Random Happenings

Primitive Gatherings Picnic Quilt #2 now has a name and a home. "Picnic in Kansas" is named for the pattern name and the Kansas Troubles fabrics which make up the dark fabrics used. I hadn't told the full story of this project, because I didn't want a self-proclaimed blog lurker to figure out it was for her. DD#2, Aimee, and I had planned this as a gift for a friend of hers. We made it together, and this is our second joint effort at creating a quilt for a friend of hers. Aimee's youngest is the little guy I have mentioned who has Dravet Syndrome (scroll down the page a little to see my precious grandson, Ben Bryan), a severe seizure disorder. The women who have received the quilts we have joined forces to make have been so generous with their time and energy to help Aimee juggle the needs of her family with the special needs of little Ben. This quilt went to Katrina, shown below (on the left) with my daughter. Thanks for everything, Katrina. You are amazing.

After making the little star table runner for Aimee's birthday I realized how much I missed working with my CW fabrics. So I pulled this out for inspiration (sorry about the glare)...

grabbed my CW scrap basket, and created these 6" blocks...

I told myself I had to work strictly from what was in the basket (okay, I had to grab a few neutrals from my CW drawer) and I needed to make things scrappy. Jill Reid wrote a brochure about how to make your quilts have that vintage look and I tried to apply her principles as best I could within the confines of my scrap basket.

I finally had the opportunity Friday to meet up with a blog follower who lives about 3 hours away. Carla is a very kind, generous person. She is the one responsible for my receiving a copy of the recent Primitive Quilts and Projects that I couldn't find anywhere. I wish you had a blog, Carla, so others could get to know you. We met up at a LQS that is part of the "On the Trail" Shop Hop through parts of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. So fun to finally meet this good friend. Hope we can do it again sometime.

 That is Carla on the right.

You know that I went overboard on a basket craze recently. As I was sorting through the leftover bits of my basket-making frenzy I realized that I had enough scrappy pieces left to create another 2" finished basket. I couldn't resist. This is what materialized (pun intended). It is about 3" square. Would you hang it on a Christmas tree or just on a wall somewhere?

Wednesday I head to the HMQS for those classes with Pam Clarke, Sally Terry and Karen McTavish that I mentioned recently. I am so excited. I have never done anything like this before. I'm expecting the vendor mall and quilt show to put me on system overload, but I can't wait! I hope I remember my camera so I can share some of my favorite things when I get back.

Until then,

Janet O.