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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Stitch a little! Love a Lot!

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It started here with my bin of green strings.

Remember the green string blocks I have been working on in the past?  On again, off again, on again, off again!

ON again!

I tried to find the most recent post with the green string blocks, but I couldn’t.  That search bar just doesn’t keep tabs on me the way I would like it to!

At any rate…I no longer needed strings per-se, but I did need a variety of fabrics that I could cut some narrow strips from, and the green string bucket came to the rescue.

The best part of this bucket?  SO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES!

And so I started to pull, press and cut.


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Yes.  Even sheep!

We took a drive yesterday around the area between here and Boone, and you can not imagine how BEAUTIFUL the green is right now.  I can’t live without green.  And the meadows and grassy areas and knolls with cattle and sheep just grazing away were SO beautiful.

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Complete Photo Fail!

We passed this barn with a beautiful quilt block, and I got out to take the photo, but the sun was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  You can’t hardly see the block, but it is on my list of drive-by wanna-do’s for the future. I need a photo of this barn with this block!  But look at the green everywhere, so fresh and lush!  The tips are the trees are getting their green halos, and my eyes know it because they feel like they want to be glued shut due to all of the pollen.

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And I sewed green bits to neutral bits!

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And I got this far!

I’m even throwing in some older 1990s VIP calico greens.  They blend well with what I’m doing.  Here I’m in the midst of chain-pressing before cutting these strips apart.

Where will they end up?  That remains to be seen!  I have a plan – let’s see if it pans out.

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THIS is growing!

I joined the 2 large sections together bringing me to 41 rows of tumblers down - aiming for a total of 55! Getting there! I only need 49 center rows of light/dark, the top 3 and bottom 3 rows will be all darks as a built in sort of border.

Frannie is getting quite the introductory as I switch a bit between projects ---

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Even the baskets saw some action!

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I used their parts to make sure I had her seam allowance set right.

I got some heartbreaking news yesterday. 
 
A message let me know that one of my favorite all-time students turned friend was killed in a car accident. I just saw her in a recent workshop in Cincinnati.
 
She would travel to wherever I was if I was within driving distance. She has been a fun companion on cruises, and was planning on joining me at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac island in May.
 
This kind of thing is so senseless, and it has left me just gutted with the wind knocked out of me.
 
She will be sorely missed. She was the smiling face always ready with a hug and I never knew where she would turn up.
 
 
Ginny at one of our show & share moments.
 
Ginny made Four by Nine using one of my Addicted to Scraps column blocks as her inspiration. She had a way with scraps and gave so many of her quilts away to those she loved.  My heart is with her friends and family as they deal with this difficult time.
 
You made my heart sing, Ginny! I will miss your emails, your Facebook messages, and everything that you shared with me over the years. There has got to be a quilting place in heaven for angels like you. God bless.
 
Hug your quilty friends tight, everyone.  Let the small squabbles go.  Focus on what is important.
 
Love each other harder and better.
 
As I am writing this post I get to this part where I am supposed to place our Quiltville Quote of the day, and I realize that it just does not GO with the sadness my heart feels over Ginny.  But knowing Ginny, she would get a big kick out of this photo and laugh and laugh along with the rest of us:
 
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Quiltville Quote of the Day!

This is quite the plot twist, Ginny! Oh, how I will miss you, and I know you have moved on to a far better place, but it was way too soon, my friend.  WAY too soon.
 
How boring life would be if it all went the way we planned it. I am grateful for the plot twists and bumps in my road that have brought me to where I am now. And we never know how our story will end.
 
Try not to fear the upheavals that are likely to come our way! We are who we are because of what we make of them!
 
Vintage Churn Dash quilt found in Traverse City, Michigan.
 
I’m off to make a late breakfast – Jeff is here and is awake now after arriving at the cabin about 3am.
 
Happy Easter Eve,


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25 comments:

TheaMinPA said...

So sad that you have lost Ginny, it has been a tough couple of months with so many deaths. I lost a b-i-l, mother,and two friends all in six weeks time... Heaven seems to be on a major recruiting effort lately. Fiber is such good therapy.

Nancy said...

THe fact that the green and white strips are of different width is intriguing. Can't wait to see what happens!

Stephanie said...

Sorry for the loss of your friend Bonnie. I hope you can have a Happy Easter anyway, with your family!

Nancy Parisi said...

