Grandma Barbara's Quilts & More

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY TREE

2012-02-02T11:17:00.000-06:00

This has been an amazing couple of weeks, genealogically speaking. Not only have I found more ancestors, I found a new cousin!! Unbeknownst to be, Ancestry had just added information from local Pennsylvania churches to their database. At the same time a lady named Linda contacted me thru Ancestry telling me that one of my maternal aunts was her grandmother. We immediately started exchanging info and she was the one who told me that there was info on my great grandfather, Reuben Lake Miller's, parents. I was sooo excited because that's been the last brick wall for that generation.

REUBEN LAKE MILLER

Based on church information, we discovered that Reuben's parents were William and Kezia Lattig Miller. The funny part is how many different ways Kezia's name is spelled on different documents. One census even spelled it "Theresia".

It appears that the Millers are Irish and the Lattigs are Dutch. Both families have been in America since before the Revolution, mostly in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, which is near Easton. Of course more research and confirmation will need to be done, but it's so nice to have that brick wall broken down at last.

And the best part is that I have a new cousin who is just as interested in researching the family tree as I am.

VETERINARY UPDATES

2012-01-14T11:28:00.001-06:00

Well, this has been a busy week, vet-wise. We had three vet visits this week for three different cats. On Wednesday Buddy had his regular eye check-up with Dr. Hermann. The pressure in his eyes is pretty stable, though higher than normal in the left one still. Buddy is so good during the exam and Dr. Hermann is just the best! He answers all my questions like I have a few brain cells and explains things well. We go back in four months.

Wednesday afternoon I finally got Max in for his checkup and fructosamine with Dr. Hseih. Was she surprised when Max showed up at 15 lbs! His exam went well and his fructosamine showed his glucose was being maintained well. He's down to 5 units of insulin twice a day. I was so amazed that I was able to catch him Wednesday morning. I didn't even call for an appointment until I had him secured in the bathroom. For a big guy he can sure move fast! Since he's doing so well he doesn't have to go back for 6 months!!!

Thursday Micha had his recheck. They did bloodwork and an exam. I really like Dr. Werner - she handles Micha well and doesn't take any of his guff personally. His kidney values were actually down a bit more, which is good. However, he is now experiencing some anemia - a result of the decrease in kidney function. If it continues to increase, he may need some bone marrow injections. He goes back next week. Micha does look much better and his appetite appears a bit better. He has gained 3 ounces since last week. He's tolerating his fluids well and I've caught him nibbling at the dry food. As long as I can get at least 1200 cc's of the special canned food in him each day, I don't really care if he eats the dry, too. He's staying hydrated and that's important. I know his days are numbered, so I want to make him as comfortable as possible. He still has lots of strength and his usual vim and vinegar. When that changes I'll know it's time to let him go. In the mean time we will both enjoy our time together.

So it goes. These guys and their housemates do take a lot of my time, but I don't know what I'd do without them.

FURTHER MICHA UPDATE

2012-01-08T11:45:00.000-06:00

It's been a busy, busy week and I apologize for taking so long to update Micha's condition. He spent the New Year's weekend at the emergency clinic for continued IV fluids. Since they were open Monday, he stayed there rather than going to the vet and then back to the clinic. Tuesday morning I moved him back to the vet. His numbers were down, but continued above normal.

The best news was that Tuesday evening he got to come home instead of going to the Emergency Clinic again. He was so happy to be home and I was happy to have him here. He knew he was home as soon as we drove into the garage. I set up a cage in his room as I didn't want him wandering about with his IV catherter still in. He wasn't happy about the cage, but settled in.

Wednesday morning we went back to the vet for more IV fluids and more bloodwork. The vet was disappointed that his numbers didn't stay, but went up just a tad. However, the best news of the week was then Wednesday night he came home for good, hopefully. They felt that this was as low as his numbers were going to go and it didn't make sense to keep him in the hospital for more fluids.

I can tell he feels better as he's not cranky and even talks to me a bit. I move him in and out of the cage depending on the time of day. He's supposed to be only eating some canned food especially for kidney failure patients and he gets a supplement twice a day and, supposedly, an appetite enhancer once a day. We are also doing subcutaneous fluids - 150 ml daily. He's not too keen on the canned food yet and I've caught him nibbling at the dry food. I'm not going to be too awfully strict as he does need to eat, though the dry food isn't the best for him. He's been a doll in taking his subQ fluids. He does not like the syringe feeding. He does nibble a bit at the canned food, too.

Another bit of good news is that he doesn't have to go back for a check until the 11th or 12th!

We are working out a schedule and it's almost time for his fluids so I will sign off for now. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and good wishes for Micha's recovery. As the vet said, there is no "cure" for kidney failure, but we can work on maintaining a good level of living while we can.

MICHA UPDATE

2011-12-31T09:45:00.000-06:00

Micha is back at the Emergency Clinic, probably for the weekend. He had a good day at the vet and they were able to get urine for urinalysis and culture to see if anything was going on there. He still hadn't eaten any food. Since the vet would be closed for the entire weekend, he had to go back to the Emergency Clinic.

When I picked him up at the vet, he seemed much more alert though still cranky. I remembered that most of the other indoor cats loved the Purina Cat Chow that I feed the outside cats - they think it's candy! So I put some in a baggie to see if Micha would eat it. Dr. Inman mentioned a possible medication that requires being taken with food.

While we waited at the Emergency Clinic for him to be admitted, I dropped some of the Cat Chow in his carrier and - surprise, surprise - he ate it!! It's not the best thing for a diabetic cat to be eating, even if he is in remission right now. But he needs to eat so . . .

The Emergency Clinic is an interesting place. When we walked in, there was no one else there. The minute we got seated there were three dog brought in, two of which needed immediate attention. So we waited about an hour for admission. But we had people to talk to and I was interacting with Micha. There were two dogs who lived together and were devoted to each other that got in a fight over a knuckle bone. One just had some damage to the face and ears, but the other was in worse shape. I don't know how that worked out. The lady who brought them in was so distraught so we talked about dogs and cats and I hope she felt a bit better when I left.

I will go visit Micha later today with the hope that his bloodwork shows drastic improvement. I also appreciate all the prayers and good thoughts that folks are sending our way. It really helps both of us. I'll post an update later on today when we have the lab results.

KITTY MEDICAL CRISIS

2011-12-30T10:04:00.000-06:00

I had to take my dear, sweet Micha to the vet yesterday evening. He's a 10-year old seal point rescue and former foster kitty. Several years ago he was diagnosed with diabetes and very early stage renal failure. Over the years his diabetes has ebbed and flowed as his need for insulin changed. He's been on a "honeymoon" for a while now.

I noticed this week that he was looking kinda ragged and he was dehydrated. I was able to get an appointment with his vet late yesterday afternoon. His blood work showed that he was in acute renal crisis with his numbers way off the charts. The treatment is lots of IV fluids in an attempt to get the numbers down and somewhere close to normal.

Since it was late and his IV usage needed to be monitored, the vet had me take Micha to the Emergency Clinic for the night. He wasn't very happy about it, but that's what we did.

I picked him up early this morning and brought him back to the vet for the day. With a holiday weekend coming up, I'm not sure what's going to happen. It would be nice to have him home for the weekend rather than at the Emergency Clinic again. Or the vet since they don't have anyone there at night.

Micha was his usual (when not feeling well) cranky self when I picked him up and was noticeably heavier in his carrier. He looked good and all his vital signs were normal so he's not in critical condition. I hope we can pull him thru this since he's really a sweetie when he's feeling good.

I remember rescuing Micha and his two sisters 10 years ago. Their mom was a beautiful solid black feral cat. The kittens were in the back yard and I just went out and grabbed them. I can still see their mom on my heels hissing and growling all the way as I ran back to the house. She looked like a miniature panther. I don't know what every happened to her as she disappeared several months after that. Micha's sisters were adopted by a nice lady and I got to keep the little guy.

I have a couple of kitty quilts in my Etsy store that I may switch to Ebay to see if I can raise some funds for his treatment. I'm not sure if my finances can take another major vet bill, but I will see that Micha gets the best treatment.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce you to Micha and let you know about his situation. He could use all the prayers and healing energy you can send his way.

NEW KITTY FABRIC RAGGIES

2011-12-16T20:10:00.000-06:00

I finally got around to using more of the cat fabric that my friends have given me and made two little raggies. The first is made from 42 6" blocks using 21 different fabrics (22 if you count the fabric on the reverse). It measures 29" X 34", the perfect lap quilt or crib quilt or even a table topper. Some of the fabrics are recent and some are vintage and they all combine to make a cat lover's quilt.

The second raggie is smaller - 19" X 19" - and would be a perfect table topper, security blanket or even a bed for your fur person. It's made from several cat prints by Debbie Mumm.

Both raggies are in my Etsy shop in case you just have to have one or both.

I'm sure you remember how all this started. I was trying to raise money to pay for Mimi and Mikey's medical bills. Well, it was all worth it as they are growing into beautiful kitties. Especialy Mimi. See for yourself in this recent picture.

Beautiful, isn't she? And she's quite the talker, too. She wants to thank all of you who sent good wishes for her and her brother's recovery.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PAYPAL THESE DAYS? ANTI-CHARITY?

2011-12-06T10:22:00.000-06:00

I usually don't write "rant" blogs and I won't do it today, but I do want anyone who has ever dealt with PayPal as a customer or vendor to read these two blogs. You can then decide for yourself on the issue. First go to http://www.regretsy.com/2011/12/05/cats-1-kids-0/ to read about it from the "horses' mouth" so to speak. I've heard from many friends and online buddies who sell online and use PayPal about the heavy handedness of PayPal. This takes the cake. Then go to http://thegreengeeks.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/why-paypal-is-wrong-regarding-regretsy-according-to-their-own-policies/ for a great breakdown of how PayPal is making up the rules as they go along. Emailing PayPal probably won't help as several folks have pointed out, but getting this out to the public and, hopefully, making national news about it just might. So pass this on if you wish or not. I will leave it up to you to decide if it's worth the effort.

GETTING OLDER IS WEIRD

2011-11-30T10:04:00.000-06:00

This post isn't about quilts or cats, it's about something I've been experiencing recently. It's the realization that I'm getting old. OLD!! For an early baby boomer, it's an extremely curious happening. And for me it's really a strange feeling. I must admit that as a smaller than average person, I always looked younger than my actual age. Until recently. My mom told me I would appreciate that one day and now that it's gone, I really miss it.

I just turned 64 and it's such a strange concept that I keep looking in the mirror and saying, "really?" And the image that reflects back to me says, "really!" What ever happened to the fresh face and the relatively tight body? What happened to the endless energy? What happened to the hair?

I so wish my mom was around to shed some light on this experience. Does everyone feel this way once you get to the "senior" years? Does it always come as such a surprise? How did I get my mother's thighs and my dad's thinning hair? In my mind I don't feel "old", however that might feel. When I think of myself, the picture I get is of me in my 30's - the prime of life they say. I'm still in what I think is remarkably good health. My weight is good, my blood pressure is in the normal range, I'm fairly active, my mind is still sharp (most of the time). Oh, yeah, I have my "senior moments", but my only real medical issue is osteoporosis and I'm taking meds for that.

What is it that they say about knowing then what I know now? I would certainly take better care of my skin. I inherited my paternal grandmother's fair Irish skin. When I was a girl, no one had ever heard of SPF. Now I have what I call chicken skin on the arms and legs. No amount of moisturizing lotion will get rid of it. You just can't "cure" aging - especially retroactively.

Being an adult sucks a lot of the time. I try to tell my grandkids not to grow up too fast. Once you become an adult, that's it. There's no going back. And it's way harder than it looks to be a grown-up. What I wouldn't give sometimes to go back to when the biggest responsibility I had was to get my homework done on time.

But there are advantages to age. You've been there, you've done that and you have the wisdom gained from those experiences. Nothing much shocks me these days. Disgust, yes - shock, no. If I haven't been there and done that, I know someone who has. And you pretty much know what pleases you, what makes you smile and you know what you don't like. You do the former and avoid the latter. You have learned that love and family are soooo very important. And friends. Oh what would I do without my friends?

