arrived the other day along with so many other goodies.  The line is called Midnight Lace by Paula Barnes.

I have always wanted to see what my Christmas Ribbons pattern would look like made in a different colorway.  Here are all of the components placed on the block layout sheet which is included in the pattern.  The block really is quite easy to make.  It doesn't have a lot of pieces compared to some of my blocks.

Here's the original Christmas Ribbons in Christmas fabric.  I wanted the sashing to look like a ribbon with a little bow in the corner post.

Here is one block made with the new fabrics.  I really love the look!  I don't have enough fabric, or enough time to make a full-sized quilt, but I would like to make a 4-block table topper with it.

Life has been very busy for me here under the pines. There's my fabric line in the works, along with another block of the month, and several new designs utilizing my very own fabric line from Marcus Fabrics.  To add to my current state of mind and upheaval, after 35 years of having our home in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are cleaning it out so our eldest son and his family can have a larger house to live in.  Our youngest son has been living in the house for the past four years after he experienced a very nasty divorce.  After the divorce, he ended up with the children but little else.  He got the best end of a bad deal. We let them move to our house, and we moved to our cabin. Now, our youngest son is going to set up housekeeping with his love.

We have boxes in the house that we never unpacked when we moved there in 1987!  The cleaning out started in earnest yesterday.  Our daughter-in-law, son and grandson started helping us.  We had four piles, keepers, garbage, garage sale items, and give aways.  Our car is packed with boxes of "stuff" that I want to save and take to the cabin.  Over the last few weeks, I've been sorting through things at the cabin and have the same four piles going.

Our kids have an app on their phones where they can take a picture of something and find out how much it is worth on Etsy or Ebay sites.  They had so much fun checking on prices for some of our "stuff".  My daughter-in-law is very computer literate and is in charge of posting items for sale online.  Any proceeds will go to updating the house.

The average price of a home in our "city" area is $1.2 million.  How can young couples live here?  Our kids all have good jobs but buying a home in this area is completely out of the question.  So, in with the young, and out with the old.....Mr. Joe and me.  This was totally our decision as we LOVE living in the mountains.  When we make the 2-hour drive down to the flatlands, we can't wait to get back to the slower pace of mountain life.

The city house is large enough for us to still have a bedroom when we venture out of the mountains.  My DIL loves to entertain, so she will now be hosting all of the holiday festivities, and we will have a place to stay.  That was all part of the deal, and they agreed to it wholeheartedly. 

So, wish me luck over the next few weeks.  There will be a lot of driving back and forth with "stuff".  I still have to keep my business running and I need to get ready for the next three retreats.  It's going to be a very busy summer. It's a good thing I'm a Spring Chicken!

Soon,

Lynn

 

Memorial Day

Hello Everyone,

This poem and its history tell the story of the fallen heroes in the first World War.  It references the red poppies that were growing on the battlefield in the early Spring of 1915 at the second battle at Yrpes, Belgium.  Lt. Col. John McCrae the author of this poem, and a surgeon, was walking through the battlefield assessing the carnage.  87,000 Allied soldiers lost their life in the battle.  McCrae noticed the tenacity of the poppies gracing the battlefield paying tribute to the fallen soldiers.  The poppy became the most recognized memorial symbol for soldiers who have died in conflict.

 

 

Thank you.

Wooly Wednesday

 Hello Everyone,

I'm a bit excited to show you what I've been practicing on, as I venture into the world of wool applique.

I've been collecting Valdani threads to display in an old typesetter's drawer.  I can see what I have in an instant.  I'm practicing my stitching, and it's coming along. I feel very confident with the three stitches that I've been working on.  In looking at this picture, I think I may remove the chain stitch on the leaf.  It seems a little too bold for my liking.

My friend Debbie and I took a wool applique class from Lisa Van Groningen last week at Ladybugs quilt shop in Manteca.

It was an hour and a half drive for us, and Lisa's instruction was worth every mile of travel.  We left feeling so inspired and filled to the brim with knowledge, and my head was spinning with ideas.

 

Yesterday, a goodie box arrived from Marcus Fabrics with Lanacot Wools.

If wool can be just delicious.....then they are absolutely delicious.  I have many plans for these beauties!

On another note, I usually keep my political views to myself.  After the carnage that happened yesterday in Texas, I can no longer stay silent.  My heart aches with sadness for the families of those lost to another senseless shooting.  My heart aches for the lives ended before they had a chance to live. This has to end before another child is killed, before another family buries a loved one.  We need to vote out our leaders who are more interested in staying in office and having power than doing the right thing.  Exercise your right to vote at the midterms. Enough...period.  

Soon,

Lynn