I am so sorry. Sometimes people forget how special friends are. When a friend dies, there is a huge hole in your life. So my sincere sympathy. Nancy aka 'Nonnie the Great'

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I am so sorry - hugs to you and prayers for her family. We recently lost one of our stitching sisters as well - it just hurts. I do like all of you projects in process!

LoAnn said...

Hugs and prayers going your way and to Ginny's family. Although she is in a better place, that doesn't mean you won't miss her terribly. I lost a good quilting friend, and my mother (quilter & my friend) and though I miss them so much, I am thankful for the times we had together.

dorothy said...

Hugs to you Bonnie and prayers for Ginny's family.

Shirl said...

Always so sad to lose a friend, my condolences to all who loved Ginny! YOur lovely greens make my heart sing praises for Spring and renewal...

Daffycat said...

My condolences on the loss of your friend, what a sad time.

Every time I see one of those misplaced blocks on a vintage quilt I wonder if it was truly a mistake or a bit of whimsy.

Mary said...

Those green strips look like sashing for the tiny string blocks. Happy SPRING. Sorry about the allergies. Easter is a blessed time to remember the Risen Christ. Ginny is in a better place. She loved life, you can see that in her quilt.

Material Girl said...

I am so sorry to read of your friends passing, my deepest sympathy to her family and friends and you also Bonnie, losing someone you love is always hard but when it's a tragic accident it seems that much harder to get past, I have lost a few in car accidents and it is so hard to understand why. :( <3
Looking forward to seeing what those green strips will end up being used in, reminds me of Saint Patrick's Day.

Happy Easter
GwenH

Cats said...

oh my... so sorry for your loss... sounds like Ginny, (how you describe her)(we never met, mine is the loss too) but indeed her departure is a major plot twist... sigh. as someone before me opined, looks like heaven is on a major recruiting drive this Spring... my heart to all of you suffering loss... fiber IS good therapy... Cats

Susie Goodpasture said...

My prayers are with Ginny's family and her close circle of friends. It's so hard to loose a loved one suddenly before their time. She's in God's loving arms with no pain or sorrow and at peace. He has risen and that is what gives all of us hope and that's why we celebrate Easter.

Sandi1100 said...

I'm sorry to hear about your friend, Ginny!

Talking about needing to see green, my husband and I went out west and were looking forward to seeing the Rockies. We got so tired of looking at rocks that we missed the green grass. I never realized how much I love the green grass until I was in the Rockies.

abelian said...

What sad news about Ginny. I'm so sorry to hear it.

A Google search found a Quilt Cam post about green strings, dated November 5, 2012. Is that the one you were looking for?

Dalina said...

My condolences to you with the loss of your friend Ginny. My the peace of the Lord be with you and her family. Enjoy your weekend with your family! Happy Easter, find time for all the things you love around you.

Terry said...

I am truly sorry for your loss Bonnie. I am thinking of you and Ginny's family with every stitch I take tonight!

Loretta M. said...

Oh, Bonnie, I am so sorry to hear about your friend, Ginny. What a hurt in your heart you must have because it sure hurt my heart to think of the missing piece in Ginny's family. I will keep you and her family in my prayers. Please feel God's loving arms around to give y'all strength.

Be strong, my friend, and I share your pain.

Loretta McGinn
tlkids65ll@aol.com

Unknown said...

I know how very sad and impacted you are by Ginny's passing. God bless you for your kindness and generous sharing of your love and talents. Here is hoping you have a blessed Easter.

Unknown said...

I know how very sad and impacted you are by Ginny's passing. God bless you for your kindness and generous sharing of your love and talents. Here is hoping you have a blessed Easter.

TrulyBlessed said...

I'm so sorry to hear of Ginny's passing. May God spread his arms and cover you and all of Ginny's family and friends with Peace, Courage and Grace. Remember to hug those you love on a regular basis and tell them that you love them, value them or cherish them as a friend. There is always something sweet you can say to those you care about, but we seldom seem to do this.
Maybe today is a good day to begin anew.

Lily K. said...

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Ginny….I find that when friends pass away, the day just doesn't seem the same without them and the world seems a little quieter for their missing voice…remember the good times you had with her and know that you made a difference in her life as her friend. Hugs to you Bonnie, Lily

Vic in NH said...

The sadness and senselessness of Ginny's untimely death is softened some by your beautiful tribute to her here. Thank you for showing her quilt picture. Prayers to her family and to you, too. Enjoy a Blessed Easter.

GerryART said...

Heartfelt Hugs,

Gerry

Anonymous said...

So sorry for the loss of your friend.

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