So, I've gotten this off my chest and made my statement about aging. It's a remarkable journey to be sure. And it's a journey I hope to be on for a long, long time. I want to be really "old". I want to appear on the Smuckers' jar on the Today show when I'm 100. I want to see my great grandchildren and their children. And I hope I can show them that getting older is a privilege, not a burden. GO BOOMERS!

FINALLY A PROJECT FOR ME!

2011-11-17T09:49:00.000-06:00

I'm finally working on a project just for ME! I picked up this kit at the 2010 International Quilt Festival here in Houston. I fell in love with the colors and the pattern and figured the wall hanging size would make a good beginner project. To make it just about perfect, all the pieces were die cut and the kit included the batting and backing. All I needed was the thread!!

This is a picture of the finished top which went together very quickly. I love the earth tones with soft greens and creams. The backing is more soft green. Even though the pieces were fairly small, I found that, with the die cutting, everything went together very easily.

Here's a close up of the different blocks. There were two different patterns. It was fun setting the blocks on point. I've never done that before. I was so lucky that the instructions were very detailed and had lots of pictures. I'm a visual learner so pictures are invaluable for me. Since it's so small and I don't have much experience with machine quilting, I will be hand quilting this one.

I must admit that my hand quilting skills leave much to be desired, but I'm using a neutral thread that blends in with the fabrics so you can't see all the mistakes without looking really close. The videos by Alex Anderson on "The Quilt Show" website have helped me select needles and thimbles and hoops. I even ordered her book on hand quilting and learned more on correct technique. It even has a section on building your own quilt frame from saw horses and 2" x 2" lumber. Cool! I'm seriously thinking about doing that.

I'll make another post when the quilt is all finished and bound. I'll be hanging it behind my bed since it coordinates very well with my round robin friendship quilt.

MIMI AND MIKEY UPDATE

2011-10-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

I just realized that I haven't posted an update on Mimi and Mikey lately. And they've had quite the busy month. Just a couple of weeks ago they had their spay/neuter surgery. After a couple of days of convalescence, they are once again flying about the house like a couple of ghosts, but sounding like a herd of horses.

Here's a recent picture of Mikey. Can't you just see the mischief in his eyes? He is very playful and energetic, but he's very sweet when he calms down. He will even accept a kiss or two.

This is Miss Mimi or as she's known formally, Princess Purrypants of Fuzzbutt. She's just as playful and energetic as her brother, but not quite as adventurous. When she's picked up she purrs up a storm and doesn't mind a cuddle or two. When her brother gets sent to the bathroom for a time out, she insists on joining him. They are inseperable.

Here's a picture of Mimi and Mikey eating their favorite treat - Fancy Feast. I took this picture to show how long their tails are. Mimi's is especially notable as it is so furry. When she's happy she carries it like a big, fluffy flag.

All in all, the kittens are a joy. They are happy and healthy. What more could anyone ask for?

OKTOBERFEST SALE

2011-10-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

I wanted to announce that I am having a month-long sale in my Etsy shop, Grandmabarbara. You can find fall and Halloween-themed fabrics at 15% off and Christmas fabrics at 10% off. They've already begun flying off the virtual shelves so get in soon to find your treasures.

U of OKLAHOMA SOONER RAGGY LAP QUILT

2011-09-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be listing this great University of Oklahoma "Sooner" raggy lap quilt in my Etsy store shortly, but I wanted y'all to be the first to see it. It's made from two similar prints and is backed with "recycled" denim from old jeans.

The quilt measures about 40" x 40", a great size for taking to the game to sit on or keep your legs warm. It would also make a great base for that fall picnic. Or you could make it into the perfect wall hanging for the den.

So, if you are a Sooner fan or know one, go check this out at my Etsy store.

NEW "MAXINE" TOTE JUST LISTED ON ETSY!

2011-09-20T12:23:00.000-05:00

I found this great "Maxine" fabric at a local fabric store a while back and thought it would make a great tote for a dear friend of mine. She's a big Maxine fan and this fabric was totally perfect. So I got enough fabric to make her a tote and one for me, too. Well, I had enough left over to make one to list so someone else can have the total "Maxine experience".

The fabric has a great retro-look aqua background with Maxine and her funny sayings on circles scattered all over the fabric. I added a cool orange button for the loop and button closure. The inside is a pretty aqua just a few shades lighter than the outside fabric. Also inside are two great pockets with more Maxine!

Just head for my Etsy store for your opportunity to experience Maxine in a whole new way!!

NEW FAT QUARTER BUNDLES IN MY ETSY STORE

2011-09-06T09:35:00.000-05:00

I just listed two new fat quarter bundles in my Etsy store. (To go to my store you can click on the link under the pictures on the right where it says Grandmabarbara.) Both are perfect for those fall projects you are itching to get working on.

First is a bundle of four fall-themed fat quarters. They are full of the great darker tones we like for fall and winter like orange, brown and gold. The themes include leaves, flowers and squash! The squash fat quarter is a design by Debbie Mumm and is very cute.

The next bundle consists of two Halloween prints with the classic motifs of pumpkins, black cats and candy. The pumpkins are full of personality, the black cat is the cutest kitten and the candy is my favorite candy corn. Too cute.

If you go check out my store, I'm sure you will find the perfect fabric for that new project you are planning. I still have more fabric to list so, if you don't find what you're looking for, please contact me and I'll see if I have it somewhere in this stack of fabrics.

MORE DESTASH!!

2011-08-23T12:36:00.000-05:00

I'm continuing to list more fabric in my Etsy store. Keep checking in to see the latest. Here are some of my current favorites.

Is this not the cutest cupcake fabric? Good enough to eat, I say!! Nice hot pink with colorful cupcakes everywhere.

This adorable fish print is so cute, too! I love the mottled sea blue background and the yellow, green and orange fish are too cute to eat. And the starfish . . . what can I say but star quality?

This last bundle is two half-yard cuts of the prettiest blue and yellow fabrics. They remind me of Provence and the beautiful sunlight they have their. And the bright blue is just gorgeous. This would be the perfect stash builder!

So go check out my Etsy store and you may just find the perfect fabric for your stash. Not only do I have yardage, but fat quarters and some charm squares, too.

SUPER GO!BABY GIVEAWAY

2011-08-14T14:55:00.000-05:00

You have just enough time to get over to Brassy Apple blog and get in on this great giveaway. Hey, if I don't win, I'd sure like to see you win. Here's the place to go http://brassyapple.blogspot.com/2011/08/accuquilt-go-baby-giveaway.html

IT'S TIME TO DESTASH!

2011-08-14T14:47:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's way past time for me to destash. For the uninitiated that means selling off some of the fabric you just had to have several years ago that's just been sitting in a drawer or a bin ever since and you forgot what you were going to make out of it. So, that's what I'm doing. I've listed several fat quarter bundles and some fabric and flannel yardages in my Etsy store. I've still got a ways to go so, if you don't find something that interests you right now, keep coming back. And if you are looking for something in particular, please email or convo me and I'll let you know if it's somthing I have.

This cute flannel with pastel handprints would be perfect for something for the nursery. I have a half yard of it.

I have two yards of this polar bear print flannel. Can't you see some cute PJ's for Christmas? And a red tshirt to go with them? Hmmmm!

I also have these assorted floral fat quarters in one bundle. Might they be just the thing to add into that quilt you're planning?

And I have three partial bolts of really nice homespun plaids in red (above), green and blue. Perfect for so many projects.

So go check out my Etsy store and keep checking back. I know I have just what you're looking for in a drawer or bin just waiting for you.

YOU WANT BEADS? I GOT BEADS!!!

2011-08-10T10:57:00.000-05:00

I almost forgot to tell y'all about the beads and stuff I have listed on Ebay. I'm trying to clear of stuff I don't use or need any more. I found all of these beads, containers, findings, tools, wire, etc that are just taking up space that I need for fabric and quilting/sewing stuff. So I listed the lot on Ebay. I've been told by those who know that there may be as much as $75 worth of stuff in the lot. And I'm offering free shipping!!!

This is the whole lot in one picture.

Three different jewelry pliers.

Metal storage boxes filled with beads.

More storage containers with beads.

Beading wire, cord and thread.

Layout board.

Bead mats.

Another storage container with beads, findings, charms, wire, needles, etc.

Everything fits in this great carrying case.

The beads range from tiny seed beads to bigger fashion beads. There are silver- and gold-toned findings of all sorts and some great silver-toned charms. Here's the link to the auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320739626605&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

If you're an experienced beader or wanting to try it out, this is the lot for you. If you know anyone who might be interested, please let them know. There are a couple days left on the auction and right now it's going for peanuts!!!

KITTY TOTE #4 IS ON EBAY!

2011-07-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ok, here's another nifty tote from the great Debbie Mumm fabric I was given. I just love the prim colors - gray, gold, dark red. So pretty. And all the great cats!!! This is what I would call a "wallpaper stripe" fabric with all the kitties in a row. This tote is one you can carry now and straight into winter!!

Inside I used more of the kitty print I used in the first rag quilt. It's a cream with cute gray, orange and black kitties. The inside pockets are more of the outside fabric and I used another Mumm gray print for the bottom stabilizer.

To get a look at the auction and more pics of the tote, use this link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320735635002&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

MY FAVORITE TOTE BAG YET!

2011-07-27T09:31:00.000-05:00

As promised, here is the first of two totes I'm making from the beautiful Debbie Mumm cat print fabric I received. I swear this is one of my favorite totes ever!! I love the colors and the little cat "portraits".

front

The inside is cute, too. The fabric has all sorts of words and sayings pertaining to cats. I used some of the same fabric as the outside for the great pockets.

inside

Here's a link to the ebay auction for this tote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320734278721&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

MORE KITTY FABRIC ITEMS

2011-07-26T10:02:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought I was totally out of kitty fabrics, my wonderful friend, April of Frog Hill Farm, sent me a big package of kitty fabrics by my favorie designer, Debbie Mumm. Of course they are in those lovely prim colors of gold, blue, green and that great dark red. Again the proceeds from these projects will go toward paying Mimi and Mikey's mounting vet bills.

So, with all that fabric right in front of me I started planning. First I made a nice 32" x 47" rag quilt using four coordinating fabrics. On the front I used matching fabrics with a gold and a blue background, combining solid and four-patch blocks. For the back I used two additional coordinating fabrics in that pretty blue. There's white flannel sandwiched in the middle. I love all the different kitties pictured in the prints. Anyway, I posted the quilt on ebay. You can find it at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320733351547&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

front

close-up

back

A couple of the fabrics in April's generous gift are more like border prints and lend themselves to super tote bags so they will be coming soon. One has a green background with "portraits" of cats in different sizes. The other is in the same colors as the quilt. I will let you know as soon as they are listed. Please go check them out and pass the link on to anyone you think might be interested in something like this.

Thanks to all of you who have supported me in this effort to get these precious kitties back on the road to good health and a long and happy life.

TOTE BAGS ON AUCTION FOR VET BILLS

2011-07-09T13:35:00.005-05:00

I almost forgot to tell y'all about the two totes I have listed on ebay. The proceeds of these, like the quilts, will go toward Mimi and Mikey's vet bills. Both are kitty themed, of course.

This one also has a bit of a crafty theme, too. It's all lovely pastels on cream with a turquoise lining.

It has two inside pockets and a magnetic snap closure. It also has a smaller outside pocket.

The second tote is a cat print in shades of pink and green with a pink lining. It also has an outside pocket with a big pink button.

I used a pretty window pane plaid in shades of pink and green for the inside pockets. This also has the magnetic snap closure.

These totes both have a few days to go in the listings so go check them out. Please pass the info on to anyone you know who might like to bid on one or both of these totes.

ANOTHER BABY CLOTHES QUILT DONE

2011-07-03T11:14:00.003-05:00

I recently finished and shipped another baby clothes quilt that I am very proud of. The customer sent enough clothing that I was able to have an embroidered or printed design in every block. It looks like a miniature tshirt quilt. There were a number of sports-related blocks and I used a cute blue fabric with multicolor stars to play off that theme. At about 32" x 47" it will make a great crib, bed or lap quilt. And a great wall hanging, too.

I so enjoyed making this quilt that I'm going to ask for more clothing items for quilts in the future so I can have more of the solid blocks with a design. With all the cute baby clothes out there these days I don't think that will be a problem.

