Christmas Joy!

Christmas Blessings and Joy to all! These two boys (my dear grandsons, they are cousins who don't see each other often) bring me heartfelt pleasure and fun. And this is what Christmas is all about for me and my loved ones.

Christmas Treasures

Surprise! My youngest grandson who lives in Texas is going to join us for Christmas. We'll be traveling to pick him up on Saturday and not sure how long he will stay.

The Christmas Spirit is suddenly brighter in my house.

How much fun it will be to have our son, daughter, son-in-law, uncle, great-grandma, and grandboys one, two and three here on the morning of the greatest festival of all!

Poppy Quilt

The Poppy Quilt is almost finished and ready to send to my good sister who has moved to assisted living this past year. She is an artist who loves red. I hope it blesses her as much as it has me, for all the blocks were made by my dear quilting friends. I give thanks.

New Old Danish

When my father and mother returned to Nebraska after a four year adventure in Arizona, they were 78 and 72. My sisters and I attempted to learn a little more Danish while we still had the chance. One sister had ordered Danish language books and dictionaries and gave them as gifts. I still have the letters and lessons sent back and forth with Dad's corrections and comments. I also have a newer Danish dictionary and a Folkehøskolens Sangbog (Folkschool Songbook) that I purchased in Denmark in 1981. Dad died in 1982 and Mom in 1988. Connecting with new friends in Denmark via blogland has re-inspired me to work on the Danish again. I think Daddy would be smiling. The songs have been going through my head lately: Der Bor en Bager; Marken er Mejet; Sneflokke Kommer Vrimlende; Dejligt er Den Himmel Blå. I know them all by heart and they are still up there in my memory. What a joy. Daddy and I sang songs together as he lay dying. One was Et Barn er Født i Bethlehem. When my sister and I sang our songs to Danish relatives when we were there, one cousin said that we sounded like "farmers from Copenhagen" because we had learned an older dialect from our dad who immigrated in 1927. These memories are so precious.

Iowa Churndash

Made for the quilt club swap. Lois chose the Iowa bird, yellow goldfinch

and the Iowa flower, wild rose.

Courthouse Steps

Having a wondrous time with a

pattern found in a second hand

quilt book. It calls for 84

different fabrics. oh my!!

Goat Eye

This is a picture of a goat eye.

So, girls, am I taking this way to far??

It's just that they're so weird!!

Ready to Move On

Blue background represents the Loess Hills of SW Iowa. Penelope is now on her way to Sue in Western Australia. What will happen to her next? I'm still waiting for one more little goat to visit me....................
The Sisterhood of Traveling Goats has been wacky and fun and a great distraction from heavier life issues at this moment. Thanks and Love to all the Sisters!

Penelope's New Look

Penelope seemed to be asking for some sparkle! She's almost ready to move on to Sue. Blue doilies will be the last step.........................

Blue Bag

I finished another knitted bag.

Princess Penelope

Lovely Pink Princess Penelope arrived in Emerson IA today.

She is so soft and sweet.

Quilt Block

This is the quilt block I experimented with yesterday - adapting it to a 12" square by starting with four 7" charms and cutting 2 1/2" from the center line. I think it worked pretty well. This is a really fun block to make. I think I will suggest it to my quilt club. Thanks so much, Elaine!!

Honey Goat

Honey came to visit me from Louisiana. It didn't take long to ascertain that she wanted to do some climbing through the twists and turns of my recent fabric paper project. Honey will eventually be attached to the front of a journal with more fabric paper attached to the back. But next she will be traveling to Australia! (I think).

Quilt Club Swap 1 & 2

The photos should be swapped. Bottom one on top. Not sure how to edit.

Janet chose a pansy fabric. This block is called "country roads" and reminds me of her house in the county where the night sky is so dark when we leave to go home. The dark fabric I used looks kind of like starlight. 9 1/2" square.

Nancy chose a fruit fabric. This one was harder because she requested that the blocks be 6 1/2" square. Tricky.

Nanny Gertrude

I introduce you to Nanny Gertrude, a member of the Paisley Black Plains hybrid species. I picked her out of the herd because of her detailed horns, whiskers and udders (hopefully not too many details). I gave her a little backing to keep her from raveling as she ventures forth on her journey of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Goats. Nanny Gertie is looking forward to meeting new friends, enriching her identity, and learning all about what it means to be a traveling goat.

Belated picture from family reunion in July. The picture is taken from the observation tower at Mahoney State Park in Ashland NE. Some of the stubborn men wouldn't wear their family tee shirts. I guess all the girls don't have theirs on either. The babies all have their family onesies on. It was an amazing time and I love my family so much.

Wall of crosses at a church where I attended a conference yesterday. Each one unique and beautiful.

Pics from the annual trip to the apple orchard with grandsons #1 and #2. Now to make some pies. Or applesauce.

Poppy Blocks

Here are four of the thirteen 12" blocks I received from members of my quilt group. We meet at one another's homes and lately have been participating in a "swap" of sorts. At the end of the meeting, the hostess gives each guest a square of a fabric of her choice. At the next meeting, she receives back blocks of all varieties, each one carrying a bit of her fabric choice. I am thrilled with my blocks and can't wait to make a quilt from them.

Emerging from a semi-dry artistic spell, I have been working with water color crayons. They are so freeing.

The lower one started as a "scribble" and after the water wash, a mother and child appeared.

I dedicate it to all the young people who have taken their lives because of bullying and/or because of gay/lesbian issues, and their families.

From recent trip to Wilmington NC: altered fence?

Simon and Elliott. School starts on the 11th!

I'm grieving.

The cabin stamp. To keep or not to keep.

This is a birthday card for my niece. I was nine when she was born. The stamped cabin image reminds me of a cabin her husband's family has in the foothills of the Rockies. Sort of a triptych, it can stand alone. It is sewn to a piece of thick dark blue felt. I should probably give her the stamp too. It was a good find in a basket in the back of a second hand store called ReDesigned in Red Oak Iowa. My niece is a stamper too. It's a hard call. :)

more tags. also addictive. what should I do with them now?

I am so surprised and thrilled with the "art" of blogging - and connecting with other artists all over the world. Here are pictures of my first woven quilt with a few more embellishments. Also my second effort. Yes, I believe I could do this all day.

Tag

Story Cloth

This piece is inspired by an article by Jude Hill in the Aug/Sept Quilting Arts and Anni from Denmark.

It is woven from strips of water color sprayed muslin. I used random stitches with pearl cotton and Danish flower thread to hold it together, then added some stamps and a piece of felt and a piece of punched brass and some buttons and a yoyo from a funny old pillow cover piece a friend gave me, etc. I think it needs more, but not sure what.

I thought the paint pallette soaking in the sink looked rather artistic. Apparently the cat did too. Or was she just looking for a drink?

Shoe Painting

These are the old shoes I've been busy painting for my friend's 40th high school reunion.
She plans to use them as centerpieces on the tables with flowers in them (?)

JuLy MeMoRiEs

Important Father/Son Experience: Lighting Punks.

Practicing the

Perfect Cast

in Shallow Waters

The month of July started out with a trip South to pick up the youngest grandboy to include him in the family reunion. Gavin lives in Texas. His dad lives in Iowa. They can't stand being apart. See the love.

























































































Important Father/Son Experience: Lighting Punks.