From Grandma Lucy With Love -

My step-grandma Lucy ignited my passion for needlework.

I was 14 when I became Lucy’s first (and eldest!) grandchild.  Blending families can be such a challenging and scary time – I bet for her also, as one day she didn’t have ANY grandchildren, and then BOOM! Just like that – she had three.  And me, a teenager at that!

She was a kindly woman whom I loved dearly.  I remember heading out to the dime store with her to choose coloring books – we washed the utility muslin until it was soft, cut it to size (with scissors! This was the early 1970s!) and traced the coloring book images with a pencil to stitch.

I LOVED choosing all of the colors of embroidery floss we would use.  Stem stitch and French knots, and sometimes satin stitch, though I could never get it as perfect as Grandma Lucy’s.

My step Aunt Joanne, Lucy’s daughter, passed away a few months ago.  When my step dad Gary went with his brother to take care of her house, several of Grandma Lucy’s quilts that had been living with Joanne came home to be distributed to the kids – 7 of us now total.

(Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of Mark’s passing.  He has been on my heart so much through my trip to Idaho and Oregon.  I don’t think I’ll be able to get through a Labor Day without remembering his passing.)

I chose this Dresden Plate quilt because I remember Grandma making it.  I remember her tracing the shapes, cutting them with scissors, joining them in rings and appliqueing them down to the background fabric. The prints are mostly cotton with some poly-cotton blends thrown in.  Remember – this was the 1970s and there wasn’t a lot of 100% cotton available.

It has a poly batting, and it is soft with use.  It’s going to live at Quiltville Inn where I can see it every day and remember a special Grandmother who so readily adopted me and called me her own.

Oh, mom! You crack me up!

I used the quilt as “packing material” to keep this sign my mom painted for Quiltville Inn safe in my suitcase!  SO SO SO funny!

I am planning on hanging this in the back entry.  I know I will find the perfect place.  And I know it will bring a grin, a chuckle, and a nod!  Thanks, mom.

Another of Grandma Lucy’s quilts -

Bonnet girls!

Do you see that satin stitch?

It is ALL BY HAND!

She was an incredible needle worker  I love the embroidered “ruffles” over the top of the skirt that you can barely see. And the bloomers and shoes!

More satin stitch – incredible embroidery!

And I love that she embroidered her name on the binding.

I wonder what she would think if she could just look down and see how her quilts and mine are found together in the homes of her posterity.

Jaxon’s Nine Patch!

Elizabeth’s Little Monkey!

Jaxon’s Nine Patch is available in the Quiltville Store as a digital PDF pattern.

Little Monkey is found under the Free Patterns tab at the top of the blog -

My sister in law Nicole has them displayed on a quilt ladder in her living room – so fun to see!

Jaxon and Elizabeth are growing so quickly!  And I love that I get to see them often enough that they know who I am.  

Elizabeth asked me time and time again if I could teach her to quilt, and I explained that we need supplies, and MORE TIME and we will do it.  The next time I go out there, I will be prepared with a stack of charm squares and a working sewing machine.

After all, her great grandma Lucy’s blood runs through HER veins.  She could probably out-satin-stitch me too, given half a chance and a few more years to grow up!

Stars Over Shallotte from Scraps & Shirttails II.

And Cruz – she’s 9 months old!

And she is such a good big girl!

Elizabeth & Jaxon -

At the 2019 Spirit of Boise Balloon Fest!

I love that my quilts go where they go -

(And their donuts look really yummy too –)

This is from the local CBS channel, showing what the kids saw on this early cool morning.  There are so many things to LOVE about Boise. (But not the winters – just not the winters!)

I arrived back up in Virginia by mid-afternoon yesterday.  There was a ton of work waiting for me at the Quiltville Post Office – and a van to unload of stuff I had brought up with me.

Orders started filling last night, they will continue today – and tomorrow I’m off to Pennsylvania through the weekend.  Go go go go!  The upside?  It’s my only venue this month. I don’t go again until OCTOBER.

Last night’s easy dinner on the porch.

Roast chicken and bag-o-salad ala Costco.  Works for me!

Glow of the QPO lights as I headed back after dinner.

And yes – I slept at the Inn last night!

It’s time to start making this place feel like a HOME instead of just a house – and I loved not having to drive to work this morning, just a quick walk across the yard.

On the agenda today – I’m recording a podcast for C&T!  I’ll let you know when it is available.

I’m packing everything I need for the retreat in Pennsylvania – we are doing Daybreak, and it’s going to be so much fun.  I’ll have time after class to work on my own projects as well, and I’m torn between what to take.  It would be so easy to just throw the bucket of strings and the many license plates that have been given into the van and concentrate on getting those done.  Or – there is that OTHER project that has a deadline.  What will it be?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Vintage spider web quilt shared by Kevin the Quilter.

Don't let the hard things of this world make YOU hard-hearted as well.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!