A BIG THANKS!

2011-06-28T10:39:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to thank all of you who bid on the two kitty fabric quilts I listed to help pay the vet bills for my rescued kittens. The bidding is over now and the proceeds will make a dent in the bills.

I will be posting more pics and an update on the kitties in the next few days. They will be returning to the vet on Thursday for a recheck. I think she will be surprised at their progress.

Again, thanks so much to everyone who bid and who promoted the auctions. I love y'all!!

KITTY FABRIC QUILTS JUST LISTED

2011-06-21T10:55:00.004-05:00

Well, I finally got the kitty quilts finished and listed on ebay today. These are the quilts made from kitty prints donated by my great quilting buddies to help pay Fuzzy and Mikey's vet bills.

The first is a lap quilt size - 34" x 34" - and is made from more than 20 different prints. The back is a cute print with black, gray and orange cats on a beige background. There is a soft while flannel in the middle. It would also make a great wall hanging.

The second quilt is a bit bigger at 41" x 48". It would also make a great lap quilt. It would also look nice draped across your bed, chair or sofa. The back is a cute Debbie Mumm print of cats and fish on a deep red. The red in the fringe really makes the blocks pop. There are at least 12 different prints in this quilt.

Please check out the auctions and tell any of your kitty-loving friends about them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320717698517&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320717704944&ssPageName=STRK:MELELX.IT

KITTY UPDATE

2011-06-19T11:36:00.005-05:00

Guess I've been a little late in getting an update on the kittens posted. What can I say, it's been a bit busy around here.

Here are their pictures taken about June 2, 2011. They were a little more active, but still on mediation.

Mikey

Fuzzy

This second set of pictures was taken June 11 and the change is remarkable! They finished their medications and were eating like little monsters! They have been playing and love the balls with bells in them. And, of course, the cardboard scratcher is the first place they go when they get out for play time.

Mikey

Fuzzy

They do need to go back to the vet for their first kitty shots and a recheck. I weighed them the other day and they are both up to at least 24 oz and probably more by now. I can't believe the recovery they made. Now I will be looking for a home for them and, yes, I would like them to go together. They will still need spay/neuter surgery, but they aren't near big enough for that yet.

If y'all know anyone in the Houston area who would like to give a home to these two miracle kittens, please let me know. They are adorable and playful and love people. They seem to be afraid of nothing!

NEW PATIENTS IN THE HOUSE

2011-06-07T10:18:00.003-05:00

Well, we have two new "patients" in the house. A few weeks ago a stray, mostly feral, momma cat brought her three kittens to the yard. They were on the small side for the apparant age, but seemed to be healthy. A couple of weeks ago I started to notice that two of the kittens were having symptoms of upper respiratory infection. That's not too uncommon among feral kittens from my experience. When they started waking up with their eyes stuck together, I tried to clean them so they could see but it happened all over again. Then one disappeared for a day and I was really worried. So, a week ago Sunday, when the missing kitten reappeared seeming even sicker than before, I grabbed both of them and brought them in the house. I installed them in one of the cages I used when fostering and put it in the hall bath so they would be apart from the rest of the household. They weren't in good condition with diarrhea and all snotty and stuffy.

Since Monday was a holiday I didn't get them to the vet til Tuesday. My diagnosis was confirmed and they were put on three different medications - a general antibiotic, antibiotic ointment for the eyes and some meds for the "runs". I've named them Mikey and Fuzzy - brother and sister. They have been very good at taking their meds. They have been eating Fancy Feast and some Eukanuba kitten food. I also got them some milk replacement for added nutrition.

Here's a picture of them taken after they went to the vet. They are about 6 weeks old in that picture and they were on a hot water bottle as Fuzzy's body temp was low and the vet said to keep her warm.

In fact, her diarrhea had been so bad and irritated her little bottom so much it was hard to tell at the time if she was a boy or a girl. That's Fuzzy on the left and Mikey on the right.

The vet bill was not cheap so I'm putting together a couple of kitty themed rag quilts to put on ebay for auction to see if I can raise some money to defray the costs.

They are doing better and I will be posting more pics and keeping y'all updated on their progress. They are very sweet little kittes and will be looking for a home when they are all better and a bit older. I would like to keep them together since they have been thru this together. If anyone knows anyone in the greater Houston area that might be interested in giving these amazing and lucky kitties a home, please let me know.

I'll definitely let you know when the quilts are listed. One is a lap size with more than 25 different cat prints. The other will be a bit bigger with more than 12 different prints.

ANOTHER MAX UPDATE

2011-05-11T10:32:00.002-05:00

For those of you who might be interested, I thought I'd give a quick update on Max. On Monday Max went in for a check-up and it went soooo well. He's up to 14 lbs - double his weight when he went in the hospital 6 months ago! His vet is sooo thrilled with his progress. His blood glucose levels aren't as low as I would like, but they are "acceptable". His heart murmur hasn't worsened either. I've even seen a slight improvement in his neuropathy. So he doesn't have to go back to the vet for 3 MONTHS!!!! Yaaaayyyyy!! I'm so happy and I know Max is, too.

BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK MAY 1 - 7

2011-05-01T10:10:00.005-05:00

I just found out that this is "Be Kind to Animals" Week and it's been celebrated since 1915. Did you know that? I think it's lovely to have a week to emphasize kindness to animals, but it's something that should be practiced each and every day. And to ALL animals, tame and wild, pet or food provider. (Ok, here's where I get on my soapbox.)

I love animals, all animals, in their proper environment. After all, they are our brothers and sisters. I must point out that I am a carnivore and Ido believe that some animals are here to provide for our sustanence. Having said that, I believe that we can treat these animals with kindness and give them a good death. They don't have to be treated cruelly just because they are food animals. If you don't believe that this can be done, you should watch the movie "Temple Grandin". It's about a woman who is autistic, but manages to make a place for herself in the world of the rest of us. Her "specialty" is creating humane slaughterhouses for cattle. I know that sounds oximoronic, but it involves creating a space where the animals don't feel panic, where they are calm. Just watch it to see what I mean. There are other ways to provide a better life for food animals like chickens and pigs and the like. We need to treat them like the living, breathing, feeling creatures that they are. Treating animals badly scars our own souls, too.

Ok, the soapbox is closed. Sort of. I will spend today with my indoor kitties and the outdoor kitties and thinking about what I can do to help them all have as good a life as I can provide for them. What will you do to promote kindness to animals this week?

THE FINAL ROUND ROBIN QUILT

2011-04-21T09:23:00.004-05:00

This is Christina's Round Robin Quilt. She's my quilting buddy from Long Island, NY. Her quilt is as vibrant and beautiful as she is. I love the pinks and blues with that great gold, don't you? I think my favorite part is the flowers in the corner blocks. It makes the quilt really sing.

Since most of these quilts were going to go on a bed, we decided that the last addition would only be to the top and bottom to make them a tad more rectangular. For this quilt I tried to use all of the main colors and added squares in pink, gold and blue. I made the middle squares on each end a four-patch block.

I also included a picture of the back of the quilt as it was the prettiest of the bunch. I think this quilt could truly be called reversable as the back is just as interesting as the front.

This whole round robin project was a lot of work to be honest. But it was worth all the stress and frustration. The project challenged us to use our skills and our imagination to join together and make a true heirloom for each person. And I think it brought us a tad closer together. We may be separated by miles and miles, but we had a common goal and a love of quilting that brought these "quilting sisters" together. Maybe we should do this again? But not for a while.

ROUND ROBIN VI

2011-04-15T11:00:00.005-05:00

Though picking a favorite quilt from our round robin project is almost impossible, this one would be near the top of the list. I love homespuns in quilts and this one has a huge variety of colors and styles. This super quilt belongs to Jen and I know she is so happy with it. When I got this one in the mail and saw the homespun, the first thought I had was denim. I love denim with homespun. So I dug out three partial bolts of homespun I was lucky enough to find when one of our local Walmarts closed out their fabric department. They were in shades of red, green and blue. Then I went to my precious stash of recycled denim and cut corner blocks for my addition. Of course I used my usual squares, alternating the different homespun fabrics. I don't have a picture of the quilt completed, but there was only one more person for it to go to after me so this is pretty close. It has such a homey feel to it, I know it will be treasured for years to come.

ROUND ROBIN V

2011-04-09T18:47:00.005-05:00

The next round robin in line is from another of my Texas buddies - Lee. Lee loves purple! But, then, who doesn't? Here's her quilt as I received it. There's a beautiful star block in the middle with lots of lovely purple fabric all around. Of course I tore thru my stash looking for purple fabric to add my part. Not being an experienced quilter, I again chose squares for my addition. I added two rows of assorted purple fabrics from light to dark. This was a really fun addition, trying to get the sizes and proportions right. Good workout for the brain, I guess.

Here's the finished product. I love the addition of greens to the mix - a good color with purple. And the cream bits just add to the punch. I know that Lee will treasure this quilt for a long, long time, just like I do mine.

ROUND ROBIN IV

2011-04-05T09:21:00.007-05:00

Here we are at the halfway point with Round Robin quilt #4. this came from my friend, Suzanne. How she finds time to quilt I'll never know since she spends so much time taking care of her family and running the family farm with her hubby. Nevertheless, she does beautiful work. This quilt reflects her sunny outlook with a beautiful appliqued sunflower on pink and white blocks. The challenges increase as the quilts are now getting bigger with more additions from other participants. How to top the previous addition? Well, I decided to pick up the pink and add in some yellow to highlight the sunflower. I added two rows of squares in three shades of pink and one yellow. In the corners I added a fifth fabric in black with a small sunflower print to carry on the theme.

Here's the finished product being admired by Suzanne's darling dog, Chloe Rose. I just love the way it turned out. This quilt will be a great keepsake for years to come, not to mention a bright and sunny quilt to snuggle under on those cold Pennsylvania winter days and nights. Did you notice the sunflowers on the corners? So cute the way the stem extends down the side of the quilt. What a wonderful, creative group of women!!

ROUND ROBIN III

2011-04-03T11:54:00.006-05:00

Here's Round Robin Quilt number 3 as I received it. It is for my friend, Lynn, one of my Texas buddies. I think this quilt reflects her sweet personality perfectly. I just love all the pastel florals. Again, I love the pinwheel blocks, too! I'm going to have to work on mine so I can include them in future quilts. The original block is the pinwheel with the first row of squares. Next is how it looked after I added a row of squares in pastel florals in pink, blue and yellow. The hardest part of doing these round robin quilts is getting your addition to come out even when you're piecing it. Measuring and computing are not my strong suits, but this one came out pretty well. Here's a pic of Lynn's finished quilt. Isn't just precious? It looks so snuggly and pretty. The variety of prints is just astounding. I know that Lynn is very happy with her new quilt, too.

ROUND ROBIN II

2011-03-28T10:36:00.007-05:00

Here's the second round robin quilt I worked on. It belongs to my buddy in eastern Pennsylvania, Maryellen. We call her ME for short. The first picture is how it was when I first received it. I just love the bright pinks, blues and golds in the original block. The second round picked up the blues and added shades of brown that really set off the original block. I love the pinwheel blocks at the corners. Since the blues were picked up in the second round I decided to pick up the pink in my round. I added strips of blue and gold in addition to the pink and I think it makes a nice impact. Below is the finished quilt. It is so beautiful and colorful, just like the originator. *smile* It's so much fun to see how each person's addition feeds off the earlier ones and adds another dimension to the quilt. Now this picture was taken before the seams were clipped so just imagine all the soft and fluffy seams adding even more to this unique quilt.

Everyone who quilts and has quilting buddies should try a round robin project. It's fun and a great challenge to your imagination. And you get a beautiful keepsake quilt at the end. Thanks to the ladies of the Quilters Corner Group on eBay for this great experience. Stay tuned for the rest of the quilts.

ROUND ROBIN I

2011-03-22T09:34:00.004-05:00

Since I posted about my round robin quilt, I thought I would show the progression of the other round robins that passed thru my sewing machine. It's an interesting process to be sure.

The first block I received was from our group leader, an experienced quilter. I mean she has a quilt shop and teaches classes!! Talk about pressure! After thinking long and hard I came up with a simple block pattern in two tones of blue, to pick up the blue in the starter block. I didn't think of taking the "before and after" shots til round robin quilt 2, but below is a picture of the finished quilt.

The light block in the middle was the orignal lock and I added the blue squares. The other participants finished it off with mostly 30's reproduction fabrics. It turned out really cute, don't you think?

MY ROUND ROBIN QUILT

2011-03-21T11:08:00.005-05:00

Last summer, seven of my online quilting buddies and I decided we would do our version of a round robin quilt project. Round robin quilts are quilts that start with a center block and are sent around to the other participants for their additions and then returned to the originator.

Normally the finished project would be a completed quilt top, ready to layer and quilt. Since not all of us are experienced traditional quilters, we decided that each addition would be joined rag quilt style. That way, when the quilt returned to the originator, it would be finished except for clipping.

This project was the most fun I've had since I participated in an art doll project a few years ago. It is indeed a challenge to come up with something interesting and new to add to the quilt that's come to you. Each person sent preferences as to colors and other things, but it was totally up to each person to add whatever she wanted.

This is a picture of my completed quilt, still unclipped at the time. The block in the center was my starting place. All I requested was that the additions be in earth tones. When I made my block I used some fat quarters I had that appealed to me in color and print. I had forgotten that I got those fat quarters in a swap some time back. How wonderful that some of the round robin participants also participated in that fat quarter swap. As a result my quilt has some of the fabrics in the center block continued throughout the quilt.

This quilt is HUGE!!! I know from the postage on the box that it weighed 7 lbs! The bed that it's shown on is a queen and it extends down all four sides. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I opened that box and saw my quilt. I actually shed a few tears.

As soon as I get the quilt ready, it will go on my bed permanently. I am actually changing my decor to match. As you can see from the above picture, I even have someone just waiting to nap on it.

If I can get permission, I would like to post pictures of the other round robins as they came thru my sewing room. I took "before and after" pics of each one. All the participants posted pictures of their finished quilts in our group. It was really neat to see how each one turned out, especially the ones received early in the process.

Although our quilts went all over the country, this would be a nice project for a local quilting group. Even though it was hard sometimes to come up with something, the challenge was good for the brain. And the sense of accomplishment was wonderful.

MAX CONTINUED

2011-03-08T09:39:00.004-06:00

I thought I would post another update on Max. He's doing well overall. His blood glucose levels are getting close to regulation, but we're not there yet. He's maintaining his weight well, too. He is suffering from one side effect of high blood glucose levels - diabetic neuropathy.

This is a common side effect for any creature that has poorly controlled diabetes. The high level of glucose does something to damage nerves. In cats it manifests itself in a weakness in the back legs. Untreated it can lead to all sorts of dreadful things.

At first I thought Max was just having problems walking on the hard floors, but when he started walking on his hocks (heels in cats) I knew what was up. After some research I learned that, besides getting his glucose levels regulated, a form of Vitamin B12 called methylcobalamin has been purported to help repair the damaged nerves. This form of B12 is supposed to be better absorbed and, therefore, works better than the usual forms of B12.

Because Max has been extremely difficult to pill in the past I tried a spray form of methylcobalamin, dispensed in a syringe. Although I didn't mind the taste (yes, I try it first), Max wasn't too fond of it. When I found a great pill popper on Amazon, I also got a pill form and it's been going well. I tried one especially for cats, but am switching to a similar one that I can get cheaper. Since Max is also taking a gel potassium supplement, I just put some of the gel on the pill popper and he opens his mouth enough that I can get the pill in. Most of the time the first time works. BTW, I also found this same gel on Amazon at about a fourth of the price I've been paying at the vet's office. Wow, I didn't realize the mark-up on meds at vets' offices was so high!!!

Anyway, I haven't seen all that much improvement yet, but he doesn't appear to be getting any worse. I know that he won't get a lot better in this department until his diabetes is totally regulated. Right now he's on 5.5 units of insulin twice a day and he's beginning to stay below 300. Ideally I'd like to see him below 200,but the vet seems to be happy with below 300. Considering that Max's glucose levels were well over 500 when this all started, below 300 is indeed progress.

After going thru all of this, Max is still a very loving boy. He does startle easily, but he lets me check his blood glucose levels and give him his insulin without a problem. He's not too happy with the other meds, but it's not the big battle it used to be.

Max does have a heart murmur that the vet wants to check out further with an echocardiogram soon. The big problem is the cost - over $200. I think we will just have to postpone this until I get some of his bills paid down.

I hope you enjoy seeing Max's new picture. His shaved areas are just about all grown back and he looks more handsome than ever. Max and I appreciate all the prayers and good wishes we've received over the past months. I know that they have contributed to his remarkable recovery.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMA

2011-03-02T09:35:00.006-06:00

Today would have been my mother's 103rd birthday. I fully believe she would have been here to celebrate it if cervical cancer hadn't cruelly ended her life in May of 1984. Nellie Lois Mobley Galentin was a fighter, a survivor, an animal lover and a great mother.

Momma was born the youngest of nine children in 1908 rural Nebraska. As she was growing up her mom spent a lot of time away from home, nursing those sickened in the widespread Spanish influenze epidemic around the time of WWI. Luckily her dad was there to look after her. She grew up a very independant woman. Unusual in those days.

Nellie married my dad around 1928 or so (can't find a marriage certificate so far). It seemed she loved him. In the 1930's they moved to San Antonio, Texas. You can imagine the culture shock for someone raised "up north" to be in a city so vibrant that there were flowers blooming in the middle of winter. At that moment, my momma became a "Texan by choice". And she was so thrilled to have Texans celebrate every year on her birthday. (Of course Mar. 2 is also Texas Independence Day and Sam Houston's birthday for those of you deficient in Texas history.)

I didn't come along til my mom and dad had been married for 19 years and she was 39 years old. Talk about a surprise!!! I have been assured that it was a welcome surprise.

Me and momma in Hot Springs, Arkansas 1954

Because I was an only child I was wonderfully spoiled. As my mom had to grow up with a partially absent mother, she made sure she was always there for me. She wanted me to be an independent sort, but her closeness didn't always encourage that. However, I think I've become that woman over the years. I think she would be proud of me and what I've accomplished.

Even though she died a long time ago, I still miss her every day! She only went to school thru the 9th grade, but she had a hunger for learning. She just about wore out our Encyclopedia Brittanica looking up stuff. Oh, if only she had been alive in the age of the internet! My mom gave me an appreciation for learning and for life in general. I wish she had survived long enough to meet her grandson and great grandchildren. I know she's with me every day, supporting my every decision.

Happy Birthday, momma!!

BABY CLOTHES QUILT WITH BROWN

2011-02-25T16:10:00.008-06:00

When my customer chose brown for the color of the backing and framing for this quilt I was hesitant. The quilt was for her mom and her mom's decor was brown! Soooo, out I went searching for something brown that would go with the colors in the quilt.

I found this beautiful milk chocolate color fabric with polka dots in all the colors that were in the quilt! I couldn't believe how the brown brought out all the pinks, blues and yellows so well.

And the white flannel in the middle toned the bloom down just enought. I think it came out very nicely, don't you?

I just know that mom is going to be thrilled with this lapsized quilt. It not only has blocks from her daughter's baby clothes, but also her grandchildren's baby clothes.

Something else I did differently on this quilt was to group the four-patch blocks by color as much as I could. You know, pinks with pinks, blues with blues, etc. I really like it better than the random piecing. Anyway, I'm very happy with this quilt. It's already on it's way to my customer. I hope she and her mom enjoy it!

CHECK OUT THE NEWEST BABY CLOTHES QUILT

2011-02-11T11:14:00.007-06:00

This latest quilt is being shipped to my customer today, but I couldn't wait to share it with everyone. I did a couple of different things with this quilt that worked out really great. First, I used different fabrics for framing the blocks and for the backing. The blocks are framed with a creamy white fabric with multicolor dots that picked up the different colors in the garments. The back is a similar print with a blue background and multicolor dots. I also did a different layout with the appliqued blocks at the center of the quilt. I think it turned out kinda cute, don't you?

I had some clothing squares left over after I finished the quilt so I made the customer a little pillow cover that will go on a travel size pillow. I just sewed the squares together and framed everything with the blue dot fabric. It has an envelope back for easy pillow insertion and it's fully washable, just like the quilt.

I had a lot of fun with this new layout and pillow cover. I can't wait to start on the next one.

quilt front

quilt back

center close up

pillow front

pillow back

LATEST BABY CLOTHES QUILT

2011-01-26T11:05:00.006-06:00

I just put my latest baby clothes quilt in the mail to my customer. Every quilt project is different and has it's own challenges. This quilt includes a lot of older baby clothes belonging to the customer as well as garments that her children had worn. Some of the older garments required a bit different handling than the newer ones. I know that this quilt will bring back a lot of memories for this super customer.

I appliqued a number of pieces from items that weren't big enough for their own blocks. I love this one from a daughter's baby underwear. Sooo cute!

This is another piece from her son's items. A hat, I believe. I cut a circle of the fabric and appliqued it to some matching solid fabric.

I backed the quilt with some nifty fabric from Debbie Mumm. It picks up the different colors from the clothing and has a nice pattern. It also made the bloom very pretty.

Stay tuned as I will be doing other quilts for this customer using a great variety of garments.

RANDOM CAT THINGS

2011-01-24T15:50:00.006-06:00

Just wanted to share some random cat stuff today. You know how most cats just love boxes? Well, Goldie is one of those cats. If you put a box out, she's in it whether she fits in it or not. Here she is in a box that some Christmas gifts came in. It's a perfect fit. The minute it was empty she claimed it as hers and has spent a lot of time in it. Did you know that cats are like children? Well they are! When one has something the others want it, too, even if they never wanted it before. And that's what happened to this poor box.

Well, here's what happens when you get two cats in a one cat box. Katie just had to get in the box with her momma and it just couldn't hold both of them. I think Goldie is giving her a good talking to in this picture. Even though the box is a bit damaged now, everyone is still very interested in sitting in it.

MAX UPDATE: Max continues to improve every day. He's up to about 10 lbs. now, tho' I haven't weighed him in a couple of days. He's even getting a bit of a belly! Some recent blood work showed his potassium to be low so the doc has him taking this potassium gel twice a day. He doesn't seem to mind it a whole bunch. I also have him on some special Vitamin B12 called methyl 12 for a bit of neuropathy in his hind legs. This version of B12 is supposed to be absorbed better and it seems to be working. I'm even taking a bit of it myself as it can't really hurt. Max is such a trouper about taking all his meds and stuff. We don't have to go back for another check-up til mid February!

MAX'S PROGRESS

2011-01-03T14:46:00.003-06:00

I thought it was time to update everyone on Max's progress. And there has been a lot of progress. We are still working on getting his blood glucose levels down, but, otherwise, Max has been doing very well. I took this picture of Max just a couple of days ago. Doesn't he look handsome? We are still waiting on the hair in the shaved areas to grow back completely so he doesn't look quite so lumpy, but he's beginning to loose the bony look.

Max has gained some weight finally. He's up to 8.2 lbs from a low of 6.9 lbs a couple of months ago. And he's maintaining that weight. I use the Wii Fit to weigh him. He has his own Mii and everything. It makes it sooo easy to keep track of his weight. I just weigh myself first and then the two of us together. We won't talk about my weight!! lol

Max's blood glucose levels are still over 300 at 4U of insulin twice daily, but that is lower than when we started. He's been allowing me to check his glucose levels and give him his insulin shot twice a day with no problems whatsoever. He gets in my lap, I prick his ear and use the glucometer. Then he gets his insulin shot and we are done.

Max is venturing out of his room now and making friends. His bestest buddy right now is Oliver. They make a funny pair as Oliver outweighs Max by a good 10 lbs! But Oliver is very gentle with Max and Max thinks Oliver is just great.

Max goes back for a check-up on the 12th and I expect a good report on him. I'll give y'all an update after his appointment. Thanks again for all the prayers and good wishes for Max's recovery. He's come a long, long way and it was worth every penny.

BABY CLOTHES PILLOW COVERS

2010-12-30T19:45:00.007-06:00

Here are the two travel pillow covers I made to match the last two baby clothes quilts. For the front I just made two four-patch blocks and framed them with the same fabrics I used in the quilts. For the blue/green one I used the green for the framing and then the blue for the back.

blue/green front

blue/green back

For the pink one I used the backing fabric for the framing and made the back from some of the flannel receiving blanket my client asked me to use in both quilts.

pink front

pink back

The great thing about these pillow covers is that they are removeable and washable! It was totally my client's idea and I think they will look so cute with the quilts.

PINK BABY CLOTHES QUILT

2010-12-30T19:25:00.003-06:00

I finished the second baby clothes quilt for my great client. This one is predominately pink and I just love it. The framing and the backing are both in a beautiful rose pink with tiny dots in pink, green and cream.

front

butterfly appliques

love!

I also just finished two travel pillow covers to match this pink quilt and the previous blue/green one. I'll put those pics in the next blog.

DRUG COST SKYROCKETS

2010-12-26T10:17:00.003-06:00

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but my cat, Buddy, has glaucoma in both eyes. Along with two types of eye drops, he takes the human medicine methazolomide twice a day. I fill his prescription at a regular pharmacy and have for several years now. I would get 100 pills for around $35 - not too bad for something that helps Buddy. A couple of weeks ago I went to refill Buddy's prescription and the charge was $129!!! Of course I brought it to the attention of the pharmacist that this must be a mistake. After some research she told me that there had been two companies making the drug, but one had stopped making it recently. The other company has taken this opportunity to nearly quadruple the charge for this very commonly used medicine.

The pharmacist told me I should check the pharmacies at the "big box" stores as their pharmacies don't mark up the meds as much as other pharmacies. I called around and the cheapest I could find the medicine was $110. Luckily I checked with Buddy's eye doctor's office and they still has some of the methazolomide at the old price and I was able to pick up another bottle of 100. That will carry me to February. Then what? I don't know.

You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned drug company names. That's because I'm still not sure which company it is that has raised their prices so precipitously. Sandoz made the one that Buddy has been taking and I'm assuming that's the company that has ceased making it. It was a generic and I guess they just weren't making enough money off of it.

I will be continuing my research and when I find out the name of the drug company that has raised the price, I'll be sure to put it here on the blog. I will also be contacting the company about this issue. It's mostly older folks who take this drug, the least able in our society of absorbing additional costs like this. Even if you have insurance, your cost will go up. And if you don't . . .

NEW BABY CLOTHES QUILT

2010-12-24T10:12:00.008-06:00

I just finished another baby clothes quilt and I think it's the best one yet! Of course I feel that way about just about every project. My client and I had to compromise on the backing color and I think it turned out great. My client wanted green as it's the recipient's favorite color, but I thought blue would be better as most of the fabrics were in or had some shade of blue. So we compromised by using both and I just love it!!!

One of my favorite things about making these quilts is making appliques out of some of the embroidery on these clothes. I also try to transfer any cute little pockets, too. So much fun!

Here are some pictures of the quilt. And, of course, it's even better in person!

front

Love the dinosaur!!

Pockets and puppies

Back

I'm now working on one more quilt for this wonderful client and this one is for a girl with lovely shades of pink. I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of the weekend and will post pics as soon as I can.

MAX UPDATE II

2010-12-05T10:11:00.003-06:00

Sorry I've been so long with another update, but life has been crazier than usual. I had several urgent projects to get done and chose to get them out of the way. Now that they are finished, I can, hopefully, get back to normal.

First of all, Max is doing great. We had a not eating issue about a week and a half ago, but that's been resolved with some assisted eating for a day or two and a further realization that Max does not like change. I put down a bigger water bowl and he quit drinking water. Same with the food bowl. Crazy cat!!!

Max is still taking his insulin well and tolerates the twice daily ear pricks to check his glucose levels. They are still higher than I would like, but are gradually coming down. I expect another dosage increase when we go back for another check-up this coming week.

I need to get a video clip of Max fussing at me. His voice is soo squeaky like a haunted house door. And he's so loving. He's actually becoming a lap cat of sorts, though his body is almost too long for my lap.

I've received a ton of cat print fabrics from my quilting buddies and hope to have some made up into quilts and stuff soon. They will be offered for sale to try to raise some money to pay Max's considerable vet bills. What great friends I have!! Y'all know who you are!!!

I'll be back with some more pics and, maybe, a video clip, shortly.

MAX UPDATE

2010-11-15T09:07:00.003-06:00

Just a quick update on Max. I can't believe he's been home a week today. The improvement is amazing!! He's eating like a horse and is so much stronger. He's getting oral liquid meds - an antibiotic and one for icky poops - and he's not happy about them, but he's taking his insulin injections like a trouper!! He goes back for a check-up next week and I can't wait to see how much weight he's gained. So it's "so far, so good" for Max.

I'll try to get some new pics done and posted this week. I can't wait till all the shaved places grow out. Right now he looks like he got a particularly bad poodle cut!

Just a reminder for all you cat owners - keep an eye on your cat's habits. If she starts drinking more water and, as a result, peeing a lot more, whisk that feline to the vet - she may have diabetes. As a veteran of now three cats with diabetes I can tell you that it's manageable and worth the small extra effort. Getting the diabetes under control at the beginning can be frustrating, but when your efforts pay off, it's easy to deal with. There are a lot of good sites that have good info about feline diabetes. My best tip is to invest in a good glucometer and learn how to check your cats blood glucose levels from time to time. It's easy peasy, as they say.

MAX

2010-11-10T20:39:00.006-06:00

As I stated in my last blog, my cat, Max, was in the hospital. He was diagnosed diabetes and has possible problems with his pancreas and liver. Below is a picture of him in his cage at the hospital. He had all sorts of tubes attached to him including a feeding tube.

It all began on a Friday night when I found him in the bathtub in the middle of the night. I thought he was dying right then and there. Max has always been very antisocial and when he let me pick him up and hold him I knew he was very sick. I watched over him and when he was still around on Sunday morning we went to the emergency vet clinic. They kept him overnight and my vet referred him to Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists for evaluation. He stayed there for two very long weeks.

Max in the hospital

I knew if anyone could save Max, these people could. I've had pets treated there many times. I think Gulf Coast is one of the top vet clinics in the country. They let me come and visit Max every day except Sunday. I hope it helped Max and I know it helped me.

I'm not sure that Max is totally out of the woods, but he's ever so much better. Max is now home, but he's a long way from being 100%. He's probably lost a third of his body weight and is still very weak. He's on insulin twice a day. But he's eating and drinking water and purring like crazy when I pet him. He's got shaved spots all over him - legs, neck, tummy - looks like a bad poodle cut.

Max at home

Having him in the hospital was very, very expensive, but I couldn't let him die without a fight. Not after he struggled to stay alive. Soon I'll be listing some pet-themed quilts and other items to raise money to help pay Max's hospital bill. Meanwhile, Max could sure use your prayers and positive, healing energies.

BACK ON EBAY

2010-11-01T11:35:00.004-05:00

Well, y'all, I'm back on ebay. I only have two listings right now, but plan on a lot more soon. My kitty, Max, is in the hospital and I need to raise some money to pay for his care. I'll post more about him later. Right now I'd love for you to check out this cute little lap quilt I made from a MODA layer cake in the "Wee Woodland" collection by Keiki. It has the fall colors that are so perfect right now. It has one layer of flannel to make it the perfect weight to snuggle under on these cool autumn days. Go see at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBaylSAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320611380651&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

My next listing is a cute little holiday table topper in the Christmas colors of red, green and gold. I made some little four-patch blocks using two holly prints in green, red and metallic gold and framed them with a beautiful red, green, metallic gold and black paisley. The back is a green and red holly print on black. There's a middle layer of red flannel to add body and extra color. Check it out http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBaylSAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320611724902&ssPageName-STRK:MESELX:IT

Guess I'd better get back to sewing!! Thanks for stopping by.

NEW ETSY LISTING

2010-10-13T14:13:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've posted a listing in my Etsy store for a custom baby clothes quilt. Followers of my blog can get a 10% discount on any item in my store. Just convo me and let me know what you've purchased or are interested in. www.grandmabarbara.etsy.com

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS QUILT

2010-10-12T09:30:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know about the beautiful, queen size breast cancer awareness rag quilt that's up for auction on ebay. A whole bunch of ladies from my two online quilting groups contributed blocks for this quilt and one fantastic lady sewed it all up. The proceeds from this auction will be going to another dear friend who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. She is currently undergoing chemo and radiation therapy and, frankly, could use some help with all the medical bills. This quilt has beautiful blocks of breast cancer awareness prints and awesome embroidery. There's lots of time to get your bid in on this one of a kind heirloom quilt. Check it out at http://cgi.ebay.com/Breast-Cancer-Awareness-Rag-Quilt-Queen-Size-Fundraiser-/310260419328 This is your chance to help someone one on one.

GREAT GO! GIVEAWAY

2010-09-25T09:08:00.002-05:00

Here's another GO! giveaway that you still have time to enter. Fabrics n Quilts is giving away a fantastic GO! cutter from Accuquilt. If you already have a GO!, you can check out her GO! die giveaway elsewhere on her blog. Anyway, check this out http://fabricsnquilts.blogspot.com/2010/09/win-accuquilt-go-cutter.htm
You should also checkout Fabrics n Quilts website for some great fabric buys and lots of good specials. And there are some great tutorials, too.

OMG!! ANOTHER GO! GIVEAWAY

2010-09-23T20:23:00.003-05:00

Ok, folks, this is getting serious. I found another blogger giving away an Accuquilt GO! plus three dies!!! If you're interested, please check out Millie's Quilting blog at http://milliesquilting.blogspot.com/ The winner will be chosen the morning of October 2, so you best get a move on it.

BABY CLOTHES RAG QUILT

2010-09-12T15:58:00.009-05:00

I finally finished the first rag quilt I've ever made from baby clothes. It was definitely a challenge since most baby clothes these days are knits, but it was a fun challenge. I used a featherweight fusible interfacing to stabilize the knits and bordered each block with cotton fabric. There's flannel in the middle with more cotton on the back. I only hope my customer is half as pleased with it as I am.

Close up of quilt - I used a combination of solid and pieced blocks.

Close up of pieced block showing the cotton borders.

I'm now working on another one using similar baby clothes and a yellow border and back. So whatcha' think? Do you think maybe other people would be interested in an heirloom quilt like this?

FABRIC GIVEAWAY!! FABRIC GIVEAWAY!!

2010-09-06T17:25:00.002-05:00

If you love fabric half as much as I do, you will want to get yourself over to Fabrics N Quilts' blog right here http://fabricsnquilts.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-have-giveaway.html?utm_source=Fabarics+N+Quilts+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9180fb3847-0614106_13_2010&utm_medium=email The fabric in the giveaway is the new Quest for the Cure fabric and is just beautiful!!!! So go check this out and get your entries in.

HAPPY LABOR DAY

2010-09-06T10:51:00.003-05:00

Happy Labor Day, y'all!! Are you laboring today or taking some time off? Whatever you are doing, I hope you have a great day.

I'll be doing some sewing, but I wouldn't call it laboring. The most laboring I do these days is making quilts or whatever for sale. Today I'm working on a round robin quilt. My Quilters Corner Group is doing this and it's a lot of fun. If you aren't familiar with the process it goes like this - everyone makes a center block for their quilt and then sends it on to the next person designated for them to add to it. On it goes to each person in turn for more additions, while each person's quilt does the same thing. At the end each quilt returns to the originator and they have a one-of-a-kind heirloom quilt.

I'm working on quilt number 3, if I remember correctly. I wish I could post pictures, but no one is supposed to know what's going on with their quilt til they get it back. I'll post before and after pics when this is all done. Well, for most of them, anyway. I didn't take pics of the first one or of mine before it left. Although I'm no where near an experienced quilter, this process hasn't been quite as hard as I expected. I have to admit that I've gone to the internet for inspiration as I don't know all the possibilities, yet. Anyway, I'm having fun with it. I've already decided what to do with this particular quilt and all I need to do is finish cutting out the backing and the flannel and putting it together. I'll make the Sept. 15 mailing deadline with time to spare, I think.

For "labor", I'm working on an interesting project. A former custom quilt customer asked if I could make a quilt out of baby clothes. My first thought and my response were "I don't know why not!" So that's been my project for a few weeks. It's been an interesting creative process and is moving along nicely. I have one ready for clipping and have started assembling the second. There will be two more after this. I'm thinking of offering custom baby clothes quilts in my Etsy store when I'm done with these. You send me the clothes and I'll make the quilt. Do you think there's a market out there for that? For heirloom raggy quilts made with baby clothes? I'll post pics when I'm done with the first two. Please let me know what you think.

THE BOOT IS HISTORY!!

2010-08-23T15:00:00.002-05:00

Just in case some of you have been holding your breath, waiting to hear when Grandma would lose her boot, the time has come!!! Yaaayyy!!! Doc said I could kick the boot habit, but I still have to wear shoes. No flip flops. Real shoes. Oh, well, half the battle. I'll still have physical therapy to get rid of the rest of the swelling and in two weeks I'll get some custom orthotics for my shoes. I forgot to ask if they could go in flip flops. When I go to PT on Wednesday I'll get some generic gel othotics for the interim. Anyway, just wanted to share the good news!! I'm thinking about using the boot for a planter. Some nice trailing ivy, maybe?

ANOTHER GREAT GO! GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-08-21T22:52:00.004-05:00

I just found out about another great Accuquilt GO! giveaway. Go check out Canton Village Quilt Works' blog at http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-go-giveaway.html . Easy to follow instructions to get up to four entries. Now don't you want that GO! cutter for your very own? I know I do so I'm off to do my entries. You only have until August 26 to get your entries in so you had better hurry!!

GREATEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!

2010-08-08T16:30:00.004-05:00

My friend Judy at Sewfunquilts is having a great giveaway on her blog. You can win a great Accuquilt GO! Cutter. Those of you out there who quilt will know exactly what a great timesaver the GO! can be. If you want to win one go to http://sewfunquilts-sewmeow.blogspot.com/2010/08/are-you-ready-to-go.html and check out the rules.

GRANDMA BOOTED!

2010-07-30T15:06:00.004-05:00

No, it's not what you think!! The car wasn't booted and Grandma wasn't booted out of anywhere. Grandma injured her left foot and now has to wear this lovely "boot" for who knows how long. There's nothing broken, but there might as well have been because my foot reacted as if it had been broken. It would swell up and then get better then swell up again. And it hurt like heck!! It took me over two weeks to finally get to the foot doctor, but I have to admit that since I've been wearing the boot, the pain in my foot has ceased.

I'm thinking about wearing a weight on my right foot to balance out things. Otherwise, my left leg and derriere will be more toned than the right!! OMG!! I'll be lopsided!!! lol Maybe it just feels that way.

Some of my friends have said that I should decorate the boot, but I don't know. It certainly isn't very pretty. I think of myself as a basic black kind of girl, but what do you think? Any suggestions to make this thing a little less, um, ugly?

I know I'll be wearing it for at least another week, that's when I see the doctor again. Meanwhile, I'm getting some interesting physical therapy consisting of attaching electrodes to my foot to make the muscles move. Grandma knows how to have fun, doesn't she?

CURRENT PROJECTS

2010-07-12T12:53:00.005-05:00

I just wanted to share my latest project of which I'm very proud. I saw a tutorial for a patriotic table runner on the net (forget where, but will let you know when I remember). I didn't want red, white and blue so I searched the stash and realized it was perfect for a Christmas runner with only one color change - replace the blue with green. So I used a number of different of different Christmas prints to make this and I think it turned out great!

This picture is of the runner hanging on my design wall.

This is the runner on the cutting table. Please ignore the mess!!

I'm backing it with another Christmas print - green with little holly leaves - and using another print for the binding should I ever get that far. At first I thought about hand quilting, but couldn't decide on a design. Then I thought I could just stitch in the ditch, but why do that by hand when you can do it easier on the machine? So I'm still thinking on it. I am hoping to get it finished by this Christmas!!

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY!!! PLEASE?!?!

2010-07-02T09:15:00.004-05:00

Ok, I know I said we needed some rain, but enough already!!! I couldn't get out and run some needed errands yesterday because of the rain. I'm not afraid of getting wet; it's the crazy Houston drivers and unexpected standing water that keeps me in. There has been enough rain at my house that the backyard is beginning to pond. We had at least an inch yesterday and expect that much more today. Of course I shouldn't complain when people in areas near here are having water in their houses.

At least I was able to use my time constructively yesterday to start on a cute quilted table runner. The pattern I found on allpeoplequilt.com had it in patriotic colors, but, if you change blue to green, you get Christmas!!! I had a lot of Christmas fabric in my stash so it was easy to pick out some fabrics to use. I have two of the three blocks assembled and it was really pretty easy. Of course the cutting would have gone smoother if I had paid better attention to the instructions. However, I have a lot of the fabric so I'll just keep the extras for another creation. Maybe another runner? Who knows? I'll post a pic when I get done.

I'm going to prepare to at least hit the grocery store today. The cat food and kitty litter can wait til another day. If I don't go to the grocery store I may have to resort to eating cat food so I may just have to brave the rain. Somehow Fancy Feast Turkey and Giblets just isn't that appetizing - even with a salad!

HURRICANE SEASON

2010-06-29T22:14:00.003-05:00

Well, hurricane season began June 1 and now we have our first hurricane in the Gulf before the end of the month. That's early in the season, but then we've had some strange weather this past year so why am I surprised? It looks like Alex will be a Cat 1 and will go into Mexico. Being on the "dirty" side of the storm we will most likely get some rain, but will be spared for the most part. I'm sorry for Mexico, but glad for us.

Having a storm in the Gulf does make folks around here sit up and take notice. I've felt that invisible energy that generates when people are thinking about what they need to do. Well, we are spared this time, but maybe I'd better stock up on Spam just to be sure. And batteries. Maybe some water, too.

GREAT GIVEAWAY FROM FABRICS N QUILTS

2010-06-21T09:29:00.003-05:00

I love giveaways, don't you? Well, I've found this amazing giveaway offered by Fabrics n Quilts over on her blog. Just click on http://fabricsnquilts.blogspot.com/2010/06/time-to-celebrate-how-with-giveaway-of.html#comment-form and go check it out. It's easy to enter and the prizes are so delicious!!! Tell her Grandma Barbara sent you!! Good luck!

MORE INFO: I forgot to say that there will be 5 winners!!! Can you imagine 5 chances to win some of this lovely stuff? Wow!!! Go enter right now!!!!!!!

BREAST CANCER QUILT PROJECT

2010-06-14T08:46:00.003-05:00

Lately I've been working on my contribution to an upcoming charity auction quilt for my ebay group Quilters Corner. The quilt itself will probably be up for auction in the early fall and I think it will be our best one yet. The main block will be like the one shown below, though each person will have their own fabric combinations. There will also be other pieced and solid blocks. It will be constructed in the rag quilt style and will have pink flannel on the back with a layer of white flannel in the middle. Very comfy and cozy!

Not being much of a traditional quilter, I first thought that I'd never be able to construct such a complicated block. Well, with lots of patience and a nearby seam ripper, I managed to get one done. I've also been doing some BOM blocks from one of my favorite shops - FabricsnQuilts - and that's given me more confidence and practice in piecing blocks. Since the first ribbon block, I've assembled two more and it gets a bit easier with each one. I admit that I'm spatially challenged and have to really look at the pictures and compare them with the pieces that I have. It's been fun and gives me a great sense of accomplishment when my block closely resembles the pictures.

Please stay tuned for details on the charity auction. All of the proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation as they have in our previous auctions.

ROSES ROSES ROSES ZIPPER BAG

2010-06-03T10:21:00.005-05:00

I made this little bag a while back, but I felt it needed something else. I got inspiration from a friend and made a little beaded pull for the zipper and that was what it needed!

I used some of my favorite fabric in the whole world, "Rose Garden Tea", to make this little bag. The lining is a pink, green and cream windowpane plaid. Go check out my Etsy listing for more details and pics http://www.etsy.com/listing/48649997/rose-garden-small-zipper-bag-with-beaded

PINK RIBBONS AND ROSES BAG

2010-06-02T09:01:00.003-05:00

I have a project drawer where I put fabrics I think will make something nice. I also have bags of squares, FQ's and strips I've received in swaps. So I was looking for something to sew the other day and found a bag of strips I had tucked away waiting for inspiration. I wanted to do another ditty bag using strips so these strips seemed to meet my needs. I pulled out some pink ribbon and pink rose prints and went to work. Now I have it listed in my Etsy store. You can see it at http://www.etsy.com/listing/48454223/pink-ribbons-and-roses-ditty-bag-sewing

This bag is the perfect size for sewing supplies, cosmetics, lingerie or whatever. I think it would make a cute gift bag to fill with wonderful goodies for a special friend. It has a velcro closure and a cute floral button.

If you would like one in a special fabric, just let me know. I can make them from strips or from one piece of fabric.

YELLOW DUCKY QUILT

2010-05-24T21:12:00.003-05:00

The other day I was browsing through my "project drawer" looking for some inspiration and ran across some Tutti Frutti fabric in coordinating duck prints. That cute little duck was so appealing I had to make something. I found a nice mottled yellow solid to go with the prints and made a 30" x 37" rag quilt throw. Since it's summer I thought I'd layer it with only one layer of soft yellow flannel. It's the perfect weight for when the A/C gets a bit much. And it would also make the cutest wall hanging to brighten any room.

I listed the quilt in my Etsy shop. You can see it at http://www.etsy.com/listing/48017663/ducky-rag-quilt-throw-or-wall-hanging-30

MORE OLD PHOTOS

2010-05-15T09:12:00.007-05:00

I think these two scanned tintypes are the most interesting of all my old photos. They are of my great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Mobley and my great grandmother, Hannah Deaver. They are my mother's paternal grandparents. Everyone always looks so stern or lacking in emotion in these old pics, but I think ole T. J. looks a bit wild and crazy, don't you?

Thomas Jefferson Mobley was born in Maryland on 19 Aug 1808, married Hannah on 18 Mar 1830 in Belmont County, OH, and died in Salem, NE on 17 Sept 1878. They had 8 children including my maternal grandfather, Lewis Cass Mobley. T. J.'s parents were Levin Mobley and Nancy Tucker. He was child # 9 of 10!!

I swear that Hannah here looks like she would wash your mouth out with soap if you said a bad word!! I guess being a mom of 8 could do that to you. Hannah Deaver was born in Harford County, MD, on 15 Aug 1812 and died 25 Feb 1897, in Salem, NE. I think 85 was remarkable for that time. It seems that I come from a long line of long lived old ladies. I like that!!!

Hannah's parents were Richard and Elizabeth Deaver of Maryland. She was the second of 6 daughters! It looks like she met T. J. in Maryland, they moved to Ohio and then to Nebraska. The rest is history, as they say.

One of the things I love about genealogy is that it gives you the chance to see your own family in the context of the history of this country and other countries. My ancestors, for the most part, came to America when it was still a colony and the families migrated across the country with millions of others. I'm sure some fought in the Revolution and I know of a few who fought in the Civil War and the Mexican War. It just makes all the history I studied in school come alive. My family was part of all of that. Cool!!

MY GREAT-GRANDPA REUBEN

2010-05-05T12:57:00.010-05:00

I finally got that tintype of my great-grandfather, Reuben Lake Miller, scanned into the computer. He is my mother's maternal grandfather. Though I never knew him, of course, I've always felt a connection with him. From the first time I saw his picture, I felt like I knew him.

Reuben was born on 15 Dec 1823 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. I don't know anything about his parents or siblings. I have been spectacularly unsuccessful in finding anything about them. I haven't given up, though. I know that there were Millers present among the first white settlers of the "Forks of the Delaware."

My great-grandfather married my great-grandmother, Mary Walter, on 12 Aug 1849, in Easton, Pennsylvania, at the German Reformed Church. They had seven children, only three of whom lived to adulthood - Ellen (b 1850), Rebecca (b 1855)and Georgianna (b 1865). My grandmother, Georgianna Miller, was the only one who made it past her 30's, living to a ripe old age of 79. Ellen died at age 32 and never married. Rebecca was married to Isaac Coken and died at 36.

As you can see by the tintype, Reuben was in the military. During his civilian years he was a brickmaker and lived in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. On 30 May 1861, Reuben enlisted in the Union Army, E Co. 41st Inf Reg PA. He elisted as a Private, but was promoted to a full Sergent and mustered out on 11 June 1864. I was able to find a history of the 41st Regiment-Twelfth Reserves and they had a hard three years. They pretty much stayed in camp until 10 Mar 1862, when they were in the general forward movement of McClellan toward Manassas. They did not participate in the battle. They first saw fighting on 26 June at Ellerson's Mill and Harrisons Landing.

On 28 Aug the regiment barely escaped a surprise by the column of General Jackson and the next day participated in the action at Groveton. After all of that they left Virginia to participate in the Maryland campaign of South Mountain and Antietam and then back to Frederickburg. Reuben was wounded and captured by the Rebels at Fredericksburg and spent about 6 months in the Parole Camp at Annapolis, Maryland. By 1 May 1863, he had rejoined his regiment.

The regiment participated in the battle at Gettysburg and other actions thru the end of 1863. In 1864, they were fought in the three days Battle of the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania Court House. At Bethesda Church, they "received and repulsed the most desperate assault of the enemy." On the day of that battle, the term of its service expired. They were transported to Harrisburg and mustered out on 11 June 1864.

It seems that he and Mary must have had a good reunion as my Grandmother Georgianna was born 1 Apr 1865. Georgianna didn't get to know her father very well as, in August 1864, he reinlisted with the Army. The family story is that he got drunk one day and that's when he reupped. At any rate, he was assigned to Ft. Trumbull, New London, Connecticut. Reuben died 13 Jan 1867, choking on a piece of meat at dinner. Too bad no one knew the Heimlich maneuver back then or my family history might have been different. Mary did remarry a widower and family friend, Michael Raub. He took in the girls and was a good father to them from all accounts.
Mary survived two husbands and lived an independent life until her death in 1906 in Easton.

If anyone reading this has any information that might help me find out more about my Miller ancestors, I would love to hear from you.

SPECIAL ORDER LITTLE GIRL TOTE

2010-05-04T16:40:00.009-05:00

A friend of mine asked me to make a tote for her 8-year old neice and provided me with a variety of fat quarters in shades of green, pink and yellow. Such pretty prints and bright colors. I used the fabric to make two disappearing nine patch blocks about 13" square. The lining consisted of two different pink fabrics - one with princesses and one with crowns. The tote measures roughly 10" x 12" with a 3" flat bottom. The straps are a patchwork of the various fabrics used.

I had a bit of fabric left after making the tote so I whipped up a little wonder wallet. Easy to do and sooo very handy. I found a neat vintage dome button with rhinestones to go with the crown print fabric. I hope she likes it!

I just love these fabrics - so bright and springy!! And so perfect for an 8-year old princess.

NEW APRON

2010-04-25T10:55:00.004-05:00

Do you remember that I made two bib strip-pieced aprons before Christmas last year? Well, I finally got around to making a half-apron using the same fabrics and it turned out soooo cute!! It has an off-center bottom point and a handy loop at the waist to hold that "wiping towel" that everyone uses when they're cooking or baking.

I still love the classic American colors in this fabric collection. It has the gray-blues, rusty reds, golds and greens that go with just about everything. This apron would be perfect for protecting your duds while creating those wonderful summer feasts. And it looks so festive!

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you 'cause I'm really proud of the way it turned out. I have it listed on Etsy with free shipping so go check it out. http://www.etsy.com/listing/45205281/strip-pieced-half-apron-moda-american

BIG CONTEST

2010-04-22T19:47:00.002-05:00

My friend, Lee, is having a great giveaway contest on her blog "Quilts by Lee". Although I have plans of winning this one, you should go check it out anyway. Click on this link http://quiltsbylee.blogspot.com/2010/04/lofty-goals.html and check it out. Even if you don't win, Lee has lots of great stuff you can buy at great prices.

THE WALLET - ATTEMPT 1

2010-04-14T10:02:00.004-05:00

Here's the first result of the new wallet pattern I told you about in my last blog. It turned out pretty good for a first attempt, I think. I'll be working on it for a while before any will be ready for public consumption. I'm proud that the zipper went in without a problem. That was my biggest worry. I tried my credit cards in the little slots and they fit perfectly. The wallet measures about 5" x 3" closed and 5" x 6" open so it's a nice size. There's the three credit card slots, two pockets and the zipper pocket for your change. The closure is with velcro, tho' I may experiment with different snaps which I feel would make it more secure. Anyway, here's the new wallet!!! Taa daa!!

BLUE, YELLOW AND DENIM TOTE

2010-04-11T10:47:00.003-05:00

I listed another tote on Etsy the other day. I love the color combo of two shades of blue with yellow. I added more of the recycled denim for the bottom and I think it works well with the fabrics. The tote has a bit of a retro look with the stripes and the geometric print in navy, aqua and yellow. Inside is a nice yellow tone on tone print. I used that for the pockets and the straps, too. I love the denim on the bottom as it's a tad sturdier. Anyway, just wanted to show off another creation.

I'm currently working with a new wallet pattern from "THIS & THAT" by Sherri K. Falls. It's got nifty credit card pockets on the inside as well as a zipper pocket. I'll be posting some pictures as soon as I come up with something presentable.

PAISLEY TOTE UPDATE

2010-04-08T09:32:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I was looking at this gorgeous tote and thought to myself, "It needs something!" Looking around I spied this cute pink crystal star pin on my bulletin board. I've had it around for years, just waiting on the right project. Well, I put it on the tote and it just fit! Now the beautiful tote has some bling for a finishing touch. Let me know what you think. Does it work? (The pin is even more sparkly than in the pic. Just couldn't capture it.)

PASTEL PAISLEY TOTE

2010-04-03T20:59:00.004-05:00

I've been in love with Sentimental Studios Kashmir collections for a long time. The intricate and colorful paisleys are just facinating. Collection IV is the best yet, in my humble opinion. The colors are those great pastels that remind me so much of those wafer candies we used to eat when I was a kid. Anyway, when I saw the charm pack of the Kashmir IV collection, I just knew I had to make a tote. And here it is!!

For the tote lining I used a light green vintage cotton fabric while the straps and pocket linings are a soft pink.

I just listed this confection on Etsy so go check it out if you are interested. And don't forget that I take custom orders, too.

BACK TO SEWING, AT LAST!

2010-03-28T10:15:00.005-05:00

A few days ago I finally fired up the ole sewing machine and got down to making totes. The first uses charm squares from MODA - these are called Rural Jardin by French General. I love the classic French floral designs in these great colors. I lined the tote with a cream tone on tone print. I'm thinking of listing this one on Etsy so, if you're interested, keep an eye out.

The second tote is made using charm squares from the Glory collection by Kathy Schmitz LLC for MODA. I combined the patriotic print squares with squares of recycled denim for real down-home American style. The lining is a deep red tone-on-tone tiny floral print. This is the third tote I've made from this collection and I think I'm gonna have to make one for me! It's perfect for all those casual outfits. Although this particular tote is already spoken for, if you want one, let me know.

I have one more set of charm squares ready to sew up into a tote. They are from the Kashmir IV collection by Sentimental Studios for MODA. If you are familiar with the Kashmir collections, you know that they are lovely paisley prints and this particular one is in pale pinks, blues and greens. The tote will have a pale green lining and pale pink straps. I should have a pic posted in the next couple of days.

Along with sewing I've been taking advantage of the great weather we've been having to do some yardwork. There is something very theraputic about pulling weeds and trimming shrubs, don'tcha' think?

A GUEST IN OUR HOUSE

2010-03-16T15:02:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to post a pic of our handsome houseguest. Jessie belongs to neighbor and is staying with us while neighbor is out of town for a couple of days. He's a young adult and, according to neighbor, a real wild man. Of course being in a strange place with a bunch of strange cats has him a bit subdued for the moment. He does let me pet him and seems to like it.

This pic is of him in his crate where he has chosen to stay for the time being. The other cats are a bit curious, but don't seem to be fazed by our visitor. Jessie has been hissing a bit when anyone gets too close, but so far there have been no "incidents". I'm hoping Jessie will come out soon and provide a good playmate for Cody. At any rate, we are honored to have Jessie as a guest and I hope his stay is a pleasant one for everyone.

2010-03-15T11:28:00.004-05:00

Since everyone likes the kitty pics so much, I thought I would post these. The first is like a "Where's Waldo?" Can you find Mr. G? Hint - he's in the tree somewhere.

Well, here he is, in his alternate look-out spot. Doesn't it look like he's smiling? He does look awfully comfortable.

And here's a pic of something new I'm trying in the pots this spring. This is Uno, a little feral cat I've been feeding. He's a real cutie and will let me pet him in exchange for food. No food, no petting is his rule. He's a sweetie, though.

I can't believe we are half-way thru March already. I know I've been busier than usual with yard work and a friend in the hospital, but wow!!! The weather here has turned very nice and mild. Lots of sun, some nice breeze and nice temps. This is the kind of weather we wish for when it's hot and humid in August or cold and rainy in January. Too bad it can't be like this all year, but maybe we just wouldn't appreciate it quite so much.

CUTE KITTY HOUSE

2010-02-21T11:04:00.005-06:00

A friend recently brought to my attention a neat tutorial on making a fabric kitty house. Of course I had to try it. It was really quite easy once I got the pieces cut out. It is made with a stiff fusible interfacing called Peltex 71F. I drew the pieces out on the Peltex, cut them out and used them for a pattern to cut out the fabric pieces. If you are interested in making one for your furry companion(s), here's a link to the tutorial:

http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2010/01/a-cat-house-tutorial.html

As you can see, once I finished the house and put it on the floor, Momma Goldie immediately claimed it for her own. She does let the others use it when she is elsewhere. I'm thinking about ways to put her name above the door. Iron-on letters?

Later I made a pad to go inside to make it a bit more comfortable. I just took a 1" thick foam square, cut it so size and made a cover from the same fabric. Goldie said it is much more comfortable now.

I think this would be a nice house/refuge for smaller dogs as well. I don't know how much bigger you can go and maintain the structural integrity of the house. I think I'll make more one of these days, as soon as I can find more of the Peltex. I had to go to several stores to get enough for this one. This is Peltex 71F. There is also a 72F which is fusible on both sides if you want to have fabric on the inside, too. I'm thinking that you could wash this if necessary. Just pop it in the washer on the gentle cycle and probably air dry. Just my opinion.

CAT GARGOYLE

2010-02-15T09:54:00.007-06:00

I may have just a run-of-the-mill house, but I'll bet you don't know anyone else with a genuine cat gargoyle on their garage roof!! This is what I saw as I drove in the driveway the other day after running errands.

It was Mr. G!! He was on the roof, enjoying the recently returned sunshine and keeping an eye on the neighborhood.

It's nice to know that someone is standing guard when I'm away from the house.

WHERE DID 2009 GO?

2009-12-28T09:03:00.002-06:00

As I always say at this time of year, where did the time go? It's not like I was overly busy with things, but I guess it goes no matter what's going on. I do feel like I slowed down this year and that's not necessarily a good thing. I guess 5 years into retirement I'm just trying to find my way.

New Year's Resolutions? Not this year. I've done them for nearly 60 years and rarely have any of them lasted very long. I know what needs to be done and only promise to try to work some things off that list.

One thing I intend to do is to blog more and try to keep it interesting. I'll have more RenFest pictures this week and want to do more ancestor pics and history. I've been reading the authorized biography of Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and it's a fascinating read. My life and my ancestors don't seem to me to be nearly that interesting, but there are a few good stories there.

I'm hoping that everyone in the world has a better year - that we learn to live in peace and tolerance - that we realize that our way isn't always the best way for others - that we understand we must work together instead of blaming the other person for all the woes in the world.

Peace, my friends.

APRON PROJECT

2009-12-14T22:32:00.015-06:00

I just wanted to show off a couple of aprons I made from a pattern I got at the Quilt Festival. I use a MODA jelly roll from the "American Primer" collection. It's full of those wonderfully folksy reds, blues, golds and greens. Both aprons are lined with a fabric from the collection.

The first one features mostly reds and blues with a bit of the gold.

This is the second apron. Although it's made from the same jelly roll set, it has a bit of a different look to it. It features blue, gold and cream with a tad of red at the bottom.

I really like them both, but I'll have to make another one for me as they have both been sold. They will make great Christmas presents.

CAT PICS

2009-12-14T22:21:00.009-06:00

I think this is something every quilter needs - a feline fabric sitter. This is Boo sitting atop a stack of squares for some patriotic quilts that are to go overseas. She said that she wanted to make sure they didn't go anywhere. Makes sense to me!! lol

I caught this pic of Mr. G a while ago. I walked out the door into the garage and there he was lounging on the Jeep during our drippy weather. If you look close you can see the cat prints all over the hood. I guess I'll just back it out in the next shower for a good rinse.

SNOW PICTURES

2009-12-04T16:21:00.011-06:00

Well, my picture taking attempts didn't yield too much, but here's what I got. It's snowed a bit more since the pictures, but is slacking off now and there seems to be some rain mixed in again. It's gonna be a cold, cold night so the ice is going to be the biggest problem as it's still wet out there.

This a view down the street taken from my driveway. You can see the snow on the grass and the SUV.

This shows the snow on the fence taken from the living room window. You can see snow on the roof in the distance.

This is another view of the backyard. You can see the flakes coming down.

Since it's going to be very cold tonight I made up a bed for Mr. G in the back of the garage. He seems pretty snuggled in without any desire to go outside. In fact, when I came in from taking pictures in the driveway he gave me a look to say, "If you open that door again, I'm going to bite you. It's cold out there, lady!!" He's very funny. I would bring him in the house, but he hates being in the house and doesn't do well inside at all. He will do fine in his little bed as it's well insulated.

SNOW IN HOUSTON!!

2009-12-04T10:16:00.004-06:00

It's snowing in Houston, Texas!! It's the earliest snowfall on record, I believe. Another way it's unusual is that it also snowed last year and it rarely does that two years on a row. Everyone is in a dither around here, especially since we are to get some "accumulation", as the forecasters call it. It was raining when I got up about 7:00 this morning and it has gradually mixed in some snow. It's still a mix, but getting to be more snow and less rain. The worst part is that the temps are dropping and we are going to have a hard freeze tonight. With all this moisture we will definitely have some ice on the streets and bridges. A lot of the yahoos around here can't drive right when it rains so it will be interesting to see what happens with the ice. I tried to take some pictures of the snow earlier, but I found it to be very elusive. I'll keep trying and post the pictures when you can actually see it.

TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL II

2009-11-27T21:19:00.008-06:00

Finally I have some pictures of the Renaissance Festival to post for your enjoyment. These were all taken by my friend, Sandi, on her cell phone and I think they came out pretty darn good, don't you?

So here I am in my RenFest dress and robe in the midst of the festival, probably trying to figure out where the heck Sandi got off to. And all the time she was taking my picture!

Here's the guy who does the show with all the great birds like the falcon he has on his hand. It's great exhibition with owls and hawks and other trained birds. It's definitely a must see at the festival.

This is a closer look at me in my dress and great Tudor Robe (thank you, Maryellen). I also got the bag at the festival and it was so nice not to have to carry a purse!! Everything I needed fit in the bag perfectly. In my hand is a bag of the most wonderful roasted almonds. I always stop by the nut place when I'm at RenFest. Great and healthy snacking!

This is a view of some of the participants in the parade that takes place every day at noon. All of the actors and vendors march in the parade and it's quite fun.

Just a picture of some of the folks attending the festival. It was such a beautiful day and there were lots and lots of people.

And, finally, the long walk back to the car after a great day.

I'll be going thru the rest of the pics and post more in the next day or so.

TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

2009-11-23T08:59:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I finally got out to the Texas Renaissance Festival. There's only one more weekend to go so I'm glad I didn't miss it. I love to go, just to get into another world and do some people watching. I also get a lot of exercise from walking to see the multitude of vendors, not to mention the varied performances. I've been going out there for many years and the place has grown and grown. It's getting where you can't really do it justice in one day, but I have my favorite vendors so, if I get to see them, I'm happy.

I have pictures, but they are not ready to post yet, so keep an eye out. I actually went in costume this year, which makes it that much more fun. I had a beautiful deep green dress I got out there a number of years ago. This year, my dear friend and seamstress, Maryellen Mcauliffe, made me a lovely Tudor Robe to wear over the dress. I got so many compliments on it!!

I would highly recommend that anyone visit a renaissance festival near you. It's a day of fun and make believe. It's a great opportunity to get away from the humdrum of everyday living. And if you like people watching, this is the best place ever! There is something about the place that lets people be themselves and have fun.

My friend, Sandi, went out with me this year and we had a blast. It's nice to go with someone who appreciates what a rare opportunity a renaissance festival presents to be someone else in another time for a few hours.

Anyway, pictures to follow. Stay tuned!!

DADDY DAY CARE

2009-11-21T10:45:00.004-06:00

I just had to post this picture today. There is a family of kitties living in my back yard and they are truly a family unit. This picture shows the little ones curled up with Daddy for a mid-morning nap. (Mom is scheduled to be trapped and spayed. Then we'll get dad and the little ones.)

Although Daddy can be ornery when other, non-family, cats are around, he is so good with the little ones. He seems to look after them when Mom is off doing whatever Moms do. He's very gentle with them. The cat at the top if the picture is one of his sons from a previous litter. The whole family interacts and plays together and it's really cute to watch. This shows that kitty dads do hang around to help take care of the kids sometimes.

This is a picture taken last month of the whole family together. Kinda cute.

PLUMBING!!

2009-11-17T08:56:00.004-06:00

Well, I had an interesting weekend dealing with an elusive water leak. Saturday afternoon I discovered water seeping into the MBR closet. Luckily I have vinyl laminate flooring that I could pull up. Did that and found that the water was coming in under the outside wall. It wasn't coming in fast and once I took up the flooring it just stayed right under the wall. I went outside and looked and could see water coming down the wall under the siding, right where the water supply comes into the house.

I asked my neighbor across the street for his advice. He told me how to look inside the wall for the leak and loaned me the little knife you use to cut sheetrock. I cut in several places, found what I assumed was the water pipe and couldn't find the leak. I thought the water may be coming from the pipe the previous owner had added to take the water to a faucet in the back yard.

On Sunday I decided to eliminate the extra pipe and, in trying to take it all apart I accidentally split a copper pipe. (Lesson learned - always use two wrenches when dealing with copper pipe, one to turn the attachment and one to hold the main pipe since copper is so soft.) My neighbor said it would take soddering to fix it so I called the plumber. He was able to fix that so I could turn the water back on. I thought the original leak was taken care of since no water had leaked in Sunday afternoon. Well, later Sunday evening, after the water had been turned back on and the plumber was long gone, the seepage was back.

I called the plumber Monday morning (I should say plumbing company) and they send out someone very promptly. One thing I found was that I had been checking the wrong pipe! Water rarely leaks from the gas pipe. lol Anyway, he came in, cut away more sheetrock and found where the water was seeping from a soddered joint at the elbow where the pipe turned down to go through the slab. It was a tight space to use a blow torch, but he got it fixed without burning down the house. He did singe a bit of the inside of the siding, but nothing major. A couple of tries with the sodder and a good whack with the wrench resulted in a fix.

Now I will be learning how to patch drywall!! Since that is one of the things my across the street neighbor does for a living, I'm sure I'll be doing it right. For the duration I have a piece of plywood covering the opening to keep the cold air and bugs out and the cats in (they can crawl inside the wall).

I'm just so pleased that this was finally fixed. It was a tiny leak - it didn't even move the water meter - but it could have caused lots of damage. In fact, I was so energized that I sorted out and bagged up some shoes to go to the charity shop and then vacuumed and mopped the bedroom floor, wiped down the walls, windowsills, and furniture. All I need to do to finish is move the bed and clean behind and under it. Wow!!

Anyway, this has been a learning experience and now I know how to tell the difference between water and gas pipes! (Water is smaller copper, gas is bigger black pipe)

NOVEMBER IN HOUSTON

2009-11-08T14:18:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to take a minute to share a picture I took this morning of this beautiful hibiscus out on the deck. As much as I lament the lack of seasons here in southeast Texas, there are advantages to having mild weather so late in the year. The trees are still green and the flowers are still blooming. There's still plenty of time for those sudden cold fronts that shock everyone into their coats, but right now it's pretty darn nice. For those folks where it's already snowed or just cold, I'm sorry, but I have to say it -

NEENER, NEENER, NEENER!!!

PICS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL

2009-10-29T10:25:00.013-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to the International Quilt Festival held here in Houston. It's been going on here for years and this was the first year I actually got my butt in gear and went down there. My oh my it was an experience. There were what seemed like millions of vendors of everything and anything to do with sewing, embroidery and quilting. And the quilts on display were as diverse as any exhibition I had ever seen. By the time I was done looking at everything I was suffering from a severe case of sensory overload!! lol

I did take some pictures of some of the quilts on display that caught my eye and my imagination and I've posted them below. The first two are vintage quilts ca 1845 or so. The rest are contemporary. Enjoy.

NEW BREAST CANCER CHARITY QUILT AUCTION

2009-10-25T10:00:00.004-05:00

My online group, Quilters Corner Group, has just listed a beautiful rag quilt on ebay. All of the proceeds of the auction will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Members of the group, including me, contributed a variety of blocks for this quilt and one member sewed it together. It is the best thing we've done so far. Go check it out at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130339687175&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT and make a bid or two. Or three or four! The auction ends October 31 so get a move on!

Isn't there someone you know who would love getting a present as beautiful as this quilt?

INTRODUCING CODY

2009-10-06T11:36:00.006-05:00

Here is the lastest member of the family. His provisional name is Cody. I found him out front the morning after the storm moved thru, all wet and dirty, but purring up a storm. He's a cream point with a lot of Siamese in him. I asked around and no one I talked to knew where he belonged so I guess I'll keep him. I know, don't need another mouth to feed, but what else could I do?

Yesterday I took Cody to the vet to get checked out and be sure he didn't have any communicable diseases. Even tho she doesn't usually do surgeries on Mondays, the vet offered to neuter him so I left him there and ran some errands. (I guess it was a slow day.) I picked him up yesterday afternoon all groggy from the anesthesia, but still purring. All his tests came back negative except he has ear mites and hook worms. A dose or two of Revolution should take care of that. He slept most all of the afternoon and evening. And he's about 7 - 8 months old and weighs 7 lbs, which is just about perfect for his age.

This morning he was back to his cuddly, purry self. I've been racking my brain to try to come up with an appropriate name for him and Cody seems to be the top pick. He's residing in the back bedroom with some of the older guys who are a bit hissy, but will accept him when he stops smelling like the vet. Here are a couple of pictures of Cody and one of Ben and Jerry, his new big brothers. Isn't there quite the family resemblance?

Cody

Cody - look at that tail!

Ben (l) and Jerry (r)

PICTURE OF MISS BETTY

2009-10-04T15:43:00.002-05:00

The only picture I could find of Miss Betty was in PDD format which is used by Photoshop. Don't know how that happened, but I found a friend who has Photoshop to convert it to jpeg and here is it. It was taken in 2003, but she hadn't changed a bit.

She was cute and petite and a bit camera shy. But she was a great cat.

R.I.P. MISS BETTY

2009-10-04T08:15:00.004-05:00

This morning I went out on the deck to feed the "outside" cats and found that the elder female, Miss Betty, had passed away. I had turned a large litter box that had a scoop on one side upside down for shelter from the rain and I had seen her going in and out over the past few days. When I went out this morning I realized that her tail was in the same spot as yesterday and I hadn't seen her out. Well, she was gone. She hadn't appeared sick and didn't look like she had any injuries. It looked like she just went to sleep. A good a way to go as any.

I'm not sure how old she was, but I have rescued a number of her kittens and the oldest was born in 2000. So she was probably at least 10. It took me three years to trap and spay Miss Betty. She was a smart and sly woman cat. Miss Betty was a small, brown tabby and part of a larger group that has dwindled over the years. She leaves her companion Mr. Guy as the last of the group. She was a great mom to her kittens and knew when she brought them here that they would be brought inside and found good homes.

She will be greatly missed as she was a wonderful cat. She's now at the Rainbow Bridge.